Accessibility
Main Menu
Menu
Login
Join
Menu
Main Menu
Login
Menu
Menu
Main Menu
Menu

2026 Ontario Budget – What it means for Communication Health Professionals

by

The 2026 Ontario Budget, released on March 26, 2026, outlines significant investments in health care, education, and infrastructure. While communication health professionals are not directly referenced, several system-level initiatives may have implications for speech-language pathologists (S-LPs), audiologists, and communication health assistants.

In education and broader health human resources (HHR) development, the budget’s expansion of the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant (OLSG), along with continued investments in primary care, home and community care, and hospital infrastructure, presents important opportunities to strengthen Ontario’s communication health workforce. These system expansions are expected to increase capacity across publicly funded health settings, which may in turn drive greater demand for S-LPs, audiologists, and communication health assistants.

While communication health professions are not currently included in OLSG eligibility, many of the regions targeted for growth and stabilization continue to experience workforce shortages. This aligns with SAC’s focus on education and HHR, highlighting the importance of integrating communication health professionals across regions through sustainable workforce planning.

The budget also includes new investments in long-term care (LTC), including a commitment to increasing staffing to achieve four hours of daily direct care per resident, with 36 minutes allocated to allied health professionals. This presents an opportunity to strengthen access to communication health services in LTC settings. Although the budget does not specify which professions are included within the “allied health” category, our professions play a critical role in supporting residents with communication disorders, dysphagia, and hearing loss. SAC will continue to work with policymakers to support the inclusion of these professions within staffing models and publicly funded healthcare frameworks.

Specific program investments also present opportunities for Speech-language & Audiology Canada (SAC) members. Increased funding for the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) is intended to expand access to core clinical services, which may increase demand for speech-language pathology and communication health services. Similarly, the development of a new integrated treatment centre at CHEO reflects a continued provincial shift toward interdisciplinary care models for children with complex needs.

Overall, the 2026 Ontario Budget strengthens health and education systems through broad-based investments. As these changes are implemented, there is an opportunity to further integrate communication health professions into healthcare models and workforce strategies. SAC will continue to advance this work through advocacy and policy engagement, supporting the inclusion of communication health services in system planning and contributing to improved access, quality of care, and patient outcomes.

Note on Current Landscape

While the budget outlines investments in health infrastructure, programs, and system capacity, ongoing operational pressures and workforce adjustments in Ontario’s hospitals suggest that service delivery challenges persist. Feedback from members also indicates a gap between funding commitments and the staffing resources required to meet demand.

One-Year Milestone for Ontario Primary Care

by

Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) welcomes the one-year progress update on Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan. We are encouraged by the province’s momentum to significantly expand interprofessional primary care teams across Ontario by 2029.

As the province builds on this success, SAC continues to advocate for the critical role that speech-language pathologists (S-LPs) and audiologists play within these expanding teams. Integrating communication health into primary care is essential to reducing system-wide pressures while improving patient outcomes. By providing professional assessment and treatment directly in the community, patients can benefit from earlier intervention, faster access to care, and a reduced reliance on overstretched specialist services.

SAC will continue to work to ensure that S-LPs and audiologists are recognized as a permanent and essential pillar of Ontario’s healthcare system.

For more information on integrating S-LPs and audiologists into primary care teams, visit SAC’s Team Primary Care Toolkit.

SAC-Ontario Meets on Scope of Practice Expansion Developments

by

In early May, SAC-Ontario attended another productive meeting with the Ministry of Health’s Health Workforce Regulatory Oversight Branch to advance recommendations for expanding scope of practice. Our team emphasized the need for amendments that allow S-LPs and audiologists to work to their full competencies, ultimately improving system efficiency, reducing delays, and enhancing patient outcomes.

We thank our members for sharing their frontline experiences, which continue to shape and strengthen our advocacy. As we prepare formal submissions and maintain active dialogue with the Ministry, we welcome further insights and data from all practice settings.

Ontario and Manitoba Sign Agreement to Boost Interprovincial Trade and Labour Mobility

by

On May 15, the Government of Ontario and the Government of Manitoba signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to remove trade and labour mobility barriers between the provinces. In support of Ontario’s recent  Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act, the agreement aims to streamline the movement of goods, services, and qualified workers.

For Ontario’s S-LPs and audiologists, this marks an important step toward greater workforce mobility. The MOU could lead to:

  • simplified credential recognition across provinces;
  • increased flexibility to practise remotely or in-person across jurisdictions; and
  • increased access to communication health services for underserved communities.

As interprovincial collaboration grows, SAC will continue to advocate for policies that support health workforce mobility and improved patient outcomes nationwide.

Ontario Government Reintroduces Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act, 2025

by

On May 15, the Ontario government reintroduced the Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act, 2025. This legislation is part of a broader $114 million investment to improve access to community and social programs that help seniors stay active, healthy, and supported at home and in care settings

Key highlights of the proposed legislation include:

  • mandatory dementia care programs in all long-term care homes;
  • strengthened rights for residents to receive ongoing support from family and friends;
  • recognition of cultural, linguistic, religious, and spiritual needs, including increased access to French-language services; and
  • new offences related to the abuse or neglect of long-term care home residents and enhanced investigation practices.

Complementary initiatives have also been detailed and include the expansion of dementia supports, community-based services for seniors at home, and the development of AI tools for the early detection of osteoporosis.

As S-LPs and audiologists deliver a wide range of services to seniors, these investments have the potential to expand access to vital communication health services. SAC will continue to monitor developments and advocate for the integration of the professions into long-term care and community-based services for seniors.

Log In