Dear AFHTO members and collaborators,

Community health sector launches campaign profiling staffing challenges and impact to patient care

Sector calls for investments to close the growing wage gap for frontline workers
 

March 27, 2024 

Urgent action is required by Ontario government to address worsening staffing crisis in Ontario’s community health sector

Associations representing over 200,000 workers in community health respond to 2024 Ontario Budget 
 

TORONTO, ON – Today, a coalition of Ontario’s community health care associations responded to Ontario’s 2024 Budget. 

After a year of advocacy on funding to expand and enhance access to team-based primary care, AFHTO's advocacy efforts have proven successful as the Ontario government announces a $546 million investment in primary care, aiming to connect up to 600,000 individuals to primary care teams. This afternoon, Ontario’s Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy presented the budget which highlighted the government's commitment to new investments aimed at increasing access to team-based primary care. 

After months of advocacy with both the federal and provincial governments, AFHTO is pleased to let our members know of a new agreement that will see new investment of $3.1 billion into Ontario’s health care system. This investment includes significant funding to increase access to primary care through creating new primary care teams and boosting access to family doctors and nurse practitioners. Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford signed the deal that details how the province must spend $3.1 billion in federal funding earmarked for health care.

After almost a year of advocacy on funding to expand and enhance access to team-based primary care, AFHTO's advocacy efforts have proven successful as the Ontario government announces a $110 million investment in primary care, aiming to connect up to 328,000 individuals to healthcare teams.