Category Archives: Politics

Politics

Ontario Gov’t Calls For New Health Care Deal

1 Comment

Ontario Calls For New Long-Term Deal On Health Care

McGuinty
Government Committed to Helping Families

Ontario is calling on the federal government to work with the provinces to deliver a new long-term deal on health care.

 

That’s the message Premier Dalton McGuinty delivered today during a speech to the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce.

 

Ontario welcomes Ottawa’s recent commitment to 6 per cent increases in health transfers, but Ontario is also seeking a long-term commitment from the federal government — who pay only 23 per cent of Ontario’s health costs.

 

Further health care reforms are needed to meet the needs of Ontario’s rapidly aging population. A new long-term deal should focus on giving seniors more options in their homes and communities.

 

Ontario has made significant progress in health care. This is in part because the current health accord invested in strategic reforms such as wait times and access to care. In fact, Ontario is now a national leader in reducing wait times and 94 per cent of Ontarians have a family doctor.

 

QUOTES

 

“Ontario is moving forward with improvements to our health care system. We can do even more with a strong federal partner. The renewal of long-term funding for health care will be the most important issue facing our governments in the coming years.”

— DaltonMcGuinty, Premier of Ontario

 

QUICK FACTS

 

  • The current 10-year federal health agreement expires in 2014.
  • In the next 10 years, 1.6 million Ontarians will turn 65, the traditional retirement age — that’s twice as many people as between 1981 and 1991.
  • According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, seniors account for 14 per cent of the population but 44 per cent of health care spending.
  • The Fraser Institute’s 20th annual waiting list survey found Ontario had the shortest wait times for surgical and other therapeutic treatments.
  • The 2011 Wait Times Alliance report showed that Ontario had the shortest total wait times in Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

LEARN MORE

 

Here’s a check-up on our health care system.

 

Ontario seniors are successfully receiving care at home now.

 

 

 

Premier’s Media
Office: 416-314-8975

 

ontario.ca/premier-news

Disponible
en français

Politics

Ontario Deploys Mobile Medical Unit To Aid Fire Evac

Leave a comment

Ontario Deploys Mobile Medical Unit To Aid Forest Fire Evacuation
2,730 People Evacuated From Northwestern Ontario

The province is sending the Emergency Medical Assistance Team (EMAT) to support forest fire evacuees in Northwestern Ontario.

EMAT will be on hand to provide medical assessment to evacuees arriving in Thunder Bay, to address a range of immediate health needs, and to help relieve pressures for local health providers.  The team will be operational by tomorrow, Friday, July 22.

All people that are in immediate danger have been evacuated. To date 2,730 people have been moved to safety. Daily evacuations are ongoing, as smoke and flying conditions allow, until the situation improves.

Ontario thanks the federal government and the armed forces for responding to our requests for assistance in evacuation efforts and for working with us. Provinces and territories have also sent help and resources to Ontario to protect people, homes and to support the evacuation and help contain and extinguish the fires.

Hot, dry weather has created the conditions for forest fires in Northern Ontario, with more than 100 currently burning. Emergency Management Ontario (EMO) is working with the Canadian Forces, First Nations communities, municipalities and relief organizations to coordinate efforts to fight the fires and help people who have been forced out of their homes.

QUOTES

“A great many provincial and federal resources are being deployed to help fellow Ontarians in their time of need. I am impressed by the cooperative, dedicated efforts of all those involved in the evacuations and who are keeping First Nations residents safe.”
— Jim Bradley, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services

“Our first priority is protecting people. Suppression action is being taken to protect Ontarians and our communities on a priority basis. This is an extremely difficult situation and is affecting the lives of many Ontarians.  It is not an easy situation for anyone affected by the fires or for firefighters and other personnel working to coordinate the evacuations and extinguish fires.”
— Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources

“Our thoughts are with the evacuees facing this challenging time. We are proud that the Emergency Medical Assistance Team will work with the community and local health care providers to support health care services to evacuees.”
— Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

QUICK FACTS

  • There are 2,000 firefighters and support staff currently involved in fire fighting efforts, including about 500 from out of province.
  • There are 16 water bombers and 85 other aircraft involved in the fire fighting operations.
  • The EMAT deployment is being supported by the City of Toronto’s Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR) unit which will support set up and maintenance.

LEARN MORE

Get updates on the affected First Nation and host communities and on Twitter and Facebook

Learn more about the Emergency Medical Assistance Team.

Read more about the current forest fire situation in Ontario.

The Canadian Red Cross (Ontario) has set up a registration and inquiry bureau for evacuees who wish to inquire about family and relatives. This number is 1 866 356-3645 ext 236.

Ministry of Natural Resources
Media calls only, Greg MacNeil, Minister’s
Office, 416-314-2208
Media Desk, Communications Services Branch, 416-314-2106
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
Joe Kim, Minister’s Office, 416-325-8282
Greg Flood, Communications Branch, 416-325-0432
ontario.ca/safety