Province says upgrades to Northern Health Travel Grant coming Dec. 1

Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones says improvements to the Northern Health Travel Grant are coming as soon as this weekend.

Jones made the comments during Question Period at Queen’s Park on Tuesday, after being pressed twice by Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha.

"People in northern Ontario deserve equitable access to health care," Mantha said.

"They shouldn’t be deciding between getting the treatment they need or the bills they are paying. Minister, will you answer my constituents’ questions and tell them when the $45 million will be delivered?"

Jones was in Thunder Bay in April, announcing additional funding and upgrades to the grant. There was no date given for when the changes would come into effect, other than sometime in the fall.

"It’s actually $48 million if you want to be specific, which I do because they are investments we are making in northern Ontario," Jones replied.

"Starting Dec. 1, we have an additional enhancement that says 200 kilometres is going to 100 kilometres, [an additional] $75 [per night] for accommodation, expanding of eligibility for medical travel companions accompanying a patient."

Nickel Belt MPP and NDP Health Critic France Gelinas said she doesn't understand why it took so long for details to be announced.

"Why wait eight months to put it into place? I don't understand why they do things like this," Gelinas said.

"I mean, they created an expectation when they made the announcement back in the spring. But I'm happy that it's coming on Dec. 1. I guarantee you people are ready. They want more support."

She said the travel grant badly needed an update.

"One hundred dollars a night for a hotel room. Find me a hotel in Toronto for $100 per night -- they just do not exist," Gelinas said.

"It was coming to a point where many people were choosing not to get the health services that they needed because they didn't want to go further into that."

While she said the improvements are nowhere near enough, it’s a small step in the right direction.

"We don't have equity of access right now and even with the changes that they have made, we still won't have equity of access,” Gelinas said.

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"But it's a step in the right direction. So, I have no problem thanking for steps in the right direction. But we can't stop there."

CTV News contacted the health minister’s office requesting details on the announcement, including the timing of the announcement and what it would entail.

A spokesperson said details will be coming in the next few days.