Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky is vowing an NDP government will address gaps in health care in Ontario and Windsor.
"Everybody should be able to get the care they need, when they need it. Health care is in crisis."
Gretzky says if the NDP is elected, it will increase hospital funding by 5.3%, spend $19-billion over 10 years on capital projects, will hire 2,200 new mental health care workers and 400 more mental health care workers for high schools.
The 400 workers for high schools would be funded by eliminating EQAO provincial testing.
She points out there are 500 children in Windsor-Essex who are on a wait list to receive mental health care.
Gretzky says it is not just about addressing the needs of adults.
"Mental health is just as important as physical health. The NDP has committed to hiring 2,200 new mental health workers and 400 more mental health care workers for high schools."
At a recent press conference, Gretzky received the support of local mother Andrea Corby who has had to remortgage her house to pay for the residential treatment her 15-year-old son is receiving in Northern Ontario to help with his anxiety, depression and defiance disorder.
Corby says she has even set up a gofundme page.
"It has had a huge impact on my family, we just want him to get the help that he needs and there is no funding out there for us."
(L to R) Former Ouellette Campus social worker and discharge planner Suzy Sulaiman, Windsor-West MPP Lisa Gretzky and local mother Andrea Corby. May 25, 2018 (Photo by AM800's Teresinha Medeiros)
Gretzky says it's about funding and working with agencies to reduce the current wait lists for children.
"There are currently 500, at least 500 children in our community that are on wait lists for mental health services so we are committed to working with all of the community agencies to eliminate the wait list, we can't just be talking about adult mental health and addictions."
Gretzky also recommitted to open the 89 beds at Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare which are there, but are not currently funded.