WINNIPEG, MB, Oct. 14, 2026 /CNW/ -- As the need for health care continues to rise across Canada, provinces and territories are under growing financial pressure to maintain and improve access to care. With key federal funding set to expire, provinces and territories need assurance, through the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) and renewed bilateral agreements, that this national commitment to care will have the funding required to plan for the future.

The Health Ministers meeting is an important opportunity for the federal government to provide provinces and territories with the certainty they need to maintain access to care, support the health workforce and ensure health systems can continue to deliver for Canadians.

As Canadians and their governments come together to face the threat of a continued trade war, it's important to remember that a strong Canada starts with a healthy Canada. After all, universal health care is what defines us as Canadians. Strong and reliable federal funding to maintain universal health care is foundational to growing our economy, improving our productivity, and helping to build projects of national interest. Working together, federal, provincial, territorial governments can build on what's already working, scaling proven innovations across the country so every Canadian benefits from shorter wait times, better access, and care they can count on. 

While Canada's doctors and nurses stand clearly with provinces and territories in their call for funding certainty, we call on Health Ministers across the country to stand united in calling for MPs in Ottawa to swiftly advance legislation that will improve the health and safety of Canadians.

We invite Health Ministers to call on Parliament to pass Bill S-5, the Connected Care for Canadians Act, to ensure doctors, nurses and patients can easily and securely access data across digital platforms, health facilities, and provincial boundaries. This will reduce wasted clinician time using disconnected digital tools and fax machines while improving health care access and safety.

We also ask Health Ministers to call on Parliamentarians to pass Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act. Social media is a top health and safety risk to our kids, and we must put that ahead of tech company profits.

Let's get this legislation across the finish line to support a healthy, safe, and strong Canada.

Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi, President, Canadian Medical Association
Dr. Adam Thompson, President, Doctors of BC
Dr. Alon Altman, President, Doctors Manitoba
Dr. Amanda MacDonald Green, President, Doctors Nova Scotia
Dr. Carl Boucher, President, New Brunswick Medical Society
Dr. Carla Holinaty, President, Saskatchewan Medical Association
Dr. David Antle, President-Elect, Medical Society of Prince Edward Island
Dr. Derek Bryant, President, Yukon Medical Association
Dr. David Metcalfe, President, Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association
Dr. Heidi Fell, President, Alberta Medical Association
Linda Silas, President, Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
Dr. Marc-André Amyot, Président, Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec
Dr. Mimmi Thompson, President, Northwest Territories Medical Association
Dr. Rebecca Hicks, President, Ontario Medical Association
Dr. Sarah Cook, President, College of Family Physicians of Canada
Dr. Tracie Risling, President, Canadian Nurses Association

Background, research, and rationale for the two proposed bills before Parliament:

• Connected Care for All Act (Bill S-5) backgrounder
• Safe Social Media Act (Bill C-34) backgrounder

About the CMA
The Canadian Medical Association leads a national movement with physicians who believe in a better future of health. Our ambition is a sustainable, accessible health system where patients are partners, a culture of medicine that elevates equity, diversity and wellbeing, and supportive communities where everyone has the chance to be healthy. We drive change through advocacy, giving and knowledge sharing – guided by values of collaboration and inclusion.

SOURCE Canadian Medical Association