Randall Denley: The Ford government finds a brilliant way to silence health critics

Enter Dr. Philpott, dean of the Queen’s University medical school. Just like that, campaigning PCs can deflect criticisms by saying they have a plan for primary care with a clear goal and an expert in charge

Appointing former federal health minister Jane Philpott to fix Ontario’s primary-care shortage was a brilliant political coup by the Doug Ford government. While it’s unlikely to benefit Ontarians any time soon, the move is just the tonic the PCs required.

With an election widely expected next spring, the Ford government is vulnerable on health care, not because it has done nothing, but because it hasn’t done enough. It is expanding doctor numbers, hospitals and long-term care beds, just not fast enough to meet increasing demand.