South Bruce Peninsula Mayor Janice Jackson is set to make a motion at today’s (Tuesday, July 19) council meeting looking for more support from the province for doctor training and recruitment.
Jackson’s motion says Ontario, and particularly rural areas such as South Bruce Peninsula, are experiencing a severe shortage of physicians, leaving many people without access to medical care.
She notes the provincial government has recognized the shortage of Personal Support Workers and has taken action to provide free tuition for students who agree to enter into that field, and Jackson wants the provincial government provide supports and subsidies for students entering medical school with the intention of becoming practicing physicians in Ontario, particularly in underserviced rural and northern municipalities.
The motion calls on the provincial and federal governments to work with Canadian universities to increase the number of students accepted into medical school and residency programs.
She says the Town of South Bruce Peninsula has taken steps to support physicians recruitment by earmarking money to hire a recruiter, by monetarily supporting a recruitment Committee and by providing money for new physicians to use to set up office space and housing.
Jackson’s motion also proposes the Town of South Bruce Peninsula supports whatever protective measures the provincial and federal governments place on the subsidy to ensure students receiving the funding become practicing physicians in Ontario.