How northwestern Ontarians want election candidates to tackle healthcare issues

Healthcare is top of mind for many northwestern Ontario voters heading into the 2025 provincial election. 

Almost a quarter of Thunder Bay residents don't have access to a family doctor, according to Ontario Medical Association (OMA) data from 2022, while finding a new family doctor in Thunder Bay has proven near-impossible for some patients. 

Hospitals in northwestern Ontario are on the brink of collapse amid doctor shortages, while doctors say rural and northern Emergency rooms (ERs) face risks of closure. The staff in northwestern Ontario ERs say they are burning out from working excessive hours while trying to keep services open. 

Meanwhile, thousands of northern Ontarians have to travel long distances in order to get specialist and diagnostic care every year, according to provincial data. 

Many reserves only have nursing stations, which means patients have to take flights or ice road journeys hundreds of kilometres and stay overnight to access care. This means thousands of First Nations patients in Northwestern Ontario are forced to take these kind of journeys to the closest hospital.

CBC News interviewed three residents from various northwestern Ontario ridings with differing views to learn more about what they want to see their next MPPs do to address healthcare issues. Here's what they shared.

Real plans for primary care instead of abstract promises 

Eric Tatrallyay, who lives in Thunder Bay, said access to primary care providers is the most important issue to him this election. 

He said he wants to see candidates provide specific details on how they will connect Ontarians to a doctor or nurse practitioner who can follow their care. 

"They need to have a concrete plan, like strategies, not just say 'we're going to do this by such-and-such a date' because we've heard that many times and it doesn't happen," said Tatrallyay.

Tatrallyay said he hasn't had a family doctor for about three years, and worries he could need more consistent care than a walk-in clinic can provide as he ages. 

He said he'd like to see the next government put effort into researching more successful primary care systems in other countries and optimizing Ontario's systems based on their findings. 

"If they can achieve that, I don't see why we can't," said Tatrallyay, referencing Denmark, where 98% of people have a primary care provider. 

Finding healthcare workers for northwestern Ontario

Scott Kennedy lives north of Thunder Bay in Fowler. During this election, he said he'd like to see candidates describe how they plan to increase training and recruitment of healthcare workers willing to work in northwestern Ontario. 

While many candidates' platforms include promises to hire more doctors or nurse practitioners, Kennedy said he needs more information about how they plan to make that happen. 

"Where are you going to find them? That's just a fundamental question," said Kennedy. 

He said he's concerned we aren't training enough new doctors in Ontario to make up the current deficit. Kennedy said he's also worried that federal limits on immigration will make it harder to recruit foreign doctors to come practice in Ontario– and those that are able to successfully immigrate will be courted by multiple other provinces who are also desperate to relieve their own doctor shortages. 

"We're going to be fighting our own provinces because they need those people every bit as much as we do," said Kennedy. 

Kennedy said he also wants to ensure a percentage of newly trained and recruited healthcare workers are willing to practice in northern and rural parts of the province.

"I'm in a very rural environment, as are millions of Canadians and, to a degree, Ontarians. So we need the doctors, some of them at least, out in those communities," said Kennedy.  

Funding for northern hospitals, ambulance services

Gayla MacMillan in Rainy River said she wants to see more funding allocated to northern hospitals and ambulance services. 

"The north needs medical care, not just Rainy River, but even further north than Rainy River and on the reserves," she said. 

Rainy River has struggled to recruit and retain healthcare workers, particularly doctors and paramedics. The district has had to reduce the amount of ambulance stations it keeps open because of staff shortages.

MacMillan said she's concerned the overstressed public health system could force more people to seek private care or paid virtual clinics. 

"I don't want us to end up like the US where we have medical care that ends up costing the public. That's not right," she said. 

MacMillian said she would like to see the next provincial government work with the federal government to improve funding for healthcare in northern communities. 

What candidates had to say

CBC News asked all the candidates in northwestern Ontario how they plan to address their constituent's healthcare concerns in the ridings of Thunder Bay—Superior North, Thunder Bay—Atikokan, Kenora–Rainy River and Kiiwetinoong. Each candidate was provided the same questions and timeframe to respond. 

Popular promises included getting all Ontarians a primary care provider by 2029, increasing medical school spots and hiring more internationally trained doctors. 

Responses were received from 10 of the 16 candidates by deadline. Scroll through the photo gallery to read a synopsis of each of their responses.