https://www.cna-aiic.ca/fr/blogs/ic-contenu/2020/11/05/laiic-se-rejouit-du-budget-de-lautomne-2020-de-lon
Ottawa, November 5, 2020 — The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) welcomes the Ontario government’s Fall 2020 Budget, which commits an additional $7.5 billion in new health-care spending to protect Ontarians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“CNA is pleased to see the Ontario government increasing direct care for long-term care residents to four hours per day. However, we are disappointed with the lack of clarity and proposed four-year timeline for implementation. Long-term care residents require immediate support. This vulnerable population has been significantly impacted by COVID‐19, accounting for 80 per cent of deaths — the worst outcome globally. We have long advocated to allow people to stay in their homes longer and we welcome the Ontario government’s proposed new Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit,” said CNA’s chief executive officer, Mike Villeneuve. “We were also pleased with the proposed $680 million in additional funding to expand and improve broadband cellular access. CNA has been calling on the government to expand broadband in remote and underserved areas to better deliver virtual care to Ontarians,” said Villeneuve.
The Ontario government’s promises in the areas of broadband and supports for older adults were positive. However, the budget fell short on key health-care initiatives, such as additional support for vulnerable and racialized communities and targeted mental health services for health-care workers.
“In our budget recommendations we outlined the importance for investments to enhance collection and analysis of race‐ and ethnicity‐based data. The absence of health data on race and ethnicity prevents us from fully understanding disparities in care and health outcomes, thus limiting the ability to develop effective targeted interventions in collaboration with communities. As we move into the second wave of the pandemic, it is also critical the government devote resources to Indigenous communities to develop a pandemic preparedness plan that addresses their unique needs,” said Villeneuve.
CNA will continue to work with the Ontario government to strengthen the health-care system throughout and well after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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About the Canadian Nurses Association
The Canadian Nurses Association is a powerful, unified voice for the Canadian nursing profession. We represent regulated and retired nurses in all 13 provinces and territories. We advance the practice and profession of nursing to improve health outcomes and strengthen health care for all people in Canada.
For more information, please contact:
Eve Johnston
Media and Communications Coordinator
Canadian Nurses Association
Cell: 613-237-3520
Email: ejohnston@cna-aiic.ca
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