We demand that Canada include alternative and mental health care in Canadian health coverage, so that all Canadians can access the care they deserve.
I am writing as your constituent to urge you to take action on a critical gap in Canada’s health care system which is costing Canadians and our economy dearly. While our universal health care system provides physician and hospital services, it excludes most paramedical, alternative, and mental health therapies — including counseling, acupuncture, physiotherapy, and light therapy — that are essential for many people’s recovery and overall well-being. For Canadians with private benefits, these services are within reach. For those without, they are not.
The consequences are real. Nearly 56% of Canadians report delaying or skipping health appointments due to cost. Among those without private insurance, 71% are cutting back on care. Mental health services, physiotherapy, and other paramedical supports are among the most commonly delayed. Low-income Canadians face the greatest barriers and the worst outcomes — higher rates of chronic illness, untreated mental health conditions, and increased reliance on emergency care.
I am asking you to take meaningful steps to close this gap by implementing meanstested subsidies or enhanced coverage for paramedical and mental health services for low-income Canadians. Charitable organizations like Funding for Life Society are doing their best to fill this gap — but government action is needed to address the scale of the problem. Every Canadian deserves the care they need to live a healthy and fulfilling life, regardless of income. I urge you to make that possible.
Petition to:
- Marjorie Michel
(Minister of Health),
Papineau, Liberal - Josie Osborne
(Minister of Health),
BC, NDP
