Don't look to the Progressive Conservatives to restore funding for eye exams, chiropractic care or physiotherapy after the Oct. 10 Ontario election, leader John Tory said Monday.
Certain tough choices had to be made to allow the Conservatives to promise an increase in health care spending of $8.5 billion a year over the next four years, Tory said during a campaign stop at an Ottawa gas station.
"We put things in our platform that we're going to do," he said.
"I'm standing here being open and honest with you and saying I had to make some choices. That is not included in our platform so I can't stand here and commit that it would be done."
The Liberals delisted eye exams, chiropractic care and physiotherapy in their first budget after the 2003 election, despite an outcry from the medical community and patients, who said Premier Dalton McGuinty had promised not to reduce health services.
Optometrists and chiropractors say low-income patients in particular need that funding restored, but Tory said he would rather invest the money in electronic health records and doctor recruitment.
Those low-income patients will have more money in their pockets to pay for such exams under a Conservative government when the health tax is phased out, he added.
"Leadership is about making choices," said Tory, reiterating the theme of his election campaign.
Tory was spending Monday in eastern Ontario, highlighting the party's commitment to use 100 per cent of revenues generated by the provincial gas tax to fund road and transit systems, including bridges in rural Ontario.
A Conservative government would spend $1 billion on rural roads and urban transit, which would help address gridlock, Tory said.
Related
Internal Links
Ontario Votes 2007 »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
District Profiles
More Ontario Votes Headlines »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
