Politics

Doug Shipley, MP Notes

Submitted by office of Doug Shipley, MP

September 3, 2024 – On September 16th, I will return to Ottawa for Parliament’s fall session. I am excited to be back on Parliament Hill to represent your voices and discuss your views with my colleagues.

September also marks the return to the classroom for many families in our community. I know the first week of school can be filled with emotions for students and parents alike so I want to wish you good luck with the school year ahead. I would also like to wish all educators and school staff an exciting and productive year!

Over the summer, I’ve heard from countless residents who are concerned about the nation-wide shortage of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals and the lack of access to primary care.

The Liberal government promised to hire 7,500 new doctors and nurses, but the results speak for themselves. Canadians are spending more time in emergency wait rooms than ever before.

Wait times for specialist treatment have surged to the longest in nearly 30 years and the Liberal government is now spending more on interest payments for the national debt than on health care transfers.

Conservatives have a plan to put an end to this crisis and ensure that Canadians get the treatment they deserve.

Our Blue Seal Program will ensure capable foreign-trained physicians are certified to provide life-saving treatments, not stuck in jobs unrelated to their qualifications.

A Conservative government will:

• Establish a “Blue Seal” national testing standard to get a license in regulated trades, starting with doctors and nurses but continuing until all regulated professions are covered. Provinces and territories would have the freedom to join or keep their own systems.
• Work with provinces and the healthcare sector to establish a national competency body that will set standards just like the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) does for the Red Seal certificate that exists for many skilled professions.
• Sign a deal with provinces and territories that will create a 60-day standard so foreign-trained health professionals applying for Blue Seal certification get a chance to take the test and get an answer within 60 days.

Conservatives continues to seek out ways to work with the provinces in order to deliver better care and support health care workers. It’s time to fix our healthcare system and bring home doctors and nurses.

As always, my constituency office is available to assist you with any matters related to the federal government. Please contact my office at Doug.Shipley@parl.gc.ca or 705-728-2596 for assistance.

Sincerely,

Doug Shipley, MP

Barrie – Springwater – Oro-Medonte

Ontario Connecting More People to Community Stroke Rehabilitation Care in Central Ontario

Over $6.1 million will help more people connect to critical post-stroke therapy closer to home.

September 4, 2024 Submitted by Office of Jill Dunlop, MPP

SIMCOE NORTH — The Ontario government is investing an additional $2 million in base funding this  year, increasing to nearly $4.1 million in annualized base funding next year to expand Community  Stroke Rehabilitation (CSR) services in Central Ontario to connect more people to the care and  treatment they need.

“Our government is making record investments in our health care system to expand access to vital health services”, said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This investment in the expansion of post-stroke rehabilitation is one more way we are connecting people to the care they need, to get more people back to doing what matters most to them.”

This funding is part of an additional $15 million the Ontario government is investing to help health service providers across the province expand their CSR services and connect an additional 1,400 people to the care they need.

“I am proud of our government’s commitment to health, demonstrated through increased funding to expand CSR services in Central Ontario”, said Jill Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North. “This investment will significantly enhance the quality of care for stroke survivors in our communities, ensuring they have access to the rehabilitation services they need close to home. By improving recovery outcomes and supporting families, we are strengthening the health and well-being of our communities for years to come.”

Community stroke rehabilitative care connects people who have experienced a stroke with occupational therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy, and other professional services to aid in their recovery, all provided in a hospital outpatient clinic, community or home setting. Appropriate and timely rehabilitation can significantly improve outcomes for people who experience a stroke, increasing their level of independence and overall quality of life.