Responses from the Electoral Candidates
Responses are arranged according to the date we received them. The first response received in each party appears at the top of that section.
Ontario Liberal Party individual candidate responses
Tariq Khan – London North Centre
Ranjit Singh Bagga – Brampton North
Ashley Fox – Perth-Wellington
Walter Alvarez-Bardales – Simcoe North
Brett Szmul – Ottawa West-Nepean
Ted Crysler – Simcoe-Grey
Andréa Grebenc – Burlington
From: Tariq Khan – London North Centre
Date: February 10, 2025 at 08:47 PM PST
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Ontario Election
Hi Cheryl
Thanks for the detailed info about Arthritis. I have this problem right at my home. Yes, we have covered it under our health policy, a $3.2B health funding we will do to make sure every citizen in Ontario has full coverage in terms of physician and other facilities.
Regards
Tariq
From: Ranjit Singh Bagga – Brampton North
Date: February 11, 2025 at 10:08 AM PST
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Ontario Election
Thank you for your email Cheryl, Mr Bagga has reviewed your email and looks forward to advocating on this matter once he is elected alongside the Ontario Liberals and Bonnie Crombie.
Best,
The Ranjit Singh Bagga Campaign
From: Ashley Fox – Perth-Wellington
Date: February 12, 2025 at 07:40 PM PST
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Ontario Election
Hello Cheryl,
Thanks for reaching out.
Arthritis affects more than 2.3 million Ontario voters and includes me (diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis).
I hope that helps to understand my position on your survey.
Best,
Ashley
Ontario Liberal Candidate - Perth-Wellington
From: Walter Alvarez-Bardales – Simcoe North
Date: February 13, 2025 at 06:51 AM PST
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Ontario Election
Hello, Walter again, Candidate for Simcoe North MPP.
Attached are my responses, it took me a while because I wanted to be thoughtful in my analyzis of the issue and the support that I could provide as an MPP. I hope you like them,
Regards
Walter
From: Brett Szmul – Ottawa West-Nepean
Date: February 13, 2025 at 6:37 PM PST
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Ontario Election
Hi Cheryl,
Thank you for reaching out to us, and for your advocacy on behalf of Ontarians suffering from arthritis. The following are our responses to your survey questions:
1. Will your government commit to continued funding of the ACPAC Project to improve models of arthritis care in Northern Ontario, including Phase 4 expansion?
A strong and well-funded public healthcare system is a core priority for Ontario Liberals. We are committed to expanding access to primary and specialized care across Ontario, particularly in rural and northern communities. Our plan includes creating two new medical schools, expanding residency positions, and accelerating the integration of internationally trained doctors. By advancing team-based care models, including integrating Nurse Practitioners into primary care, we are committed to improving access to specialized care such as rheumatology. While I am not able to personally comment on specific program funding at this time, we are committed to working with healthcare professionals to improve access to care for our friends in Northern Ontario.
2. Will your government commit to modernizing the Ontario Drug Benefit Program by making special access criteria less demanding and restrictive to improve timely patient access to advanced biologic and tsDMARDs medications?
Ontario Liberals recognize the importance of timely access to life-changing medications and treatments. Our healthcare plan prioritizes reducing administrative burdens for healthcare providers and ensuring that Ontarians have timely access to the care they need. We will work with healthcare professionals and patient advocacy groups to ensure that Ontario’s drug benefit program is effective and responsive to patient needs.
3. Will your government introduce culturally appropriate, patient-centered policies to help Indigenous Peoples navigate the healthcare system and receive coordinated care within their community to manage their arthritis?
Ontario Liberals are committed to working in meaningful partnership with Indigenous communities to improve healthcare outcomes. Our plan prioritizes Indigenous-led healthcare solutions and acknowledges the need for culturally relevant care models. By supporting team-based care, expanding access to primary care, and integrating Indigenous perspectives in healthcare planning, we aim to improve outcomes for Indigenous patients, including those living with arthritis and other chronic conditions.
4. Will your government commit to reinvesting biosimilars savings to increase accessibility to new medicines and expand coverage for existing medicines for people living with inflammatory arthritis?
Ontario Liberals believe in reinvesting healthcare savings into patient care. Our focus on reducing administrative burdens, modernizing medical records, and improving digital healthcare delivery will ensure that resources are directed where they are needed most. We will work with medical experts and patient advocates to explore ways to increase accessibility to necessary medications while maintaining the sustainability of Ontario’s prescription drug coverage.
5. Will your government work with the arthritis community to reduce avoidable emergency department use by people living with arthritis?
Yes. One of our top priorities is reducing unnecessary emergency room visits by improving access to primary and specialized care. We are committed to increasing the number of family doctors, expanding team-based care, integrating Nurse Practitioners into primary care, and improving home care access for seniors. These measures will reduce ER visits by providing better management of chronic conditions like arthritis before they escalate into emergencies.
6. What will your government do to ensure the continuation, improvement, and expansion of virtual care for Ontario residents – both patients and health care professionals – and ensure access is equitable to all?
Ontario Liberals will expand virtual care by eliminating outdated systems like fax machines, implementing centralized referral services, and integrating interoperable electronic medical records. We will enhance virtual consultations, particularly for rural, remote, and underserved communities. Additionally, we will work to ensure equitable access by addressing barriers faced by marginalized communities in accessing virtual healthcare services.
Feel free to reach out to our team at any time, as we are eager to listen and learn from those with expertise and lived experience such as yourself.
Regards,
Brett Szmul
Ontario Liberal Party Candidate, Ottawa West-Nepean
From: Ted Crysler – Simcoe Grey
Date: February 15, 2025 at 9:43 PM PST
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Ontario Election
Hello Cheryl,
Thank you for taking the time to write and introduce ACE to me. Organisations such as this play a pivotal role in educating the government decision-makers in where change is necessary. Under the leadership of Bonnie Crombie, the Ontario Liberal party has committed to increase spending in healthcare by $3.1 billion. Yes, healthcare is a priority. Investing in doctors, nurses, PSWs, developing sustainable patient-centred policies, building hospitals and continuing to fund successful pilot programmes designed to improve all areas of healthcare will create the healthcare system Ontarians deserve. Ontario faces many challenges because of uncertainty, and I am committed to making sure the voice of Simcoe-Grey is heard. Again thank you for taking the time to write and I hope I will be able to advocate for ACE in the near future.
Best
Ted
From: Andréa Grebenc – Burlington
Date: February 17, 2025 at 11:09 AM PST
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Ontario Election
Dear Cheryl, Thank you for sharing your concerns about arthritis care in Ontario. As someone deeply committed to improving our healthcare system, I understand the challenges faced by the 2.3 million Ontarians living with arthritis. In fact, my father recently underwent a knee replacement, and I witnessed firsthand the prolonged wait times and the impact they have on patients and their families.
The Ontario Liberal Party recognizes the urgent need to address these issues. Our comprehensive plan aims to end hallway healthcare by investing in healthcare workers and infrastructure. Key initiatives include:
- Hiring 3,100 new doctors: This will enhance access to specialists, including rheumatologists, ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment for arthritis patients.
- Doubling residency spaces and accelerating accreditation for foreign-trained doctors: By increasing the number of practicing physicians, we can reduce wait times for surgeries such as hip and knee replacements.
- Investing in hospital infrastructure: Upgrading and expanding facilities will increase surgical capacity, addressing the backlog of joint replacement surgeries and improving patient outcomes.
Together, we can enhance arthritis care in Ontario and ensure that all residents receive the timely, effective treatment they deserve.
Sincerely,
Andréa Grebenc
Arthritis Consumer Experts
ACE thanks Arthritis Research Canada (ARC) for its scientific review of ACE and JointHealth™ information and education programs.