The motion tabled by MPP Robin Martin, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health, aims to ensure that every Ontarian has access to quality care for chronic diseases that is designed to address prevention, management, and treatment. This strategy will have an initial focus on diabetes that is aligned with the existing Indigenous diabetes strategy.
Diabetes Canada applauds this action, as it signifies a critical step toward improving health outcomes for the nearly 2.4 million people who live with diabetes or prediabetes in the province.
According to the motion, The Minister of Health and Ontario Health will develop the provincial framework and will outline its progress through public reporting within one year and provide annual updates on the state of care for persons with chronic diseases in Ontario.
“Diabetes Canada is thrilled with this progress and looks forward to working alongside the Minister of Health and Ontario Health to develop this framework,” says Maria Campbell, Director of Government Relations for Diabetes Canada. “A comprehensive framework will help increase overall access to preventative care and primary care, which we know is a priority for people living with diabetes in the province. With consistent, in-person and/or virtual healthcare, as well as access to the right devices and medication, blood glucose levels can be managed, and expensive downstream complications can be prevented.”
“This motion continues the incredible momentum we have witnessed over the last year, as more and more provinces adopt their own diabetes frameworks or strategies” says Russell Williams, Senior Vice President of Mission for Diabetes Canada.
In October of 2022, the Federal government tabled the Framework for Diabetes in Canada to serve as a guiding standard as provincial frameworks are implemented throughout the country. “As more of these provincial/territorial strategies come to life there will be direct applications and learnings for other chronic diseases, facilitating economies of scale, rapid knowledge-sharing and bringing transformative change that will be felt throughout the health-care system” said Williams, when the initial federal Framework was tabled.
Diabetes Canada thanks Ontario’s MPPs who together unanimously voted to pass this motion, demonstrating their commitment to meaningfully improving the lives of people living with diabetes in their province.