REISSUE: Gélinas: Ford promises hundreds of millions to private clinics while the public system languishes

NICKEL BELT — NDP Shadow Minister for health MPP France Gélinas (Nickel Belt) released the following statement in response to Premier Ford’s announcement about funding private clinics:

“The Ford government announced they will funnel $155 million into private clinics every two years. That is public money going into private hands instead of our local hospitals, where help is desperately needed. All of this has been made possible through Bill 60.

“This model of private delivery with public dollars is alarming and unfair. Study after study shows that private clinics benefit the wealthiest, while leaving the rest of us behind.

“Since the Ford government began expanding private cataract surgeries, wait times have only gotten worse. In 2020, 72% of cataract surgeries were performed on time, compared to 66% in 2024. This leaves a significant number of seniors who rely on this procedure for their vision to either pay out of pocket for the health care they need, or much worse, go blind.

“Instead of strengthening our public hospitals and addressing the staffing crisis, this government is handing over our health care system to private companies. Enough is enough. This government received a new mandate to protect Ontario, but what they have been showing Ontarians is that they are willing to choose profits over people, every time.”