Ontario PC leader Doug Ford announcing his plan to cut hospital waiting times at the site for the new wing of the London Road Diagnostic Clinic. April 20, 2018. (Photo by Colin Gowdy, BlackburnNews)

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Using Sarnia’s Bluewater Health as a backdrop Friday, Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford declared he’ll end “hallway health care” if elected premier June 7.

Ford visited the construction site at London Road Diagnostic Clinic where a new wing is being built.

He vowed to cut wait times by opening up to 30,000 new long-term care beds across the province over the next ten years.

“Hospital beds are costing the taxpayers $3,500 per day. Long-term care beds are approximately $135 per day,” says Ford. “We need to start building more long-term care beds that will relieve the hospitals.”

Ford accused the Kathleen Wynne government of mismanaging the health care system and promised to control spending. He says over the last 15 years the total number of Assistant Deputy Ministers at the Ministry of Health has grown from six to 21.

His healthcare plan will be led by Dr. Rueben Devlin, the former CEO and President of Humber River Hospital.

The PC leader also said he’s opposed to safe injection sites across Ontario and believes the focus should be on drug rehabilitation.

“I ask anyone out there, if your son, daughter or loved one ever had an addiction, would you want them to go in a little area and do more drugs? I am dead against that,” says Ford. “But I fully understand that there’s a small epidemic out there and we have to help these people and we’ll make sure we have the resources to help them.”

Ford’s day began at the Quality Inn Point Edward where over 200 people packed a banquet room, many of whom were left standing if they arrived after 8:45 am.

The rally included a 20-minute speech from Ford and a meet-and-greet that had people lined up along two walls of the room.