Where the parties stand
On October 6th, Ontarians go to the polls. The women and families of this province want to know where the parties stand on issues of relevance to maternal and newborn care. The AOM surveyed political parties to establish their views on the following essential health care issues:
1. Does your party support the full integration of midwives into hospitals so that midwives can maximize their scope?
LIBERAL - “Ontario Liberals have significantly expanded the scope of practice for midwives so they can provide more services to patients. We believe that midwives should be able to work in accordance with the full scope of their practice in all environments, including hospitals.”
NDP - “Yes. New Democrats support midwives working to their full scope of practice. We have introduced amendments to the Public Hospitals Act, multiple times, that would remove barriers to the full integration of midwives in hospitals. We will continue to advocate for these changes.”
GREEN – “Yes. The Green Party supports the full integration of midwives into hospitals so that midwives can maximize their scope of practice. The Green Party believes in bringing together multi-disciplinary family health care teams which include different kinds of health care professionals. These teams will provide Ontarians with more choices. By using each profession’s competencies to the maximum capacity, we will address the issue of long wait-lists and physician shortages. Our primary health care is provided by a variety of workers, including midwives, doctors, physiotherapists, nurse practitioners, naturopaths and specialists of all kinds to keep us healthy. We need integrated care from a variety of licensed professionals, on an ongoing basis.”
PC - No response.
2. Does your party support pay equity between midwives and other comparable health care providers?
LIBERAL - “We also believe that midwives should be fairly compensated for the important work they do. We support recognizing midwives and their compensation relative to other health care professionals.”
NDP - “Yes. Ontario’s New Democrats recognize the vital role midwives play in Ontario. Ensuring pay equity between midwives and comparable health care providers should be a given. The Ontario NDP is committed to working with AOM to ensure that equity is achieved for midwives.”
GREEN – “Yes, the Green Party of Ontario recognizes that midwives are an integral part of the integrated community health care system. We believe this profession deserves equal status to comparable health care providers in our province’s health care plan. We support the amending of profession-specific acts of regulated health care professions to allow their members to practise to the full extent of their demonstrated competencies, as verified by their respective regulatory bodies.”
PC - No response.
3. Does your party commit to funding birth centre pilot projects in Ontario?
LIBERAL - “Ontario Liberals have expanded midwifery practices significantly to provide another accessible health care option to all Ontarians. We have also increased the number of spaces in midwifery degree programs so more students are graduating and helping to increase access to services. Since 2003, we have increased midwifery funding by almost 300 per cent. Ontario Liberals will continue to work with the midwifery community to expand access to midwifery services. That is why we support piloting birth centres in Ontario and are open to exploring the possibilities for this model.”
NDP - “Yes. New Democrats have long supported the creation of independent birth centres.”
GREEN – “Yes, the Green Party of Ontario supports the funding of birth centre pilot projects in Ontario. Birth centres are an example of the type of innovative and cost-effective alternatives to traditional care models that we need going forward to meet Ontario's health care needs.”
PC - No response.
4. Does your party uphold the principles of publicly funded healthcare being accessible, portable, universal and comprehensive as envisaged in the Canada Health Act 1984?
LIBERAL - “We are proud that midwifery is covered in Ontario for all women, in hospital or at home. It is vital that these services are available to all Ontarians. Ontario Liberals are strong champions of the principles of the Canada Health Act — that is why we passed the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, which commits our province to a strong, publicly funded universal health care system. While those on the right argue that we need to abolish the Canada Health Act and open the door to private-pay and two-tiered care, Ontario Liberals believe that future reform must protect the core principles of our cherished system of medicare.”
NDP - “Yes. We are proud of our public health care system. It is one based on need and not the ability to pay. New Democrats believe we have an obligation to strengthen this system so that it provides reliable care for generations to come. We would strongly enforce the principles of the Canada Health Act.”
GREEN – “Yes. The Green Party of Ontario believes in a sustainable, public health care system that provides every Ontarian with access to the quality health care they require, when and where they need it. By refocusing the health care system on programs that promote health and work to prevent illness in the first place, we can improve the access to and quality of our health care system. The time to start is now, while we can still affect the outcome. We can create efficiencies, better manage costs, and improve outcomes by making front line health care more accessible.”
PC - No response.
5. Does your party support an end to the three-month OHIP wait period for new residents?
LIBERAL - “Ontario Liberals recognize that the midwifery community believes that new immigrants should not be subject to a three-month wait to access OHIP-insured services, including midwifery care. We are currently doubling the number of Community Health Centres (CHCs) in the province. CHCs provide primary care to all those in need, including new immigrants subject to the current three-month wait. Ontario Liberals will review the three-month wait period for new and returning Ontarians. Our goal is to make sure that people receive the care they need while protecting the public from potential abuse of the system.”
NDP - “Yes. The Ontario NDP is committed to working with stakeholders to end the three-month OHIP wait period.”
GREEN – “Since new residents are subject to the same taxation system as everyone else from the first day they arrive to Canada, the policy of the 3-month waiting period to receive service needs to be reviewed. The Green Party of Ontario will advocate for a review of this policy.”
PC - No response.
This information is also available in these languages: Korean, Russian.