Read the official news release here.
On May 15, 2025, Ontario’s Minister of Finance, Peter Bethlenfalvy, released the 2025 Ontario Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario. The budget details measures to protect the province’s economy amidst U.S. tariffs and highlights plans to build infrastructure, enhance healthcare access, expand public services, and support workers and businesses.
Notable Highlights for SAC Members
The 2025 Ontario Budget presents opportunities for the communication health sector with targeted investments that align with SAC’s priorities and advocacy efforts. From reducing wait times through improved diagnostic and primary care access to expanding interprofessional teams, these developments position S-LPs and audiologists to play a greater role in the future of Ontario’s healthcare system.
Labour Mobility
The budget reiterated the Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act (first announced in April 2025), which aims to enhance interprovincial trade and labour mobility by expanding “As of Right” rules. This will remove barriers, cut red tape, and allow more certified and regulated professionals, including health care workers, to practice in Ontario with limited restrictions.
Primary Care Investment
The province is investing $1.8B in Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan to connect every Ontarian with a family doctor or care team by 2029. This includes $235M in 2025–2026 for up to 80 new or expanded care teams, and $300M for new teaching clinics to train future providers.
Surgical and Diagnostic Expansion
Up to $280 million will be invested over two years to expand Integrated Community Health Service Centres. These centres will provide MRI, CT scans, endoscopy, and orthopedic surgeries, aiming to reduce backlogs and improve access to diagnostics and procedures in community settings.
Ontario Autism Program (OAP)
The government is increasing funding by $175 million in 2025–2026, bringing the program’s total investment to $779 million. The OAP supports services including applied behaviour analysis, mental health, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy.
SAC will continue to monitor developments related to Ontario’s 2025 budget and actively engage with government stakeholders to ensure the voices of speech-language pathologists and audiologists help shape the outcomes of these investments.
