Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker announced the government is providing an additional $376,866 this year to support Midwives Bruce-Grey. This is part of Ontario’s government’s investment of an additional $28 million to expand midwifery services across Ontario, which will help up to 3,400 more families access additional choice in primary care during a pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

“This additional funding will mean more families in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound will be able to access quality care from a midwife during pregnancy, labour and birth, as well as six weeks of support once their baby is born.”

These new investments across the province will also:

· Support up to 90 new midwifery graduates entering the field;

· Increase access to culturally appropriate midwifery care by expanding Indigenous midwifery programs;

· Ensure midwifery practice groups can update their technology to continue providing quality services; and

· Commit to ongoing funding for a Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team pilot program to ensure their patients can receive ongoing midwifery care.

With the government’s new investments, Ontario is providing $178 million for midwifery services this year, supporting up to 35,000 families.

Midwives offer a choice in birth settings, including home, hospital or midwifery-led birth centres in Toronto and Ottawa. Midwifery care results in fewer medical and surgical interventions, higher breastfeeding rates and shorter hospital stays.

source: media release