Liberal Party Response to Our Call for Response - Elections Ontario

September 18, 2011
Mr. Michael Johnson
Executive Director, Ontario SCI Solutions Alliance
Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario
601-90 Eglinton Avenue East
Toronto, Ontario
M4P 2Y3

Dear Mr. Johnson:
Thank you very much for your recent letter. Ontario Liberals consider the Ontario Spinal Cord Injury Solutions Alliance a key advocate and partner in serving the needs of patients with spinal cord injuries. Your collaboration demonstrates the best of what our Ontario health care providers offer — cooperation that results in a continuum of care for patients to meet their comprehensive needs, while supporting the ultimate goal of community reintegration and a high quality of life for people facing spinal cord disabilities.

Ontario Liberals will continue to support the continuum of care for patients overcoming spinal cord injuries. We recognize that the Attendant Services program is an important pillar of that continuum of support. Earlier this month, Ontario Liberals invested an additional annualized investment of $1.7 million in the Direct Funding Self-Managed Attendant Services program. This investment is expected to serve more than 50 additional patients, reducing the wait list for service, and providing patients with the care they need at home. We will continue to invest in these programs to reduce the wait list for service and support patients at home, in their community.

Investing in community-based health care is a top priority for Ontario Liberals. We know that patients are best served when they receive timely access to care, as close to home as possible. That is why we have made substantial new investments in community-based health care, including a commitment to a 3 per cent base increase to the community health sector for 2011–12 and the subsequent two fiscal years.
The 2011 Ontario Liberal Plan, Forward. Together., commits our party to continue working to make Ontario the healthiest province. A re-elected Ontario Liberal government will redesign Ontario’s primary care and home care system to provide
patients with access to doctors, nurses and other health professionals who will provide better services, such as house calls and check-ins by telephone and online.
Ontario Liberals are the only party with a positive plan to keep Ontario moving forward. We got through the recession the Ontario way: we protected education and health care, stood by workers in the hardest hit industries, and worked together to find new opportunities for our province and our families. Our strong leadership, experienced team and thoughtful long-term plan are getting results for Ontario families.

Eight years ago, during the dark days of Conservative cuts and conflict, Ontario was moving backwards. Today, our schools are rated among the world’s best, our health care ranks first in Canada, and old jobs are coming back while new jobs are being created in emerging industries like advanced manufacturing and clean energy.
Our plan is getting results and Ontario is solidly on track. The Hudak PCs would take us off track and put our fragile recovery at risk with their reckless schemes. We need to keep moving forward, together.

Mr. Johnson, thank you again for your letter. Ontario Liberals value the vital work of the Ontario Spinal Cord Injury Solutions Alliance. We hope to have the privilege of continuing to work with you and all our partners on behalf of Ontarians with spinal cord injuries.

Please accept my best wishes.

Yours truly,

Dalton McGuinty
Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party
Premier

Attachment: 

Liberal Response.pdf