Posts under Advocacy

OMSA Statement on OMA’s Call to Increase Restrictions in new COVID Framework

  • Posted on: 20 November 2020
  • By: OMSA Admin

At the beginning of this month, the Government of Ontario released a new tiered framework for the province to combat the spread of COVID-19. On November 12th, the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) released a statement calling for tighter restrictions from the Ontario government to curb the spread of COVID-19. With record high cases increasing by the day, the Ontario Medical Students Association (OMSA) supports the OMA’s call to increase restrictions within each tier of the framework and allocate more resources for testing and contact tracing.

Ontario Medical Students Warn Against Cuts to Public Health

  • Posted on: 26 April 2019
  • By: OMSA Admin

OMSA is concerned about the province's plan to substantially cut support for municipal health units by reducing the provincial share of program funding. Several municipalities, regional governments, and other healthcare stakeholders including the Ontario Medical Association have also expressed their concern about reducing support for local public health units. The vague nature of recent healthcare cuts have left the future of our provincial healthcare system unclear to both the general population as well as to healthcare students and professionals.

OMSA Lobby Day 2019: Solutions for Unmatched Medical Graduates

  • Posted on: 8 April 2019
  • By: OMSA Admin

OMSA held its Annual Lobby Day today at Queen's Park where 60 medical students across Ontario met with Members of Provincial Parliament. Ontario medical students are alarmed by the increasing number of medical graduates who do not secure a residency spot to continue their required medical training, otherwise known as going 'unmatched'. This is the second straight year where Ontario medical students voted to advocate on this issue. Historically, 10 to 20 graduates in Canada were unmatched each year, but that number reached an all-time high in 2018 when

OMSA's Response to the Proposed Tuition Fees and OSAP Changes

  • Posted on: 19 January 2019
  • By: OMSA Admin

This week, the Government of Ontario announced its intention to reduce tuition by 10 percent and reform the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). These decisions have many implications for medical students across the province.

First, OMSA welcomes the government’s intent to address the rise in post-secondary tuition. Advocating for reduced tuition has been a priority for OMSA over the past few years, and we appreciate the government’s efforts to reduce tuition costs.

OMSA Supports the Current Sexual Health Curriculum in Ontario

  • Posted on: 21 July 2018
  • By: OMSA Admin

OMSA regrets the Ontario Provincial government's intent to repeal the updated 2015 Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum and revert to the curriculum developed in 1998. The current curriculum is rooted in the promotion of respect and diversity, it teaches about differences in sexuality and gender identity, the importance of healthy and consensual relationships, and strategies to safely use social media. To return to the outdated curriculum does a great disservice to the students of Ontario.

OMSA Congratulates the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario

  • Posted on: 7 June 2018
  • By: OMSA Admin

OMSA would like to congratulate Premier-elect Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario on their win in this year’s general election in Ontario held today. We would also like to take this opportunity to applaud all candidates and party leaders on their run and their participation in this democratic process. We look forward to working with the new majority government to advocate for meaningful healthcare reform on behalf of Ontario medical students and our patients.

OMSA Supports CMA's Letter to Ontario Leaders Urging to Improve Healthcare

  • Posted on: 29 May 2018
  • By: OMSA Admin

Healthcare has been a key focus of Ontario's upcoming election on June 7th. This past weekend, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) released an open letter urging Ontario’s political leaders to commit to improving the province’s health care system. Specifically, the CMA identified long wait times and the rise in unmatched medical graduates as two

2018 Ontario Election Primer for Medical Students

  • Posted on: 23 May 2018
  • By: OMSA Admin

OMSA has prepared a health-centered guide to the 2018 Ontario Election for medical students. We are excited that all parties have committed to pharmacare in Ontario. Their proposals discuss expanding coverage to rare diseases, seniors, or people of all ages. They also present plans for improving access to long-term care. Click here to learn more about key healthcare issues in the province and get an

OMSA Supports MOHLTC Announcement to Fund Additional Residency Spots

  • Posted on: 17 April 2018
  • By: OMSA Admin

This year, three out of four Ontario medical students voted for physician services planning and the unmatched medical graduate as their top policy priority. On April 9th, 2018, over 60 medical students met with MPPs at Queen’s Park, where we advocated for our peers who were not matched to a residency position this year, and in years past. Today, OMSA is very pleased to support the Ministry of Health in announcing that additional funding for residency positions will be made available for all Ontario

OMSA Lobby Day 2018: Advocating for Physician Services Planning

  • Posted on: 9 April 2018
  • By: OMSA Admin

In their final year of medical school, students apply for residency positions in a process known as "the match". Historically, 10 to 20 graduates in Canada have gone unmatched each year. However, that number has risen dramatically since 2011, rising to 46 in 2016 and 68 in 2017 and is projected to reach 141 in 2021. This year, medical students in Ontario overwhelmingly voted for OMSA to advocate for improved physician services planning for our annual Lobby Day today. OMSA engaged over 60 medical students from across Ontario in our advocacy.

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