Where you live, should not determine if you live.
That from Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Officer at Hope Air, a national charity that provides free travel support for Canadians in financial need travelling for medical care.
The comments come as the charity shares a record number of northern Ontario families needed their services last year.
Officials say they helped nearly 3,400 Ontarians in need in 2023, an increase of 165%.
Rubinstein says as demand grows, government, health care and private sectors, as well as donors and volunteers all must come together to support their role in Ontario, adding access to healthcare despite distance or finances is a fundamental right.
Hope Air supports patients living in communities such as North Bay, Timmins, Thunder Bay, Kenora, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Kapuskasing, and many others.
Patients seeking support for medical travel needs can apply online to Hope Air at hopeair.ca or call 1-877-346-4673.