Dear Friend,
Covid-19 has exposed serious challenges to our cherished publicly funded health care systems. On February 7, 2023, our government announced an investment of $198.6 billion over 10 years to improve health care services for Canadians. This includes planned increases to the Canada Health Transfer and new funding of $48 billion over the next ten years. With the provinces and territories, we’ve outlined shared priorities which aim to:
- increase access to family health services;
- provide increased support to health care workers for the critical work they do;
- improve access to quality mental health and substance use services; and
- make Canadians’ personal electronic health data available to them and their health team to improve the quality of care they receive.
We are working with each province and territory on an agreement that reflects the needs of their population and geography to improve health care in their regions. On February 13th, the premiers collectively accepted the federal funding.
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Canadians across the country struggle to access regular family health services. To help address this problem, we are investing in family health services, which could include a range of health providers such as family doctors, nurse practitioners, mental health professionals, and pharmacists, who work together to provide integrated care for Canadians across the country.
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Our government is committed to integrating mental health care as a full and equal part of our universal health care system. As part of this major investment, we’re attaching conditions to make sure provinces and territories treat mental health as a full and equal part of our health care system – because we know that mental health IS health.
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Colonization has resulted in many intersecting barriers to good health & health care for First Nations, Inuit & Métis people’s. Indigenous peoples require compassionate, culturally competent, and trauma-informed mental health and substance use services. The new Indigenous Health Equity Fund will be distributed to ensure support to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. This fund will support Indigenous-led regional and community health priorities.
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Supporting Health Care Workers
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Our health workers suffered greatly during the pandemic. They have taken care of us, and we must take care of them too. This means investing to keep workers in their current roles, helping the sector recruit new employees, and making data better to help long-term workforce planning. We’re supporting changes so that health workers can work across Canada and so that internationally educated health professionals can more quickly put their skills and experience to work here.
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As a condition of funding, the provinces will have to track and report on indicators of performance and progress of the action plans which they develop to address these priorities. These will be monitored over the next few years and will allow Canadians to see the progress being made.
Canadians are proud of our universal public health care system, which is based on need, not the ability or willingness to pay. Our government has made it clear that Canadians must continue to have equitable access to universal health care services. Our government is serious about enforcing the Canada Health Act and ensuring that medically-necessary services are paid for with your health card not a credit card. Minister Duclos has notified provinces that they will receive deductions in their health transfers for any activities in contravention of the Canada Health Act. Read more.
On March 28, Minister Freeland will introduce Budget 2023. Thank you all for your advice and support for the federal role in health and health care.
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Saturday, March 18 | 2:00PM-4:00PM
McSorley's Tavern & Grill
1544 Bayview Ave, Toronto
The Hon. Carolyn Bennett & Hon. Rob Oliphant invite you to celebrate the Irish (or honourary Irish) in all of us at our annual St. Patrick’s Day social.
Free admission to this family-friendly event includes live traditonal Irish music by Loretto Reid and October Browne, pub snacks, soft drinks and a sing-along led by the MPs!
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Virtual Townhall on the Environment
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Sunday, April 23 | 2:00PM-3:30PM
A Facebook Live Event
For this important Earth Day conversation, join the Hon. Carolyn Bennett, Hon. Marco Mendicino and the Hon. Rob Oliphant with special guests online to
discuss the environment and climate change.
To watch this virtual event live, visit www.facebook.com/carolyn.bennett.stpauls
or if you miss it, a recording of the event will be placed on my Facebook page and website.
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COVID-19 Free vaccines are available to everyone in Canada. To learn more about Canada's response to COVID19 visit:
canada.ca/covid-19
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WELLNESS TOGETHER Connects Canadians to peer support workers, social workers, psychologists and other professionals for confidential chat sessions or phone calls.
wellnesstogether.ca
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KIDS HELP PHONE Connects youth with professional counselling, information and referrals across Canada without any face-to-face contact.
kidshelpphone.ca
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The Toronto -St. Paul's constituency office is open Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm. Call us at 416-952-3990, or email [email protected] for assistance in any federal matter.
Please forward this newsletter to your friends who may be interested in signing up! To sign up email [email protected].
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{{Disclaimer}}
Hon. Carolyn Bennett
40 Holly St - Suite 103
Toronto, ON M4S 3C3
Canada
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