Responses from the Electoral Candidates
Responses are arranged according to the date we received them. The first response received in each party appears at the top of that section.
New Democrat Party of Canada individual candidate responses
Cassie MacKay – Malpeque
Aftab Qureshi – Markham-Thornhill
Héline Chow – Waterloo
Yusuf Sinan Ulukanligil - York Centre
Vanessa Sharma - Cloverdale–Langley City
Ève Péclet - Outremont
Maja Tait - Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke
Keith Morrison - Dartmouth—Cole Harbour
Sarah Parsons - Long Range Mountains
Taylor Bachrach – Skeena-Bulkey Valley
Cheryl Loadman - Carlton Trail Eagle Creek
Linda Sankey - Similkameen - South Okanagan - West Kootenay
Holly Isaac - Langley Township - Fraser Heights
Brian Masse - Windsor West
Yuk-Sem Won - Candidate Thunder Bay Rainy River
Trisha Estabrooks - Edmonton Centre
Nimâ Machouf – Laurier-Sainte-Marie
Taylor Bachrach – Skeena-Bulkey Valley
Malcolm Lewis Richmond - Notre-Dame-de-Grace-Westmount
Fatima Shaban - Scarborough Southwest
Tommy Bureau - Quebec Centre
Daria Juüdi-Hope - Kingston and the Islands
Harpreet Grewal - Edmonton Southeast
From: Cassie MacKay – Malpeque
Date: March 31, 2025 at 5:45PM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election – Canada’s New Democratic Party
Hello,
Thanks for reaching out. First, I'd like to start by saying that, as a candidate diagnosed with both Osteoarthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis, this is an issue very important to me.
Here are my answers to your questions:
- The NDP believes that no one in Canada should struggle to access the medications and care they need. If elected, we will:
- Continue working on a universal pharmacare program to ensure all Canadians have access to essential arthritis medications, including biologics and similar medications, regardless of income or private insurance coverage to ensure patients can access effective treatments without financial barriers.
- Speed up the approval process for new arthritis treatments while maintaining safety and effectiveness standards.
- Invest in rheumatology care and arthritis specialists, reducing wait times for diagnosis and treatment.
- The NDP recognizes that joint replacement surgery wait times are far too long, leaving people in pain. We will:
- Work with provinces and territories to enforce national wait time targets and increase funding to clear surgical backlogs.
- Expand public healthcare funding to recruit and retain more orthopedic surgeons and healthcare workers.
- Improve access to preventative physiotherapy and rehabilitation programs to help patients manage osteoarthritis and potentially delay or avoid surgery.
- Increase funding for public awareness campaigns about arthritis prevention, early treatment, and lifestyle interventions.
- The NDP believes in a stronger, data-driven healthcare system to ensure equal access and quality of care. We will:
- Establish national standards for arthritis health data collection to track wait times, treatment effectiveness, and patient outcomes.
- Ensure provinces and territories share health data securely, improving research, treatment planning, and accessibility across Canada.
- Make health data transparent and accessible to patients, allowing them to make informed decisions about their care.
- The NDP is committed to Indigenous-led healthcare solutions and reconciliation. We will:
- Expand Indigenous-led arthritis care programs, ensuring culturally safe, community-based treatments.
- Implement mobile health units and increase funding for healthcare infrastructure in Indigenous communities.
- Support Indigenous self-determination in healthcare, ensuring First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities have control over their own health services.
- Address systemic healthcare barriers, including racism and geographical inaccessibility, to ensure equitable arthritis care.
- Despite affecting millions, arthritis research remains underfunded. The NDP will:
- Increase federal arthritis research funding to align with the disease’s impact on Canadians.
- Prioritize research into precision medicine and early prevention strategies to reduce long-term disability.
- Support Indigenous-led arthritis research to address health disparities in Indigenous communities.
- Ensure arthritis is included in national chronic disease strategies, recognizing its significant impact on public health.
Cassie Mackay
From: Aftab Qureshi – Markham-Thornhill
Date: April 1, 2025 at 9:00AM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election – Canada’s New Democratic Party
Dear Ms.Cheryl,
Thank you for reaching out and for your advocacy on behalf of the millions of Canadians living with arthritis. I fully recognize the significant impact this disease has on individuals, families, workplaces, and the healthcare system.
The NDP is committed to making healthcare more accessible, equitable, and responsive to the needs of all Canadians, including those living with arthritis. If elected, we will prioritize:
- Universal Pharmacare – Ensuring that all Canadians, regardless of income or province of residence, have access to the medications they need, including those for arthritis.
- Reducing Wait Times for Diagnosis & Treatment – Investing in healthcare infrastructure and expanding the number of specialists to ensure that arthritis patients receive timely and appropriate care.
- Expanding Home & Community-Based Care – Strengthening long-term support for people living with arthritis so they can maintain their independence and quality of life.
- Supporting Arthritis Research & Innovation – Increasing federal investment in arthritis research to advance treatment options and prevention strategies.
- Protecting Workplace Rights – Implementing policies that support Canadians with arthritis in the workforce, including better sick leave policies and workplace accommodations.
Thank you again for your dedication to this cause. I look forward to continuing this important conversation.
Best Regards,
Aftab Qureshi
NDP Candidate for Markham-Thornhill
From: Héline Chow – Waterloo
Date: April 1, 2025 at 11:55AM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election – Canada’s New Democratic Party
Hi Anita,
Thank you for reaching out to us on this issue. Across Canada conservative premiers are bringing in dangerous for-profit health care — the Liberals’ have also praised this “innovation” and Pierre Poilievre cheers on American-style privatized health care. Jagmeet and the NDP are fighting for health care that’s ready for you when and where you need it for all Canadians suffering from chronic and acute health conditions.
Protecting public health means having the guts to defend it, and coming up with solutions that will ensure that health care is there for you when and where you need it with your health card, not your credit card. Because of New Democrats, the government implemented dental care and better access to birth control and diabetes medications. New Democrats will continue to fight for more pharmacare coverage. New Democrats will keep delivering for you and have committed to:
- Improving the working conditions for health care professionals, which will both improve patient outcomes and reduce burnout among doctors and nurses;
- Working with provinces and territories to recruit, retrain, and retain more doctors and nurses to work across Canada;
- Making it easier for healthcare workers to work in Canada by streamlining the licenses of workers from other countries and pan Canadian licensing to work in Canada;
- Strengthening the Canada Health Act to stop the expansion of for-profit health care and include strong accountability measures toward improving and transforming our health services to meet the population’s needs;
- Investing in better home care and long-term care so our elders aren’t spending months in hospital beds waiting for a spot;
- Implementing free prescribed medication so no one must choose between taking the medication they need and paying their rent;
Heline Chow
From: Sinan Ulukanligil
Date: April 5, 2025 at 11:10:57 AM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election - Canada's New Democratic Party
Dear Ms. Koehn,
Thank you for your message and for the essential work that Arthritis Consumer Experts is doing to advocate for the more than six million Canadians living with arthritis.
As the New Democratic Party candidate for York Centre, I fully recognize the seriousness of arthritis as the most common chronic disease in Canada—impacting more people than heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and dementia combined. I also understand that arthritis is not just a disease of aging; its impact is widespread, affecting people of all ages and severely limiting quality of life, employment, and independence.
I fully endorse the call to make arthritis a national health priority and commit to advocating for the following key actions if elected:
- Timely and equitable access to arthritis diagnosis, care, and treatment, with a focus on eliminating wait times and geographical disparities in care.
- Investment in arthritis research, including prevention, early diagnosis, innovative treatments, and disease management strategies.
- Support for people with arthritis in the workplace, including better income security measures, accommodations, and access to assistive devices.
- Development of a national strategy in consultation with experts, patients, and healthcare providers to ensure long-term planning and funding for arthritis care.
I look forward to working alongside organizations like yours to ensure that those living with arthritis are heard, supported, and treated with the dignity they deserve.
Sincerely,
Yusuf Sinan Ulukanligil
NDP Candidate – York Centre
From: Vanessa Sharma
Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 1:22 PM
To: Cheryl Koehn
Cc: Kelly Lendvoy
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election - Canada New Democratic Party
Dear Cheryl Koehn, Anita Chan, and Kelly Lendvoy,
Thank you for reaching out and for your advocacy on behalf of people living with arthritis. As someone who lives with arthritis myself—and who has seen the impact of this disease on close family members—I understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll it can take. Your questions touch on crucial issues, and I’m proud to share how the NDP is committed to addressing them with compassion, urgency, and equity.
Access to Arthritis Care and Treatment
If elected, an NDP government will work closely with the provinces and territories to expand access to arthritis care by investing in public healthcare and reducing barriers to diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. We believe in strengthening the public system so that no one is forced to wait in pain or pay out-of-pocket to get the help they need. Our platform commits to ensuring that everyone, regardless of where they live, receives timely access to specialists, rehabilitation, medications, and assistive devices.
Wait Time Targets and Joint Replacement Prevention
We know that lengthy wait times for joint replacements can severely impact quality of life. The NDP will uphold national surgical wait time targets and work with the provinces and territories to meet them through targeted federal funding tied to outcomes. In addition, we’ll promote best practices and invest in education programs at a population level to help prevent arthritis-related surgeries when possible, through early intervention, physical activity, and community-based supports.
Standardizing Arthritis Health Data
Consistent and transparent health data is essential to improving arthritis care. We will work with provinces, territories, and Indigenous communities to create national standards for collecting and reporting arthritis-related data. This will help track access, measure outcomes, and identify gaps—ensuring that decisions are evidence-based and centred around the needs of patients.
Culturally Appropriate, Patient-Centred Care for Indigenous Peoples
Colonialism and systemic racism continue to create barriers to healthcare for Indigenous Peoples. An NDP government will implement culturally appropriate, patient-centred policies co-developed with Indigenous communities to improve access to arthritis care. This includes expanding community-based services, hiring more Indigenous health professionals, and supporting integrated care models rooted in Indigenous knowledge and healing.
Funding for Arthritis Research
Despite arthritis being one of the most prevalent chronic conditions in Canada, research funding has not kept pace. The NDP will increase federal investments in arthritis research, especially in high-impact areas such as precision medicine, prevention, and Indigenous health. We believe that investing in research today will lead to better outcomes and reduced costs tomorrow—something Canadians living with arthritis deserve.
Thank you again for reaching out. I know first-hand how painful and isolating arthritis can be—but with the right investments, policies, and compassion, we can build a healthcare system that truly meets people where they are. I will continue to advocate for arthritis care that is accessible, equitable, and rooted in dignity for all.
In solidarity,
Vanessa Sharma
NDP Candidate for Cloverdale–Langley City
236-991-9110
From: Ève Péclet
Date: April 12, 2025 at 10:16:38 AM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn
Cc: Kelly Lendvoy
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election - Canada's New Democratic Party
Good afternoon,
Kindly find attached our responses to the ACE Arthritis Survey.
Thank you !
Équipe Ève Péclet
Candidate du NPD pour Outremont
📧 eve.peclet@npd.ca
📞 (438) 802-0050
📍 835 Boul. Saint-Joseph Est, Montréal, QC H2J 1K5
From: Esquimalt - Saanich - Sooke NDP
Date: April 12, 2025 at 11:41:34 AM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn
Cc: Anita Chan
Subject: NDP response to Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election
Good morning,
Please see the response to the survey attached, on behalf of Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke NDP Candidate Maja Tait.
Kindly let me know if you have any questions,
--
Katherine Strongwind
Campaign Manager
Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke
250-618-7158
From: Keith Morrison
Date: April 12, 2025 at 1:18:40 PM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn
Cc: Kelly Lendvoy
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election - Canada New Democratic Party
Hi Anita,
Please see the NDP's attached response to this questionnaire.
Cam Pye (he/him)
Campaign to Elect Keith Morrison
New Democratic Party of Canada
keithmorrison.ndp.ca
From: Sarah Parsons
Date: April 12, 2025 at 4:16:19 PM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Candidate questionnaire
Hi Cheryl,
Thank you for these insightful questions. I have attached our response.
Om a personal note, I have seen firsthand how misunderstood arthritis is, especially in women. We need to encourage more research(in all diseases) to be studied in females, and not just base healthcare off male case studies.
Have a beautiful weekend,
Sarah
From: Taylor Bachrach Skeena--Bulkley Valley
Date: April 13, 2025 at 1:46:18 PM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn
Cc: Kelly Lendvoy
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election - Canada's New Democratic Party
Hi Cheryl and Anita,
My apologies for the delay. Please find attached Taylor's responses to the survey.
Have a great day!
Margaret Crew
Communications Director
Taylor Bachrach Campaign
Taylor.bachrach@ndp.ca
https://taylorbachrach.ndp.ca/
From: Cheryl Loadman
Date: Monday, April 14, 2025 at 12:26 PM
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election - Canada New Democratic Party
Hello.
Thank you for contacting me!
I appreciate you taking the time to share this information and your views.
I will review the information and your comments and as well, share with my federal team and colleagues.
WE are working hard in Carlton Trail and will respond back to you as I am able.
Kindest regard and best wishes.
Cheryl.
Cheryl Loadman
NDP Candidate
Carlton Trail Eagle Creek
From: Linda Sankey
Date: April 14, 2025 at 4:51:44 PM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election - Canada's New Democratic Party
Dear Cheryl,
Thank you for your thoughtful message and for highlighting the urgent need to improve care for the over six million Canadians living with arthritis and related autoimmune diseases.
I have spent my career supporting folks with healthcare needs and I understand how it can impact every level of one's life. If elected, I will champion the NDP’s plan to expand Canada’s healthcare system and ensure timely, equitable access to care:
1. Faster access to arthritis care and treatment:
New Democrats are committed to implementing a universal, single-payer pharmacare program that covers all essential medications—including those for arthritis. Too many people are forced to choose between their prescriptions and daily needs. Expanding access to medications will improve health outcomes and reduce pressure on our healthcare system.
2. Meeting surgical wait time targets and prevention education:
We’ll launch a comprehensive Healthcare Workforce Strategy to recruit, retain, and fairly compensate healthcare workers—including fast-tracking internationally trained doctors and those from the U.S. Our goal is for every Canadian to have access to primary care and a family doctor by 2030. More specialists mean shorter wait times for joint replacements and better access to arthritis-specific care.
3. National coordination of arthritis health data:
New Democrats will work with provinces and territories on a pan-Canadian licensure model for health professionals and invest in the standardization of health data. We’ll reduce unnecessary administrative burdens, streamline paperwork, and coordinate data sharing to improve care, outcomes, and accountability—while giving doctors more time with patients, not forms.
We know that health is a human right, not a privilege. I appreciate your advocacy, and I am committed to building a healthcare system that truly works for everyone.
Warm regards,
Linda Sankey,
NDP Candidate
Similkameen - South Okanagan - West Kootenay
778-646-2806
From: Holly Isaac
Date: April 15, 2025 at 8:32:49 PM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn
Cc: Kelly Lendvoy
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election - Canada's New Democratic Party
Hello Cheryl, Anita, and Kelly,
Thank you for taking the time to reach out about this painful disease. I have family who have suffered with it, and know just how debilitating it can be.
Below are the NDP answers to the questions.
Arthritis Consumer Experts
Question 1 -- If elected, what will your government do to ensure better and faster access to arthritis care and treatment?
New Democrats believe in a Canada where nobody has to pay out-of-pocket for their prescription medications. We believe in a strong, single-payer universal pharmacare program.
We want to see Canada’s pharmacare system expanded to cover all essential medicines, including arthritis medication. We know that improving access to medications will save Canadians money and help to lower healthcare expenses by keeping people out of emergency rooms and preventing other more costly interventions.
Question 2 - 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?
New Democrats will ensure every Canadian has access to primary care through a comprehensive Healthcare Workforce Strategy that retains and hires more doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers. Our first step will be to guarantee that all Canadians can get access to primary care and a family doctor within 5 years, by 2030. By hiring more family doctors and specialists, especially internationally trained doctors and fast tracking those coming from the United States, we can cut wait times for important procedures.
Question 3 - 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?
New Democrats will work with provinces and doctors to reduce burdensome administrative bureaucracy imposed on medical practitioners to streamline health information sharing and input as it takes time away from patients. This includes streamlining and coordinating with provinces on paperwork such as benefits forms, sick notes, and other federal government paperwork, centralizing public sector administration that helps care providers and patients. Through working with provinces and territories on a pan-Canadian licensure for medical professionals, we will need to include measures to coordinate health data across Canada.
Question 4 - 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?
New Democrats will train more doctors from underserved areas, including rural and remote communities. We will do this by investing in regional medical schools based in underserved urban, rural, and remote communities, breaking down barriers and delivering grants to underserved communities, and expanding efforts to match these medical students, delivering fair wages for doctors committed to these communities. We will increase the number of Indigenous professionals working in the health care field and provide cultural competency training for all health care professionals. With Indigenous medical professionals, from Indigenous communities and for Indigenous communities, cultural competencies, community retention and higher service levels will be built by a New Democratic government.
Question 5 - 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?
Given development in the United States, an NDP government is committed to supporting academics and researchers in establishing themselves in Canada, in all fields including medical research that is under attack by the Trump administration. Family doctors, specialists in reproductive health, and health researchers in epidemiology should be fast tracked to continue their practice and research in Canada where it is in high demand to reinforce our public healthcare system against Americanization. Along with increased research funding and support for other conditions, arthritis research will be supported by improved scientific research and development leadership by an NDP government.
Sincerely,
The NDP Team
Holly Isaac
Langley Township - Fraser Heights Candidate
From: Brian Masse
Date: April 16, 2025 at 3:22:53 PM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election - Canada's New Democratic Party
Hi there,
Thank you for reaching out. See below.
Question 1
If elected, what will your government do to ensure better and faster access to arthritis care and treatment? New Democrats believe in a Canada where nobody has to pay out-of-pocket for their prescription medications. We believe in a strong, single-payer universal pharmacare program. We want to see Canada’s pharmacare system expanded to cover all essential medicines, including arthritis medication. We know that improving access to medications will save Canadians money and help to lower healthcare expenses by keeping people out of emergency rooms and preventing other more costly interventions.
Question 2
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? New Democrats will ensure every Canadian has access to primary care through a comprehensive Healthcare Workforce Strategy that retains and hires more doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers. Our first step will be to guarantee that all Canadians can get access to primary care and a family doctor within 5 years, by 2030. By hiring more family doctors and specialists, especially internationally trained doctors and fast tracking those coming from the United States, we can cut wait times for important procedures.
Question 3
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? New Democrats will work with provinces and doctors to reduce burdensome administrative bureaucracy imposed on medical practitioners to streamline health information sharing and input as it takes time away from patients. This includes streamlining and coordinating with provinces on paperwork such as benefits forms, sick notes, and other federal government paperwork, centralizing public sector administration that helps care providers and patients. Through working with provinces and territories on a pan-Canadian licensure for medical NDP Response professionals, we will need to include measures to coordinate health data across Canada.
Sincerely,
Miya Taylor
Team Masse
brian.masse@ndp.ca
519-253-9378
From: Yuk-Sem Won
Date: April 17, 2025 at 9:39:25 AM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election - Canada's New Democratic Party
Arthritis Consumer Experts
Question 1 -- If elected, what will your government do to ensure better and faster access to arthritis care and treatment?
New Democrats believe in a Canada where nobody has to pay out-of-pocket for their prescription medications. We believe in a strong, single-payer universal pharmacare program.
We want to see Canada’s pharmacare system expanded to cover all essential medicines, including arthritis medication. We know that improving access to medications will save Canadians money and help to lower healthcare expenses by keeping people out of emergency rooms and preventing other more costly interventions.
Question 2 - 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?
New Democrats will ensure every Canadian has access to primary care through a comprehensive Healthcare Workforce Strategy that retains and hires more doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers. Our first step will be to guarantee that all Canadians can get access to primary care and a family doctor within 5 years, by 2030. By hiring more family doctors and specialists, especially internationally trained doctors and fast tracking those coming from the United States, we can cut wait times for important procedures.
Question 3 - 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?
New Democrats will work with provinces and doctors to reduce burdensome administrative bureaucracy imposed on medical practitioners to streamline health information sharing and input as it takes time away from patients. This includes streamlining and coordinating with provinces on paperwork such as benefits forms, sick notes, and other federal government paperwork, centralizing public sector administration that helps care providers and patients. Through working with provinces and territories on a pan-Canadian licensure for medical professionals, we will need to include measures to coordinate health data across Canada.
Thank you
Yuk-Sem Won NDP Candidate Thunder Bay Rainy River
From: Trisha Estabrooks
Date: April 20, 2025 at 2:59:55 PM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn
Cc: Kelly Lendvoy
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election - Canada New Democratic Party
Hello Cheryl and Anita,
Trisha and the NDP are committed to a healthcare system that treats people based on their needs, not their ability to pay. That means protecting and expanding universal public health care. We will continue pushing to protect our public health care system from privatization.
Here are Trisha's responses to your survey.
Question 1 -- If elected, what will your government do to ensure better and faster access to arthritis care and treatment?
New Democrats believe in a Canada where nobody has to pay out-of-pocket for their prescription medications. We believe in a strong, single-payer universal pharmacare program.
We want to see Canada’s pharmacare system expanded to cover all essential medicines, including arthritis medication. We know that improving access to medications will save Canadians money and help to lower healthcare expenses by keeping people out of emergency rooms and preventing other more costly interventions.
Question 2 - 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?
New Democrats will ensure every Canadian has access to primary care through a comprehensive Healthcare Workforce Strategy that retains and hires more doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers. Our first step will be to guarantee that all Canadians can get access to primary care and a family doctor within 5 years, by 2030. By hiring more family doctors and specialists, especially internationally trained doctors and fast tracking those coming from the United States, we can cut wait times for important procedures.
Question 3 - 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?
New Democrats will work with provinces and doctors to reduce burdensome administrative bureaucracy imposed on medical practitioners to streamline health information sharing and input as it takes time away from patients. This includes streamlining and coordinating with provinces on paperwork such as benefits forms, sick notes, and other federal government paperwork, centralizing public sector administration that helps care providers and patients. Through working with provinces and territories on a pan-Canadian licensure for medical professionals, we will need to include measures to coordinate health data across Canada.
Question 4 - 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?
New Democrats will train more doctors from underserved areas, including rural and remote communities. We will do this by investing in regional medical schools based in underserved urban, rural, and remote communities, breaking down barriers and delivering grants to underserved communities, and expanding efforts to match these medical students, delivering fair wages for doctors committed to these communities. We will increase the number of Indigenous professionals working in the health care field and provide cultural competency training for all health care professionals. With Indigenous medical professionals, from Indigenous communities and for Indigenous communities, cultural competencies, community retention and higher service levels will be built by a New Democratic government.
Question 5 - 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?
Given development in the United States, an NDP government is committed to supporting academics and researchers in establishing themselves in Canada, in all fields including medical research that is under attack by the Trump administration. Family doctors, specialists in reproductive health, and health researchers in epidemiology should be fast tracked to continue their practice and research in Canada where it is in high demand to reinforce our public healthcare system against Americanization. Along with increased research funding and support for other conditions, arthritis research will be supported by improved scientific research and development leadership by an NDP government.
Sincerely,
Amanda, Campaign Volunteer,
Trisha Estabrooks for Edmonton Centre
From: Laura Roiné
Date: Friday, April 4, 2025 at 11:26 AM
To: Anita Chan, Cheryl Koehn
Subject: TR: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election - Canada's New Democratic Party
Bonjour,
Je vous remercie de nous avoir fait part de vos préoccupations concernant les soins de l'arthrite au Canada.
Je vais transférer votre message en pièce-jointe à Nimâ Machouf, qui, en tant qu'épidémiologiste, est a à cœur la santé des gens, partout au Canada.
Bien cordialement,
Laura Roiné (elle/she/her)
Attachée politique de Nimâ Machouf | Nimâ Machouf's political attachée
Nouveau Parti démocratique du Canada | New Democratic Party of Canada
nimamachouf.org
www.npd.ca
From: Malcolm Lewis Richmond
Date: April 26, 2025 at 2:06:48 PM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: RE: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election - Canada's New Democratic Party
Hello Cheryl,
Thank you for reaching out to me about my position on arthritis care, and its importance in the broader concern of protecting and strengthening our public healthcare system.
As a candidate, I share your concern about improved and increased access to healthcare, and agree that federal action must be taken in order to ensure all Canadians have reliable access to life-sustaining medications and devices.
The NDP has long supported public healthcare, with the fight for a broad publicly funded system being originally led by Tommy Douglas, the first leader of the NDP. We have been pushing parliament to protect and expand its mandate, leading to huge wins in dental and pharmacare.
Allow me to share this passage from our policy book:
New Democrats believe in:
- The right of all Canadians to have universal access to high quality public health care that is transferable between provinces and territories.
- Fighting the privatization of public health care services, including through the use of existing mechanisms within the Canada Health Act.
- Working towards the establishment of a national healthcare council to ensure that the Canada Health Act is enforced and the range of services extended to include home care, palliative care and prescription drugs.
Currently, my goals as well as the goals of my party are to help to lower drug costs by pushing for governmental bulk purchases on medication, expanding the number of nurses and doctors by providing residencies for qualified individuals and cutting down on some of the bureaucratic practices that take time away patient time from doctors. The NDP also managed to get the National Dentalcare and Pharmacare programs in the last parliamentary government, and I hope to see continued progress into the next couple of crucial years.
Thank you again for reaching out to me, and please be in touch if you have any further questions. Should you wish to help me as a campaign volunteer to fight for a strong public health system, or make a donation, feel free to reply by email or visit my website: https://malcolmlewisrichmond.ndp.ca
Merci,
Malcolm
From: Fatima Shaban
Date: April 22, 2025 at 7:34:59 PM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn, Anita Chan
Cc: Kelly Lendvoy
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election - Canada's New Democratic Party
Hello,
Please see my responses below.
Question 1 -- If elected, what will your government do to ensure better and faster access to arthritis care and treatment?
New Democrats believe in a Canada where nobody has to pay out-of-pocket for their prescription medications. We believe in a strong, single-payer universal pharmacare program.
We want to see Canada’s pharmacare system expanded to cover all essential medicines, including arthritis medication. We know that improving access to medications will save Canadians money and help to lower healthcare expenses by keeping people out of emergency rooms and preventing other more costly interventions.
Question 2 - 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?
New Democrats will ensure every Canadian has access to primary care through a comprehensive Healthcare Workforce Strategy that retains and hires more doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers. Our first step will be to guarantee that all Canadians can get access to primary care and a family doctor within 5 years, by 2030. By hiring more family doctors and specialists, especially internationally trained doctors and fast tracking those coming from the United States, we can cut wait times for important procedures.
Question 3 - 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?
New Democrats will work with provinces and doctors to reduce burdensome administrative bureaucracy imposed on medical practitioners to streamline health information sharing and input as it takes time away from patients. This includes streamlining and coordinating with provinces on paperwork such as benefits forms, sick notes, and other federal government paperwork, centralizing public sector administration that helps care providers and patients.
Through working with provinces and territories on a pan-Canadian licensure for medical professionals, we will need to coordinate health data across Canada.
Thank you,
Kind regards,
Fatima Shaban
NDP MP Candidate
Scarborough Southwest
From: Tommy Bureau
Date: April 26, 2025 at 7:08:10 PM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn
Cc: Kelly Lendvoy
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election - Canada's New Democratic Party
Bonjour,
Voici nos réponses à ce questionnaire:
Comité ACE (Arthritis Consumer Experts)
- S’il est élu, que fera votre gouvernement pour assurer un accès meilleur et plus rapide aux soins et au traitement de l’arthrite?
Les néo-démocrates croient en un Canada où personne n'a à payer de sa poche pour des médicaments d'ordonnance. Nous croyons en un régime d'assurance-médicaments solide, universel et à payeur unique.
Nous voulons que le régime d'assurance-médicaments du Canada soit élargi pour couvrir tous les médicaments essentiels, y compris les médicaments pour l'arthrite. Nous savons que l'amélioration de l'accès aux médicaments permettra aux Canadiens d'économiser de l'argent et contribuera à réduire les dépenses de santé en évitant aux patients de se rendre dans les salles d'urgence et en prévenant d'autres interventions plus coûteuses. - S’il est élu, comment votre gouvernement veillera-t-il à ce que les provinces et les territoires respectent les objectifs convenus en matière de temps d’attente pour les interventions chirurgicales et mettent en œuvre les meilleures pratiques, tout en offrant une éducation efficace à la prévention des arthroplasties au niveau de la population?
Les néo-démocrates veilleront à ce que chaque Canadien ait accès aux soins de première ligne grâce à une stratégie globale en matière de personnel de santé qui permettra de garder et d'embaucher davantage de médecins, d'infirmières et d'autres travailleurs du secteur de la santé. La première étape consistera à garantir que tous les Canadiens puissent avoir accès à des soins de première ligne et à un médecin de famille dans un délai de cinq ans, d'ici à 2030. En recrutant davantage de médecins de famille et de spécialistes, en particulier des médecins formés à l'étranger et en accélérant le processus pour ceux qui viennent des États-Unis, nous pouvons réduire les temps d'attente pour les procédures importantes. - S’il est élu, comment votre gouvernement collaborera-t-il avec les gouvernements provinciaux et territoriaux pour normaliser les données sur la santé des personnes atteintes d’arthrite, afin que l’accès et la qualité des soins soient mesurés, évalués et communiqués de manière cohérente dans l’ensemble du pays?
Les néo-démocrates travailleront avec les provinces et les médecins pour réduire la lourdeur de la bureaucratie administrative imposée aux professionnels de la santé afin de simplifier l'échange d'informations sur la santé et la saisie des données, car cela fait perdre du temps aux patients. Il s'agit notamment de faciliter et de coordonner avec les provinces les formalités administratives telles que les formulaires de prestations, les notes de maladie et les autres formalités administratives du gouvernement fédéral, en centralisant l'administration du secteur public qui aide les prestataires de soins et les patients. En travaillant avec les provinces et les territoires sur un système de certification pancanadien pour les professionnels de la santé, nous devrons inclure des mesures pour coordonner les données de santé à travers le Canada. - S’il est élu, quelles politiques culturellement appropriées et centrées sur le patient votre gouvernement mettra-t-il en place pour aider les peuples autochtones à s’orienter dans le système de santé et à recevoir des soins coordonnés au sein de leur communauté pour gérer leur arthrite?
Les néo-démocrates formeront davantage de médecins issus de zones mal desservies, comme les communautés rurales et isolées. Nous le ferons en investissant dans des écoles de médecine régionales basées dans des communautés mal desservies, urbaines, rurales et éloignées, en éliminant les obstacles et en accordant des subventions aux communautés mal desservies, et en intensifiant les efforts pour jumeler ces étudiants en médecine, en offrant des salaires équitables aux médecins qui s'engagent auprès de ces communautés. Nous augmenterons le nombre de professionnels autochtones travaillant dans le domaine de la santé et nous offrirons une formation culturelle à tous les professionnels de la santé. C'est avec des professionnels de santé autochtones, issus des communautés autochtones et pour les communautés autochtones, que le gouvernement néo-démocrate développera les compétences culturelles, la rétention des communautés et des niveaux de service plus élevés. - S’il est élu, votre gouvernement augmentera-t-il le financement de la recherche sur l’arthrite en fonction de la prévalence et de l’impact de la maladie, et soutiendra-t-il les domaines à fort impact, notamment la médecine de précision, la prévention de l’arthrite, les données sur la santé de la population et la recherche sur la santé des Autochtones atteints d’arthrite?
Compte tenu du contexte actuel aux États-Unis, un gouvernement néo-démocrate s'engage à appuyer les universitaires et les chercheurs à s'établir au Canada, dans tous les domaines, y compris la recherche médicale qui fait l'objet d'attaques de la part de l'administration Trump. Les médecins de famille, les spécialistes de la santé reproductive et les chercheurs en épidémiologie devraient bénéficier d'une procédure accélérée pour poursuivre leur pratique et leurs recherches au Canada, où la demande est forte, afin de renforcer notre système de santé publique contre l'américanisation. Parallèlement à l'augmentation du financement et du soutien de la recherche pour d'autres conditions, la recherche sur l'arthrite sera appuyée par un meilleur leadership en matière de recherche scientifique et de développement de la part d'un gouvernement néo-démocrate
Tommy
From: Daria Juudi-Hope
Date: April 27, 2025 at 10:43:24 AM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election - Canada's New Democratic Party
Dear Cheryl,
Thank you for voicing your concerns.
I believe in a Canada where no one has to pay out-of-pocket for their prescription medications. That’s why I strongly support a single-payer, universal pharmacare program.
We in the NDP are committed to expanding Canada’s pharmacare system to cover all essential medications—including those for arthritis. Improving access to medication not only saves Canadians money, but also helps lower healthcare costs by keeping people out of emergency rooms and reducing the need for more expensive interventions.
Our plan? We will hire and train more doctors and healthcare workers in rural and remote communities. We’ll reduce the administrative burden on healthcare professionals so they can spend more time with patients. And we’ll streamline the process for internationally trained healthcare workers to bring them to the frontlines of hospitals and health centres faster.
In light of recent developments in the United States, an NDP government will also support academics and researchers seeking to establish themselves in Canada—especially in fields like medical research, which are increasingly under threat from the Trump administration. Family doctors, reproductive health specialists, and epidemiologists will be fast-tracked to continue their vital work here, reinforcing our public healthcare system and safeguarding it from privatization.
With increased research funding and a renewed commitment to scientific development, arthritis research will also benefit under an NDP government. We are ready to lead with evidence, compassion, and action.
I hope this message finds you well. If you have any questions or need assistance on election day, please don’t hesitate to contact my office.
Warm regards,
Daria Juüdi-Hope
B.Sc.N., R.N., MPH
NDP Federal Candidate for Kingston and the Islands
Advocating for fairness, equity, and public health.
Nurse. Advocate. Leader.
From: Harpreet Grewal
Date: April 28, 2025 at 8:15:12 AM PDT
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Federal Election - Canada New Democratic Party
Hello Cheryl and Anita
Thank you for your questions
Question 1 -- If elected, what will your government do to ensure better and faster access to arthritis care and treatment? New Democrats believe in a Canada where nobody has to pay out-of-pocket for their prescription medications. We believe in a strong, single-payer universal pharmacare program.
We want to see Canada’s pharmacare system expanded to cover all essential medicines, including arthritis medication. We know that improving access to medications will save Canadians money and help to lower healthcare expenses by keeping people out of emergency rooms and preventing other more costly interventions.
Question 2 - 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?
New Democrats will ensure every Canadian has access to primary care through a comprehensive Healthcare Workforce Strategy that retains and hires more doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers. Our first step will be to guarantee that all Canadians can get access to primary care and a family doctor within 5 years, by 2030. By hiring more family doctors and specialists, especially internationally trained doctors and fast tracking those coming from the United States, we can cut wait times for important procedures.
Question 3 - 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?
New Democrats will work with provinces and doctors to reduce burdensome administrative bureaucracy imposed on medical practitioners to streamline health information sharing and input as it takes time away from patients. This includes streamlining and coordinating with provinces on paperwork such as benefits forms, sick notes, and other federal government paperwork, centralizing public sector administration that helps care providers and patients.
Through working with provinces and territories on a pan-Canadian licensure for medical professionals will also improve access. Sincerely,
Harpreet Grewal
Your NDP Candidate
Edmonton Southeast
Every vote counts
Arthritis Consumer Experts
ACE remercie l'Arthritis Research Centre of Canada (ARC) d'avoir effectué la revision scientifique de JointHealth™