Ontario parties are promising family doctors for all. Compare the plans
Ensuring access to a family doctor for every resident in Ontario is a critical issue in the upcoming election. With millions of Ontarians currently without a family doctor and projections indicating that the situation will only worsen in the coming years, voters are looking to the main political parties to see who can deliver on this promise.
Louise Lee, a resident of Navan, Ontario, knows firsthand the struggles of trying to find a family doctor. It took her family two years of searching and waiting to finally secure a spot with a family doctor’s office. The stress and frustration of the process have left a lasting impact on Lee, who sees healthcare as a top priority when casting her vote.
Dr. Dominic Nowak, president of the Ontario Medical Association, echoes Lee’s concerns, emphasizing the importance of addressing the shortage of family doctors in the province. He believes that any party vying for government must tackle the healthcare system head-on.
The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Bonnie Crombie, has made fixing family medicine a top priority in their campaign. The Liberals have pledged to spend $3.1 billion to recruit an additional 3,100 family doctors by 2029, with a guarantee of a family doctor for every Ontarian.
On the other hand, the Progressive Conservative Party, led by Doug Ford, has promised to create 305 new primary care teams at a cost of $1.8 billion, providing two million more Ontarians access to primary care. While Ford has not focused heavily on the issue during his campaign, he maintains that his government is committed to continuous improvement in healthcare.
The Ontario New Democratic Party, led by Marit Stiles, has unveiled a plan to spend $4.05 billion to recruit 3,500 new doctors over the next four years. The NDP promises a guarantee of access to a family doctor, along with measures to reduce paperwork burdens and clear hurdles for foreign-trained physicians.
The Green Party, led by Mike Schreiner, has also expressed a commitment to ensuring access to a family doctor for all Ontarians but has yet to release detailed plans.
The federal-provincial funding agreement signed by Justin Trudeau’s government plays a crucial role in the parties’ campaign promises, as it provides additional funding for targeted health initiatives. The emphasis on allowing family physicians to work in teams alongside other healthcare providers is seen as a key strategy to address the shortage of family doctors in the province.
As Ontarians head to the polls on February 27, the issue of access to family doctors will be top of mind for many voters. The promises made by the main political parties will be closely scrutinized, as residents look for a solution to the ongoing healthcare crisis in the province.
