Matt Richter endorsed by healthcare leaders in Parry Sound-Muskoka

February 25, 2025

HUNTSVILLE — Ontario Greens Deputy Leader and candidate for Parry Sound-Muskoka Matt Richter received endorsements from local healthcare leaders who support his plan to invest in rural healthcare.

“I’m here to endorse Matt because I’m here to advocate on behalf of my patients and my fellow family doctors,” said Dr. Tina Kapos, chair of the board of the Cottage Country Family Health Team and lead physician for the Cottage Country Health Network.

“I felt compelled to do this because of where our healthcare system is at. I believe that Matt is the person in this community – and that Greens are the party – to help us get through the crisis we’re facing.”

“Matt believes in health at not just a community and individual level but at an environmental level,” said Dr. Shannon Lees, a family physician in Parry Sound-Muskoka.

“As a family physician I know that we cannot have wellness and health unless our environment and our planet are also well.”

“I’m so humbled to have the support of so many local leaders who understand the healthcare challenges we’re facing and share our vision for a system that puts people before profits,” said Richter.

“While the PCs have abandoned rural communities like ours, Ontario Greens have a plan to invest in rural healthcare, from hiring more primary care practitioners to cutting the local cost share for new rural hospitals in half.

Richter was also joined by Ontario Greens Leader Mike Schreiner.

“Doug Ford is spending billions on tunnels and spas while our rural healthcare system is collapsing. Meanwhile, local doctors are supporting Matt’s campaign because they know that he’s going to put people over politics to get more done for residents of Parry Sound-Muskoka,” said Schreiner.

“I’m so excited by the momentum we’re seeing on the ground here. People are ready for a government that actually cares about rural and Northern communities, and they know Matt can deliver.”

Ontario Greens plan to tackle rural healthcare shortages would:

• Increase provincial funding for rural hospitals and cut their local cost share for funding new hospitals in half
• Expand scope of practice for community healthcare providers like nurses, nurse practitioners and paramedics
• Create a new and integrated framework to deploy healthcare providers more effectively in rural areas, and to help shift demand on emergency rooms
• Fix the staffing shortage by providing equal pay for nurses, doctors and PSWs across all communities and healthcare settings in Ontario to increase capacity in rural and remote communities, and compensate healthcare workers fairly for their travel to treat patients at home
• Create a centralised and coordinated program for fill-in physicians to provide relief and prevention of ER closures and for family practices that prioritises local solutions

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