Ontario expanding mental health and addictions supports
November 10, 2021
BRAMPTON – As part of the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Build Ontario, the Ontario government is investing $12.4 million over two years to provide existing and expanded mental health and addictions supports for all frontline healthcare workers across the province. This investment will protect our progress in the fight against COVID-19 by supporting the workforce of the acute care, long-term care, and home and community care sectors in their efforts to provide high-quality care and service to patients, long-term care residents, and clients.
Read More
TORONTO – Ontario is continuing its plan to fix long-term care by investing $20 million this year to hire 193 new inspections staff and launching a new and improved annual proactive inspections program in long-term care homes. This is part of the government’s commitment of $72.3 million over three years to increase enforcement capacity and ensure every resident experiences the safest and best quality of life, and to hold homes to account for the care they provide.
OTTAWA – The CMA congratulates the new Minister of Health, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos (pictured), who will be taking the helm of a vital portfolio for all Canadians and welcomes the Honourable Carolyn Bennett in the new role of Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health. The pandemic remains a key concern due to the growing health workforce crisis and increasing procedural backlog, both representing significant and growing risks to the sustainability of Canada’s health systems.
OTTAWA – Iain Stewart (pictured) is out as president of the Public Health Agency of Canada, after leading the agency through much of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stewart was also the focus of an extraordinary moment in parliamentary history earlier this year, when he was publicly admonished by MPs in the House of Commons for failing to turn over documents related to the firing of two scientists from the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg.
EDMONTON – Tyler Shandro is out as Alberta’s health minister and Jason Copping (pictured) is taking over the key cabinet position. Shandro and Copping are swapping portfolios, Shandro takes over as the minister of labour and immigration. Premier Jason Kenney shuffled his cabinet Tuesday in a short swearing-in ceremony at Government House.
BRANTFORD, Ont. – To help Indigenous communities facing unique challenges, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole (pictured) promised $1 billion in new funding over five years for First Nations, Métis and Inuit mental health and drug treatment programs. He said he wants to see “innovative approaches” to tackling these issues, such as land-based treatment programs and culturally appropriate care delivered in Indigenous languages.
HALIFAX – If re-elected on Sept. 20, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau (pictured) promised to spend $3 billion more on healthcare to help the provinces hire 7,500 new family doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners. As well, the Prime Minister said his government would allocate an additional $400 million to the provinces and territories to expand virtual primary care services.
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – This week’s budget in Newfoundland and Labrador announced that as a cost-cutting measure, the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information and the province’s 911 service will be integrated into the Department of Health.
TORONTO – The Ontario government is investing more than $5 million to train and mentor up to 150 health sciences professionals on how to secure investments for their innovative medical solutions and bring them to market. The project, led by the Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization, will support the creation of new pharmaceuticals, vaccines and other medical tools.
OTTAWA – The Ontario government is investing $2.5 million in Siemens Healthineers through the Ontario Together Fund. The investment will help increase production capacity of the epoc Blood Analysis System, a handheld device that can analyze blood gas levels, helping clinicians make faster decisions with lab-quality results at the patient’s side.