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Bill 117, Access (Assistance for Care, Commuting and Essential Specialized Services) Act, 2026

Gretzky, Lisa

Gélinas, France

Lennox, Robin

McKenney, Catherine

Current status:

First Reading Ordered for Second Reading

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Status

Debates

Original

Bill 117 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill enacts the Access (Assistance for Care, Commuting and

Essential Specialized Services) Act, 2026 . The Bill requires the

Minister of Health to examine establishing a grant program for the purpose of

defraying the travel-related expenses of eligible Ontarians seeking access to

necessary medical specialist services or procedures that are not available in

their local communities.

The

Minister is required to table a report in the Assembly about their

examination. The report is to describe the steps the Minister will undertake

to ensure the grant program is fully funded within the timeline set out in the

Bill.

Bill 117 2026

Act to enact the Access (Assistance for Care, Commuting and Essential

Specialized Services) Act, 2026

His

Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the

Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Travel-related

expenses re: access to necessary specialist health care

(1) The

Minister of Health shall examine establishing a grant program for the purpose

of defraying the travel-related expenses of eligible Ontarians seeking access

to necessary medical specialist services or procedures that are not available

in their local communities.

Eligibility

(2) The

examination shall focus on the provision of grants to any person who,

(

a) is

a resident of Ontario;

(

b) is

referred to a specialty medical service by a primary care clinician;

(

c) confirms,

as part of the application, that the travel costs for which they seek the grant

are not covered by another program or organization, such as the Workplace

Safety and Insurance Board, the federal Non-Insured Health Benefits Program for

eligible First Nations and Inuit people or private insurance;

(

d) is

required to travel at least 100 kilometres one-way to access the nearest

medical specialist or provincially funded health care facility or service that

is not available to the person locally;

(

e) applies

to the Minister of Health within 12 months after the date of treatment by the

speciality medical service; and

(

f) provides

original receipts of costs incurred.

Report

(1) The

Minister of Health shall table a report in the Assembly about their examination

within six months after the day this Act comes into force.

Funding

(2) The

report shall include a description of the steps the Minister will undertake to

ensure the grant program is fully funded by six months after the day the report

is tabled.

Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Access (Assistance for Care, Commuting and Essential Specialized

Services) Act, 2026 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

May 11, 2026

First Reading

Ordered for Second Reading

May 11, 2026

First Reading

Vote

Carried

First Reading

May 11, 2026

Carried

Ordered for Second Reading

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