Ontario Connecting Children and Youth to Care Close to Home

The Ontario government is investing an additional $330 million each year in pediatric health services to connect children and youth to more convenient and high-quality care close to home at hospitals, clinics and community-based health care facilities across Ontario. 

This new investment will go toward the quick implementation of over 100 high priority initiatives expanding youth access to:

• emergency care
• surgeries
• ambulatory services
• diagnostic imaging
• mental health services.

This investment includes up to $45 million from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services for children’s rehabilitation services, including occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language services. The additional funding will also help providers hire and retain more staff to reduce wait times to give children and families more timely access to clinical assessments, early intervention and school-based rehabilitation for children with special needs.