Pre-budget Submission - February 2021

Our members understand the medical needs of Ontarians, but also have a unique front-row view of the health care system because they must navigate it every day to ensure the best care possible for their patients: from testing, to treatment, to securing necessary home care and other important services. [...] We all have an obligation to recognize the significant challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has presented, and it is the collective responsibility of government and all allied health professionals to collaborate to meet the health needs for all Ontarians. [...] In April 2020, the Ministry of Health imposed its own solution to this issue by introducing the Advance Payment Program to top up physician billings to 70 percent of their expected billings for April, May and June, and requiring repayment in the beginning of November 2020 in five equal monthly installments. [...] Notwithstanding the pandemic, there has been and continues to be need for more harm reduction availability across the province, and there is need to expand the number of harm reduction sites. [...] Finally, staff of long-term care homes should never have to make the difficult decision whether to stay home when they are feeling ill or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19, or go to work to earn money for food and rent.