What is the McGuinty Government hiding?
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.)
June 18th, 2008 at 11:23 am
As a hospital employee I say let’s get this done!! Too many people hired in administration, too much spending on non-health care, and nurses,patients and doctors being IGNORED!!
June 18th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Good point.
Interesting discussion going on towards the end of comments at Dr. Fullerton’s blog.
June 18th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
What is the government hiding?–their ineptitude.
I’d like to see the ombudsman go after school boards as well. Special education spending is such a fraud.
June 18th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Health and education bureaucracies know that Dolton McLiar will give them a blank cheque if they help get him elected - it worked out for them last time.
Look at the Ontario government’s ‘$100,000 club’ - those well connected people are getting rich off the working people. Club members are in positions that give them a lot of influence, and they use that influence to ensure corrupt Liberals get elected and give them more money.
June 19th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
what are they hiding?
enter any school or hospital in the province and you’ll get your answer.
I’m sending Marin my support for full audits on hospitals, school boards and post-secondary schools.
The layers of accountability(or not) need exposing.
The sooner the better.