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e-3700 (Health)
- Keywords
- Health care system
- Midwifery and midwives
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled
- Midwives are health care professionals who provide exceptional care to mothers and babies during pregnancy, birth, and six weeks after birth;
- Midwives provide a unique birthing experience by empowering women with low-risk pregnancies by supporting them in the choice of location of their birth including, but not limited to hospitals, birth centres, and homes;
- There are currently no midwives between Thunder Bay and Kenora, Ontario, a distance spanning nearly 500km;
- In Kenora, Ontario, there are only two midwives who service numerous surrounding communities;
- Due to this shortage many women are denied the service;
- Having midwives in the Dryden and surrounding area would greatly benefit pregnant mothers and their babies, and would also provide women with more options surrounding the care they receive during pregnancy, birth, and after birth; and
- Midwives are funded through the Ministry of Health, creating midwife positions in the Dryden area falls under the Federal Government’s responsibility.
Response by the Minister of Health
Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Adam van Koeverden
The Government of Canada is committed to working with provinces and territories to ensure that all Canadians, including those living in rural and remote areas, have access to safe and secure healthcare including pre- and post-natal care. The Government of Canada understands that midwives are an essential component of the regulated Canadian health workforce. Despite the high reliance on midwifery services globally, accessing a midwife can be challenging in some Canadian communities. With increasing numbers of expectant parents choosing midwives to help them through pre and post-natal periods, Canadian health systems must adapt so that all Canadians can get the care they need, regardless of where they live.
Provinces and territories are responsible for the administration and delivery of health care and the management of their health workforce. The Government of Canada provides stable funding to the provinces and territories through the Canada Health Transfer to support health systems and transform services to meet the evolving needs of Canadians. In Ontario, the management of midwifery services falls under the jurisdiction of Ontario’s Ministry of Health.
In recognition of the important role midwives play in the health of individuals, families and communities, in April 2021, the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women agreed to study midwifery services across Canada. Expert testimony highlights a number of key issues for midwifery, including:
- The critical role midwives have played in the delivery of public health care during the pandemic, relieving pressure from acute care settings and keeping pregnant people away from hospital settings;
- The uneven distribution of midwifery services across Canadian jurisdictions and settings;
- Challenges to recruitment and retention of midwives in Canada, including educational opportunities, compensation and urban/rural preferences for establishing practices.
The Government of Canada remains committed to supporting access to a full suite of sexual and reproductive health resources and services for all Canadians, regardless of where they live. Budget 2021 committed $45 million to fund community-based organizations that help make sexual and reproductive health care information and services more accessible for vulnerable populations.
- Open for signature
- November 25, 2021, at 9:32 a.m. (EDT)
- Closed for signature
- December 25, 2021, at 9:32 a.m. (EDT)
- Presented to the House of Commons
-
Eric Melillo
(Kenora)
February 3, 2022 (Petition No. 441-00126) - Government response tabled
- March 21, 2022
