While health care was expected to be a defining issue in the 2025 federal election, it was largely overshadowed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and fears around Canadian sovereignty. Still, the re-elected Liberal government made ambitious promises on everything from expanding mental health care to reducing doctor burnout — and now comes the real test: delivering on them.
Health experts say the Liberals’ intentions are commendable, but warn that without full provincial cooperation, many pledges may be difficult — if not impossible — to implement.
More Doctors, but Not Without More Support
Among the Liberals’ flagship promises is the addition of “thousands of new doctors” across the country, with a focus on primary care. The plan involves increasing medical school and residency positions and streamlining pathways for internationally trained doctors.
Dr. Carrie Bernard, president of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, supports the idea but says expanding training isn’t enough. “There needs to be infrastructure to support it — funding for educators and space for residents,” she said.
The Liberals have also promised to simplify the recruitment of physicians from the U.S. and abroad, and to give nurse practitioners more autonomy. Valerie Grdisa, CEO of the Canadian Nurses Association, praised the inclusion of nurse practitioners, noting their strong track record of care delivery at lower cost.
Easing the Burden on Doctors
To make the profession more sustainable, the Liberals have pledged to reduce paperwork, digitize referrals and prescriptions, and potentially support the use of AI scribes. Bernard stressed the importance of these steps: “Keeping family doctors in comprehensive practice means creating a better working environment.”
A proposed “new practice fund” would help new doctors set up clinics in underserved communities — another initiative welcomed by health care providers.
There’s also a promise to create a national medical licensing system, allowing doctors to work across provinces. While supported by both Liberals and Conservatives, experts like political scientist Nelson Wiseman say the real roadblock lies with the provinces, which currently control licensing.
Mental Health: Progress with Caution
Mental health also features prominently in the Liberal plan, including a permanent Youth Mental Health Fund aimed at reaching 100,000 young people annually. Glenn Brimacombe of the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health called it a “worthwhile objective,” especially given the urgency of early intervention.
The Liberals also committed $500 million in new funding to address the opioid crisis and to continue supporting the 988 suicide prevention helpline, which saw over 300,000 contacts in its first year.
Mental health advocates also applauded the pledge to expand supportive housing. But their top demand — integrating mental health into the Canada Health Act — was notably missing from the platform.
Sarah Kennell of the Canadian Mental Health Association said many essential services like counselling, addiction support, and eating disorder treatment still fall outside public coverage. “These services are either out-of-pocket or reliant on charitable donations. That’s not sustainable,” she said.
Kennell urged the government to introduce legislative reforms within its first 100 days, either by amending the Canada Health Act or introducing parallel legislation that puts mental health on equal footing with physical health.
Despite the absence of this commitment from the official platform, Kennell said consultations across party lines show broad political support for addressing this imbalance. “We’re cautiously optimistic,” she said.
Can the Liberals Deliver?
Experts agree that the federal government’s biggest hurdle is not their minority status in Parliament — it’s that the provinces control the levers of health care. Funding, licensing, program delivery — all fall under provincial jurisdiction. As Wiseman put it: “You can’t build national standards without the provinces agreeing to play ball.”
Still, many in the health sector are hopeful that collaboration — paired with public pressure — can turn promises into progress. Whether the Liberals can build on that momentum remains to be seen.