It’s been a few days since the federal government released Budget 2023 and we had hoped to communicate more positive news. I wanted to openly share this letter with the broader diabetes community as a reassurance of our commitment to bringing to life the Diabetes Framework.
As many of you may know, over the last six months Diabetes Canada has called on the federal government to fund the Framework, which it tabled it October 2022. Throughout Canada many of our advocates, community members, and health-care partners helped amplify this call to action—to which we are extremely grateful.
Given this incredible progress, the lack of funding for the Framework in Budget 2023 will not deter our momentum and work to see the necessary resources allocated to #Fundthe Framework. Although this wasn’t what we were hoping for, the government did take a significant step forward last October with the tabling of the Framework, which still has the potential to become a global standard of excellence in quality care and services for people living with diabetes.
To ensure this potential is fulfilled, Diabetes Canada will continue to work with all our partners in urging the federal governments and provincial governments to commit to concrete investments in support of the Framework as soon as possible.
Over the last month we have seen some very positive strides forward at the provincial level, and we will continue working with all levels of government to keep this momentum going and implement the Framework, including our five key recommendations.
Together we have accomplished something very rare in the past half decade, moving from a strategy to a parliamentary policy framework. As a person who lives with type 2 diabetes, I am inspired everyday by the passion and commitment of all those who work alongside Diabetes Canada – partners, volunteers, and advocates.
This work is not over, and we will continue to work toward a better and brighter future for the almost 12 million people affected by diabetes or prediabetes in Canada.
Sincerely,
Laura Syron, President & CEO of Diabetes Canada