Monday, May 05, 2025
Ontario. Ministry of Health - [Toronto - University Avenue] - [Public Health Care]
Ontario Building a More Connected and Convenient Health Care System
New legislation will protect Ontario health care by strengthening governance and transparency, enhancing patient care and improving service delivery
The Ontario government has re-introduced the More Convenient Care Act to continue to deliver on the province’s plan to protect health care and provide more people with the right publicly funded care, in the right place by building healthier communities and bolstering the province’s health care workforce for years to come.
“With the More Convenient Care Act, our government is continuing to build on our progress as we connect people to the right care, in the right place, no matter where they live,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By taking bold and innovative action with this legislation, we are saving patients time and shortening wait lists, while protecting our healthcare system for the future.”
Legislative and regulatory changes to help connect more people to convenient care, closer to home, include:
Strengthening Governance and Transparency
- Creating a transparency framework for staffing agencies in the hospital, long-term care, and community health sectors to disclose administrative mark-up rates through the Health Care Staffing Agency Reporting Act, 2025.
- Enhancing hospital governance by defining best practices and ensuring providers have access to the necessary tools and resources they need to deliver high-quality care.
Enhancing Patient Care
- Modernizing the provincial electronic health record (EHR) to provide eligible Ontarians with safe, secure and direct access to their personal health information online through Health811.
- Allowing nurse practitioners to complete and sign mandatory blood testing forms to expand access to care for people submitting applications including, victims of crimes, correctional officers, members of the College of Nurses of Ontario, medical or nursing students, and paramedics.
- Exploring options that would support consistent and quality mental health and addiction services.
- Reviewing the ambulance vehicle and equipment standards to enhance patient safety and make it faster for paramedics to access the tools they need to deliver emergency care.
Improving Service Delivery
- Strengthening the authority of the Chief Medical Officer of Health for greater alignment and consistency when certain orders are issued by local Chief Medical Officers of Health across public health unit regions.
The More Convenient Care Act, 2025 builds on the Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, to connect Ontarians to the right care, where and when they need it.
Quick Facts:
- Since expanding the role of registered nurses to prescribe medications, 671 registered nurses have completed the required training and are authorized to prescribe.
- The province expanded the scope of practice for nurse practitioners, by announcing new changes to make it faster and more convenient to connect people to the care they need, when they need it.
- Ontario has invested $743 million over three years to continue to address immediate health care staffing needs, as well as to grow the workforce for years to come.
- Across government and in collaboration with the Ontario Medical Association, the government is reviewing key forms to streamline and simplify them, minimize any duplication, and identify opportunities for digital solutions, while helping doctors put patients before paperwork.
Quotes:
"Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we are taking action to update service delivery and enhance systems that Ontarians rely on daily. With the Strengthening Cybersecurity and Building Trust in the Public Sector Act alongside the More Convenient Care Act, we’re protecting personal information and making health care more connected, transparent, and accessible. This means better care, stronger privacy, and greater trust in public services for all Ontarians."
- Stephen Crawford, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement
"Our government is tackling the challenges facing the health care sector head-on and taking concrete steps to ensure every dollar invested delivers the highest quality of care for long-term care residents across Ontario. This includes ensuring a more connected health care system to protect Ontario’s seniors and enhance their quality of life."
- Paul Calandra, Acting Minister of Long-Term Care
"The Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs (OAPC) supports the move by this government to review the vehicle and equipment standards for paramedic services. This will reduce weight in paramedic bags as well as waste due to expiring medications. Reviewing the vehicle standards will allow for smaller ambulances and open up more options for paramedic services to take advantage of new vehicle design and technology."
- Greg Sage. President, Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs (OAPC)
"The Police Association of Ontario supports the Ministry of Health’s decision to expand the Mandatory Blood Testing Act to include nurse practitioners in authorizing mandatory blood tests. This change enhances the efficiency and accessibility of a critical process that protects, first responders, including police officers, who may be exposed to potentially infectious and/or communicable diseases. It reflects a modern, collaborative approach to healthcare and ensures timely interventions that safeguard our members’ health and the well-being of the communities we serve."
- Mark Baxter, President, Police Association of Ontario (PAO)
"Addiction counsellors work with people during an extremely vulnerable period in their lives. CACCF applauds the Ontario Government’s initiative to consult stakeholders to ensure that Addiction Counsellors are well-trained, certified, credentialled, and up-to-date with emerging trends and treatments. This important step towards developing a regulatory framework aligns with CACCF’s 40-year mission to advocate for professional excellence while prioritizing public safety and trust."
- Doug Brewer, Executive Director, Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation
Additional Resources:
Media Contacts:
Ema Popovic
Minister Jones’ Office
ema.popovic@ontario.ca
Media Relations
Communications Branch
media.moh@ontario.ca
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