The Occupy movement is changing the way we talk about the economy, particularly around rising income inequality. Earlier this year, the Conference Board of Canada put together this brief video showing how three-quarters of the world’s population is facing rising income inequality. As we have noted in previous BLOG stories, income inequality has a significant effect on population health, particularly on mental health.
Dalton McGuinty fought the 2004 provincial election vowing to stop two public-private partnership hospital deals. After he got elected, he not only signed off on deals to build Brampton’s William Osler Health Care and the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, but he opened the door wide to more than 30 additional privatization deals.
Using the private sector to design, finance, build, and operate public infrastructure has been controversial from day one.
In Britain, where they refer to P3s as Private Finance Initiatives (PFI), there has been considerable documentation into how these privatized hospitals have cost much more, distorted public priorities and inflated long-term debt obligations.
OPSEU’s Diablogue, which provides ongoing commentary and news about Ontario’s health care system, is now easier to reach.
The BLOG has a simper URL to remember: http://diablogue.org
The BLOG works well on mobile media too. Download our QR code and scan it on your iPhone, Blackberry or other mobile devices.
QR codes are a kind of bar code that allows you to access our BLOG quickly by scanning it on your mobile device.
OPSEU health care locals will be sent fridge-magnets later this month with the new address and QR codes. Put it on your filing cabinet or your fridge and be sure to come back.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford thinks doctors and others in the “medical field” should not be advocates for the poor, even though the social determinants of health are a key factor in an individual’s wellness.
Posted in Health System
Tagged Anti-poverty activism, Doug Ford, Dr. Roland Wong, Dr. Wong, Rob Ford, social determinants of health
It’s not even election day and the media has already begun navel gazing about why voters ignored the platforms and got hung up on the minutiae of the horse race. The National Post is doing so by trying to analyse the content of Twitter posts. Do they really think this represents the views of typical Ontarians?
Posted in Health System
Tagged Andrea Horwath, Dalton McGuinty, Liberal, NDP, Ontario Election Party Platforms Health Care, PC, Tim Hudak, Tory
A Danish study recently published in the European Journal of Cancer will add new fuel to the controversy around the health impacts of shift work.
While Tim Hudak talks about making life more affordable for Ontarians, clearly he isn’t thinking about families that rely on public sector wages.
Canadian Press reported Friday that Hudak would not rule out using legislation to enforce a public-sector wage freeze.
Hudak said that such legislation would only be used as a “last resort” in the event that union demands become “unreasonable.”
“If these groups are not responsible, you have to consider any tool at your disposal,” he told CP.
The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that unionized public sector workers have a right to collective bargaining, making it unlikely that Hudak’s legislation would hold up to a challenge.
While Hudak cries poor when it comes to public sector wages, he plans on spending $3.5 billion over four years on new tax cuts.
In 2011-12 health care represents an expenditure of $47.1 billion on a $124 billion annual budget – an increase of $2.1 billion over 2010-11.
No matter which party gets elected, we can expect annual increases substantially below $2 billion. This will add considerable stress to the existing system. Any promise of new investments should be seen in this context. This may also be the reason why candidates have been so reluctant to talk about health care.
During the leader’s election debate September 27 NDP Leader Andrea Horwath repeated the phrase “blank cheque” when it came to corporate taxes.
The NDP want to roll back recent corporate tax cuts to 14 per cent. The Tories and Liberals favour a 10 per cent rate.
The NDP argue that nothing has been required of corporations for the tax cuts.
Posted in Health System
Tagged David Dodge, Election promises, Health Care Funding, Hugh MacKenzie
The televised Ontario election leader’s debate won’t be the only campaign focus tomorrow night.
Deb Matthews has confirmed she will attend the London North Centre all-candidates debate Sept 27 from 7 pm to 10 pm at the AB Lucas Secondary School, 656 Tennent Ave.
Also confirmed are Mary Lou Ambrogio, Freedom Party Candidate; Steve Holmes, NDP Candidate; and Kevin Labonte, Green Party Candidate.
Conservative Party Candidate Nancy Branscombe has not confirmed.
Candidates from the Liberal, NDP, Green and Freedom parties will be attending to speak about what improvements they can offer to our health care system.
The debate is sponsored by the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, Middlesex-Elgin; Ontario Nurses Association locals 36, 45 & 100; and the London Health Coalition.
For more information: please call 416-441-2502 or email ohc@sympatico.ca
OPSEU Diablogue 