TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO:
WHEREAS there is an ongoing primary care provider shortage in Ontario, impacting every region across the province;
WHEREAS a significant number of Ontarians face a language barrier when seeking health care, and do not have a family doctor who
speaks their languages;
WHEREAS the lack of primary care is forcing residents to rely on emergency rooms for basic medical needs, contributing to the
overburdening of our hospitals and emergency rooms;
WHEREAS over 2.2M Ontarians do not have a family doctor, and that number is expected to increase to 4.4M by 2026.
WE the undersigned petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:
• Guarantee everyone in Ontario has access to a primary care provider;
• Increase investment in primary care in the next provincial budget;
• Expand primary care options in areas with service gaps by investing in primary care, as well as non-profit and public health clinics;
• Make it easier for internationally trained doctors and nurses to work in Ontario’s health care sector;
• Cut the administrative burden on family doctors to make the profession more attractive; and
• Ensure the government will cover translation fees for minority language-speaking groups.