Bradford councillors are hoping to help provide a shot in the arm for Ontario’s ailing health-care system.
Based on a letter from the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) council approved a motion during the Aug. 6 meeting calling on the provincial government to recognize both the town’s and the province’s physician shortage as well as to provide funding to ensure every Ontarian has access to a doctor.
“It’s worth highlighting that Ontario’s health care is in crisis,” Ward 2 Coun. Jonathan Scott said. “This is an urgent need and the public deserves high-quality health care close to home.”
Previously, Mayor James Leduc didn’t expected the motion to come to council prior to Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference scheduled in Ottawa for Aug. 18 to 21.
However, the motion was included for information in the agenda for Tuesday's meeting, during which time, Leduc made an amendment to have council endorse it then and there.
“It’s not hard to support this 100 per cent,” he said, adding that members of council will also be participating in advocating on the issue while at AMO, where OMA have reserved space to discuss the matter.
“It’s a shortage and we’re going to go there and fight for Bradford West Gwillimbury and for Ontario in general. We’re going to fight for doctors,” he said.
Ward 1 Coun. Cheraldean Duhaney said she “absolutely” supports the motion.
“As a health-care worker myself working in the field for over 16 years, I see the challenges that we are facing,” she said, making specific mention of long wait times for family doctors or access to long-term care.
While also supportive of the motion, Ward 6 Coun. Nickolas Harper felt it actually didn’t go far enough, and should have also called on the federal government to address pressures put on doctors and their practices through the recent changes to the capital gains tax.
“This falls short in terms of correspondence,” he said. “It’s not easy being a doctor.”
This joint resolution is the same one passed by Collingwood council in late July.
It says 2.3 million Ontarians currently lack access to a family doctor, Ontario is spending the lowest, per capita, of all provinces on health care, patients are being de-rostered and there are emergency-room closures happening across the province. As well, 40 per cent of family physicians are considering retirement over the next five years, making it “increasingly challenging to attract and retain an adequate health-care workforce.”
“Communities across Ontario have been facing critical health-care challenges, including long waitlists for primary care, shortages of doctors and other health care workers, and emergency room closures,” AMO says on its website. “These cracks in Ontario’s health care system are impacting economic development, health, and well-being at the local level. By adopting this resolution, your municipality can play a crucial role in highlighting the urgent need for more health-care resources and support.”
A copy of Bradford’s support for the resolution is planned to be sent to Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Health Sylvia Jones, York—Simcoe MPP Caroline Mulroney and all 444 municipalities in Ontario.
— With files from Jessica Owen and Chris Simon
