(Ontario) Liberal Priorities — Eye Exams Out, Sex Change In

One of the first "accomplishments" of Dalton McGuinty's government was introducing healthcare premiums (from $300 to $900 a year) and de-listing medical services covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, among them - eye exams and partially-subsidized chiropractor services. They claimed that those tax hikes and service cuts were necessary to balance the books and to pay for essential services.

That was 4 years ago. Now it looks like the government of Ontario has finally got some extra cash. One may think that once the government is no longer cash strapped, they'd reduce healthcare premiums. Or at the least - that they would re-instate free eye exams and chiropractor allowance, making it a little cheaper for Ontarians to have their vision and posture corrected... Forget it! The extra money goes to those who think they'd be better off if they had their gender "changed".

TORONTO - Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman said Thursday the province plans to reinstate funding for sex-change surgery nearly a decade after the previous Conservative government stopped covering the procedure.
...
"It is the government's intention to move forward with the provision of services on about the same level as they were (when) cancelled some number of years ago," Smitherman said, noting the details of the leaked announcement have yet to be finalized.

(Source)

How about reinstating funding to the services which Mr. Smitherman himself de-listed just 4 years ago, before worrying about funding elective procedures? Smitherman claims that only 8-10 people will qualify each year for the subsidized treatment. Even if those claims are credible - why should the interests of a handful of sick perverts prevail over the needs of millions of ordinary Ontarians who pay more taxes and get less services than 5 years ago? What kind of priorities are those?

The provincial NDP critic is cheering the idea, suggesting that "this will save lives". How can changing one's genitalia actually save lives? The Ontario PC party spokesperson wants to wait for the government announcement first - as if there could be anything positive about using taxpayers' money to fund elective injurious procedures.

There's only one party that is capable of bringing common sense to Ontario's healthcare - the Family Coalition Party. Up until the FCP forms the government - Ontarians will be paying more to sustain the provincial healthcare system, getting less services in return.