Modernizing Canada’s Healthcare & Housing: A Simcoe North Perspective

When I talk to people across Simcoe North, two concerns come up more than anything else: healthcare and housing. It's no surprise—these are the systems that affect every one of us, every day. While Canada already ranks as one of the best countries to live in, with a globally respected healthcare system, we’re still falling short in many areas. (Incidentally, solutions to these two concerns in part, also contribute to solving the other topics people mention – tariffs & affordability). I believe it’s time we modernize both healthcare and housing using a smarter, more sustainable approach—one that focuses on People, Planet, and Prosperity.

As a Green Party supporter, I’ve long admired how both the federal and provincial Greens have pushed for reforms in these areas. Personally, I’m a strong advocate for incremental, evidence-based changes that tackle the systemic challenges we face in Simcoe North—and across Canada. We can’t fix everything overnight, but we can start now by building a foundation that delivers better outcomes, more efficiently, and with less cost over time.

Let’s begin by addressing the reality: taxpayers fund both healthcare and housing, and yet the true costs go far beyond what we pay in taxes. When funding is inadequate or poorly coordinated—when we underinvest in research, preventive care, and technology costs escalate beyond inflation. And, out of pocket costs beyond our income tax are incurred for worse results.

Real Stories from Simcoe North

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve spoken with hudreds of residents here at home. What I heard was both eye-opening and troubling:

• 25% of police calls are related to healthcare or housing issues. Costs experienced by victims of associated crime like property damage as well as costs we all incur when giving money to the homeless and other charities are essentially an extra tax. We’re also asking first responders to deal with these issues often without the requisite training needed. Leading to a spiraling downward trend in the outcomes and corresponding increase in cost.

• 31% of residents in Simcoe North need help feeding themselves or their families. Indicating financial hardship by many and costs incurred to others in charitable efforts. Ultimately leading to poor health and often associated with lack of housing.

• 30% struggle with access to clean, reliable water. Clearly leading to health costs.

• Nationwide, 15% of Canadians live with conditions like MS, Parkinson’s, or arthritis—diseases that cost them over $10 billion annually out of pocket. And this figure doesn’t account for costs incurred by cancer patients or families with sick children. Further adding to our ‘unofficial yet, total tax burden’.

These are not isolated problems. They’re systemic, and they’re preventable. They point to a need for a smarter, more integrated way of delivering services. These inefficiencies lead to costs that may not be called taxes but, have the same net effect, costing you money.

Building a Sustainable Model

Using the three pillars of Planet, People, and Prosperity, we can rethink how healthcare and housing work together—not just in Simcoe North, but across Canada. Here’s a small snap shot of how we do it.

1. Invest in Research & Development

There was a time when Canada led the world in medical breakthroughs—from vaccine development to innovative treatments for cancer and neurological diseases. Sadly, we've lost that edge. During COVID, our inability to produce key medications domestically left us vulnerable. Meanwhile, many of our best minds are heading to the U.S. or other countries because we haven’t committed to long-term investment in R&D.

If we re-invest in Canadian innovation, we won’t just regain our leadership—we’ll also prevent costly outcomes. Think of it like brushing your teeth: a small daily habit that prevents expensive trips to the dentist. Similarly, research-driven healthcare prevents more hospital visits, emergency responses, and long-term complications.

And now, with our U.S. neighbors cutting R&D funding for universities, we have a golden opportunity to retain and attract top talent and create world-leading research hubs right here at home.

2. Coordinate Services Across Governments

Right now, healthcare and housing dollars flow from federal to provincial governments, and some of that to municipalities—but there’s little consistency in how those funds are used. Every province is trying its best, but they’re working in silos, often duplicating work and missing out on collective impact.

Imagine if we had Centers of Excellence across Canada—where each province focused on a specialty. Maybe Alberta leads in Parkinson’s research, while Ontario pioneers housing innovation. With shared data, technology, and standards, each Province can create models or templates in their specialty area that could be adapted for use across the country. Reducing waste, reducing cost and delivering faster, better solutions for people in every corner of the country.

3. Create Economic Opportunity through Innovation

Modernizing healthcare and housing isn’t just about solving problems—it’s also about creating opportunity. If we lead in medical and technological innovation, we open the door to entire new industries. That means more jobs, stronger local economies, and—yes—more tax revenue while simultaneously reducing income taxes.

This snowball effect can directly benefit Simcoe North. With strategic investment and coordination, we could build local industries around clean construction, elder care, assistive technology, or water management—just to name a few.

The Bottom Line

Let’s be honest: taxes are already high. But the real cost comes from what we spend because of an inefficient system—unnecessary ambulance calls, food insecurity that leads to illness, or untreated health issues that spiral into long-term disabilities.

By focusing on prevention, coordination, and innovation, we can reduce the burden on everyday Canadians, while improving our health outcomes and quality of life.

This isn’t about sweeping promises—it’s about making smart, steady changes that reflect what I’ve heard from so many of you in Simcoe North. You deserve a system that works for you, not against you. I believe we can build it—together. Join me in championing sustainable governance. Planet, People, Prosperity.