After years of cuts to our health-care system by Progressive Conservative provincial governments, all levels of government need to work together to bring in and train the health-care workers we need so we can cut wait times and deliver the best possible care to Manitobans.

Public health care is critical in fostering a healthier and more resilient society. To provide universal access in a timely manner, we need to continue to invest in the public system.

Just last week, the Government of Canada announced two bilateral health funding agreements with the Province of Manitoba to do just that. The funding of over $633 million will help address wait times and improve seniors care in Manitoba.

The Working Together agreement will support Manitoba’s goal to hire 400 more doctors, 300 more nurses, 200 paramedics, and 100 home care workers. These targeted investments will help to add more acute and medicine beds to Manitoba’s health-care system, ease the pressure on crowded emergency rooms, and expand primary care options to families so they can spend more time doing what they love to do, and less time waiting for care.

The Aging with Dignity agreement will ensure all seniors can age with dignity and respect. The province will use the funding to better support seniors who want to age at home, in the community, or in personal care homes. To improve the quality of long-term care, the province will increase safety and standards and hire more long-term care workers to ensure clean, quality, and personalized care.

We will continue working to deliver better results for patients, support health-care workers, and protect our health-care system now and into the future.

On top of increased targeted funding for better health care, we also just launched the start of the Canada Dental Care Program to ensure uninsured Canadians can see a dentist.

This is the biggest expansion to Canadian health care in generations and will help more Manitobans get essential oral care like a cleaning, exam, X-ray, filling, or dentures.

Starting Feb. 1, the Canadian Dental Care Plan has expanded to accept applications from seniors aged 72 and up. In May 2024, applications will open for eligible seniors 65 to 69.

This plan is transformative for our country. To find out more about the Canadian Dental Care Plan, visit Canada.ca/dental