One in five Ontarians lives with chronic pain. The systems built to help them are fragmented, under-funded, and stigmatising. Pain Ontario advocates to change that — through evidence-based policy, lived-experience leadership, and direct outreach to government.
Pain Ontario's advocacy is grounded in what chronic pain actually costs people, families, and the province.
Ontarians living with chronic pain — 1 in 5 people in the province.
Annual cost to Ontario from chronic pain in healthcare and lost productivity.
Ontarians without a family doctor — limiting access to even basic pain care.
Annual cost of chronic pain to Canada (2019), in healthcare and lost productivity.
These are not all that we work on, but they are where Ontario can move farthest, fastest.
Current investments concentrate on tertiary care. Low-intensity, community-based pain programs are essential for prevention, early intervention, and ongoing care — and Ontario does not fund them adequately.
People with lived and living experience of pain need formal mechanisms to shape Ministry of Health and Ontario Health Team decisions about how pain is funded and treated — not consultation theatre.
Indigenous, Black, racialised, 2SLGBTQ+, low-income, and trauma-affected communities experience worse pain care. Policy that ignores those gaps deepens them. Pain policy must be equity-led.
Pain is one of the leading reasons people seek care, yet 2.5 million Ontarians have no family doctor. Without primary care capacity, even good pain policy cannot reach the people who need it.
Briefs, election work, and submissions — with PDFs you can read, share, and send to your MPP.
Personal stories from constituents move policy faster than briefs from organisations alone.
Use our template to write your MPP and ask them to make chronic pain care a priority. Personalise it with your riding and your story.
Send the 2025 Election Brief to a clinician, family member, or community group. The more it circulates, the harder it is for decision-makers to ignore.
We send when there is a policy moment to act on. No newsletter padding, no schedule.
Personalise the bracketed fields, then send. The full PDF brief from Pain Ontario can be attached — download the brief here.
Subject: Chronic pain care in your platform
Dear [Candidate's Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I am a constituent in [Your Riding].
I am writing to express my concerns about the current state of pain management in Ontario and the need for better access to evidence-based care for people living with chronic pain. Nearly 3 million Ontarians — one in five — live with chronic pain, impacting every aspect of life and contributing to anxiety, depression, and financial strain. In 2019 alone, chronic pain cost Canada $40 billion in healthcare and lost productivity, yet better pain management could improve lives and reduce costs.
Healthcare is the top priority among voters, with a focus on ensuring everyone has a family doctor. Yet, despite pain being a leading reason for seeking care, 2.5 million Ontarians lack a family doctor, limiting access to even basic pain management. I urge you to make chronic pain care a priority in your health platform. Your leadership can drive meaningful change for millions of Ontarians, their families, and our economy.
I've attached a brief from Pain Ontario, a newly incorporated non-partisan, non-profit organisation, with further details. Please reach out if you'd like to discuss this issue further or arrange a meeting.
Thank you for your time and commitment.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]
Need a Word version? Download the .docx template.
Whether you are a clinician, a researcher, a community organisation, a policymaker, or a person with lived experience — Pain Ontario is open to co-authored briefs, joint submissions, and shared advocacy moments.
Get in touch