Why healthcare should be the ballot box issue this election

Mar 24, 2025 by Joss Reimer

Healthy Debate

Canadians have a lot to worry about right now. We read news stories daily about the lack of affordable housing and the economic pain that will come from U.S. tariffs. Even our sovereignty feels at risk.

But as we vote in the government that will see us through this unprecedented time, health care must be core to the government agenda.

According to polls shared by Abacus Data at the Canadian Medical Association’s (CMA) recent federal election town hall, the rising cost of living is the top issue on voters’ minds (61 per cent), followed by the Trump administration (39 per cent) and health care (38 per cent).

Economic pressures are real. And they affect health. Many Canadians already forgo medication because of the cost. People concerned about losing their jobs may think twice about taking time off to go to a doctor’s appointment or recover from illness. Income is the No. 1 social determinant of health. When our income is threatened, so too is our health.

At the same time, our health system is – still – in trouble. We don’t have capacity to respond to yet more stress on patients. An estimated 6.5 million Canadians don’t have access to a family doctor; with only approximately 1,700 new graduates per year, that gap isn’t closing any time soon. We know that wait lists for surgeries continue to exceed recommended benchmarks. Emergency departments are overwhelmed.

Health care is political – the federal government sets national standards for Medicare, provides significant health funding and accountability measures for provinces and territories. But health care shouldn’t be a partisan issue. This election is an opportunity for all political parties to make access to care a platform priority.

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