JointHealth
français
Ontario 2025 provincial election

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 New Democratic Party individual candidate responses
Marjorie Knight - Cambridge
France Gelinas – Nickel Belt
Kristyn Wong-Tam – Toronto Centre
Jodie Szimanski – Kitchener-Conestoga
Jamie West - Sudbury
Linnea Lofstrom-Abary – Don Valley West
Bryan Blair – Etobicoke North
Dave Augustyn – Niagara West

From: Marjorie Knight - Cambridge
Date: February 10, 2025 at 07:21 AM PST
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Ontario Election

Hello,

I received your email with great interest. I myself have lupus, and identify with many of the points mentioned in your survey.

I Know that it took more than a year to diagnose what was wrong with me, and when it became apparent that I was in danger of having irreversible damage unless I had immediate treatment, I was told I had to wait 4 months before I could see a rheumatologist. I was very fortunate to have someone intervene and get me in to see a different doctor, but that meant that I had to go outside of my city, my region, to get help.

I have not discussed these issues within our heath care plan, however, I can assure you that I will be following up with our policy team to ensure that it is firmly on the radar, and the important work is continued and funded, especially with equity in mind.

Thank you for reaching out and your commitment to this disease, it is very important to many of us.

Best regards,

Marjorie

From: France Gelinas – Nickel Belt
Date: February 11, 2025 at 07:34 AM PST
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Ontario Election

Hi Anita,
These inquiries can be sent to policy@ontariondp.ca

Damien Waddell
NDP Nickel Belt Campaign

From: Kristyn Wong-Tam – Toronto Centre
Date: February 11, 2025 at 11:59 AM PST
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Ontario Election

Hello Cheryl,

Thank you for reaching out to the Kristyn Wong-Tam campaign. After reading through your email, I will say that Kristyn is not the MPP during the election. However, once the election is over on February 27, please reach out again and Kristyn would be happy to take your meeting. They have likely met with your organization before!

Sincerely,

Team Kristyn

From: Jodie Szimanski – Kitchener-Conestoga
Date: February 19, 2025 at 8:27 AM PST
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Ontario Election

Good morning,

Thank you for reaching out and asking about the NDP’s perspective. My mom and her brother both have debilitating arthritis – my grandmother did as well when she was alive. The Ontario NDP has been consistently committed to helping ageing Ontarians receive better care in a timely manner.

We have committed to hiring more nurses to ameliorate staffing ratios and ending hallway healthcare in Ontario. We would implement a centralized referral system for specialists to reduce wait times and ensure that people with arthritis get the care they need in a timely manner. We are committed to making healthcare better. Nurse practitioners and health teams play a big part in this so we would continue to support that type of model to increase the number of people that can access quality care.

Thank you for bringing your concerns to our campaign, we are committed to advocating for all older adults in Ontario.

Jodi

Jodi Szimanski, NDP Candidate Kitchener-Conestoga
From: Jamie West - Sudbury
Date: February 19, 2025 at 8:44 AM PST
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Ontario Election

Hi Cheryl,

Thank you for reaching out and asking about the ONDP’s perspective on NPs in primary care. The Ontario NDP has been consistently committed to helping ageing Ontarians receive better care in a timely manner.

We have committed to hiring more nurses to ameliorate staffing ratios and ending hallway healthcare in Ontario. We would implement a centralized referral system for specialists to reduce wait times and ensure that people with arthritis get the care they need in a timely manner. We are committed to making healthcare better and we know the importance of quick access to the care that's needed for patients with arthritis.

Jamie and the ONDP won some improvements to the Northern Health Travel Grant which helps, but we know that more needs to be done to secure direct access to care here in the North.

Thank you for bringing your concerns to our campaign, we are committed to advocating for all older adults in Ontario.

~Jamie West ONDP Campaign

From: Linnea Lofstrom-Abary – Don Valley West
Date: February 22, 2025 at 03:04 PM PST
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Ontario Election

HI Cheryl,

Thank you for the opportunity to share our plan for healthcare in Ontario. We are committed to ensuring equitable access to high-quality, publicly funded healthcare for all Ontarians, including those living with arthritis.

Please feel free to check out our platform online at ontariondp.ca/platform for more information about how we plan to support public healthcare in Ontario as well as a detailed overview of our plan for Northern Ontario at ontariondp.ca/commitments.

Our plan includes doubling residency spots at NOSM University; hiring more doctors across Ontario, including 350 in Northern Ontario. We will expand and properly fund locum programs that bring doctors from other parts of the province to relieve Northern doctors. We will ensure reliable access to physicians, nurses, and specialists all year, including for francophone communities. We will also increase rates for the Northern Health Travel Grant to help ease the cost burden on patients and their families who have to travel to get care. Additionally, we will improve access to culturally appropriate health care and Indigenous healthcare practices across Northern Ontario.

Thanks again for the opportunity to share this information with you and your team.

Regards,

Simeon

Simeon Rego (He/Him)
Campaign Manager and Voter Contact Organizer
From: Bryan Blair – Etobicoke North
Date: February 25, 2025 at 05:15 PM MST
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Ontario Election

Hi there,

Thank you for your email.
I appreciate the time and thought behind your message, as I understand that addressing the treatment gaps in arthritis care is an important component in restoring our public healthcare. Of course, I am in support of allocating additional resources, research and funding that improves arthritic prevention, treatment and care in Ontario.

While I cannot directly answer your survey questions, I would like to highlight to you some of the ONDP's 2025 platform, that are in alignment with the support and resources you are seeking:
  • The ONDP will tackle the Northern health crisis by establishing a Northern Command Centre to hire 350 doctors, including 200 family doctors in Northern Ontario and we will double residency positions at NOSM University.
  • An ONDP government is also committed to establishing government-to-government relationships with First Nations. Any policies impacting First Nations will be guided by the principles of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), as a matter of law, across government which will support development of culturally appropriate care and addressing access barriers to virtual care.
You can read the ONDP's Northern Commitments here.

Regardless of what happens, I would like to stay connected. I am more than happy to support your advocacy moving forward. My campaign team regularly monitors my email and will be happy to follow up with you in the near future.

Thank you,

Bryan Blair
ONDP Candidate for Etobicoke North
From: Dave Augustyn – Niagara West
Date: February 26, 2025 at 8:30 AM MST
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Ontario Election

Dear Cheryl:

Thanks so much for your email. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. This rushed campaign has made it difficult to get back to people in a timely way and also meet voters face to face.

Many members of my family have or have been afflicted with arthritis. I know how debilitating it can be for people.

The Ontario NDP has been consistently committed to helping people and improving healthcare.

We have committed to hiring more nurses and to setting staffing ratios, and ending the indignity of hallway warehousing of patients. We would implement a centralized referral system for specialists to reduce wait times and ensure that people with arthritis get the care they need in a timely manner. We are committed to making healthcare better. Nurse practitioners and health teams play a big part in this so we would continue to support that type of model to increase the number of people that can access quality care.

Most people recognize that the previous Liberal government broke health care and that the PC government put it on life support. Your email succinctly and your campaign demonstrates why we need a change of government. We need a leader, like Marit Stiles, who you can trust to be on your side.

The Ontario NDP came second across the Province in the last election, and in the election before that.

Since you want change, will you be recommending that those impacted with debilitating arthritis can finally get the care they need and the dignity they deserve? I look forward to your response.

Thanks again for your email.

Yours,

Dave
_______________________________
Dave Augustyn
Ontario NDP Candidate — Niagara West