A recent Algoma Branch event offered older adults an opportunity to hear from Ontario provincial government candidates for the Sault Ste. Marie riding.
The Algoma Branch of the National Association of Federal Retirees, in partnership with District-03-Algoma of the Retired Teachers of Ontario, hosted a meet-the-candidates event on Feb. 20.
This event was an opportunity for older adults to hear from Ontario provincial government candidates from the Sault Ste. Marie riding. Parties with representation at Queen's Park were invited — Liberal, PC, NDP and Green party candidates.
Invited candidates from the Liberal Party of Ontario and Ontario NDP parties attended. The local candidate for the New Blue Party of Ontario also attended the event. Candidates from the Ontario PC party and the Green Party of Ontario did not attend.
Conversation focused on seniors’ issues, with Federal Retirees Algoma Branch president and Ontario advocacy program officer Linda MacDonald asking the first question.
“Ontario ranks last among all Canadian provinces in public hospital funding per person, and we have the fewest hospital beds per person compared to all other provinces.
"There are long wait lists for hospital services, patients left waiting on stretchers and hallways for beds, delayed treatments and dangerously high hospital occupancy rates. Ontario has the fewest nurses per patient of any province. Private for-profit staffing agencies are charging exorbitant rates to hospitals and driving up public health-care costs," MacDonald said.
"Sault Area Hospital, like most hospitals across Ontario, has been operating without stabilized funding. The funding it has received has not kept pace with inflation.
"There has been an unprecedented number of emergency room closures in hospitals across the province. What would your government do to address the crisis in Ontario's public hospitals including the nurse staffing crisis?" asked MacDonald.
This Ontario election event received coverage in the local SooToday both before and after the event. Rogers TV also attended and recorded the event (English only).
Learn more about Federal Retirees’ Ontario election campaign on our Ontario Votes 2025 webpage.