As the PC government takes an important step towards providing universal mental healthcare, the NDP continues to be negative and an urge to keep the status quo.
Today, Addictions and Mental Health Minister Brian Comer announced investments that will bring access to mental healthcare for mood and anxiety disorders to Nova Scotians at no cost.
In response, NDP health critic Rod Wilson expressed "disappointment," and criticized the use of private practitioners as “a big red flag,” suggesting that the publicly funded, privately delivered model be scrapped altogether.
When pressed for the NDP’s alternative solution, Wilson suggested that the government maintain the status quo instead of expanding access to care through private partners.
“Nova Scotians expect our government to find new ways to provide access to mental health care, faster, and without cost,” said Nick Hilton, MLA for Yarmouth and Ministerial Assistant for Health and Wellness. “What we see from the NDP is more negativity, an inability to put ideology aside to find the best solutions, and an unwillingness to react with the urgency and speed that Nova Scotians deserve.”
While most Nova Scotians are looking for easier access, closer to home, Wilson states “we should build capacity and not create another separate pathway”.
Hilton says that Nova Scotians want more access points, not more waitlists.
Claudia Chender’s NDP have a record of being negative about healthcare solutions, including:
- A transition care facility, to get people out of hospitals and into the right level of care.
- The YourHealthNS app to connect Nova Scotians to healthcare access points and their health records.
- Offering virtual care for lower-tier inquiries, such as prescription renewals.
- Claudia Chender called it "completely ridiculous" to launch a challenge fund for healthcare workers to submit their ideas on how to make improvements to the healthcare system.