SSAGC Newsletter - March 10/25

There has been a Stroke/Cardiac advocacy meeting in February/25 with the Federal Government, Ministry of Health, and ongoing requests with the Ontario Government to achieve another funding clarification meeting with Ontario Health.  A background summary was presented as to meetings over the last year-2024-25 with Health Canada-staff of the Minister of Health, M.P., Ajax-Mark Holland-

April 2/24-met with Michael Davies, Policy Advisor, Health Canada; SSAGC requested to provide a structure with deadline dates to illustrate SSAGC position/mandate to Health Canada;  Michael Davies cancelled a further meeting due to personal reasons;

Next meeting was with Dylan Bissonnate, Policy Advisor, Health Canada, July 9/24, presenting SSAGC structure, with deadline dates, as requested;

The next meeting scheduled for October 25/24 with Dylan Bissonnate, Policy Advisor, Health Canada; cancelled by Dylan Bissonnate due to personal reasons; an attempt was made for further contact-no reply;

Meeting held with Minister of Health Holland’s staff on February 18/25-SSAGC made a request for a reply by Monday, February 24/25 as to receiving a sustainable policy 

-no reply as yet-advisor requested from Health Canada, to discuss the SSAGC structure/mandate to implement as initially presented.  ACTION-Staff of Minister of Health Holland’s office to reply back by the week of February 24/25 to the undersigned, SSAGC Director at Large.  

Statement on the Canada Health Act-January 10, 2025-Minister of Health- Mark Holland-

“New Canada Health Act Services Policy to ensure that any medically necessary service is covered by a patient’s provincial or territorial health care plan, whether that service is provided by a doctor, or other health professionals like nurse practitioners or pharmacists”.  

This statement was issued by Minister Holland on January 10/25.   If this statement is supporting health care initiatives across Canada, then, it is imperative that a Stroke/Cardiac Rehabilitation Program and Committees be structured across Canada.   SSAGC requires sustainable discussions with Health Canada, policy advisors, so that action can move forward on real life stroke/cardiac rehabilitation issues across Canada. Our organization has been more than patient over the last year in establishing these parameters.  

Every hour, heart disease claims the lives of 14 Canadians, making it one of the country’s leading health threats.  

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Ontario Health-Community Stroke Rehabilitation Program-Update Report; Long Term Chronic Stroke Rehabilitation

An Ontario Summary for information purposes is provided-

Sept.19/24-Community Stroke Rehabilitation Program presented to SSAGC members;

Since September, 2024, 3 attempts have been made to seek another meeting with Premier Ford, Minister of Health Sylvia Jones, or Matt Anderson, CEO/President, and Vice-President Cathy Cataruzza, Ontario Health. for clarification purposes on funding initiatives, with no replies.  SSAGC has used the Ontario Ombudsman twice, in the Fall, who indicated we could wait a few weeks. The M.P.P. Pickering/Ajax-Minister of Finance- Peter Bethlenfalvy’s office  was contacted who indicated that they could request the meeting but not facilitate it.  SSAGC heard from the Ontario Ombudsman office early March-no further reply.  The Ontario and Federal Governments are in a transitional period due to the country’s strategic economic priorities. .

Funding  Possibilities will probably not be under discussion at this time until there is economic stability in the country.

Submitted by:

Pam Spence,

Director at Large

SSAGC