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2025 Federal election

The more than 100 types of the disease contribute to a wide range of other health challenges that collectively cost billions of dollars every year. Timely and equitable arthritis diagnosis, care and treatment must be a top priority for the next federal government. Without intervention, more than 9 million Canadians are expected to be living with arthritis by 2040.

Arthritis in Canada: The Facts

More than 6 million Canadians live with arthritis. Arthritis is the most common chronic disease in Canada and affects more people than heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and dementia combined. The disease also has a disproportionate impact on Indigenous Peoples, who have some of the highest rates of arthritis and are more susceptible to becoming disabled by arthritis or developing co-morbidities.

Arthritis affects Canadians of all ages. Arthritis is often believed to be a disease of older adults however, the reality is that around half of those living with it are under the age of 65, and many are diagnosed in their 30s, 40s, or even earlier. More than 25,000 children in Canada are living with arthritis.

Canadians are waiting too long for joint replacement surgery. 99% of knee and over 70% of hip replacements are due to arthritis. Too many people in Canada are living in devastating pain waiting for life-changing joint replacement surgeries. A comparison of wait times in Canada and other countries shows people waited longer for joint replacements in Canada than in the U.S., U.K, Australia, Germany and France.

Arthritis is a disease that can progress to other diseases. Arthritis is a precursor to cardiovascular disease and puts people at a higher risk of developing conditions such as diabetes, depression and osteoporosis. Tackling arthritis in its earlier stages can help stop the chronic disease cascade.

Arthritis is a significant burden on Canada’s economy and health system. The impact of arthritis extends far beyond the individual – it’s felt by workplaces, healthcare systems, and the economy. As the leading cause of work disability, arthritis costs Canada over $33 billion every year in healthcare expenses and lost workdays. In 2021-2022 over $1.26 billion was spent on hospital costs for hip and knee joint replacements. In 2023, purchases for arthritis medications by retail and hospitals was over $3.5 billion, the third top drug class purchase.

ACE Arthritis Survey for Federal Election Parties

Six million Canadians living with arthritis want to know what are Canadian federal political parties’ plans for arthritis.

Leading up to the April 28, 2025 federal election, Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) is urging all federal political parties to make arthritis a top health priority so that everyone living with arthritis in Canada has equitable access to timely, safe, quality care. The ACE Federal Election Arthritis Survey is asking the political parties what plans they have to get us there.

ACE letter sent to political parties included: ACE Survey Questions
  • If elected, what will your government do to ensure better and faster access to arthritis care and treatment?
  • If elected, how will your government ensure provinces and territories adhere to agreed-upon surgical wait time targets and implement best practice, as well as offer effective joint replacement prevention education at a population level?
  • If elected, how will your government work with provincial and territorial governments to standardize arthritis health data, so access and quality of care are consistently measured, evaluated and reported on across the country?
  • If elected, what culturally appropriate, patient-centered policies will your government introduce to help Indigenous Peoples navigate the healthcare system and receive coordinated care within their community to manage their arthritis?
  • If elected, will your government increase arthritis research funding to align with the disease's prevalence and impact and support high impact areas, including precision medicine, arthritis prevention, population health data and Indigenous arthritis health research?
Party responses

Responses from political parties to the ACE Arthritis Survey will be archived and posted on this Federal Election homepage as they arrive.

Ways for you to vote

To make voting easier for all voters, Elections Canada has provided several options, including voting on election day, voting on advance polling days, or voting early at any Elections Canada office.