Leardi tours riding to discuss issues with the public

By Ron Giofu

The Member of Provincial Parliament for the riding of Essex is spending a portion of his time going back to the communities that elected him.

Essex MPP Anthony Leardi made stops in municipalities where he met with constituents and heard their concerns. The Amherstburg meeting place for Leardi’s “Coffee with Anthony” event was Downtown Espresso, with the local MPP meeting with supporters and those with issues during a two-hour period last Monday evening (Feb. 13).

“We’re doing a tour of a few of our communities in Essex,” said Leardi. “This is to reach out to various communities so they can let me know what they want to say.”

Leardi said the feedback he was receiving from constituents was “very positive” and they were happy with the money the Ontario government is spending in the riding of Essex.

The cost of housing is still of concern to residents locally, Leardi added, and said the province is working to improve that situation.

“We’re trying to bring that down,” said Leardi.

Leardi cited investments in MRI services and a recent $30 million investment to renovate the cardiac catheterization lab at Windsor Regional Hospital, adding feedback has been positive on that front as well.

“I think people are very pleased with the steps taken in health care,” he said.

The public is also happy with the recent decision to expand the ability for pharmacists to prescribe medications. As of Jan. 1, Ontarians can stop in at pharmacies across the province to receive prescriptions for 13 common ailments.

The province says this service makes it more convenient to access care by removing a doctor’s office visit and will come at no extra cost to Ontarians.

Prescriptions are now available at pharmacies for hay fever, oral thrush, pink eye, Dermatitis, menstrual cramps, acid reflux, hemorrhoids, cold sores, impetigo, insect bites and hives, tick bites, sprains and strains and urinary tract infections.

Similar “Coffee with Anthony” events were held in Harrow, Essex, Belle River, and Kingsville.

For more information, visit www.anthonyleardimpp.ca or call 519-736-1550.