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Travel Grant

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Travel Grants Under The Microscope

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The provincial government is being asked to fix the Northern Health Travel Grant.

NDP critic Gilles Bisson says it’s taking too long to get reimbursed for medically necessary travel in this region.

Bisson notes the wait times were slow under the Liberal government, but suggests the delay is even worse under the PC government.

He notes a number of families don’t have the money to pay for travel because they haven’t received previous payments.

Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Judith Monteith-Farrell has drafted a private members bill calling on the government to set up an advisory committee to look at ways of improving the travel grant system.

Minister of Long Term Care, Merrillee Fullerton says a review of the system is currently being carried out, with the goal of having payments processed within six weeks.

Fullerton adds they are also looking at direct deposits.

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Regional MPP Calls For Travel Grant Review

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A private members bill that would ensure the Northern Health Travel Grant is reviewed and improved has been introduced in the Ontario Legislature.

It has been presented by Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Judith Monteith-Farrell.

The New Democrat member stresses people across the north have been clear that the grant isn’t working for them, and that there are serious problems with it.

Monteith-Farrell says reimbursement rates are too low, and wait times to get the money are far too long.

She stresses for many low-income families and seniors on fixed income, it’s not just difficult but impossible to travel for medical treatment, especially given the long delays to get the money back.

Monteith-Farrell says is asking for the creation of an advisory committee to consult with northern families and health care workers.

The committee would submit recommendations to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care on how to fix, what she calls, a problematic program.

Monteith-Farrell accuses the Ford government of ignoring the exisiting travel grant’s obvious issues, noting no one should have to rack up credit card debt because of health care appointments.