Why won’t the Ontario Government allow Ombudsman Andre Marin to have his areas of oversight extended to hospitals?
According to Marin, "Ontario remains the only province that doesn’t allow its ombudsman to investigate hospitals and long-term care homes." (Sun)
Marin feels that since health care comprises such a huge portion of the provincial budget, and there are problems deliberately kept away from the public scrutiny such as C difficile, that he should be allowed to investigate (Star):
Ontario’s ombudsman says the superbug C. difficile, which has cost the lives of about 260 people, would have been investigated by now if the government wasn’t too frightened of embarrassment to let him do it.
André Marin says he’s "uncovered a treasure trove of government maladministration" and that it’s time the province let him look at hospitals.
Right now, hospitals are beyond Marin’s investigative powers and he used the release of his annual report yesterday to demand change.
"With the annual health-care budget eating up a whopping $40 billion, or 40 per cent of the government’s total spending, it’s unthinkable that this sector isn’t subject to the same kind of oversight as the rest of government," Marin said…
Health Minister George Smitherman has responded that "It’s not in the government’s plans to move forward on".
And why would you, if you are in control of the majority of the bobbleheads in Queen’s Park, and are already planning your third term?
Why in heaven’s name would you jeopardize your political standing for values that are as insignificant as integrity, accountability and the safeguarding of human life?
Because it’s all about staying in power , right George?
And BTW, where exactly is that Health Tax going?
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Related: No minimum standard for senior care – Star.
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11 AM Update: NDP MPP France Gelinas is pressing this issue right now in the Legislature. Good for her!
Andrea Horwath is raising a similar issue regarding CAS, which the Ombudsman suggested should also be under his purview.
Good work, ladies! Keep the heat up.
Afternoon Update: McGuinty to shake up cabinet. (Check out the Globe comments.)
