A private members bill that would ensure the Northern Health Travel Grant is reviewed and improved has been introduced in the Ontario Legislature.
It has been presented by Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Judith Monteith-Farrell.
The New Democrat member stresses people across the north have been clear that the grant isn’t working for them, and that there are serious problems with it.
Monteith-Farrell says reimbursement rates are too low, and wait times to get the money are far too long.
She stresses for many low-income families and seniors on fixed income, it’s not just difficult but impossible to travel for medical treatment, especially given the long delays to get the money back.
Monteith-Farrell says is asking for the creation of an advisory committee to consult with northern families and health care workers.
The committee would submit recommendations to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care on how to fix, what she calls, a problematic program.
Monteith-Farrell accuses the Ford government of ignoring the exisiting travel grant’s obvious issues, noting no one should have to rack up credit card debt because of health care appointments.
