A Plea for Compassion presented by The Thunder Bay Health Coalition Health Care on the Edge A Plea for Compassion presented by The Thunder Bay Health Coalition

Thunder Bay Health Coalition A chapter of the Ontario Health Coalition Members are citizens concerned about health care, many of whom represent local organizations We support public health care - Government funded, universally accessible care, delivered without a profit motive Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

McGuinty Praises Nurses' Fight for "Strong and Sustainable, Publicly Funded and Delivered Health Care System." TORONTO, Sept. 20 - Ontario needs a change to a government that respects medicare and the people who deliver it, says Ontario Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty. "It's time to invest in greater resources, ensure increased accountability, and stop the creeping privatization of health care," McGuinty said. Working together to improve medicare - McGuinty Praises Nurses' Fight for "Strong and Sustainable, Publicly Funded and Delivered Health Care System." TORONTO, Sept. 20 /CNW/ - Ontario needs a change to a government that respects medicare and the people who deliver it, says Ontario Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty. "It's time to make medicare the law in Ontario, to stop the slide towards a two-tier system that will provide one set of services to the wealthy few and another for the rest of us," McGuinty said in a speech to the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario's annual meeting. McGuinty told the nurses he will never call them hula hoop workers, referring to the Harris-Eves government's characterization of nurses who faced firings because of hospital closings. Former premier Mike Harris compared them to hula hoop workers losing their jobs when their novelty product was no longer popular. "It's time to invest in greater resources, ensure increased accountability, and stop the creeping privatization of health care," McGuinty said. "Gimmicks and name-calling and personal attacks won't get the job done. Hard work will. Vision will. Commitment will. We will. We're going to build a health care system for all." Ontario now ranks tenth out of ten provinces in hospitals beds, family doctors and nurses per capita, McGuinty said. "And Ernie Eves' answer to that? He says more corporate tax cuts are the cure. It's time for a change." Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

Post-Election: The “5.6 Billion” Why is it a surprise? Liberals predicted a hidden deficit Ultra-conservative Fraser Institute says PCs running $4.5 billion deficit TORONTO, Sept. 22 - The ultra-conservative Fraser Institute - with senior fellows Mike Harris and Preston Manning - today released a report saying Ernie Eves' PCs are hiding a $4.5-billion deficit and Ernie Eves' uncosted promises will only make things worse. Ultra-conservative Fraser Institute says PCs running $4.5 billion deficit TORONTO, Sept. 22 /CNW/ - The ultra-conservative Fraser Institute - with senior fellows Mike Harris and Preston Manning - today released a report saying Ernie Eves' PCs are hiding a $4.5-billion deficit and Ernie Eves' uncosted promises will only make things worse. You can read the report at http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/admin/books/files/ON-deficit3.pdf The phone number for Ernie Eves' PC campaign is: 416-861-0020 The phone number for Finance Minister Janet Ecker's campaign office is: 905-427-4411 The phone number for Enterprise Minister Jim Flaherty's campaign office is: 905-427-4441 The phone number for Health Minister Tony Clement's campaign office is: 905-456-7117 We are certain these senior PC ministers will be unhappy to answer your questions today. Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

Liberal Plan was Tested The Liberal numbers Liberal Plan was Tested TORONTO, Sept. 22 - Experts from across Canada have pronounced the 2003 Ernie Eves budget is hiding a massive deficit. Our plan holds the line on taxes, ensures balanced budgets, enhances essential public services and sets aside $1 billion reserves every year. Ontario Liberals will cancel Ernie Eves' $3.2 billion giveaway to Ontario's largest corporations and $500 million handout to private schools. The verdict is in: Ernie Eves is running a massive deficit TORONTO, Sept. 22 /CNW/ - Experts from across Canada have pronounced the 2003 Ernie Eves budget is hiding a massive deficit. - The Dominion Bond Rating Service says that, when adjusted for unrealistic assumptions, the Eves budget for 2003-04 actually shows a "deficit of $1.9 billion." - The TD Bank found the PC budget is hiding a real deficit of $2 billion this year. - Standard and Poor's credit-rating agency reports that the PCs are on track to produce a 2003-04 deficit of more than $1.2 billion and criticized inflated asset sales numbers as "inconsistent with its stated objective to take the necessary steps to balance the budget." - The Fraser Institute - an organization that includes senior fellows Mike Harris and Preston Manning - pegs the Ontario deficit at $4.5 billion. Mark Mullins, who wrote the report, helped pen the Common Sense Revolution and Blueprint platforms for the PC Party. Report on Business has this to say about Ernie Eves' deficit deceit: "The government claims it will balance its books in the current fiscal year, which began on April 1. Most other estimates peg the shortfall at somewhere between $2-billion and $4-billion, which is serious money, even for a budget that will spend close to $71-billion... In a world where companies are under intense pressure to produce honest accounts and to come clean with their investors, Ontario already stands out as a province that manipulates its books for political ends." Globe and Mail, September 3, 2003 Two senior economists and a forensic accountant - including the Chief Economist of Scotiabank - have confirmed that the Ontario Liberal financial plan is more responsible and prudent than the Eves 2003 budget, and that our platform would lead to both balanced budgets in all four years and increased surpluses to invest in Ontario's future. Our plan holds the line on taxes, ensures balanced budgets, enhances essential public services and sets aside $1 billion reserves every year. Ontario Liberals will cancel Ernie Eves' $3.2 billion giveaway to Ontario's largest corporations and $500 million handout to private schools. Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

What the Liberals left out “The direct fiscal impact of these two plans on the 2006 Deficit is quite similar: $3.7 billion for the Conservatives and $4.0 billion for the Liberals.” “Either fiscal plan will have to be significantly revised to balance the provincial budget this year and through the next term in office.” Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

How big is the ‘structural’ deficit? Included in the $5.6 B are one time items Hydro One/OPG impact of 1.3B ‘Contingency’ of 0.6 B One Time SARS costs of 0.6 B The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives projects a deficit of 2.2 Billion in 2004/05 and a surplus of 300 Million in 2005/06 if the Liberals do not launch their new initiatives Contingency per MoF forecast SARS per MoF forecast Hydro One/OPG from Peters Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

Which deficit to discuss? During the election the Liberal focus was on a decade of cuts to social programs Since the election, what we hear about is the financial deficit Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

So what should we do about the budget?

Why are health care costs so high? Demographics P3 deals by any other name are still profit making ventures for the investment groups, at public expense Private facilities, paid for by public money draws funding and resources away from the public system Health expenditures now include profits for corporations - Long Term Care and other corporate service providers - Avg cost from MoF Financial Statement Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

Eves PCs must explain why they signed private hospital deal OTTAWA, Sept. 28 - The Eves PCs must explain why - in the final week of an election campaign - they signed a deal for a private hospital. "I am astounded that Ernie Eves would sign a deal for a private hospital in the last week of an election campaign," said Liberal Candidate Jim Watson. "He can't hide behind bureaucrats on this, he needs to explain why he wants to saddle Ontario with a two-tier approach that was rejected by Roy Romanow." Watson also demanded the terms of the deal be made public. "If Ernie Eves is so proud of this private hospital deal, he should release all the details today," Watson said. Watson said while Ottawa needs a new health care facility, it should be publicly owned and operated, not a private hospital. Eves PCs must explain why they signed private hospital deal OTTAWA, Sept. 28 /CNW/ - The Eves PCs must explain why - in the final week of an election campaign - they signed a deal for a private hospital. "I am astounded that Ernie Eves would sign a deal for a private hospital in the last week of an election campaign," said Liberal Candidate Jim Watson. "He can't hide behind bureaucrats on this, he needs to explain why he wants to saddle Ontario with a two-tier approach that was rejected by Roy Romanow." Watson also demanded the terms of the deal be made public. "If Ernie Eves is so proud of this private hospital deal, he should release all the details today," Watson said. Watson said while Ottawa needs a new health care facility, it should be publicly owned and operated, not a private hospital. The Eves PCs have a history of arrogantly ignoring the wishes of the people of Ottawa. - The Eves PCs fired the local Ottawa Hospital board after years of underfunding health care in Ottawa. - The Eves PCs have waffled back and forth on the future of CHEO while Dalton McGuinty and Ontario Liberals have fought to keep children's cardiac services in place. - The Eves PCs cut funding to Ottawa schools and took over the local school board. - The Eves PCs trampled over local democracy and stopped Ottawa from redrawing its own ward boundaries. - The Eves PCs cut back services to seniors who need home care, and then took over the local board of the Community Care Access Centre. "The Eves PCs have proven time and again they do not respect the wishes of the people of Ottawa. At every turn they have trampled over our rights and taken away our services," Watson said. "It's time for a change." Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

Todays “rentals” -yesterdays P3 The Liberal Minister of Health has continued the PC back room negotiations to privatize hospitals Call it a lease payment, call it rent - whatever you call it, it is a capital program with an additional 10-15% fee for profits which creates a false sense of health care costs It is no surprise that health spending is increasing so fast, the government is adding in a profit margin for every private facility Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

PC: Pay-as-you-go health care KITCHENER-WATERLOO, ON, Sept. 9 - "Eves has opened the door to creeping privatization. The people of Kitchener-Waterloo know what's hidden behind Door Number One in Eves Let's Make a Deal approach to health care," said Kitchener Centre Liberal candidate John Milloy. An MRI technologist was recently hired away from Windsor's Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital to work at the private pay-as-you-go KMH Cardiology and Diagnostic clinic in Kitchener, which opened over the summer. The technologist was lured away with a $15,000 bonus. Harris-Eves brings pay-as-you-go health care to Kitchener- Waterloo KITCHENER-WATERLOO, ON, Sept. 9 /CNW/ - Harris-Eves hidden agenda to bring two-tier, privatized, pay-as-you-go-to-the-front-of-the-line health care to Ontario is not so hidden to the people of Kitchener-Waterloo. "Eves has opened the door to creeping privatization. The people of Kitchener-Waterloo know what's hidden behind Door Number One in Eves Let's Make a Deal approach to health care," said Kitchener Centre Liberal candidate John Milloy. An MRI technologist was recently hired away from Windsor's Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital to work at the private pay-as-you-go KMH Cardiology and Diagnostic clinic in Kitchener, which opened over the summer. The technologist was lured away with a $15,000 bonus. Eves is going back on his word. "'There is no way the government wants to see any MRI in an existing public hospital facility stop doing what it's doing. That would defeat the purpose of having expanded services for MRI,' (Eves) said." The Record (Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge), August 1, 2003 The Harris-Eves hidden agenda has robbed Windsor of their public MRI facility of a valuable professional. Eves' promised Ontario private poaching would not occur, but poaching has become the norm. "...It is incumbent upon the minister and Ministry of Health to ensure that any existing MRI in any public hospital is not prevented from operating through lack of expert personnel." Ernie Eves in The Toronto Star, August 8, 2003 He promised that private clinics wouldn't have unfair advantages, but they're able to lure technicians away with huge bonuses. What is Eves next step on the road to two-tier health care? Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

McGuinty Liberals have plan to increase MRI and CT services TORONTO, Sept. 22 - A McGuinty Liberal government would increase access to public MRI and CT services across Ontario, and work with experts to set and meet maximum needs-based waiting times for care. "Ontario voters will choose between the Eves PCs giving billions away to large corporations and private schools or the McGuinty Liberal plan to put those hard earned tax dollars to work in our hospitals, providing health care services we desperately need," said Pupatello. McGuinty Liberals have plan to increase MRI and CT services Eves PCs want two-tier, pay-your-way-to-the-front-of-the-line health care TORONTO, Sept. 22 /CNW/ - A McGuinty Liberal government would increase access to public MRI and CT services across Ontario, and work with experts to set and meet maximum needs-based waiting times for care. "Ontario families deserve access to the very latest health care technology," said Liberal Deputy Leader Sandra Pupatello. "We will make sure MRI and CT services are available, in a public health care setting." Pupatello said the Eves PCs are committed to two-tier, pay your way to the front of the line health care. "We will stop the Eves PCs private, two-tier health care scheme. We will replace Eves' two-tier clinics with new MRI machines and CT scanners in public hospitals, where they belong," Pupatello said. McGuinty Liberals will create a $200 million per year Medical Equipment Fund to help pay for new MRIs and CTs. McGuinty Liberals will also work to set maximum needs-based waiting times for MRI and CT services. "Too many people are waiting too long to get essential health care services," said Pupatello. "Women should not have to wait for mammograms. Cancer patients should not have to wait for treatment. We will set maximum wait-time standards, and we will meet those standards." Pupatello noted the McGuinty Liberal plan is a fully costed balanced budget four-year plan that has been validated and certified by a forensic accountant and two independent senior economists. "Ontario voters will choose between the Eves PCs giving billions away to large corporations and private schools or the McGuinty Liberal plan to put those hard earned tax dollars to work in our hospitals, providing health care services we desperately need," said Pupatello. Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

Long-Term Care A P3 paradigm in action The government is now paying private developers to build facilities, complete with profit margins Service standards have been in decline since private operations have taken over Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

The Private Delivery Model Retirement REIT’s mandate is to provide the best  possible standard of accommodation, care and services to our residents, and to treat them with respect, dignity, and compassion. Our business mission is to generate stable and growing distributable income and maximize unit value through the efficient management of our senior care homes and related services, and by growing the business through accretive acquisitions and new developments, primarily in Canada. Retirement REIT is a publicly traded income trust (Toronto Stock Exchange, symbol rrr.un) specializing in the provision of accommodation and health services to Canada’s growing population of senior citizens.  The Trust operates its homes under the brand name Central Park Lodges, a respected operator since 1961 when it opened its first retirement home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Retirement REIT began trading on the TSX in April of 2001.In April 2002, Retirement REIT bought the assets of CPL Long Term Care REIT, at the time Canada’s largest owner and operator of long term care homes. From: http://www.retirementresidencesreit.com/investment/index.asp (Emphasis ours) Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

Retirement REIT Performance Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

Extendicare Achieves 75% Increase in Third Quarter Earnings Third Quarter Operational Highlights: The Ontario and Alberta governments implemented long-term care spending increases effective July 1 and August 1, respectively. These combined funding changes improved the Company's third quarter revenue from Canadian operations by approximately $3.0 million and EBITDA by approximately $1.5 million. The Company also benefited from the opening of new nursing homes in Ontario, adding approximately $6.3 million of revenue and EBITDA of $1.4 million to the quarter. Four nursing homes were opened in 2003, with an additional one scheduled to open in January. November 6, 2003 Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

What else costs more? Pharmaceuticals: Ontario’s drug costs have increased by 130 % since 1995/96 while pharmaceutical corporations top the Fortune 500 list in profits. We need controls on drug pricing. De-listing Services: De-listing moves the cost of health care services to the patient. Cuts to substance abuse and mental health programs also transfer costs to other agencies. Home Care: The competitive model for home care has completely destabilized a program critical to help people maintain independence and pushes the ill and disabled into more expensive institutional care. Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

Responsible spending isn’t about cutting service Tax revenues: MoF assumptions include an 11.5% growth in corporate profits for 2003, yet corporate tax revenues are forecast to drop over 3% in 2003/04 from 2002/03 “Publicise” Services: Annual average operating cost per bed in a long term care facility is over $30,000. Removing a 7% profit could reduce that by over $2,000 per bed. Borrowing: An acceptable measure to protect social programs Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

“Administrative savings” = “Steering, not rowing” TORONTO, Sept. 9 - Ernie Eves today claimed that 'administrative savings' aren't cuts, which is precisely the same argument the Harris-Eves PCs made in the 1995 election - before they cut everything from health care to water inspections. Reporter: "I understand that you are planning on seeing administrative efficiencies of $800 million this year, $700 million the next year, $750 million the year after and $850 million the year after that. Health care and education account for about 70 per cent of your total spending. Will any of these cuts come in health care or education?” Eves: "There are no cuts in this. These are 'administrative savings.'" Eves "administrative savings" are service cuts offering more of the same $700 million in cuts won't pay for $10.3 billion in promises TORONTO, Sept. 9 /CNW/ - Ernie Eves today claimed that 'administrative savings' aren't cuts, which is precisely the same argument the Harris-Eves PCs made in the 1995 election - before they cut everything from health care to water inspections. In 1995, the Common Sense Revolution promised: "we will reduce the cost of government administration" (CSR. p. 16). Harris and Eves said this would save $500 million a year. In that election, Harris and Eves also promised no cuts to classroom spending, health care, environmental protection or agriculture. They cut them all. Today, Ernie Eves attempted to explain his inability to pay for his $10.3 billion in annual campaign promises by claiming "$700 million in administrative efficiencies" will pay for them all. This is in addition to $800 million in unspecified cuts Eves says he will make in this year's budget. Eves said the following in response to a question from a reporter in Kitchener. Reporter: "I understand that you are planning on seeing administrative efficiencies of $800 million this year, $700 million the next year, $750 million the year after and $850 million the year after that. Health care and education account for about 70 per cent of your total spending. Will any of these cuts come in health care or education?" Eves: "There are no cuts in this. These are 'administrative savings.'" "Ernie Eves is using weasel words to hide the fact he cannot pay for his $10.3 billion empty promises," says Liberal MPP George Smitherman. Eves knows he will either break his promises or make billions of dollars in cuts to health care, education and environmental protection AGAIN. Two senior economists and a forensic auditor - including the Chief Economist of Scotiabank - have confirmed that our financial plan is more responsible and prudent that the Eves promises, and that our platform would lead to both balanced budgets in all four years and increased surpluses to invest in Ontario's future. Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

The Liberal Dilemma Honour a promise to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation by continuing a decade of cuts to public services   OR   Honour a promise to the voters of Ontario by renewing social programs and public services Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

Our Bottom Line We are willing to pay our fair share ... we support fair taxes to rebuild social programs We can't afford privatization ... it is an expensive hidden tax Medicare's future is at stake ... We must reinvest in public healthcare We voted for change and we meant it ...keep your promises Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004

The March budget is your opportunity to choose (WHITBY, ON, Oct. 1) Choose: Better schools and health care -- instead of massive tax giveaways for large corporations and private schools. More family doctors, nurses and hospital beds -- instead of a failed approach that has made Ontario tenth out of ten provinces in having enough family doctors, nurses and hospital beds. McGUINTY: Vote, and choose change A vote for Dennis Fox is a vote for real, positive change WHITBY, ON, Oct. 1 /CNW/ - Tomorrow's election is Ontario's opportunity to choose real, positive change instead of four more years of the same, old failed PC agenda, says Ontario Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty. "Tomorrow is voting day. Vote. And choose change," McGuinty said as he visited the campaign headquarters of Dennis Fox, the Liberal candidate in Whitby-Ajax. "The best hope for real, positive change that will help you and your family is a vote for Dennis Fox." Dalton McGuinty is barnstorming across eastern Ontario today, urging voters to choose change on voting day - tomorrow, October 2nd. Tomorrow is your opportunity to choose: - Better schools and health care -- instead of massive tax giveaways for large corporations and private schools. - A cap of 20 on class sizes in the early grades; raising the drop-out age from 16 to 18 so young people keep learning in a classroom, apprenticeship or job training; and funding our schools properly, so students are sharing ideas, instead of textbooks. - More family doctors, nurses and hospital beds -- instead of a failed approach that has made Ontario tenth out of ten provinces in having enough family doctors, nurses and hospital beds. - A strong economy built on a well-educated, highly skilled workforce, with 50,000 new university and college spaces, a freeze on tuition, and a doubling of apprenticeships. "It's time to make our province the envy of the world, once again,” McGuinty said. Thunder Bay Health Coalition February 5, 2004