Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford shake hands at an announcement in Mississauga, Ont. in February 2023.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford signed an agreement on Friday that details how the province must spend $3.1 billion in federal funding earmarked for health care.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Friday the $3.1 billion over three years will be spent in part on creating more primary care teams in the province.
Ontario is the fifth province to reach an accord with Ottawa, joining B.C., Alberta, Nova Scotia and P.E.I.to add 400 health professionals in 78 new or expanded primary care teams across the province. The new federal funding for primary health teams comes on top of that announcement, and Ford said he hopes it will help reduce wait times in emergency rooms, which have seen an increase in patients that do not require urgent care.
Ontario's auditor general found in a report late last year that between July 2022 and June 2023 there were 203 temporary emergency department closures across the province. "We know people are waiting too long to access the mental health care they need," Trudeau said at a morning news conference in King City, adding that wait times are especially unacceptable in rural areas and for young people.
"While we tackle the most urgent issues, we also need to ensure we have a long-term, stable funding formula to fix the underlying issues in the system and build for the future, knowing we have an aging and more medically complex patient population," Dr. Andrew Park, OMA president, said in the statement.
"Ontarians have been waiting over a year for the Ford government to sign this agreement for federal funding to our health-care system. Many people in Ontario have spent that time waiting in overcrowded ERs, waiting for overloaded ambulances, and waiting to see their family doctors," said MPP France Gélinas, the NDP's health critic, in a statement.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trudeau 'pissed off' by Bell Media's 'garbage decision' to lay off journalistsPrime Minister Justin Trudeau rises during Question Period, Tuesday, February 6, 2024 in Ottawa.
Read more »
Internal Email Suggests Ontario Premier's Office Knew Details of Greenbelt Land SwapAn internal email obtained by the Ontario NDP contradicts previous statements made by Ontario Premier Doug Ford's office regarding the controversial Greenbelt land swap. The email, sent from the personal email account of Steve Clark's Chief of Staff to Ford's former principal secretary, outlines criteria for removing land from the Greenbelt.
Read more »
Trudeau hints at tougher penalties for car thieves as RCMP chief warns of 'unprecedented' problemPrime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers his opening remarks at an auto theft summit, Thursday, February 8, 2024 in Ottawa.
Read more »
Home Values Declining in Ontario, Causing Regret for Recent HomeownersA recent study reveals that home values in Ontario are decreasing, leading to regret for recent homeowners. Single-family homes in 18 cities and condos in 26 markets across Canada are experiencing a decline in value. Ontario's largest cities, particularly Burlington, have seen the biggest decrease in home prices. Homeowners are now facing the reality that their homes are worth less than what they paid for.
Read more »
Thunder Bay parent angered by cuts to school bus serviceAn early-spring snowstorm rolled through much of northwestern Ontario Wednesday, cancelling some school bus routes.
Read more »
As First Nations chiefs in northern Ontario call for health-care action, youth demand more involvementYouth delegates speak at the Nishnawbe Aski Nation winter chiefs assembly in Thunder Bay.
Read more »