Dear AFHTO EDs/Admin Leads, Board Chairs, and Physician/NP Leads,
We are reaching out to you to provide you with an election update, and to circulate the final deliverables from our work with the Nous Group.
Election Update
As we approach the Ontario provincial election on Thursday, February 27, 2025, it’s crucial to stay informed about recent developments and the positions of party leaders, especially concerning healthcare.
Recent Developments:
- Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford has been focusing on economic issues, including plans to expedite project approvals in the mineral-rich Ring of Fire region.
- NDP Leader Marit Stiles has pledged to guarantee every Ontarian access to a family doctor through the party’s “Family Health Guarantee,” aiming to connect everyone to team-based care over four years.
- Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie has been actively campaigning on healthcare improvements, emphasizing the need for robust public health services.
- Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner continues to advocate for sustainable healthcare solutions, integrating environmental health with public health policies.
Key Considerations:
- Healthcare as a Priority: Recent polls indicate that healthcare remains the foremost concern for Ontario voters.
- Voter Turnout: Advance voting saw a turnout of just over 6% of eligible voters. Your participation on election day is vital to ensure that healthcare professionals’ voices are heard.
Voting Information:
- Election Day: Thursday, February 27, 2025
- Poll Hours: 9 AM to 9 PM Eastern Time
- Find Your Polling Station: Use the Voter Information Service on the Elections Ontario website to locate your assigned voting location.
- Identification: Remember to bring appropriate ID to vote. A list of accepted identification documents is available on the Elections Ontario website.
Stay Informed:
For comprehensive and up-to-date information on party platforms, leader itineraries, and election news, visit Santis Health’s Election Tracker: https://www.santiselectiontracker.com/ontario-2025.
Your vote is your voice. Let’s ensure that the healthcare community actively participates in shaping the future of our province.
Nous Group Deliverables
Over the past three months, AFHTO has worked with Nous Group to complete two major pieces of work: The Current State Review, and the AFHTO Working Position Statement (please scroll down to the bottom).
The Current State Review represents part of our work in consolidating AFHTO members’ collective efforts – business cases, white papers, evaluations, and proposals—into a unified framework to present a stronger, more resonant voice to decision-makers, including Ontario Health, the Ministry, and the government. This project aims to capture key insights and messages to strengthen engagement, advocacy, and partnership efforts. We thank our many members who submitted their business cases for the development of these pieces – this work would not have been possible without with you.
Second, the AFHTO Working Position Statement offers more insight into the key stakeholders that AFHTO aims to engage, their priorities, and how AFHTO can best align its efforts to address those priorities effectively. The report calls for a clear primary care vision, flexible funding, and strategic collaboration to improve patient outcomes and system efficiency. Internally, AFHTO aims to strengthen governance, rebrand its network, standardize data collection, and enhance advocacy efforts.
The primary care sector is at a critical inflection point. An evolving landscape provides us with an opportunity to address long-standing systematic issues and continue forward on top of a healthy foundation.
Thank you for enabling us to accomplish this work.
Michael Scarpitti
Director, Strategic Communications and Government Relations