ADVOCACY

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Informing and Advancing National Priorities

The CHCA actively shapes policy and funding decisions to advance integrated home and community care. We focus on informing federal government decision-makers, placing home care at the forefront of healthcare transformation planning and funding considerations. By creating policy briefing documents, participating in advisory councils, and leading national projects, we collaborate with our members to champion home care as an essential component of a cohesive health and social care system.

Federal Priorities

Updated 2025 Federal Budget Submission

August 2025

The CHCA’s updated 2025 pre-budget submission builds on our previous submission, reinforcing four priorities for federal investment that align with provincial and territorial initiatives and with federal goals of building a stronger economy, spending less and saving more, fostering a coordinated nationwide approach to home care–ensuring Canadians receive care where they want it most: in their homes and communities.

Download the updated 2025 Federal Budget Submission

2025 Federal Budget Submission

August 2024

The CHCA’s  pre-budget submission outlines four key priorities for federal investment to align with provincial and territorial initiatives, fostering a coordinated nationwide approach to home care.

  • Expand Access: Invest $800 million annually over five years to expand access to home and community care services and create robust data systems and reporting mechanisms to track progress effectively and utilize resources.
  • Invest in People: Invest $300 million annually for four years to support the development of a skilled and sustainable healthcare workforce.
  • Accelerate Integration: Invest $750 million over three years in an Integrated People-Centred Care Transition Fund, managed and coordinated by Health Canada, to accelerate the adoption and scaling of integrated home care and primary healthcare models.
  • Enhance Digital Literacy: The federal government should invest $17.6 million to expand and extend the Digital Literacy Exchange Program (DLEP) for an additional three years to build patients’ and caregivers’ skills in digital health literacy.

News

Canadian Home Care Association Endorses G7 Declaration to Elevate Domestic and Home Care Workers

June 11, 2024—Mississauga, ON

The Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) announces the release of the G7 Declaration, a landmark document supported by global partners. Released prior to the June 2024 G7 Summit in Italy, this declaration is designed to inform discussions, highlighting the vital contributions of domestic and unregulated home care workers.

Press Release | Backgrounder

2025 Breakfast on the Hill

Bringing Palliative Care to Federal Decision-Makers

In November 2025, the Canadian Home Care Association, together with members of the Palliative Care Coalition of Canada (PCCC), co-hosted Breakfast on the Hill 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.

Designed as an interactive, museum-style experience, the event guided federal decision-makers through four key areas: About Palliative Care, Palliative Care at Home, Palliative Care in a Hospice Residence, and The Future of Palliative Care in Canada. At each station, experts shared insights from the frontlines, giving participants a first-hand understanding of how palliative care is delivered in homes and hospice residences, while exploring the realities, gaps, and opportunities within palliative care in the community.

Through this event and ongoing advocacy, PCCC is calling on the federal government to renew and strengthen its commitment to palliative care by investing an additional $29.8 million to continue implementing the Framework on Palliative Care in Canada. This funding would help strengthen national standards, build data infrastructure, fund research, and expand palliative care services – especially for underserved communities – so that every Canadian can access high-quality, compassionate palliative care, wherever they live and in the care setting they choose.

The CHCA published a blog post with fellow coalition members sharing more details and reflections from the day – read it here.

A Dementia Strategy for Canada

In 2019, the federal government launched Canada’s inaugural national dementia strategy. This strategy outlines a vision for the future and sets common principles and national objectives to guide actions. It focuses on advancing key priority areas such as caregiver support, dementia awareness, clinical practice guidelines, and research.

These efforts are creating opportunities to enhance understanding and support for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.

The CHCA plays a pivotal role in advocating for and advancing this national strategy.

Our efforts include:

Action Plan on Palliative Care

Ensuring access to quality palliative care is crucial for the well-being of Canadians living with life-limiting illnesses and their caregivers. Health Canada’s 2019 Action Plan on Palliative Care presents a five-year plan to enhance the quality of life for individuals with life-limiting illness, their families, and caregivers.

It aims to improve access and quality of care, as well as healthcare system performance, complementing the efforts and funding under the F/P/T Shared Health Priorities.

The CHCA has been instrumental in planning and implementing this plan.

With projects such as:

View the Federal Government report on the State of Palliative Care in Canada in Parliament on December 4, 2023.

F/P/T Shared Health Priorities

The Common Statement of Principles on Shared Health Priorities underpins a bilateral agreement between the federal government and provinces and territories, focusing on home and community care. In our ‘Better Home Care in Canada’ initiative, the CHCA, in partnership with the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Canadian Nurses Association, has informed the specific funding priorities for the Shared Health Priorities. This includes a commitment of $6 billion over 10 years, starting in 2017, to meet the needs of our aging population and to provide home and community-based services

The CHCA is actively collaborating with our members and sector partners to advance the key priorities outlined in the bilateral agreements:

TOOLS AND RESOURCES

Human Resource Challenge: Issues & Options Brief

Presentation on the labour market challenges for home care providers (nursing and personal support worker shortages) and six key recommendations.  Download presentation

Meeting the Needs of Individuals Living with Dementia at Home

A user friendly infographic outlining the key challenges for home care providers and caregivers and key recommendations moving forwards. Download infographic

CHCA Written Submission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2023 Federal Budget

Download Submission

This post is also available in: French

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Established in 1990, the Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) is a national non-profit membership association dedicated to advancing excellence in home and community care.

National Office: 905-567-7373        |       General Inquiries: chca@cdnhomecare.ca
2000 Argentia Road, Plaza 3, Suite 302. Mississauga, ON, L5N 1W1

This post is also available in: French