The McGuinty Liberal government announced in May that it will start using taxpayer dollars to fund sex change surgeries. I oppose this misguided decision by Premier McGuinty and I have called on him to focus on the urgent and important health care priorities of Ontario families and seniors. I was part of the previous PC government that ended funding for sex change surgeries in 1998 to target health care dollars on those priorities. I stand behind that decision. We don’t live in a world of unlimited resources. In 1998, we chose to fight cancer and improve cardiac care. In 2008, the Premier seems to have chosen to prioritize sex change surgeries. At an estimated cost of as much as $40,000 per surgery, and with as many as 200 eligible candidates in Ontario waiting for sex-change surgery, the McGuinty government could end up spending as much as $8 million to address the immediate demand. Judging by the calls and emails to my office, and the response I have received from the people who have mentioned it to me while I’m out in the riding, the vast majority of my constituents strongly agree that funding sex change operations is not a priority for scarce health care dollars. In fact, as I write this column, the poll on my website (www.timhudakmpp.com) is showing that 91 per cent of respondents do not support the government’s announcement. There was a time when the McGuinty government agreed that there were greater health care priorities to address than sex changes. In May 2004, a senior Liberal official said sex change operations were “not one of our health care priorities, and therefore there is no plan to reinstate funding for those procedures at this time.” (Canadian Press, May 27, 2004). The Premier conveniently waited until after last year’s election to change his mind. There are nearly 200,000 people in Niagara and Hamilton without a family doctor. This past March, Niagara families hoping for help for a loved one were devastated when 190 surgeries were cancelled or postponed in Niagara's hospitals. In Hamilton and Niagara, families are growing impatient with growing wait lists, which typically exceed two years for a long-term care bed. The Premier needs to focus the spending of scarce health care dollars on the priorities of Ontario families and seniors. If he wants to use taxpayer dollars to fund de-listed health services, he should start with the chiropractic care, eye exams and physiotherapy he cut after coming into office.