A leaked document from the Ford government shows that the Progressive Conservatives are preparing to privatize health care in Ontario. The document is a draft bill, 81 pages long, titled “The Health System Efficiency Act.”
According to media reports, the Ford government plans to create a new “Super Agency” that would have a mandate to privatize health care in Ontario. We can’t let this happen.
You can take action right now to stop this. Will you take a few minutes and call Health Minister Christine Elliott (and/or your MPP if you live in a PCO riding) to say you oppose privatizing health care?
And if you haven’t already, join the fight against the Doug Ford’s regressive agenda in Ontario by adding your name to the Fight Ford pledge.
Privatization is not the answer – it leads to longer wait times, higher costs and worse care.
The PC’s “Super Agency” would replace the Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) and give the Health Minister the power to force mergers or closures of institutions that provide health services, including hospitals, long-term care homes, community health centres and more.
This bill could lead to the creation of mega-hospitals where services would be consolidated and privatized, while smaller and more rural hospitals would close.
The Ford government has already announced a reduction in funding for hospital beds in the province, despite the fact that Ontario has the fewest number of hospital beds per capita in Canada. Ontario also funds its public hospitals at the lowest rate in Canada.
Premier Ford, who made an election promise to “end hallway medicine,” has recently been revealing his true agenda. Last fall, he appointed former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell to lead an independent inquiry into the previous Liberal government’s spending and make recommendations on “efficiencies.”
According to the Ontario Health Coalition, Mr. Campbell’s government cut and privatized hospital and health care services in B.C. “Under his leadership, user fees for patients ballooned to the worst in the country. As a result of his policies, B.C. is ground zero for health care privatization in Canada, two-tier medicare is rampant, long waits and poor access to care exist throughout the system.”
It couldn’t be clearer: Doug Ford wants to privatize Ontario health care.
