Canadians want and deserve a health care system that provides timely access to health services whenever and wherever they are needed. That is why the Government of Canada is investing over $200 billion over 10 years, which includes $25 billion for tailored bilateral agreements with provinces and territories, to support the Working Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians plan.
Today, the Honourable Mark Holland, Canada's Minister of Health, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, on behalf of the Honourable Ya'ara Saks, Canada's Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, and the Honourable Mark McLane, Prince Edward Island's (PEI) Minister of Health and Wellness, announced a bilateral agreement to invest more than $94 million over the next three years, marking a crucial step in a 10-year plan for collaboration. This new funding by the Government of Canada will help accelerate efforts in PEI to improve health care access and services.
Through this federal funding, PEI has a 3-year action plan to deliver improvements to its health care system by 2026, including:
- Building 16 new Patient Medical Homes and establishing a network of team-based health providers and services across the province through Patient Medical Neighbourhoods. These innovations will help ensure that all PEI residents, including those in rural and remote areas, can access family health services.
- Supporting its health workforce by developing a strategic plan to recruit internationally educated health professionals and leveraging technology for streamlined training.
- Guaranteeing students studying in health care fields will have a full-time position upon graduation.
- Increasing access to diagnostic services by expanding laboratory services, extending hours of operation and reducing wait times for patients.
- Continuing to invest in Mobile Mental Health units and Student Well-being Teams to reach an additional 2,500 patients by 2026 living in rural areas, underserved and vulnerable populations, and within Indigenous communities with mental health services.
Progress on these initiatives and broader commitments will be measured against targets which PEI will publicly report on annually.
Through this new agreement, PEI will improve how health information is collected, shared, used and reported to Canadians; streamline foreign credential recognition for internationally educated health professionals; facilitate the mobility of key health professionals within Canada; and fulfill shared responsibilities to uphold the Canada Health Act to protect Canadians' access to health care that is based on need, not the ability to pay.
Recognizing the significant disparities in Indigenous health outcomes, the Government of Canada and of PEI also commit to meaningfully engage and work together with Indigenous partners to support improved access to quality and culturally appropriate health care services. PEI's action plan is informed by continued engagement with its Indigenous partners and recent trilateral discussions involving the federal government. To help approach health decisions through a lens that promotes respect and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, PEI will be establishing an Indigenous health engagement committee, which includes the Abegweit and Lennox Island First Nations, ensuring PEI's two Mi'kmaq communities are involved in health policy decisions.
PEI and the federal government will continue working together to improve access to health services and deliver tangible results to all patients across the province, including responding to the needs of Indigenous and other underserved and disadvantaged populations.
