The party’s platform for the North is launched as the leader is on tour earlier this week in Sudbury, North Bay and Barrie.
We know that northerners have never had the same access to health services, have not received as much attention from provincial governments as southern communities
said Chief Andrea Horwath.
Many of the measures in the NDP’s northern platform touch on health.
Photo : CBC / Jonathan Migneault
—
If he forms the government, the NPD intends to recruit 300 physicians for the North, including 100 specialists and 40 mental health practitioners.
He wants to work with the College of Physicians and Surgeons to expedite credential recognition for foreign-trained physicians and provide incentives and support for health care workers moving to underserved areas.
« COVID has shown us that the flaws in our health care system run deep in general, but even more so in Northern Ontario. »
The NDP’s goal is to recruit 300 doctors for the North.
Photo : Associated Press / Jeff Roberson
—
The party also wants to review the program for reimbursement of travel expenses for residents who must go outside to receive health care and, in particular, apply a 14-day limit to reimburse citizens who make a request.
Currently, patients who must travel to see a specialist or receive care can claim $0.41 per kilometer and $100 per night for the first two nights at the hotel, rates that have not been indexed for a very long time. , according to outgoing Nickel Belt MP France Gélinas.
« First of all, there’s no reason it should take six months to get you reimbursed. Secondly, it has to be updated, and then there has to be a process for it to be updated on a regular basis. »
She cites the case of people who have to go to Toronto every two weeks and who no longer have the means to do so because the reimbursements take too long.
The NDP wants the Ministry of Health to take into account access to services in French in its planning while creating new health centres.
Photo : Shutterstock / Alexander Raths
—
The NDP wants to relaunch the midwifery training program in Sudbury, to help Francophone and Aboriginal families. Laurentian University abolished its training program as part of its restructuring.
It also promises to increase the number of health establishments run by Francophones and offering services in French, whether they be long-term care centres, community clinics or mental health and addiction resources.
–
On education, Andrea Horwath’s party plans to double the Rural and Northern Education Fund. It is also committed to supporting the University of Sudbury’s project in French. The setbacks at Laurentian University caused a catastrophic loss for programs in French
notes the NDP.
Promises related to the economy and transport are also contained in the platform. High-speed Internet access across Ontario by 2025 is one of them.
A New Democrat government would extend high-speed Internet access to all of Ontario by 2025, the party promises.
Photo : Associated Press / Ted S. Warren
—
Improving intercity transport services, restoring train service Northlanderthe adoption of rules encouraging the construction of public transport vehicles in the province and the improvement of training programs for the trades are part of the New Democrat promises.
Finally, the NDP wants to establish a government-to-government relationship
with First Nations.
This would particularly affect the Ring of Fire file.
The NDP promises to open training and employment centers to promote careers in the skilled trades.
Photo : Shutterstock/Daisy Daisy
—
The development of the Ring of Fire represents an extraordinary opportunity – provided we get it right, which means doing our duty in consulting with First Nations and deploying sound environmental management.
specifies the party in its program.
Various initiatives and measures are proposed to improve the living conditions of the First Nations, whether it is to have access to drinking water or to decent housing, to alleviate problems such as suicide among young people and to promote the settlement of land claims. .
With information from Mathieu Simard
–
