Premier Doug Ford’s bold initiatives — from cutting the cap-and-trade program to cancelling the basic income pilot program — will take a toll on nursing and health care in Ontario.

Seeing that the cap-and-trade program was put in place to help fight climate change, it’s obvious that the removal of this program will have a negative environmental impact. Just this summer we’ve seen extreme heat that killed 90 in Quebec, raging forest fires and intense and unprecedented rain storms.

It’s seems every week there is a new #onstorm to tweet about. Pulling out of Canada’s plan to fight climate change will undoubtedly contribute to extreme temperatures and more sick people in Ontario’s already gridlocked emergency rooms. Don’t forget the cut to social housing and school repairs due to the lost revenue from the program, which will leave more people homeless and impoverished and risk the health of children.

Ford has also rolled back the sex-ed curriculum and privatized OHIP+, changes that also impact health care. Students will suffer without needed updates related to consent, LGBTQ+ relationships, and internet safety.

Expect a rise in sexual abuse, bullying, and sexually transmitted infections — increasing health care costs.

Similarly, the OHIP+ changes negatively target youth. The decision to bill those under 25-years-old with private insurance overlooks those who may be estranged from their parents. Billing their parents’ private insurance could put them in potential danger, and even more concerning, may cause them to avoid seeking medical care altogether.

Moving further, the decision to cut the basic income pilot program was arguably the most sinister move, considering the Progressive Conservative government vowed to continue the program prior to its victory.

Lisa MacLeod, the minister of Children, Community and Social Services, claimed “the basic income research project is failing …” She failed to cite any of the positive stories that users of this program have experienced. This project was to continue for two more years, at which point the results could be analyzed appropriately. Instead, it was cut not even a year into the pilot project.

Many who had used this program had gone back to school, and could afford their medications. And more importantly, they had become healthier. Eliminating the program, along with cutting in half the 3 per cent increase to disability payments and Ontario Works shows we have a government “for the people” — unless those people are poor. We will see increased poverty in Ontario and it’s clear that poverty leads to poor health.

Doug Ford pledged to end hallway nursing, but instead his mandate is pushing the line of patients even further out those emergency room doors. Under this government, Ontarians will get sicker and our health professionals and the community will suffer.

We have a government for the rich that will erode our public health care system. But I mean, enjoy your dollar beers, I guess! In moderation, please. Our emergency rooms are full enough.

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Sharon Nwamadi is a nursing student at McMaster University.

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