More than 130 physicians and medical learners advocated for solutions to improve access and reduce delays to care
Ontario’s doctors brought front-line experience to the beating heart of the province’s government this week at our annual Queen’s Park Day advocacy event.
More than 130 physicians and medical learners told their stories and shared their challenges on Nov. 2, bringing to life the advocacy priorities from our new Waiting has to stop
campaign.
The campaign highlights Ontario doctors’ solutions to put patients first and reduce delays in accessing care.
We are here to ensure that physicians’ experiences inform health-care system policy across the province,” OMA President Dr. Rebecca Hicks told a packed lunch-hour gathering, which included MPPs and leaders from across the political spectrum.
When physicians, governments and partners across the health-care system work together, we can turn conversations into action and action into actual better care for patients across Ontario.
Almost 50 meetings between physicians and MPPs took place throughout the day.
These solutions-based conversations helped build relationships between doctors and provincial decision-makers, while advancing our 2026-27 advocacy priorities on family medicine, specialist access, emergency care, northern and rural care, and fixing OHIP.
“It is important for the MPPs to hear directly from you, our physicians, who care for thousands of their constituents every day,” OMA interim CEO Dr. Andrew Park told the lunch gathering. Health Minister Sylvia Jones, NDP health critic France Gélinas and MPP Dr. Robin Lennox, Liberal MPP health critic Dr. Adil Shamji, and Green Party MPP Aislinn Clancy also spoke.
Our new Waiting has to stop integrated campaign
advocates for a stronger health-care system that puts patients first and lets the public know Ontario's doctors have solutions to improve access to care for everyone.
Your voice matters in helping transform Ontario’s health-care system. By joining us as a health-care advocate, you will have access to additional resources and training.
Dr. Kevin Liu of Scarborough and his colleagues met with NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa at the advocacy day. The family physician relayed stories of his patients who had gone 20 years without a family doctor before joining his practice.
“They have so many different issues because they haven't had access to health care. You try to help the best that you can,” Dr. Liu said, noting that many patients then end up in the Emergency Department when they haven’t had easy access to primary care.
Dr. Liu also shared his solutions for improving family physician access directly with Mamakwa, the deputy leader of the official Opposition.
When physicians, governments and partners across the health-care system work together, we can turn conversations into action and action into actual better care for patients across Ontario.
It’s the patients that Dr. Paul Cano sees in northwestern Ontario that bring him to Queen’s Park.
The semi-retired rural generalist, who locums in Kenora, said reduced access to primary and specialist care is a leading contributor to poorer health outcomes in northern and rural communities.
For example, life expectancy in northwest Ontario is 75.2 years – more than seven years shorter than the provincial average.
So you will live less long in the north, partly because of some of the social determinants of health, but partly because of the lack of access to services, lack of access to primary care,
he said.
A lack of hospitals in northern communities, some with populations of several thousand, also contributes to health outcomes, said Dr. Cano.
Sharing this kind of lived experience and front-line evidence helps shape policy discussions.
A new fireside chat featured Dr. Hicks, Dr. Park and OMA Board Chair Dr. Sharon Bal, who spoke candidly about this year’s organizational priorities and our work to address physicians’ concerns.
Sunday’s pre-Queen’s Park Day training day featured an all-star panel of political analysts and practical tips to help doctors make the most of their advocacy.
For Toronto pediatrician Dr. Taylor Ber, the entire event gave her optimism for a stronger health-care system.
“What gives me hope is looking around at all the physicians here today, collaborating, coming together for the bigger mission of the OMA and physicians,” she said.