I’m a doctor. Here are five overlooked ways the Ontario government is making our ERs more crowded, not less
When Doug Ford was elected premier in 2018, he promised to “end hallway medicine.” But by 2024, the problem had doubled to some 2,000 Ontarians lying on stretchers in hospital hallways… Good health is impossible without stable housing… Shutting down all supervised consumption sites… Underfunded nursing… Expanding for‑profit medicine… [and] Neglecting home care and keeping people in hospital beds
Child & Family
Reduced Fees, Rising Waitlists: Early Lessons from Canada’s Childcare Plan
To strengthen the program’s impact, the authors recommend expanding licensed childcare spaces, particularly in underserved areas, improving wages and working conditions for early childhood educators, and introducing more flexible supports – such as an income-tested refundable tax credit – for families relying on non-subsidized care.
Provinces need to own their responsibility for expanding low-fee child care
The most recent data shows eight of ten provinces will miss the federal goal of having 5.9 child care spaces per 10 children. Only two provinces have that level of access: Quebec and P.E.I… The rest of the provinces weren’t even paying half the cost of their child care programs—they coasted on federal investments… In fact, many of the provinces who have been loudly complaining that the CWELCC program is “too expensive” are also the ones who are paying the least for it.
Education
Ford’s slashing of student grants holds poor students back and shows why we need a wealth tax
Canadians are fair-minded; we want to live in a society where economic rewards are dispensed — at least to some extent — on the basis of merit… We could come closer to being a meritocracy by imposing a wealth tax, which would take a bit from Canada’s grand fortunes so that poorer kids get a chance to live their dreams.
The $750 yearly spending accounts to purchase classroom supplies are believed to be a first in Canada… The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation said while “any relief for teachers who are currently spending their own money on classroom supplies is welcome… The real solution is properly funding schools, so the resources students and educators need are already there.”
Employment
What Canada can learn from Mexico’s approach to U.S. trade
Mexico’s strategy offers a template for aligning with the U.S. without sacrificing sovereignty or respect for the rule of law. It is a far cry from a full North American customs union that some hope to achieve as part of the upcoming CUSMA review, which would unduly tie Mexican and Canadian trade policy to the whims of Washington, D.C… The recent China deal is a step in the right direction.
Elbows up: A practical program for Canadian sovereignty
A strong industrial strategy is needed so this frontal attack does not consign Canada to its previous role as supplier of primary staples products… Canada’s trade-oriented, goods-producing industries receive most attention, yet almost 80 per cent of our GDP is produced in non-traded sectors. This includes the care economy, like health care and education, which need more investment, too—not austerity.
Equality
Carney government replacing Islamophobia and antisemitism envoys with advisory council
The council on “Rights, Equality and Inclusion” will be made up of Canadian academics, experts and community leaders “with a mission to foster social cohesion, rally Canadians around shared identity, combat racism and hate in all their forms, and help guide the efforts of the Government of Canada… “Disagreement is legitimate, harmful or abusive conduct, including disinformation, is not.”
… the wealthiest one per cent of Canadians increased their share of total Canadian wealth from 18 per cent to 26 per cent between 2010 and 2019, while the share of wealth owned by every other income group in Canada declined… while Canadians at almost every income level pay a substantial portion of their incomes in tax, billionaires do not… a wealth tax… could raise billions of dollars that could create a better-functioning democracy with a more hopeful, well-nourished and empowered citizenry.
Health
… the province is providing the sites 90 days’ notice “in order to support an orderly transition for clients so they can access other community health services… The sites are being asked to provide a plan for how they will transition clients to other community health services and realign their services to promote rehabilitation.
When Doug Ford was elected premier in 2018, he promised to “end hallway medicine.” But by 2024, the problem had doubled to some 2,000 Ontarians lying on stretchers in hospital hallways… Good health is impossible without stable housing… Shutting down all supervised consumption sites… Underfunded nursing… Expanding for‑profit medicine… [and] Neglecting home care and keeping people in hospital beds
Inclusion
The wrong people are being asked to pay for Canada’s crisis in health care
Starting on May 1, 2026, beneficiaries [of the Interim Federal Health Program(IFHP)]such as asylum seekers and refugees will be required to copay 30 per cent of the cost of supplemental health benefits, in addition to a $4 for every prescription filled or renewed… This also applies to dental care, physiotherapy, and mental health treatment. For refugees, these services are not optional; they are essential, and paying 30 per cent of their cost is simply not feasible.
I don’t have dental insurance. Do I qualify for the federal government’s dental care plan?
For Canadians whose annual income is between $80,000 and $89,999, the CDCP will cover 40 per cent of eligible oral health-care services; for those in the $70,000 to $79,999 range, the plan covers 60 per cent, and those whose income is less than $70,000 receive 100 per cent coverage. You can see exactly what’s covered on the government of Canada’s website. In many cases you will have a co-payment based on your adjusted family net income.
Social Security
Finally Mark Carney delivers a breakthrough for Canadians asking for help. Will it be enough?
The federal government recently announced the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB), an income support designed to help Canadians afford the basics of life. For millions of people struggling to put food on the table, this announcement will mean immediate relief… it treats hunger as a policy problem rather than a charitable one… Ultimately, Canada’s food insecurity crisis isn’t caused by a shortage of food; it’s caused by a lack of income.
A basic income can be a strong investment in mental health
Research shows how poor mental health is a direct consequence of poverty. Money not only helps meet people’s material needs but also alleviates their worries. Reducing poverty translates into significant savings for the economy and the public purse. Canada could save $4 to $10 for every dollar spent on mental health supports. Poverty is not caused by personal failings. It is the social environment people live in that has the greatest impact on life trajectories.
Governance
With their astronomical wealth, tech companies use extraordinary, undemocratic means to shape policy conversations in favour of consolidating US power… First, Canada needs a new digital strategy and charter to meet the moment… Second, Canada must identify and secure the most critical digital systems and data from foreign control… Third, Canada must stop giving away leverage to the U.S… Digital sovereignty does not arrive by surrender.
Could a national, public ‘CanGPT’ be Canada’s answer to ChatGPT?
… what if AI were developed as a public utility rather than as a commercial service? Canada’s long history with public service media — namely the CBC and Radio-Canada — offers a useful model for thinking about how AI could serve the public amid growing calls for a public interest approach to AI policy.
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