Ontario’s New Democrats are making another demand to prop up the governing Liberals – give the ombudsman oversight of the healthcare system.  NDP leader Andrea Horwath announced this morning she wants ombudsman oversight in hospitals, ambulance services, nursing homes and retirement homes.  She says if that happens, the ombudsman would help ensure that the Liberals meet her demand for a five day guarantee for homecare.  Horvath also explained what led to this demand.  “One of the things we believe is the priority is the 61-hundred people who are currently on the wait list.  That was the focus of our proposal.  We put the $30-million towards that proposal, and we’re able to find that money through capping of CEO salaries, consolidation of procurement policies across CCAC’s and making sure their administration was streamlined.”

Earlier in the week, Horwath called for a financial accountability office.  She is making these demands in exchange for her party’s support of the Liberal government’s budget.  Premier Kathleen Wynne has indicated she won’t be making any big changes to the budget, and is not afraid to go to an election if she doesn’t get support of the New Democrats.