Stiles: Rural communities left behind as Ontario faces the worst year for ER closures

QUEEN’S PARK – Marit Stiles, Leader of the Ontario NDP, called out the government’s dismal health care record as CBC reports that Ontario is facing the worst year for emergency room and urgent care closures.

“No one deserves to go to their local hospital with a medical emergency only to find their ER closed,” said Stiles. “Emergency rooms are meant to be available 24/7, not just in the daytime and on weekdays. They’re not a nice-to-have, they are a basic health service that every Ontarian has a right to.”

“Hospitals in Clinton, Chesley, Kincardine, Walkerton, and Durham have had repeated, and sometimes simultaneous closures over the last few years,” added Stiles, “not to mention hospitals like Minden, that have been permanently closed.”

“Rural Ontarians deserve better than to be taken for granted by their government. Every single person in this province deserves access to care when they need it, close to home.”

QUICK FACTS:

• Consecutive Liberal and Conservative governments have made cuts to our health care system, creating this crisis.
• Liberals froze hospital budgets below inflation for every year they were in government, leading to staffing shortages, ER closures, long wait times, and hallway health care. Under Ford’s watch, it kept getting worse.
• A CBC report revealed that chronic understaffing has had a disproportionate impact on rural communities, predominantly represented by PC MPPs.
• 1 in 5 Ontario hospitals with an ER or urgent care centre had unplanned closures in 2024.
• Top 10 ERs with most days of reduced hours and partial closures are all in rural communities.