Working together to improve health care in Canada: Aging with Dignity bilateral agreements

The Aging with Dignity agreements with provinces and territories support the shared priority of helping people in Canada age with dignity close to home, with access to home care or care in a safe long-term care facility.

The Aging with Dignity agreements are underpinned by the same key principles and commitments as the Working Together bilateral agreements.

The funding for the Aging with Dignity agreements that were finalized in 2023-24 includes:

• $2.4 billion over 4 years (2023-24 to 2026-27) to improve access to home and community care remaining from the 2017 federal budget commitment to advance the Common Statement of Principles on Shared Health Priorities
• $3 billion over 5 years (2023-24 to 2027-28) for long-term care from the 2021 federal budget to:
  • apply standards of care in long-term care facilities
  • help support workforce stability, including wage top-ups and improvements to workplace conditions

In 2024-25, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Northwest Territories amended their Aging with Dignity agreements to support wage increases and training over 5 years for personal support workers (PSWs) and related professions. The amendments extend these agreements to March 2029.

Budget 2025 confirmed that remaining funding for PSWs will shift to a tax credit. It also provided details concerning eligibility. The tax credit will apply to eligible PSWs in provinces and territories who do not already have a PSW amendment in place. 

Aging with Dignity funding agreements and news releases