Securing a Fair Share for Ontario
For the Attention of Hospital CEOs, Board Chairs, OHA Board of Directors and CACN Members
From Hilary Short, President and CEO
The Government of Ontario has recently launched a campaign to secure a fairer fiscal deal from the federal government. Ontarians currently send $23 billion more in taxes to Ottawa than they receive back in services and transfer payments. This fiscal gap has severely hampered the ability of Ontario governments to fund priority programs like health care. As a first step toward closing this gap, the McGuinty government has called on the federal government to provide Ontario with an additional $5 billion this year in transfer payments.
The OHA fully supports the Premier, the government, and the Ontario Legislature in their call for a fairer fiscal deal. On February 22, 2005, the OHA signed a multi-stakeholder letter calling on the Prime Minister to address the fiscal gap; the OHA signed a second letter to the Prime Minister on this subject on April 21. These letters can be found on the OHA website
Today, the OHA posted a link to the Government of Ontario’s fiscal fairness advocacy website, www.strongontario.ca, on the OHA website. We strongly encourage Members to visit the government’s website, and to raise this issue directly with their Members of Parliament.
The OHA also plans to participate in future activities geared to drawing the public's attention to this very important issue. We will keep Members informed about these activities, and how they can also become involved, via future Bulletins.
If you have any questions related to the fiscal fairness campaign or this Bulletin, please contact Chris McPherson, OHA Public Affairs, at 416-205-1305 (email: cmcpherson@oha.com).