Local Liberal candidate pushes to make health care ‘a priority’

Full interview with Rose Zacharias, Ontario Liberal candidate for Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte, at her official campaign launch Saturday evening.

Rose Zacharias officially launched her campaign Saturday evening as the Ontario Liberal candidate for Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte.

As a family doctor in the Barrie area, Zacharias says she is campaigning to bring more family doctors to the riding and improve access to health care.

“There’s 55,000 people in the City of Barrie that don’t have a family doctor, and there’s people who’ve been to the emergency department and are waiting too long,” said Zacharias. “Health care is a priority. It’s the backbone of our economy. And currently, our government is not taking it seriously. But I will.”

Zacharias worked in the emergency department at Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital for 20 years and served a term as president of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA).

“I want accountability,” added Zacharias. “I want to stand up as someone with experience inside the health care system to talk about my patients and my colleagues’ needs in the health care system.”

When asked about how she would balance her professional life with her potential political commitments, she says she would see it as a privilege and honour to represent her fellow health care workers in government.

“I want everybody to know that getting into politics is pretty incredible because there’s people who have been on the ground for years wanting someone to speak up,” responded Zacharias. “I can’t wait to get to work.”