Doug Ford’s Boozedoggle waste could have hired 1,400 family doctors for Ontario
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2025
TORONTO – Today, Ontario’s Financial Accountability Officer revealed the true cost of Doug Ford’s Boozedoggle will top $1.9 billion, exposing the sky high price Ontario taxpayers will pay for his wrong priorities.
The taxpayer dollars spent just to get booze in big box stores a year earlier than planned, would have allowed Ontario to hire 1,400 family doctors to provide care to 2 million people. There are currently at least 2.5 million people in Ontario on the waiting list for a family doctor.
“What a disastrous waste of money. Once again, Doug Ford has been caught red handed,” said Bonnie Crombie, Leader of Ontario’s Liberals. “He gave $1.9 billion of your hard earned money to big beer companies and his American billionaire buddies who own 7-11 and Costco, instead of getting people a family doctor.”
The government watchdog calculated the cost of Doug Ford’s shady backroom deal to be $1.9 billion, including $489 million to buy off to the big brewers. This follows months of Doug Ford hiding the true costs of his Boozedoggle from the people of Ontario.
“Doug Ford has the wrong priorities. People are being forced to wait for care in hallways and gymnasiums, and lining up in the freezing cold for a chance at a family doctor; while he funnels your money to his rich friends,” added Crombie. “This is $1.9 billion that could have been used to get more than 1.5 million people off the waitlist for a family doctor.”
Bonnie Crombie and Ontario’s Liberals have been clear. Your tax money should be working for you. Team Bonnie has a plan to get the basics right, including a guarantee to educate, attract, and retain 3,100 family doctors, ensuring everyone in Ontario has a family doctor within four years.
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For media enquiries contact:
Eric Osborne
Acting Press Secretary, Ontario Liberal Party
Email: [email protected]