Blue Like You

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.)

Via Dr. Fullerton we have this message from Conservative MPP Health Critic Elizabeth Witmer - Smitherman Admits Liberals Have No Plan for Health Care.

And lo and behold, the Health Minister actually does admit that his attention was elsewhere:

…“The McGuinty government has broken its own promise to produce a plan to address the gaps in Ontario’s health system,” said Witmer. “Whether it’s improving access to care, modernizing health infrastructure, shortening wait times or promoting good health, Ontario requires a long term vision. A vision the McGuinty Liberals have failed to produce.”

When confronted by PC Health Critic, Elizabeth Witmer, Smitherman said “It’s true to say, and I have to take responsibility that we haven’t hit our marks on this.” The Minister went on to suggest that the report would be published sometime in 2008, however Ministry officials refused to specify a specific date this would happen. As well, during the committee proceedings Smitherman suggested the report was held back due to the 2007 election . “I think that the difficulty that we were into, to be direct with you, was that the window last year got too close to the election, ” said Smitherman…

And with Dalton already pondering the next election, Ontario’s health care situation may soon be D.O.A.

Meanwhile, Blue Blogging Soapbox has found an article suggesting that Dalton’s luck may be running out - Clouds for McGuinty (and Company) :

…The Liberal government could face huge public wrath also over its shortcomings in tackling the infection C. difficile, which is believed to have killed at least 260 patients , and possibly many more, in Ontario hospitals since mid-2006.

This compares to 44 killed by the SARS epidemic of 2002-3 , which produced alarms and investigations. The Conservatives have asked for a public enquiry, but the Liberals, who have been slow even collecting information, have refused. ..

So, are you still happy to pay out that Health Tax, my dear Ontario Lemmings?

Still getting value for your money?

Via the Star:

…federal Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion said the premier "has always shown a lot of courage and determination.

"He’s an inspiration for what I intend to do for the country," Dion said at the provincial meeting.

Well if that doesn’t send chills up and down your carbon-taxed spine, I don’t know what will.

Dalton predicts that the Ontario Liberals will "win a third straight majority in 2011," because no other party is up to challenges facing the province .

As John Tory notes, Dalton’s Liberals are already "showing signs of arrogance that normally would have taken them two full terms to arrive at".

Not only that, but Dalton also seems to feel that questions from reporters about whether or not he would consider raising taxes in the face of an economic downturn in order to maintain existing programs are ‘ silly’.

Never mind that he does have a record of doing just that.

So what exactly is it that Stephane Dion admires so much? Is it Dalton’s ability to win two consecutive majorities? Or is it that Dalton is getting a free ride with no serious opposition? Or is he inspired by Dalton’s arrogance?

Or is it his ability to manufacture non-existing crises and then pretend to have found the solution?

Does Dion admire Dalton’s ban fetish?

Does Dion agree with enabling the victimization of Muslim women by ignoring published evidence of polygamy? (Added as an update)

If Stephane Dion were to become Prime Minister of Canada, would he be looking to Dalton McGuinty as his mentor?

I honestly don’t think Ontario could survive the effects of a Double-Dalton.

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Update: For a lighter read, this imagined diary by Joseph Brean is hilarious - Dear Diary: Dalton McGuinty.

Enjoy.

Not-so-funny-update : McGuinty celebrates while citizens die - BBS. This is a must-read. I have to admit it even flew under my radar until now. Nice job, George. Memories of SARS, eh?

Monday update: Ontario picks Darlington for new reactors (Globe). Check out the comments at this Globe site as well.

Ontario passes passes ban on smoking in cars with kids under 16 (CP). Ah, great but what if the kids are the ones smoking?

Dalton McGuinty has just announced that he will be seeking a third term in office! (Globe )

I have no pithy words for this horrible turn of events. Feelings are ranging from shock, horror, disgust and personal anguish, heart palpitations and a dull, sick, thud in the pit of my stomach.

Check out comments following the article, which are actually quite a hoot:

Robert Loblaw from Canada writes: "Dalton must run for a third term - there are so many more things that need to be banned."

* Posted 13/06/08 at 3:23 PM EDT

Atlantica Party.ca - worked for the Bloc from Canada writes:

"Good !

He’s staying in Ontario .

I was afraid he was thinking of taking on a job that may affect other parts of the country."

* Posted 13/06/08 at 3:32 PM EDT

Rick C from Canada writes: "Maybe Dalton should try to actually do something during his second term before talking about a third."

* Posted 13/06/08 at 3:43 PM EDT

Ah, you just head over there and read them all for yourself.

I’m going to try saying a prayer. I think that’s our only hope.

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Update: Speaking of prayers, this whole Lord’s Prayer controversy has turned into quite the can of worms, as Blizzard notes above.

Now we have TWO PRAYERS instead of one on a daily basis, and the secularists are not happy. Activist Henry Beissel states:

"I think it’s very sad that Canada can’t move forward into the 21st century," he said. "This type of religious fanaticism and racism belongs to past centuries and it’s time to move on."

Nice move, Dalton. Now the Lord’s Prayer is religious fanaticism.

How about focusing on something that actually needs to be fixed. Like job losses, maybe?

Bigger Update: HAMPTON TO STEP DOWN AS NDP LEADER: SOURCES. (Note to certain other person. Can you take a hint?)

The Girl in Blue - Friday the 13th just got scarier. That’s right! Friday the 13th!! I should have stayed in bed. Not a good day in Ontario.