Investing in better health-care results
In Canada, we promise every Canadian access to quality medical care no matter where they live or how much they earn. But lately, our system is not living up to that promise as far too many Canadians experience long wait times, a shortage of family doctors, reduced hours at clinics and hospitals, and a lack of mental health care.
In February, we reached an agreement with the provinces and territories to increase health funding by $196.1 billion over 10 years, including $46.2 billion in new funding. We entered these negotiations with an unwavering commitment to Canada’s universal and public health care and to achieve real results that go beyond the dollar figure. Money alone is not a silver bullet, and the deals with each province and territory will be tied to key measurements:
- The net new family physicians, nurses and practitioners in each province and territory;
- The percentage of Canadians who have access to a family doctor or health team;
- The size of the COVID-19 surgery backlog;
- The median wait time for community mental health and substance abuse services; and
- The percentage of Canadians who can electronically access their health records.
Canadians deserve to know what progress is being made. As part of the agreement, Ontario will be required to develop action plans detailing how the funds will be spent and how progress on each priority can be measured.
I attach great importance to health care and know how important it is to do right by patients and the incredible people who care for them. Our government will continue to provide the tools and resources needed for better health-care outcomes, as we know Canadians deserve nothing less.
Black History Month
Thank you to everyone who attended our 8th annual Black History Month event and for joining our riveting panel on Black Resistance and the fight against anti-Black racism and discrimination. We know that many of the freedoms we enjoy today are only possible thanks to the advocacy, struggle and resistance of the Black Community in Canada. We want to especially thank our panelists and the TAIBU Community Health Centre.
After a long hiatus, my office revived the tradition of inviting the Children’s Breakfast Club to Parliament Hill to celebrate Black History Month. We had a fantastic discussion with our ministers and the Black Caucus, who were excited to talk to more than 200 students from across the Greater Toronto Area.
Long-Term Care Standards
One of the unforgettable tragedies of the pandemic was its devastating toll on seniors living in long-term care homes. As part of our efforts to fix gaps in long-term care, our government welcomed the release of independently developed long-term care standards by the Health Standards Organization and the CSA Group.
If adopted, these standards would raise the bar for safe and respectful care in LTC and guide staff on how to deliver services that are safe, reliable and centred on residents’ needs. The standards also focus on creating a healthy and safe environment for the many personal support workers and the difficult and thankless work they do.
We know Canadians want to age closer to home and family, but also expect LTC to be safe if it is needed. In the coming months, we will move forward with consultations and engagement with stakeholders and Canadians on the Safe LTC Act.