Ottawa offering $2 billion to clear waitlists

OTTAWA – The federal government has announced a $2 billion top-up of the healthcare system. The funds are designed to address the backlog of surgical procedures and diagnostic imaging tests that have accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the government, the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed an estimated 700,000 surgeries and other medical procedures, resulting in an increase of waitlists and backlogs.

Provinces and territories will be able to use this funding to support their own unique circumstances, including strengthening the health workforce.

“Today’s investment would help our provincial and territorial partners expedite the processing of surgeries that had been delayed due to COVID-19,” said Jean-Yves Duclos (pictured), minister of health. “This is a significant first step on the road to addressing the major healthcare challenges lying ahead of us, including repairing the damages caused by the pandemic and upholding the principles of universality and accessibility that are so dear to Canadians in the long-term.”

Allocations resulting from Bill-C-17 would be as follows:

• Alberta: $232,332,000
• British Columbia: $272,434,000
• Manitoba: $72,437,000
• New Brunswick: $41,238,000
• Newfoundland and Labrador: $27,227,000
• Northwest Territories: $2,387,000
• Nova Scotia: $51,800,000
• Nunavut: $2,062,000.
• Ontario: $775,500,000
• Prince Edward Island: $8,574,000
• Quebec: $450,006,000
• Saskatchewan: $61,759,000
• Yukon: $2,244,000