Is Ontario’s new law the future of Canadian health care?
Posted May 12, 2023 7:13 am.
In today’s Big Story podcast, whether you believe it’s “becoming more efficient” or “being dismantled piece by piece,” it’s evident that universal health care in Canada is undergoing changes. This week, Ontario passed Bill 60, which allows private clinics to perform certain surgeries and procedures – theoretically at no additional costs to the patient.
Similar developments are already taking place in Quebec and British Columbia, while Alberta’s election is addressing how involved the private system should be with public care.
Richard Southern, reporter at Queen’s Park and CityNews Toronto, says Bill 60 is proposed to solve the postponement of non-essential surgeries during the pandemic that’s led to a massive backlog in Ontario. However, Southern says, “you always touch a nerve when you talk about doing more private anything in the health care system in Canada.”
So, what does the bill contain? Does it include any provisions to protect patients? Why are medical groups expressing concerns? And how will we assess if Bill 60 is working or not?
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