The NDP promises more health and education services in French in the North

The party’s platform for the North is launched as the leader is on tour earlier this week in Sudbury, North Bay and Barrie.

We know that northerners have never had the same access to health services, have not received as much attention from provincial governments as southern communitiessaid Chief Andrea Horwath.

The NDP’s goal is to recruit 300 doctors for the North.

Photo: Associated Press/Jeff Roberson

If he forms the government, the NDPNew Democratic Party intends to recruit 300 physicians for the North, including 100 specialists and 40 mental health practitioners.

He wants to work with the College of Physicians and Surgeons to expedite credential recognition for foreign-trained physicians and provide incentives and support for health care workers moving to underserved areas.

” COVID has shown us that the flaws in our health care system run deep in general, but even more so in Northern Ontario. »

The party also wants to apply a 14-day limit for the reimbursement of travel expenses for residents who must go outside to receive health care.

The NDP wants to relaunch the midwifery training program in Sudbury, to help Francophone and Aboriginal families. Laurentian University abolished its training program as part of its restructuring.

It also promises to increase the number of health establishments that are managed by Francophones and offer services in French, whether they be long-term care centres, community clinics or mental health and addiction resources.

The NDP wants the Ministry of Health to take into account access to services in French in its planning while creating new health centres.

Photo: Shutterstock/Alexander Raths

On education, Andrea Horwath’s party plans to double the Rural and Northern Education Fund. It is also committed to supporting the University of Sudbury’s project in French. The setbacks at Laurentian University caused a catastrophic loss for programs in French notes the NDP.

Promises related to the economy and transport are also contained in the platform. High-speed Internet access across Ontario by 2025 is one of them.

A New Democrat government would extend high-speed Internet access to all of Ontario by 2025, the party promises.

Photo: Associated Press/Ted S. Warren

Improving intercity transport services, restoring train service Northlanderthe adoption of rules encouraging the construction of public transport vehicles in the province and the improvement of training programs for the trades are part of the New Democrat promises.

Finally, the NDP wants to establish a government-to-government relationship with First Nations.

This would particularly affect the Ring of Fire file.

The NDP promises to open training and employment centers to promote careers in the skilled trades.

Photo: Shutterstock/Daisy Daisy

The development of the Ring of Fire represents an extraordinary opportunity – provided we get it right, which means doing our duty in consulting with First Nations and deploying sound environmental management. specifies the party in its program.

Various initiatives and measures are proposed to improve the living conditions of the First Nations, whether it is to have access to drinking water or to decent housing, to alleviate problems such as suicide among young people and to promote the settlement of land claims. .

With information from Mathieu Simard