After eight long years of Doug Ford’s Conservatives in gov’t, it’s getting harder to ignore the steady erosion of the public services Ontarians rely on. In healthcare, hallway medicine may not dominate headlines the way it once did, but the underlying crisis has only deepened: chronic understaffing, burnt-out nurses and growing wait times have become the norm. Instead of meaningfully investing in the public system, this government has leaned toward patchwork solutions and increased reliance on private delivery, raising real concerns about the long-term integrity of universal care in Ontario. Public education tells a similar story. Underfunded classrooms, strained teachers and widening gaps in student support have left families and educators scrambling. The government’s approach has too often felt reactive rather than strategic — whether it’s contract battles with educators or inconsistent policy direction that creates instability in schools. Ontario’s students are being asked to do more with less, while critical investments in special education, mental health resources and infrastructure lag behind what’s actually needed for a growing province. And beyond policy failures, there’s a deeper issue of trust. From the Greenbelt controversy — where protected land was opened up in ways that raised serious ethical questions — to ongoing concerns about transparency in Freedom of Information processes, this government has too often operated without the accountability Ontarians deserve. Add to that the troubling questions surrounding funds like the Human Resources Skills Development Fund, and a pattern begins to emerge: decisions that appear to favour insiders while the public is left in the dark. After eight years, Ontarians should be asking not just whether things are working — but who this government is really working for. #onpoli #cdnpoli