October 26, 2021 (Ottawa) – Following today’s Cabinet swearing-in ceremony, HealthCareCAN extends our congratulations to all new and returning ministers. We look forward to working with this government, and particularly those involved in advancing health research and strengthen our healthcare system – a top priority for Canadians, such as:
- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland,
- Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos,
- Minister of Innovation, Science and Commerce Francois-Phillipe Champagne,
- Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health Carolyn Bennett,
- Minister of Seniors Kamal Khera,
- Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario Patty Hajdu
- Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino
- President of Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair,
- Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities Dominic Leblanc, and
- Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault.
Over the past two years, healthcare has taken centre stage in peoples’ lives and in the affairs of our country. The fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic has permeated every aspect of our society, serving as a reminder that the health of people in Canada is at the heart of our country’s every success.
COVID-19 has also highlighted the importance of mental health and the urgent need to increase mental health and addictions services. We commend the federal government for recognizing this by creating a stand-alone mental health and addictions portfolio and welcome this crucial new addition to Cabinet.
As all ministers take up their roles, we encourage them to remember that healthcare transcends portfolios and levels of government. Ministers must work with their Cabinet colleagues and provincial and territorial counterparts to improve healthcare and strengthen health research and innovation. Canadians are demanding better and want their federal government and elected officials at all levels to collaborate to deliver results.
The health system is facing many challenges that require immediate attention. In addition to increasing federal health transfers to the provinces, HealthCareCAN’s top priorities for the new Cabinet and federal government include:
- Assisting exhausted healthcare workers and addressing health workforce shortages.
- Improving mental health services for all ages.
- Facilitating the immunization of children against COVID-19.
- Strengthening health research and innovation.
- Supporting better aging and enhancing older adult care.
- Modernizing health infrastructure to support virtual care and respond to climate change.
- Building a more equitable, inclusive, and resilient health system, including working with Indigenous people to improve Indigenous health services.
We look forward to working with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his Ministers and their staff to advance these priorities. By working together, we can emerge stronger from the pandemic with a renewed healthcare and health research system that will be key to Canada’s future success.
Paul-Émile Cloutier
President & CEO
HealthCareCAN is the national voice of healthcare organizations and hospitals across Canada. We foster informed and continuous, results-oriented discovery and innovation across the continuum of healthcare.
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Media contact:
Alexandria Rowe, Communications and Member Services Specialist
arowe@healthcarecan.dev2.inter-vision.ca
855-236-0213/613-241-8005 ext. 221 │ Cell: 613-220-1023
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