Standing Up for Patients

Published on April 03, 2019

Ontario's government is working for the people by fighting against increased costs to public institutions caused by the burdensome federal carbon tax.

MISSISSAUGA — Rod Phillips, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, and Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, were at Halton Healthcare - Milton District Hospital today to talk about how the federal government’s carbon tax will impact local hospitals by increasing heating costs. Costs to Ontario’s community hospitals will increase to $27,200,000 by 2022.

“The carbon tax will have a direct impact on our hospitals, and on patients here in Mississauga,” said Rudy Cuzzetto, MPP for Mississauga-Lakeshore. "It will cost Trillium Health Partners an additional $860,797 in expenses by 2022; that's almost a million dollars that's being taken from frontline care for patients."

“Hospitals in Ontario are under enormous pressure," continued Cuzzetto. "Raising their heating costs means diverting resources that they desperately need to reduce wait times, and end hallway health care.”

Speaking to frontline doctors and nurses at the Mississauga Hospital with Premier Doug Ford

For $27.2 million, Ontario could offer an additional 104,615 MRI operating hours, providing scans for 157,000 patients. This amount of money could also fund over 3,300 pacemaker implantations.

For $860,797, Trillium Health Partners could offer an additional 3,311 MRI operating hours, providing scans for 4,968 patients. They could also fund 104 pacemaker implantations.

“Hospitals should be able to focus their resources on providing the quality, patient-centred care that Ontarians expect and deserve, and not have to deal with unnecessary rising operational costs, said Elliott. “Our government is committed to ensuring money is being directed to front-line services – where it belongs – to improve patient experience, and provide better and connected care.”

The Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan considers our province’s specific priorities, challenges and opportunities, and commits to reducing our emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, a target that aligns with the Federal Government’s Paris commitments, without imposing a carbon tax on the vulnerable groups in our province. Through the efforts of individuals and industry, Ontario is already most of the way to this target, with the province’s emissions down 22 per cent since 2005.

“Our plan serves as proof that you can both oppose a carbon tax and continue to do more to fight climate change - you don’t have to choose,” concluded Minister Phillips. “A carbon tax isn’t the only way to fight climate change. Ontario deserves both a healthy environment and a healthy economy.”

The government remains committed to fighting the federal government’s plan to impose a carbon tax on the people of Ontario.

A productive meeting with Michelle DiEmanuele, President of Trillium Health Partners


Quick Facts

  • The Financial Accountability Office has projected that the federal carbon tax will cost the average Ontario household $648 a year by 2022.
  • The federal carbon tax on fuels came into effect on April 1, 2019. It will increase the price of gasoline in Ontario by 4.4 cents per litre. This will rise to 6.6 cents in 2020, 8.8 cents in 2021, and 11.1 cents per litre in April 2022.
  • The federal carbon tax will increase the price of natural gas in Ontario by 3.9 cents per cubic metre. This increase will rise to 5.9 cents in 2020, 7.8 cents in 2021, and 9.8 cents per cubic metre in April 2022.
  • The federal carbon tax will increase the price of diesel by 5.4 cents per litre in 2019, rising to 13.4 cents by 2022.



Office of Rudy Cuzzetto, MPP
(905) 274-8228