📍 Politics
Parliament approves historic health care reform with $25 billion
Legislation provides for reduced wait times in emergencies and expanded mental health coverage in all provinces.
By Ana Carvalho
Published on March 27, 2026
The Canadian Parliament approved on Wednesday, by 187 votes to 142, the largest reform of the health system since the creation of Medicare in the 1960s. The $25 billion package will be distributed over five years to all provinces.
What changes in practice
Among the main measures is the reduction of waiting time in emergency rooms. The government has promised to reduce this time to an average of 3 hours by 2028.
Reaction of the provinces
Ontario and British Columbia applauded the move, while Alberta expressed reservations. Quebec negotiated special conditions for greater autonomy in the application of investments.