Liberal Leader Jean Charest appealed to Quebec voters Thursday to give his government another mandate so it can tackle overcrowding in hospital emergency rooms.
Charest made the comments while campaigning in central Quebec, where he was promoting the Liberals' regional economic development program.
But Thursday reports of severe overcrowding in Montreal ERs disrupted his campaign agenda.
La Presse reported several hospitals are juggling so many ER patients that they're operating from 150 to 250 per cent capacity.
Charest blamed past PQ governments for creating conditions that led to current problems in the health care system, including overcrowding.
"We continue to be burdened with one issue that the Parti Québécois left us," after it offered early retirement to thousands of doctors and nurses in the 1990s, the Liberal leader said.
"That's why I'm asking for a mandate on March 26," Charest said in French, asking Quebecers to give the Liberals five more years to eliminate hospital overcrowding.
The Liberals have spent $5.7 billion on health care since forming the government in 2003, when they campaigned on a promise to eradicate overflowing ERs.
The party's new health-care platform includes money to hire 1,500 new doctors and 2,000 new nurses, and more nurse practitioners who have diagnostic powers, Charest said.
The Liberal leader added that ER overcrowding occurs in cycles during the winter season and can be exacerbated by the flu and gastroenteritis outbreaks. Montreal hospital officials, however, said the overcrowding could not be explained by flu or gastric bugs.
During a visit to a factory southeast of Quebec City, Charest underlined the Liberal party's goal to foster job creation in the provinces suburban regions.
He referred to several spending promises outlined in the Feb 20 provincial budget, including $825 million to encourage regional economic diversification, innovation and productivity and support resource-based industries, such as aluminum.
Charest also mentioned the $3.8 billion deal struck last year with Quebec municipalities to encourage more stable revenue streams for cities.
Related
| Party | Elected | Leading | Total | Vote Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIB | 48 | 0 | 48 | 33.08% |
| ADQ | 41 | 0 | 41 | 30.80% |
| PQ | 36 | 0 | 36 | 28.32% |
| QS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.65% |
| GRN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.89% |
| OTH | 0 | 0 | 0 | .26% |
| Last Update:March 27, 12:52:21 AM EDT | ||||
Quebec Votes 2007 Headlines »
- Que. Liberals take minority win with grain of salt
- Quebec Premier Jean Charest said he'll build bridges with the Parti Québécois and the Action Démocratique du Québec to ensure a stable minority government.
- Dumont will work with Quebec Premier Charest
- Quebec's new Opposition Leader Mario Dumont said he wants stability at the national assembly and pledged to work with the Liberal minority government on a case-by-case basis.
- Boisclair remains at helm after PQ finishes 3rd
- André Boisclair is staying on as leader of the Parti Québécois and vowed to help rebuild the fractured party after it suffered major losses in Monday's provincial election.
- Quebec election result 'good news' for Canada: PM
- Stephen Harper says voters in the Quebec election have used their ballots to reject calls for another referendum in a "great result" for Canada.
- Charest keeps seat as Liberals cling to power in Quebec
- Quebecers are waking up to a minority Liberal government — the first minority in the province in 130 years — and a new official Opposition.