Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky is urging the Ontario government to assist families with the costs of traveling long distances for specialized medical treatment.
On Wednesday, Gretzky held a news conference at Queen’s Park to discuss Bill 117, known as the ACCESS Care Act. This legislation would mandate that the province’s health minister create a grant program aimed at helping eligible Ontarians cover travel expenses when they have to go at least 100 kilometers one way outside their community for specialized medical services.
Gretzky mentioned that this proposed law is motivated by families in Windsor-Essex who frequently travel to London, Hamilton, Toronto, and Ottawa for treatments not available nearby.
“Access to health care should never depend on your postal code or your income,” Gretzky stated.
One of the families advocating for change includes Amherstburg resident Kaitlin Lowe, whose five-year-old son, Sullivan, needs specialized pediatric care outside of Windsor-Essex.
Lowe expressed that the proposed bill signifies years of effort aimed at assisting families like hers.
Windsor-Essex family’s experience inspires legislation
Sullivan was diagnosed with total colonic Hirschsprung disease when he was only two days old. He continues to require specialized care in London, which is almost 200 kilometers away from home.
While Lowe appreciates her son’s medical team in London, she noted that traveling for treatment poses considerable financial and emotional hardships.
“There’s gas money that we have to pay for. There’s hotel stays that we potentially have to pay for,” she explained, adding that meals and hospital parking fees quickly add up.
After hearing about Ontario’s Northern Health Travel Grant through another family, Lowe began advocating for a similar travel grant.
Among the families advocating for change is that of Amherstburg resident Kaitlin Lowe, whose five-year-old son Sullivan requires specialized pediatric care outside Windsor-Essx. (CBC/Zoom) p >
She questioned why Windsor-Essx families facing long travels for speciali zed care couldn’t receive similar support. p >
Her efforts ultimately garnered backing from municipalities across Essex County and brought attention to this issue at Queen’s Park. p >
Lowe said she felt honored knowing her family’s story contributed to inspiring Gretzky’s legislation. p >
“To have our struggles validated and for someone to step up and help just means so much,” she shared. p >
Although the suggested grant won’t solve every obstacle faced by these families, Lowe believes it could genuinely make a difference. p >
Ontario already provides the Northern Health Travel Grant for eligible residents in northern Ontario who must travel out of their area for medical treatment. p >
Calls for equitable access across Ontario p >The program assists with reimbursement for certain transport and lodging costs but does not include expenses like meals or taxi services.
La Salle council began advocating in 2025for a similar initiative in southern Ontario since residents using Highway401to reach specialist treatment face many comparable financial strains as those in northern areas. P >
Windsor Regional Hospital has previously indicated some specialized procedures such as open-heart bypass surgery organ transplantsand treatmentsfor certain rare cancers aren’t provided locally due to low patient volumes making safe service delivery challenging. P >
Care needs to return closer home hospitals P >
Gretzky was accompanied during Wednesday’s conference by Nickel Belt MPPFrance Gélinasand Ontario Health Coalitionexecutivedirector Natalie Mehra whoshowedtheir supportforthelegislation P >
Mehra arguedthattheprovince should restore more serviceslocally while also givingfinancialhelpwhenpatients needtotravel P >
“Some specializationis always goingtoberequired,” Mehra said P >
Gélinas cautionedthatthefinancialburdenoftravelingfortreatmentcan leadpatientstodelayappointmentsorskipnecessarycarealtogether P >
Those choices can resultinworseningmedicalconditionsandpotentiallyhigherhealthcarecosts.” P >
Gretzkystressedthatherlawisn’t meanttoallowpatientstochooseanymedicalfacilityacrossontarioatpublicexpensebutratherassistthosewhomustleavetheircommunitiestoobtainnecessarycare
New hospitalwillincludeapediatriccarecenterprovince
Ontario’ s Ministryof Healthhasdefendedthegovernment’srecordonmedicaltravelassistancehighlightingimprovementsmadewithinthe Northern Health Travel Grantandinvestmentsinhealthcareservicesin Windsor Essex
In an emailed statement Thursday, theministryreportedthatexistinggrantsupportsmorethan66 ,000peopleannuallywhoareforcedtotravelforsp ecializedmedicaltreatmentoutsideoftheircommunit y. P >
Itnotedthatprovincelaunchedanadditional$45millioninvestmentin202420increase reimbursementsandstreamlineapplicationprocesses.
The ministryalsocriticized Gretzkyandthe NDPforvotingagainstthesechanges. P >
Theplannednew Windsor Essx Acute Care Hospitalwillbeover50percentlargerthanbothof Windsor Regional Hospitalsexistingcampuses.
It willalsofeaturea pediatriccarecentrepediatricemergencyzoneenhancingaccessibilitytowardchildren’shealthcareserviceswithintheregion.
Furthermore, itpointedoutwhatitdescribedasa50percentincreaseinfundingfor Windsor Regional Hospitalsince2018alongwithdevelopingnew17 ,000 square footcatheterization labsuite.
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