London West NDP joins with NDP Poverty Critic Michael Prue who is continuing his fight to have the McGuinty Liberals reverse their decision to eliminate the Special Diet Allowance.

“We have heard from countless Ontarians who are able to manage their medical conditions because they receive this additional allowance. I know from recipients, social service workers and the medical community that the Special Diet Supplement absolutely cannot be axed,” Prue said.

He was joined at a Queen’s Park press conference this morning by Connie Harrison, a Toronto mom who suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure and who has used her $72-a-month allowance to effectively manage her health conditions.

“Eliminating the special diet allowance will be devastating to me. I use it to buy the fresh vegetables and fruits I need to manage my condition and it is working – I can’t go backwards,” Harrison said.

Dr. Gary Bloch, a downtown Toronto family physician who has long lobbied to improve access to special diet funding, also participated in the press conference.

“We already know that Social Assistance rates are too low to cover the cost of healthy food. By ending the Special Diet Allowance, this government risks the health of tens of thousands of Ontario’s most vulnerable people. It sets us up for a potential healthcare catastrophe,” Bloch said.

Prue reiterated the NDP’s position, which he has raised in the Legislative Assembly on an almost daily basis since rumours of the program’s demise were first raised in early March. Those rumours were confirmed in last week’s budget, when the government announced it would be cutting the program.

“We are calling on the McGuinty government to immediately reverse its decision to cut the Special Diet. Ontario cannot afford the severe consequences that will impact our health care system as a result of this wrong-headed and mean-spirited decision,” he said.

The London West NDP encourages you to show your support for this special diet allowance by signing this petition:

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/special-diet-allowance/sign.html