Money by week's end, Eves tells hospitals
Trenton - Cash-strapped Ontario hospitals will be receiving a funding infusion by the end of the week, Premier Ernie Eves promises. After reports from hospitals that they are borrowing money on lines-of-credit to pay workers and threatening layoffs, Eves, whose government budgeted $10.3 billion for hospitals and health centres, announced that he would start making good on the promise.
But not before he worked his typically political jargon on anyone that could stand to listen.
"So far to date, we've advanced $3.9 billion of that $10.3 (billion). So, despite the fact that we're only a little over a quarter of the way through the fiscal year, we've advanced a considerable portion of base funding for health centres and hospitals in the province," he said deliberately confusedly.
He then added, "My government is increasing hospital funding by more than $630 million this year - including $130 million for capital and equipment needs and $17 million for a special program for stroke patients. So that left (about) $484 million of additional funding this year. Of that, $179 (million) has been flowed ... to hospitals already and I believe (the remainder is) yet to be allocated out of that fund. That will be done this week. And as much money as possible of that amount will be flowed this week as well."
Makes your head swim when they throw large amounts of money around like small change, eh?
In seemingly unrelated news, the Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto Concert will be held tomorrow. Organizers expect 450 000 people to attend and drink at least 5 beers each. At ten cents a can, you'll find that $225 000.00 worth of empties will likely be scooped up by a little Premier-like fellow who will then drive them to the back door at Queen's Park to help pay for his long-overdue handout to Ontario's hospitals.
Please, call an election soon, Ernie. We hate to see you scavenging like this. |
