Today, our government introduced a $2 billion transfer to the provinces and territories to help clear surgery and diagnostic backlogs, created and made worse by the pandemic. This investment will strengthen our universal, high-quality health care system, and help it remain strong and resilient in the face of COVID-19. This will also work to address the first of our government’s five priorities for our universal, accessible, and high-quality health care in Canada:

1. Reduce backlogs made worse by COVID-19 and grow our health care workforce
2. Ensure everyone can access a family health team
3. Create integrated digital health records for all, and use health data for better care
4. Improve mental health and substance use services for all Canadians
5. Help everyone grow old with dignity, closer to home