1. Ontario public hospitals face funding cuts while private clinics gain funding. 2. Government criticized for prioritizing private care over public hospitals. 3. Public hospitals have unused operating rooms due to lack of funding. 4. Mass protests planned against the government's privatization of healthcare. 5. Quality of care in private clinics deemed inferior to public hospitals.
FAQ
Why Neutral?
Ford government's health spending decisions may not directly affect F, but could influence healthcare stocks if they broaden into health sectors.
How important is it?
The article discusses funding shifts in healthcare that could indirectly affect F's market environment.
Why Short Term?
Immediate public response could influence public sentiment and policy changes affecting healthcare funding.
Health Care Advocates Criticize Ford Government's Privatization of Surgeries
TORONTO, Dec. 11, 2025 – A significant backlash is brewing against the Ford government's plan to privatize surgeries in Ontario, with health care advocates claiming it represents a gross misuse of public funds. Amidst reports of public hospitals facing financial deficits, the Ontario Health Coalition is demanding immediate action to restore funding.
Financial Strains on Public Hospitals
The Ford government's decision to divert hundreds of millions of public dollars from public hospitals to for-profit clinics has placed an enormous strain on the health care system. According to the Ontario Health Coalition, local public hospitals are currently mandated to find budget cuts while simultaneously facing underutilized operating rooms due to a lack of funding.
“We have existing operating rooms sitting unused in our local public hospitals because the Ford government refuses to fund them,” stated Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition. “Yet, at the same time, the sky is the limit when it comes to private clinics.”
Cost Disparities Favoring Private Clinics
The Coalition points out a disconcerting trend: the Ford government pays an average of 20% more for cataract surgeries in private clinics compared to public hospitals, and over 200% more for certain other surgeries at private facilities. These figures underscore the financial inefficiencies associated with privatized health services.
Ms. Mehra criticized the government's approach, highlighting unnecessary delays in increasing surgeries within the public system, which has existing underutilized operating room capacity. “The choice to privatize has exacerbated wait times for patients,” she added.
Protests and Calls for Action
In response to these developments, the Ontario Health Coalition has organized province-wide protests aimed at reversing the privatization plans and increasing funding for public hospitals. Ms. Mehra reiterated, “The Ford government’s hospital privatization plan is not about improving wait times; it is about reallocating public funds to private and for-profit corporations.”
- Public hospitals are funded at the lowest rate in Canada.
- Most public hospitals have closed operating rooms due to insufficient funding.
- The majority of public hospitals reported financial deficits last year, with many still struggling financially.
- The Ford government announced $155 million in funding for private clinics this summer and an additional $125 million in recent weeks.
Quality Concerns in Privatized Health Care
Critics, including the Ontario Health Coalition, have raised alarms regarding the quality of care in private clinics compared to public hospitals. The Coalition argues that public hospitals maintain far superior safety and quality standards, including peer scrutiny and robust health oversight.
“Private clinics have been plagued by problems with quality and sterilization, showing higher rates of patient morbidity and mortality,” Ms. Mehra stated. “It's a misconception that private clinics uphold the same quality protections as public hospitals.”