Breakfast on the Hill

The Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA), the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), and the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA), together with fellow members of the Palliative Care Coalition of Canada (PCCC), were proud to co-plan and host the Breakfast on the Hill on November 19, 2025, held in-person at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. This advocacy event brought together CHCA members, health leaders, care providers, caregivers, and federal policymakers to spotlight the urgent need for continued federal investment in palliative care across Canada.

Our goal was to give federal decision-makers a first-hand understanding of what palliative care looks like in homes and hospice residences. Working closely with fellow coalition members, we designed an engaging, museum-style experience for participants to explore the realities, gaps, and opportunities within palliative care in the community.

Attendees moved through stations showcasing:

• About Palliative Care
• Palliative Care at Home
• Palliative Care in a Hospice Residence
• The Future of Palliative Care in Canada

At each station, experts shared insights from the frontlines, helping federal decision-makers see the critical impact palliative care has on patients, caregivers, and families. By grounding the event in real experiences from homes, hospices, and community settings, the conversations drew attention to leaders that palliative care is not only a health service, but a human experience that should be shared by families across the country.

Photo credits:  Glass Horse Productions

Why Palliative Care Matters

Canada was an early leader in palliative care, yet today our country ranks 40th in the world in access to these essential services. Only about 58% of Canadians who could benefit from palliative care actually receive it, and many are identified very late, limiting its impact.(1)

Palliative care supports dignity, comfort, and choice for people living with serious illness, whether at home, in a hospice, or other care settings. It also eases the burden on families and the healthcare system, reduces unnecessary hospitalizations, and improves patient outcomes. Family and unpaid caregivers provide most of the day-to-day support for individuals living with a serious illness, yet many continue to face challenges accessing respite, bereavement support, and navigational help.

Home-Based Palliative Care: Aligning With What Canadians Want

Most Canadians prefer to receive care at home, surrounded by loved ones. But access to home-based palliative care remains limited:

• Only 13% of Canadians who died in 2021-2022 received palliative care at home.(2)
• Among those who received some form of palliative care, 61% had palliative care in hospital only, while 36% had palliative home care.(3)
• The average cost of a hospital stay in Canada is $7,826.(4) Providing care for a high-needs individual at home averages just $103 per day – significantly more cost-effective.(5)

Closing this gap requires federal investment to ensure trained staff are available nationwide, properly compensated, and integrated into workforce planning, recruitment, and retention initiatives.

Supporting Hospice Care

Hospices provide specialized, home-like care and support for families, including grief and bereavement services. But access is limited:

• Canada has just over 1,500 hospice beds, far below the recommended number.(6)
• Only seven sites nationwide provide pediatric palliative care.(7)
• Many local hospices and palliative care programs and services rely heavily on fundraising from businesses and the community served in addition to some of the funding they receive from provincial or municipal governments.(8)

Federal investment is needed to expand hospice access, support staff, and fund critical grief, bereavement, and pediatric programs.

Get Involved: Parliamentary Petition for Palliative Care in Canada

To further our message from the Breakfast on the Hill, PCCC’s advocacy committee has launched a parliamentary petition calling on the federal government to renew its commitment to palliative care by investing an additional $29.8 million to continue implementing the Framework on Palliative Care in Canada.

Sign the petition:
English
French

Moving Forward: A Call for Federal Investment

We are advocating for this funding to strengthen national standards, build data infrastructure, fund research, and expand palliative care services — especially for underserved communities.

The energy at the National Arts Centre was inspiring. Seeing so many representatives from across the palliative care sector united in advocacy demonstrated the strength and commitment of Canada’s palliative care community. The presence of representatives from home care, hospice services, long term care, community organizations, and health system leadership showcased the interdisciplinary team dynamic that makes palliative care so special and highlighted the shared commitment to strengthening compassionate, person-centered care. We thank all participants, volunteers, and partners who helped make this event a success.

Our work doesn’t stop here. We will continue following up with federal decision-makers and building awareness of the need for continued investment in palliative care. If your organization is not yet involved with the PCCC or would like to deepen its advocacy efforts, we encourage you to reach out to pccc@pallium.ca.

Together, we can ensure every Canadian has access to high-quality, compassionate palliative care – wherever they live, and in the care setting they choose.