Tomorrow, the five party leaders will participate in the only English-language debate during this election.
Their discussion will focus on: Affordability, climate, COVID recovery, leadership and accountability and reconciliation. These are important issues, but HealthCareCAN feels that when it comes to health, our leaders need to be less perfunctory and simplistic in their responses and actions to be taken in addressing our healthcare system challenges.
Canadians deserve to know how the parties plan to help our healthcare workers as they deal with workforce shortages, and the stress and burnout brought about by the pandemic. We would also like to know how parties propose to strengthen and sustain Canada’s health research and innovation sector, to capitalize on its power as an economic driver and ensure we are ready for the next pandemic.
We want our would-be leaders to answer two simple questions:
- If elected prime minister, will you implement a national health workforce planning strategy and how will you work with provinces, territories, regulators, and other stakeholders to implement such a strategy?
- If elected prime minister, what will you do to strengthen and sustain Canada’s health research sector moving forward, and how will the sector factor into your plan for Canada’s economic recovery?
We have shared these questions out on Twitter (@HealthCareCAN) and will be doing so again today and tomorrow. Help us get the message out please re-tweet.
Related:

Newcomers: Filling the labor shortage in a “discouraging” system – Interview with HealthCareCAN’s President and CEO, Paul-Émile Cloutier (in French only)

Commons committee endorses HealthCareCAN health research recommendations
On June 6, 2022, the Standing Committee on Science and Research’s much anticipated first report was tabled in the House of Commons. Focusing on the Successes, Challenges and Opportunities for Science in Canada, the report offers 13 recommendations to the federal government to improve the way science is funded and carried out in Canada. HealthCareCAN

A call-to-action to create meaningful and sustainable change for Canada’s healthcare workforce.
June 7, 2022 – The Canadian healthcare system has experienced unprecedented pressure on its workforce over the last two years. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing workforce issues and led to increasing burnout, and retention challenges. Longer working hours, resource constraints, and personal risk have significantly worsened and had a devastating impact on workforce wellbeing

Read HealthCareCAN’s submission to the Standing Committee on Health for its study on the emergency situation facing Canadians in light of the COVID-19 pandemic

Pandemic heightens urgency for Canada Health Transfers reform
See article as it originally appeared in the Hill Times By Renato Discenza, President and CEO, HealthPRO and Paul-Émile Cloutier, President and CEO, HealthCareCAN With the federal government having unveiled its spending plan for the coming year, the conversation between the federal government and the provincial and territorial governments over Canada Health Transfers (CHT) will