The proposed increase to the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) by the federal government — $196.1 billion over 10 years, including $46.2 billion in new funding — demonstrates our government’s understanding that health care remains a top priority for Canadians, and that we are listening and willing to work with our provincial partners to address gaps and strengthen our system.
On Feb. 7, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and cabinet ministers met with the provincial and territorial premiers to discuss shared health priorities and the importance of ensuring access to health care is based on need and not the ability to pay.
Through consultation, and by focusing on key shared priorities, we have outlined a plan that will have the biggest impact on Canadians, building on and supporting the work of our system partners to improve health care for all patients, including Indigenous communities, children, equity-seeking communities, older adults and those in rural and remote communities.
There is a lot of detail in this proposed plan, but ultimately, what does it mean for Sudbury?
We know that our health determinants are different, that we have higher rates of most illnesses, an aging population, an opioid crisis and an overtaxed hospital. Finding solutions to these issues and others remains a priority, but for many reasons is also a complex balance that can be challenging to achieve.
What are the elements of this plan that promise to have the most beneficial impact locally?
Health human resources are in crisis, no question. Our hospital and local system of care has been under stress for many years. The COVID-19 pandemic battered frontlines that were already worn, both in the hospital and the community.
For our local system to work the way it should, and for people to receive the right care in the right place at the right time, we rely on appropriate care support in the community so that Sudburians are able to age at home in dignity, which is where people have said they wish to be, in report after report, year after year.
This plan includes $1.7 billion over five years to support an increase to hourly wages for personal support workers and related professions, which will demonstrate the value we place upon them, help ensure we retain the PSWs we have, and attract more individuals to the profession. With more community supports available, patients can be safely discharged home, reducing overcapacity in hospitals, and freeing up beds in the system.
The plan also includes an immediate, unconditional $2-billion CHT top-up to address immediate pressures on our systems, meaning relief is coming to address emergency department pressures and wait times for surgeries.
Another important component of the plan is the focus on improving mental health and substance use services. One in three Canadians say they are struggling with mental health. It must be acknowledged that mental health is health. It is integral to our health and functioning as a society and requires our dedicated focus. The bi-lateral agreement with premiers will provide Canadians with a multi-disciplinary system of care, one that integrates mental health across all the shared priorities.
This plan, and the consultation leading up to it, demonstrates a willingness on the part of the Canadian government to continue collaborating with the province of Ontario on shared health priorities. There is no one solution to our system issues, but there is the understanding that better health care for Canadians means supporting our health-care workers and ensuring patients receive timely access to health services they deserve.
We are listening to the needs of Canadians and are dedicated to protecting the universality of our cherished system.
Viviane Lapointe is the Liberal MP for the riding of Sudbury and chair of the Northern Ontario caucus.
