The ongoing problem of opioid addiction, lack of housing, and a severe shortage of primary health care are among the difficulties facing Southeastern Ontario. However, as the provincial budget was presented on Tuesday, the Conservative government claims it is working to address these issues.
Frequent instances of clinics opening without available spaces for patients emphasize the urgent need for action. Luckily, a new medical school north of Toronto is aiming to deal with the shortage of family doctors.
“I know that from Brockville, to Belleville, to Quinte West and north into Bancroft, primary care is a real concern,” Bay of Quinte MPP, Todd Smith said. “So it’s great that we’re investing in the health human resources that we need.”
However, Liberal MPP for Kingston and the Islands, Ted Hsu, observed, “We’re always hoping for more in the budget. Some long-term planning. Because we have some serious problems that are not going to be resolved overnight.”
The Ford government also announced funds for ‘house enabling infrastructure’ like water, sewer, and roads. However, Liberal MPP Ted Hsu believes the focus is wrong, stressing the need for affordable housing.
Hsu said, “It’s affordable housing. I think that this government is focused more on single detached homes in the expanding outwards from cities. But a lot of people can’t afford that.”
Kingston has been favoring vertical development but is willing to use provincial funds to address both issues and introduce much-needed affordable housing.
“The housing situation is so severe right now that we need all types of housing, in all areas of the city and certainly that’s our focus here,” Kingston Mayor, Bryan Paterson said.
Another part of the budget that Mayor Paterson is closely monitoring is the increase in recreational funding. He hopes to use this for the proposed swimming facility at the Invista Centre.
“Asking for more details about when that funding will become available, what sort of criteria will be involved in being able to access it,” Paterson said. “But certainly that will be an important part of our advocacy in getting the pool project off the ground.”
While the city and the YMCA have committed to covering two-thirds of the cost of the swimming facility, the remaining $35 million will need to be secured through private fundraising or other levels of government. This means the new recreation funding could not have come at a more opportune time.
