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Several hospitals in Ontario closed emergency departments last weekend due to a severe staffing shortage. In Premier Doug Ford’s throne speech this week, the government said it is working with stakeholders to identify possible solutions to ease the pressure facing the healthcare system. “Your government is actively engaging with health-system partners to identify urgent, actionable solutions and will implement whatever measures are needed to help ease immediate pressures,” Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell said in the throne speech delivered on behalf of the Ford government. While the immediate issues facing the healthcare system, such as temporary emergency department closures, need to be addressed, the Public Policy Forum’s Sean Speer said the government must also focus on the long-term, structural problems in the system. “We know because of aging demographics, pressure on our healthcare system is only going to grow,” Speer said. “It’s going to require more than a short-term push if we’re going to ensure not just that these emergency rooms reopen in the short term, but that they are actually capable of serving patients over the long term.” If you have any policy-related questions, or feedback about the show, please email alicja@yahoofinance.com.