Canada’s provinces and territories are responsible for health services. The Canada Health Act tells them what they must do to receive federal funding. It covers hospital, medical, and some surgical dentistry services, but it doesn’t cover home and community services. Provinces and territories may choose to insure these services, but they aren’t required to. When they do, they set their own terms and conditions. When health care is strained, home care and community services can be easy targets for cost cutting.

Each government puts its own stamp on health care. Provincial legislation passed in 2019 gave Ontario Health responsibility for funding. It gave Ontario Health Teams responsibility for planning and delivering services.

This isn’t the first restructuring, and it won’t be the last. We pay close attention to each one. We write papers, review legislation, comment on policies, and prepare submissions. We ask questions, sometimes hard ones. We promote the services that keep older Ontarians in their homes and communities within whatever structures Ontario adopts.