Health

The city's healthcare system went through hard times this last summer. We must value the efforts of the front-line personnel who kept providing services for those in need.

Humanize Toronto states that universal, adequate and readily accessible healthcare is a fundamental right for all people. In our city, healthcare demands vary according to different areas and neighbourhoods. Clinics and health centres should focus on fulfilling the needs of specific groups; they should also be properly funded and locally established to meet the community's requirements.

Free dental care programmes should be expanded as much as possible to children, senior citizens and low-income residents of Toronto. Despite what the Canada Health Act says, teeth are medically necessary and Toronto must do what it can to meet the health needs of those most unable to pay for it.

Even an adequately funded healthcare system cannot make Toronto a truly "Health City" when more than a quarter of our population lives in poverty and when our food banks are constantly falling behind the ever increasing demand. Other changes will be needed to reverse this trend.