Healthcare stands as a pivotal issue for many voters in northwestern Ontario as the 2025 provincial election approaches. Recent data from the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) reveals that nearly a quarter of Thunder Bay residents lack access to a family doctor. Finding a new family doctor in Thunder Bay has become a significant challenge for some individuals.
Hospitals in northwestern Ontario are facing critical situations due to severe doctor shortages, with some facilities on the verge of collapse. In addition, rural and northern Emergency rooms (ERs) are at risk of closure, leading to healthcare staff in the region experiencing burnout from extended working hours to maintain essential services.
Moreover, thousands of northern Ontarians have to undertake long journeys annually to receive specialist and diagnostic care, highlighting the accessibility challenges faced by residents. Particularly, many reserves solely equipped with nursing stations compel patients to travel extensive distances, including flights or ice road trips, to access necessary healthcare services, impacting numerous First Nations patients in Northwestern Ontario.
In interviews with three residents from various northwestern Ontario ridings, diverse perspectives emerged on addressing healthcare issues in the region. Eric Tatrallyay, a Thunder Bay resident, emphasized the paramount importance of ensuring access to primary care providers. He stressed the necessity for concrete plans from candidates to connect Ontarians with doctors or nurse practitioners for continuous care, citing the need for strategies that deliver tangible outcomes.
Scott Kennedy, residing north of Thunder Bay in Fowler, expressed concerns about the shortage of healthcare workers in the region and urged candidates to outline plans for enhancing training and recruitment efforts. Kennedy highlighted the challenge of finding healthcare professionals willing to work in northwestern Ontario, emphasizing the need for strategies to address the deficit and ensure adequate staffing in rural areas.
Gayla MacMillan in Rainy River emphasized the need for increased funding for northern hospitals and ambulance services to provide essential medical care to communities in the north. MacMillan highlighted the struggle of Rainy River in recruiting and retaining healthcare workers, particularly doctors and paramedics, due to staff shortages, which have led to operational challenges in ambulance services.
Overall, residents in northwestern Ontario are looking to the next government to prioritize healthcare issues, including improving access to primary care, addressing workforce shortages, and enhancing funding for healthcare services in the region. Candidates’ responses to these concerns will play a crucial role in shaping the healthcare landscape in northwestern Ontario.
