Ontario Greens Deputy Leader Matt Richter has released the following statement in response to an updated Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) Capital Redevelopment Committee proposal that would add ten net new acute care beds to the Bracebridge hospital, bringing the total up to 46.

“This is a positive outcome for our Muskoka community, and I’m grateful for all the local champions who made it happen,” says Richter. “For far too long, our communities have been pitted against each other as they try to secure scarce healthcare resources from a government that doesn’t care about them.

The Premier’s failure to take responsibility has divided Muskoka residents and created tension in the region. And while the addition of new hospital beds in Bracebridge is a positive step, the Ford government is still ploughing ahead with their plan to privatize public healthcare.

Our communities, and all Ontario communities, deserve high-quality healthcare that’s affordable and available to everyone. We need the Ford government to commit to keeping our healthcare public and investing in the frontline healthcare workers who keep the system running.

Greens will continue working alongside you to save public healthcare, invest in healthcare workers and put patients before profits.”