Ontario's 2024 Budget provides investments to improve access to mental health care for Ontarians

March 27, 2024

The Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) was pleased to see the Government of Ontario table a 2024 Provincial Budget that included new and continued investments to improve access to mental health and wellness supports for all Ontarians.

We are encouraged by several critical investments that align with key recommendations from our 2024 Pre-Budget Submission. As well, we are pleased to see investments and commitments in mental health, healthcare, education, and insurance, including: 

  • An additional investment of $546 million over three years to create new and expanded interprofessional care teams to connect approximately 600,000 people to team-based primary care.
  • An additional $2 billion over three years to boost the accelerated stabilization of the home and community care workforce and to support the expansion of home care services.
  • Requesting that the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) review the Professional Services Guideline and the Attendant Care Hourly Rate Guideline, and consider updating these guidelines based on their findings. The government will consider FSRA’s findings in future reviews of the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule.
  • $94 million over three years to enhance the health and well-being of Indigenous and Northern communities through several investments including mental health and addictions services, Indigenous public health programs, and prevention initiatives. 
  • $152 million over the next three years to support individuals facing unstable housing conditions and mental health and addictions challenges through supportive housing initiatives, including rent supplements and dedicated supportive housing.

 

OASW looks forward to continuing to work with government on these and other initiatives to ensure that Ontarians can access the supports they need to improve and sustain their mental health and wellness.

About OASW
OASW is the voice of the social work profession in Ontario. It is a voluntary, bilingual, non-profit association representing approximately 9,000 social workers. All members have a university degree in social work at the bachelor, master or doctoral level. OASW works to actively speak on behalf of social workers on issues of interest to the profession and advocates for the improvement of social policies and programs directly affecting social work practice and client groups served.