(Ottawa, ON) June 8, 2026 — The Vision Health Partners Coalition (VHPC) is applauding the tabling of Canada’s first-ever National Strategy for Eye Care as a landmark moment for the more than 2.2 million Canadians living with significant vision loss or blindness and the millions more affected by preventable or treatable eye conditions.
The Strategy is the first-of-its-kind in Canada and sets out a national framework to improve access to eye care services and information, prevent vision loss, and strengthen supports for people who are blind or partially sighted. It also signals the federal government’s commitment to more coordinated, equitable, and accessible eye care across the country.
The VHPC, a coalition representing the full continuum of vision care in Canada, played a significant role in helping shape the Strategy. The VHPC is encouraged to see many of its priorities reflected in the Strategy’s pillars, including stronger partnerships, improved public awareness, better access to services, expanded use of data, and the adoption of innovation and technology.
With the Strategy now moving to implementation, the VHPC is calling on the federal government to ensure the next phase is matched by meaningful collaboration, clear accountability, and measurable progress. The VHPC stands ready to support implementation by contributing expert advice, helping define indicators for long-term success, and supporting outreach efforts in communities that continue to face the greatest barriers to timely and appropriate eye care.
To foster ongoing sharing and collaboration across the vision health sector, the VHPC is also launching a new website that will serve as a central hub for information, resources, and updates related to the progression of the Strategy implementation. The website will provide stakeholders with access to VHPC’s advocacy efforts, priorities, and opportunities to engage in advancing the Strategy. The VHPC’s website can be accessed at https://visionhealthpartners.ca/.
“Canada’s first National Strategy for Eye Care is a major step forward for millions of people who are blind, partially sighted, or at risk of vision loss,” said Jennifer Urosevic, Chair, Vision Health Partners’ Coalition, and President and CEO, Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada. “The real test now is implementation. We need sustained partnership, practical accountability, and a clear focus on equity so that this Strategy delivers meaningful results for people and communities across the country.”