Winnie is running out of time to not sound reactionary to these bold promises....

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http://www.nugget.ca/2018/03/16/ford-makes-bold-promises-to-northern-ontario

Doug Ford (Postmedia Photo)

Newly elected Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford says he believes in providing proper transportation for the North, reducing wait times for health care and getting a shovel in the ground for the Ring of Fire.

Ford made the promises Friday during a telephone conference with Northern Ontario media.

“Our party is stronger than ever, united to send Kathleen Wynne packing and we offer new hope for a government that has made life unaffordable,” Ford told reporters.

“My message to you today is very clear. Northern Ontario can count on the PCs. Under a PC government, Northern Ontario will have a strong voice. It will be open for business. It will have lower hydro bills, shorter wait times and better health care,” he said.

Ford also promised the North a say in decisions made at Queen’s Park.

He promises to “criss-cross” the North like never before, working with MPPs to make Northern Ontario a prosperous region.

“The difference between us the Liberals, we’re doers. We’re going to stop talking and start doing to create an economic prosperity in the North,” he said.

Ford told reporters he believes transportation links are vital to the North and vowed to restore the Northlander which will help get people to and from work in the North.

“It opens their lives up for employment, for entertainment,” he said.

When asked about the Highway 69 four-laning project and whether he would get the plan back on schedule, Ford asked Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli to respond.

Fedeli blamed the Liberals for not completing the “critical piece of infrastructure” but stopped short of saying the project would be pushed through to completion by the Tories.

Ford also talked about the importance of getting a shovel into the ground to start road work to the Ring of Fire.

Accessing the vast chromite deposits will create economic prosperity in the North, he said.

“This has been a broken promise for years,” he said. “I’m tired of talk. We’re going to start building roads.”

He said the PCs will have discussions with the stakeholders and ensure that the project is beneficial to everyone.

“We’re willing to put the money in to get things moving and cut out the red tape and the bureaucracy . . . and get shovels in the ground,” he said. “Government drives me absolutely crazy. They sit there and go around and around . . . we’re going to treat this with urgency like we’re in the private sector and go out and deliver.”

And a second-tier health care system must be fixed in the North, he said.

Ford said that health care needs to be improved by using a format implemented at the Toronto-area Humber River Hospital. The first digital-format hospital has the shortest wait times in the province and uses technology to create savings.

Ford says front-line doctors and nurses need to be consulted to help put in systems to reduce wait times and increase health care procedures.

“The people of the North are down to earth, hardworking, honest people but they are struggling,” he said. “The party is over. We’re going to start putting money back into your pocket.”

Ford said his team will be the ‘fighter for the North’ and the Ontario PCs will be a strong voice.

“We’re going to be your champion. We’re going to fight for the North,” he said.