The provincial NDP wants more resources and money to fix the shortage of doctors and other health care workers in northern Ontario.
They say the shortage of health care workers is creating barriers to timely care in the region.
Municipalities, including the Rainy River District, are struggling with the lack of access to family medicine, mental health care, addiction treatment resources and other health services.
The NDP says it has a plan and will seek a vote on it in the legislature on Monday.
Leader Andrea Horwath doesn’t say how much money is needed.
“The important thing is to have a plan, and then you cost the plan. This government doesn’t even have a plan. So what we’re saying is on Monday, we’re bringing a plan. We want you to support this plan, and we want you to operationalize the plan,” says Horwath.
The NDP plan includes implementing efforts to attract, train and retain nurses, physicians, and other specialists in northern Ontario, supports for housing, transportation, and family services and a repeal of Bill 124.
“We can fix the challenges that northerners face in accessing health care by actually having a plan,” says Horwath.
Northern Ontario School of Medicine and the Ontario Medical Association have reported on the need for over 300 doctors, 100 specialists, and a minimum of 40 mental health practitioners to address healthcare needs in northern Ontario.
The Northern Policy Institute has also proposed a Northern Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence be established to address the unique challenges of service and program delivery in the region.
