WINDSOR – NDP MPPs Lisa Gretzky (Windsor West), Taras Nayshak (Essex) and Percy Hatfield (Windsor—Tecumseh) released the following statement in response to the government of Ontario’s Throne Speech.
“Today’s Throne Speech was deeply disappointing and provided no new commitments to help patients, students, workers, or small businesses here in Windsor get through this pandemic.
Families in Windsor are still facing many pandemic challenges. Hospital and long-term care workers are stretched thin and burning out, the surgery backlog has skyrocketed, COVID-19 is spreading in our schools and small businesses are being asked to enforce vaccine certificates without extra support.
Ford is failing Windsor by not providing help for the many casino workers and autoworkers are near the end of their federal benefits, who have no idea when they will return to stable work. Further, Ford has long promised a new hospital in Windsor-Essex, but we’re still waiting for funding and today’s Throne Speech had no details.
Instead of spending what is needed to help our community weather the pandemic and make good on his promises, Doug Ford withheld $5.6 billion that was meant to help protect and support Ontarians.
Windsor families need a government that will actually invest in the critical services they need. The Ontario NDP is calling on Ford to make schools safer for students and education workers, hire thousands more nurses and PSWs, make vaccines mandatory for health and education workers, and support small businesses as they get back on their feet. Windsor residents deserve a government that will fight for them, not withhold help when they need it most." |
|