LONDON - MPP Terence Kernaghan (London North Centre), MPP Peggy Sattler (London West) and MPP Teresa Armstrong (London – Fanshawe) wrote the following letter to the Premier:
Dear Premier,
Every day thousands of Ontarians are struggling to afford the necessities of life. Costs for groceries, housing, and basic utilities are rising at drastic rates, all while minimum wage and disability support programs are frozen. Persons living with chronic conditions and disabilities are facing this cost-of-living crisis even harder.
According to the Ontario Ministry of Health, nearly 1.5 million Ontarians (over 10% of the population) live with diabetes. The price for life-saving diabetes medications like insulin can cost the average patient up to $1700 per year. For someone living on a fixed income, this could be the equivalent of one full month of pay simply to cover the cost of necessary medication.
In the autumn of 2024, the federal government passed Bill C-64 An Act respecting pharmacare, a first-of-its-kind national universal pharmacare program to cover all Canadians from coast to coast.
On behalf of our constituents, we as members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario urge you to do everything in your power to ensure swift and total cooperation with the federal government to ensure that all Ontarians living with diabetes have access to life-saving medication.
Sincerely,
Teresa Armstrong, MPP London-Fanshawe
Terence Kernaghan, MPP London North Centre
Peggy Sattler, MPP London West
