Media Statement: More Private Clinics Hurts our Public Health Care, ONA Warns

Toronto, ON, August 28, 2024 – The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is condemning the announcement by the Ford government earlier this week that they are expanding private clinics to provide gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures. This move will make staffing and wait times in the public system worse and cost taxpayers more, all to line the pockets of private clinic owners.

“Make no mistake, Ford has a clear agenda. The Premier is removing funding from our public health-care system and handing it over to private, for-profit clinic owners,” says Erin Ariss, Registered Nurse and ONA Provincial President. “This will cost Ontarians more and damage access to public health care.”

Diverting public funding will diminish access to care and make it more challenging for patients to get the care they need. Wait times for public care will increase as funding and staff are drawn out of the public system.

For-profit clinics charge the government significantly more than a publicly delivered procedure. These fees come directly out of patients’ – and taxpayers’ – pockets.

“Expanding private health care will not improve access and Ontarians should be very concerned about what this will mean for them. Nurses and health-care professionals will fight this attack on our public health care.”

ONA is the union representing 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as more than 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics, and industry.

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To arrange an interview, contact:

ONA Media Relations, media@ona.org