Yvonne Jones, Opposition Health and Community Services Critic and MHA for the District of Cartwright-L’anse au Clair, says today is the beginning of this government’s creation of a social deficit in the province.

 “The health care sector in our province is one of the biggest losers in today’s budget,” said Ms. Jones. “If this government wanted to maintain the level of services that we experienced last year, we would have witnessed an 8 per cent increase in health care spending in today’s budget. We didn’t see this and I now fear massive cuts in the health care system in the province.

 “Not only did we see the cancellation of the cancer clinic in Grand Falls-Windsor, the health facility in Grand Bank and the expansion to the James Patton hospital in Gander, we also see many deferrals in vital equipment and services in today’s budget. How can the minister justify these cutbacks to the people who require these services?

 “I also fear the cuts that will occur in the coming months. This budget indicates that services will be reduced in rural areas of the province, health care boards will be reduced, personnel will be redistributed to urban areas and further increases to user fees will be introduced.

 “This budget has increased ambulance fees by 67 per cent and air ambulance fees by 83 per cent. This minister is also looking for other fees in the current studies being completed. I expect we will see many more fees increased and introduced over the next several months.

 “I am very disappointed and concerned with today’s budget. While today’s budget is bad, I also fear further decisions that will be made in the coming months. This is the first step towards the major cuts that we will experience later this year. If this government wants to fulfill the promises they made during the election, I suggest they re-evaluate their approach to health care before it is too late.”