Ontario's New Democrat Leader Andrea Horwath announced a platform that would see universal pharmacare and dental coverage for all, the de-privatization of Hydro One, and truly free post-secondary education.
Horwath made the announcement in Toronto Saturday, saying there will be more items added to the platform that also includes holding the federal government accountable for the rights of indigenous people.
Windsor-West MPP Lisa Gretzky worked in the dental field before shifting into politics with the NDP.
Gretzky tells AM800 News ensuring everyone has proper health and dental would actually save the province money in the long run through preventative care. She says in her experience many people who can't afford a dentist wind-up in an emergency room — which isn't equipped and costs taxpayers much more than a trip to the dentist.
"When you look at making sure people can take the medication that they need, when you make sure that people have good oral care, and when you look at our healthcare system overall there's definitely saving to be had by make sure people are getting the care that they need up front," she says.
Gretzky says taxpayers are always concerned with skyrocketing hydro costs, but the privatization of Hydro One is costing them much more.
"When the Conservatives started to sell it off and the Liberals continued down that path, what they've done is actually taken out a revenue stream from the province and they've passed that cost onto the people of Ontario," says Gretzky. "By bringing it back into public hands we can get the cost back under control and any revenue can go back into make sure that the people of Ontario have the public services they need."
Many residents in Windsor-Essex have come to Gretzky after going through hardships that pulled them away from school only to learn under the Liberal government's plan their free tuition grant had suddenly become a loan.
She says it's a loophole the NDP wants to close.
"Once they fall below a certain threshold, whether that's attendance or grades, they no longer qualify for this free tuition," she says. "So what they were told was free is no longer free, they actually have to pay it back to the government. We're talking about grants that you do not repay under any circumstance."
In a recent poll Horwath holds a slight edge over Premier Kathleen Wynne, but much less popular than Conservative Candidate Doug Ford.
The provincial election is slated for June 7.