Even though the Ontario budget increases overall health care spending by 6 percent, the money is spread over so many programs, no one service receives special consideration even though the needs may be greater in some areas such as home care and nursing homes.

“There is nothing to enhance current home care services,” said Sharleen Stewart, President of the Service Employees International Union Local 1.on, a 43,000 member provincial health care union.

“The McGuinty government has not addressed the real care needs of seniors living in nursing homes,” Stewart said. “A mere $107million more over three years to hire more personal support workers will amount to only one additional PSW per home per year.”

“Money for an additional 2000 RNs for nursing homes would have been better directed to increasing the amount of Registered Practical Nurses and PSWs since they provide more direct hands on care,” Stewart said.

“After this budget Ontario still will continue to have the lowest standards of nursing home care in the western world,” Stewart said.

“We have also seen little to enhance social programs. Workers in social service agencies have their wages tied to what the government allocates to these agencies. As a result of this budget social service workers’ wages will again be left behind the rate of inflation,” Stewart said.

“The Ontario Liberal government’s commitment to reducing poverty lasted only up to the last provincial election day,” Stewart said. “It is also clear the McGuinty Liberals have no intention of eliminating the Health Care Premium. Health care workers will continue to subsidize their own wages,” Stewart said.