To accomplish this, we need to understand and defeat the policies of the Liberal government which are leading to more layoffs of health care staff and setting up more delivery of health care by profiteers. 

We have the expertise of our members in health care which is essential to this cause.  Working closely together and, with like-minded Ontarians and their organizations, we will build and sustain broad public support for public health care across our province.

Since their election in 2003, the Liberal government has had little apparent difficulty in supporting and accepting Tory policies, which they had spoken against while in opposition. The most obvious example is the public/private partnerships (P3) form of privatization. Other examples are continuing to delist services in the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) and continuing the competitive bidding process in home care.

The Liberals have drawn attention to the poor state of Ontario’s finances inherited from the Conservatives after October 2003. The reality is that Ontario has more money available for health care than what has been spent.

Liberal policy vision has been inspired by the actions of the British government under Prime Minister Tony Blair.  Ontarians need to be educated about the dangers of the McGuinty government’s Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs).

The “health” of our health care system in Ontario is affected by developments at the federal level. Unfortunately, unlike other Ontario Premiers in the past, McGuinty has chosen not to show leadership on health care issues.

Health care workers continue to be strong advocates for the kind of health care system we want in our province.

In May and June 2005, the OFL, working with affiliates and their health care members, embarked on the first phase of a campaign with an emphasis on addressing the systematic and serious issues flowing from the persistent understaffing in all health care sectors. Workers came together to share their stories and to learn from each other. A report entitled Understaffed and Under Pressure - A reality check by Ontario health care workers was written and distributed by the OFL.

In October and November 2005, the OFL and affiliates returned to the same communities with the report to share the findings with health care workers and the wider community.  Health care workers and labour councils are using the report in their lobbying of MPPs.  The campaign is demanding that the McGuinty government use the $1.136 billion which has been allocated to health care but not used, to address the issue of understaffing by implementing:

• An immediate moratorium of layoffs in hospitals.
• In nursing homes and homes for the aged, establish a required minimum standard of 3.5 hours per day for nursing and personal care for residents.
  
• In 1996, the Conservative government had repealed an earlier standard of 2.25 hours.
• Establish required minimum standards for staffing with appropriate complement of full-time workers in all health care sectors by the end of 2006.