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As a result of a Freedom of Information request in the summer of 2025, the Ministry of Health was ordered to release the “Laying the Groundwork” report. This report is an implementation plan for the Taskforce on Environmental Health’s final report: CareNow: An Action plan for people with ME/CFS, FM & MCS. For information about the report, CareNow Ontario’s response and our action plan see the following 2 items:
2. Powerpoint to members and friends Oct. 30, 2025
May 2, 2024
On May 2 2024, the Centre for Effective Practice released three tools on FM, ME/CFS and POTS to help family physicians recognize, assess, diagnose and treat these conditions. If you suspect you have these conditions and your family physician or nurse practitioner are not familiar with these conditions, please direct them to these tools. See link below
Care Now Ontario will be posting a kit for people living with ES/MCS & EH to take to their hospitals to seek accommodation for their condition. The kit will include a step by step guide on how to work with your hospital including sample accommodation agreements and sample letters you will need your physician to complete.
May 12th International Awareness Day began almost 30 years ago to raise awareness primarily for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). The date of May 12th honours the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing who was virtually bedridden for almost fifty years with an illness resembling ME or Fibromyalgia (FM).
Through the years, May 12th has become known as May 12th International Awareness Day not only for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) but also for Fibromyalgia (FM) and Environmental Sensitivities/Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (ES/MCS). Throughout the world, numerous support and advocacy organizations that represent and support one or more of ME/CFS, FM and ES/MCS hold public awareness events in communities around the world.
The City of Toronto and many municipalities across Canada proclaim May 12th as International Awareness Day for one or more of ME/CFS, FM and ES/MCS. The same is done in many municipalities overseas.
CareNow Ontario (formerly MEAO) History with May 12th International Awareness Day:
MEAO (now CareNow Ontario) began May 12th days in 1994 advocating for awareness for ME/CFS, FM and ES/MCS.
Since approximately 2010, CareNow Ontario (formerly MEAO) began having May 12th International Awareness day events at Queen’s Park Legislature, Toronto, Ontario to bring awareness and to advocate to the Government of Ontario and Ontario MPPs for a system of medical care and social supports for those living with ME/CFS, FM and ES/MCS.
Because of the advocacy of CareNow Ontario, the Ontario Ministry of Health mandated the Task Force on Environmental Health which began in the year 2016 to the end of 2018. The task force produced an interim report and a final report containing many recommendations for a system of care and social supports. An Action plan was submitted to the Minister of Health in 2021 with no further action to date.