On election day, make your voice count. #Vote4Arthritis
The federal election in Canada is scheduled for April 28, 2025. ACE is asking political parties how they, if elected, will improve the timely and equitable access to arthritis diagnosis, treatment and care.
The six million people living with arthritis is a significant constituency in Canada. Arthritis is the most common chronic disease in Canada and affects more people than heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and dementia combined. Despite the misconception that it is only a disease of older adults, two-thirds of Canadian residents with arthritis are younger than 65.
The impact of the more than 100 types of arthritis extends far beyond the individual – it’s felt by healthcare systems, workplaces, and the economy. As the leading cause of work disability, arthritis contributes to a wide range of health challenges that collectively cost billions of dollars every year in direct health care costs and indirect costs to the economy related to lost employment, sick leave, and absenteeism.
Timely and equitable access to arthritis diagnosis, care and treatment must be a top health priority for the next federal government. Without intervention, more than 9 million Canadians are expected to be living with arthritis by 2040.
That’s why it is important for you as a voter to make your voice heard on how to fix access to arthritis care. To help you with your voting decision, Arthritis Consumer Experts is asking political parties to share their perspectives on how to ensure that everyone living with arthritis in Canada has equitable access to timely, safe, quality care.
ACE’s Arthritis Survey for Federal Election Political Parties asks the following questions:
- If elected, what will your government do to ensure better and faster access to arthritis care and treatment?
- If elected, how will your government ensure provinces and territories adhere to agreed-upon surgical wait time targets and implement best practice, as well as offer effective joint replacement prevention education at a population level?
- If elected, how will your government work with provincial and territorial governments to standardize arthritis health data, so access and quality of care are consistently measured, evaluated and reported on across the country?
- If elected, what culturally appropriate, patient-centered policies will your government introduce to help Indigenous Peoples navigate the healthcare system and receive coordinated care within their community to manage their arthritis?
- If elected, will your government increase arthritis research funding to align with the disease's prevalence and impact and support high impact areas, including precision medicine, arthritis prevention, population health data and Indigenous arthritis health research?
ACE will be collecting party responses and posting them on ACE’s Federal Election 2025 homepage as we receive them.
If you have comments, questions, or concerns about any of the answers provided, please plan to attend a public forum or debate to hear from the candidates.
On April 28, 2025, make your voice count: #Vote4Arthritis. For more information on how to vote, please visit Elections Canada to find out your options, including voting on election day, voting on advance polling days, or voting early at any Elections Canada office.