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FEDELI DECLARES WIN FOR ONTARIO SENIORS

QUEEN’S PARK  – Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli is very pleased with today’s announcement from the Wynne government that they are “pausing” planned increases to drug cost contributions proposed in the 2016 Budget for seniors not considered by the government to be low-income.

The increases were due to come into effect August 1.

“Ontario’s seniors rely on their medications to keep them healthy and out of the hospital. The government’s changes would have hurt the vast majority (92%) who would have seen their prescription costs nearly double,” said Fedeli.

“Seniors have already seen their physiotherapy services cut, hydro rates are making them choose whether to heat or eat, and now this government is making the cost of medications more unaffordable,” Fedeli said, noting the government has also cut the Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit, which helped seniors live independently and safely in their homes.

The Official Opposition filed amendments to the budget bill that would have been voted on this week by the Legislature’s Finance Committee that would have reversed the changes.  “I think it’s clear that the government was feeling the heat,” said Fedeli.

It’s already been shown that the Wynne government’s pre-budget consultation process was a sham, and today’s decision is just more proof they didn’t do their research properly, Fedeli added.

“The government has now promised consultations on the Ontario Drug Benefit and proper income thresholds sometime this year,” said Fedeli.

“My caucus and I will work to ensure the government truly listens to Ontarians this time around, and that our seniors won’t be forced to pay for this government’s waste, scandal and mismanagement.”