St. Catharines MPP wanting answers as to why her mother is waiting until 2026 for appointment
Tensions rising in the Ontario legislature between St. Catharines NDP MPP and the Health Minister over MRI wait times.
Jennie Stevens demanded to know why her mother has to wait till February of 2026.
Minister Sylvia Jones accused Stevens and the NDP of voting against MRI investments. "I am, frankly, appalled that you would stand up and say we need more, and then vote against expansions of MRIs"
Stevens didn't back down. "This minister is so out of touch... you can supply all the MRI machines that you want, but if you never address the staff shortages, and with deep cuts that you are doing, and the lack of effective staff."
The speaker of the house repeatedly told both of them to not to address each other, but make comments through the speaker.
Stevens also said people can't rely on this government. "Knowing that 24% of the patients at St. Catharines hospitals are being provided MRIs within the targeted time frame, how do you sit around and ignore this extreme backlog, forcing seniors and others to go out of town, and some, out of country?"
Jones fired back. "Speaker, when members of the opposition choose to vote against our investments, it highlights they don't care about their community, it highlights that they don't care that we have 49 new MRIs operating in 49 new hospitals."
Stevens could be heard arguing back while the Health Minister gave her response, prompting the speaker to advise her to come to order.
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