LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

Wednesday 19 October 2005

QUEENSWAY CARLETON HOSPITAL

Mr. John R. Baird (Nepean-Carleton): Today I rise with yet another example of where the federal government is failing Ontario taxpayers. Taxpayers know it was Paul Martin, as finance minister, who reduced federal spending on health care in Ontario from 18% of our health care budget down to just 11% before he was fired by Jean Chretien. Then he expects a pat on the back when he increases it to 14%. I'm sorry, Mr. Martin, people just aren't buying it.

Now he has targeted one Ottawa area hospital for special treatment. The Queensway Carleton Hospital in Nepean was built 30 years ago on land owned by the federal government. Over the years they've paid about a million dollars in rent to the feds. Now, as the renewal of the lease comes forward, Paul Martin wants to jack it up to full market rent. For this hospital, that could be millions of dollars.

MP Pierre Poilievre and I have launched a campaign to convince Mr. Martin and the federal Liberals to do the right thing and rent the land for $1. If they don't, the hospital could have to fire up to 40 nurses according to the former chair of the board. Thus far, Martin and the federal liberals aren't budging.

It would be wrong for the province to have to fatten the coffers of a government with an anticipated $10-billion surplus rather than hiring more nurses and reducing wait times.

Conservatives are onside with the hospital's request. New Democrats federally and even some provinically are onside with the plan. Even Ottawa West-Nepean Liberal MPP Jim Watson supports the plan for $1 a year.

Angry taxpayers can visit www.freeourhospital.ca and sign the petition to force the Martin liberals off this mean spirited scheme. It's never too late to do the right thing.