Mr. Speaker, one year ago Mike Harris and the other premiers signed the health accord with the federal government allocating $23 billion in new health care funding. They said that it was a good deal then but now it is not enough.
The province of Ontario has seen increases in federal transfers over the last five years from 22% of their total program spending to 27% today.
The provincial finance minister thinks we should use the deferred small business tax instalments to fund health care. Tory logic, deferred money is new money. This is an initiative to help small business with their cashflow, not to allow for an increase to the Harris Tories.
They just do not get it. In 2001-02, federal transfers are providing $1.1 billion of the $1.2 billion increase in Ontario health care spending. The provincial health minister threatens to take drug money away from seniors, while at the same time giving tax cuts while in deficit and issuing $200 rebate cheques. Then they cry poor. Canadians know better.