Press Release
An NDP motion put before the Ontario legislature by Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell, calling for better access to health care for northerners, received support from all parties on Thursday.
Campbell’s motion also called for a significant overhaul of the Northern Health Travel Grant.
“Kathleen Wynne and her Liberal government have ignored the needs of northerners for too long,” noted Campbell.
“I’m proud to stand up for people across the north who deserve timely and equitable access to health care no matter where they live.”
To better serve northerners, particularly those in under-serviced communities, Campbell’s call for improvements to the Northern Health Travel Grant include:
•access to all OHIP-insured services;
•a broadening of eligible service locations, including out-of-province facilities;
•increased accommodation allowances based on market prices;
•the removal of administrative barriers to applicants; and
•quicker processing times for applications.
“Today [Thursday], members from all parties voted to overhaul the Northern Health Travel Grant, which isn’t serving the needs of northerners in its current form,” said Campbell.
“New Democrats will hold the government to this commitment so that patients in the north can get access to the health care they need when they need it,” she added.
