The Crisis in Canadian Healthcare: Canada’s healthcare system is facing unprecedented challenges. Millions of Canadians, particularly vulnerable populations including seniors, Indigenous communities, newcomers, and low-income families struggle to access timely primary care that impact their health and well-being. Emergency rooms are overcrowded, mental health needs are surging, and our healthcare system is at a breaking point

CHCs, A Smarter Investment for a Stronger Healthcare System: Community Health Centres (CHCs) are community-governed, not-for-profit hubs that deliver integrated services and programs across numerous sectors including healthcare, housing and shelter, food security, employment and training, youth services, senior services, immigration and settlement, and others. This multi-sector, multi-service approach means that CHCs fall under the mandate and jurisdiction of all levels of government.

CHCs offer a proven solution to these challenges by providing team-based, integrated healthcare and social services tailored to community needs. This approach reduces ER visits, prevents unnecessary hospitalizations, and relieves the burden on the Canadian healthcare system. Despite their effectiveness, CHCs remain underfunded and underutilized in Canada’s healthcare strategy.

In 2024, a $960,000 investment was distributed among 32 CHCs across Canada, providing health systems navigation access to over 11,000 people and saving over $2.4 million in unnecessary emergency room costs. This 250% return on investment underscores the financial and social value of CHCs as effective and economic models of healthcare delivery in Canada. CHCs are essential pillars of trusted, community-based care, delivering primary healthcare services to an average of 5,000 patients, while also offering non-clinical social services to approximately 6,700 individuals per center. This model of care proves that CHCs are not just healthcare providers, they are essential pillats of community-based care that enhance the overall health system sustainability.

Federal Leadership is Needed: Federal, provincial, and municipal governments each have a role to play in supporting access to CHCs for the diverse Canadian population. CACHC works collaboratively with our Community Health Centre members and provincial CHC association partners in calling on all levels of government to play their role. The federal government has a key role in expanding CHCs as a core part of Canada’s healthcare strategy. While about 36% of CHCs receive some federal funding, these investments are often fragmented, short-term, and uncoordinated. The federal government does not have a coordinated strategy for these investments in CHCs.

A Call to Action: Invest in CHCs for a Healthier Canada: CHCs are not just healthcare facilities, they are essential to building healthier, more resilient communities. By investing in CHCs, the federal government can reduce healthcare costs, improve health equity, and strengthen primary care access for all Canadians.

• Impact of CHCs During COVID-19 Pandemic
• Improving Uptake of Vaccines Across Canada: CVP-National Project Report  (2021-2023)
• Letter to Prime Minister and Premiers from CACHC and Provincial Community Health Centre associations (Feb 2023)
• CACHC welcomes recommendation for major federal investment in Community Health Centres (Sept 2022)
• CACHC’s 2021 Call to Action for Federal Government and all political parties
• Community Health Centres and COVID-19: Impact and Experiences from the Pandemic (July 2021)
• Infographic: Community Health Centres: Healthy People, Healthy Communities
• Video: Community Health Centres: Healthy People, Healthy Communities