A poll conducted by Environics Research found that 79% of Ontarians feel that "health care is currently in a state of crisis in Ontario," with 55% attributing responsibility to the Ford government.

Q: What is causing this "state of crises"?

A: Examples:

- Reduced Healthcare Funding

- Family Doctor Shortages

- Staffing Shortages and ER Closures

- Healthcare Privatization

- Ontario Seniors

- Ontario Autism Program Controversy

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- Reduced Healthcare Funding:

• The Financial Accountability Office (FAO) reported that the Ontario government plans to allocate over $21 billion less to the healthcare sector by 2027-2028. This underfunding is expected to significantly diminish hospital capacity due to increasing demand.

• Insufficient efforts to train and hire thousands of nurses and personal support workers, the Financial Accountability Office (FAO) projects a shortfall of 33,000 healthcare staff over the next six years, jeopardizing Ontario's ability to sustain current programs and meet expansion commitments.

The Green Party of Ontario criticized the government's underspending in healthcare. Party leader Mike Schreiner stated, "People are bearing the burden of the PC's shameful underspending on public services like healthcare,"

- Family Doctor Shortages:

• A government report revealed that up to 4.1 million Ontarians are not rostered to their own family doctor, representing more than 1 in 4 people in the province. Additionally, 205 Ontario communities lack even a single family doctor accepting new patients, threatening the foundation of primary care and putting people's health at risk across the province.

The Green Party of Ontario continues advocacy for increased healthcare funding and support for healthcare professionals aligns with addressing the shortage of family doctors.

- Staffing Shortages and ER Closures:

• Ontario experienced a significant number of emergency room closures, primarily due to staff shortages, especially among nurses. In 2023, there were 1,199 ER closures, with the situation worsening in 2024 to nearly 15,000 hours of ER or urgent care closures. These closures disrupted access to emergency care, particularly in rural areas.

The Green Party of Ontario demanded the need for better support and investment in healthcare staffing to prevent such closures. By advocating for a nurse-led task force and criticizing healthcare underspending, the party underscores the importance of addressing staffing shortages to maintain essential services like emergency care for Ontarians.

- Healthcare Privatization:

• Bill 60 – Expansion of Private Clinics: In May 2023, the Ford government passed Bill 60, known as the Your Health Act, allowing private clinics to perform more surgeries and procedures covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). Critics argue that this move diverts funding from public hospitals and exacerbates staffing shortages in the public system.

• The shift towards privatization will lead to a two-tiered healthcare system, where access to care is determined by the ability to pay to get the needed care, potentially compromising the quality and accessibility of care for all Ontarians. Concerns have been raised that private clinics may prioritize profit over patient care, leading to increased costs for patients and a decline in service quality.

The Green Party of Ontario is vocal in its opposition to Bill 60. Mike Schreiner stated, "Private healthcare is destined to fail," expressing concerns that the legislation paves the way for healthcare profiteering and undermines the public system. The party calls for the immediate repeal of Bill 60 and advocates reallocating funding from private, for-profit health facilities back to the public system to ensure that every public dollar goes towards patient care rather than shareholder profits.

• Example – Cataract Surgery at Private Clinics: Cataract surgery is a procedure covered by OHIP. However, there have been instances where private clinics have charged patients extra fees for this surgery. For example, some patients have reported being charged between $1,000 to $5,000 per eye for cataract surgery at private clinics, despite the procedure being covered by OHIP. These additional charges often include fees for unnecessary tests, premium lenses, or faster service, which are not covered by OHIP. (Source: ONTARIO HEALTH COALITION)

- Ontario Seniors - An Attack On The Rights Of The Frail And Elderly

In 2022, the Ontario government enacted Bill 7, known as the More Beds, Better Care Act, to address hospital capacity issues. This legislation allows hospitals to transfer patients, primarily seniors designated as requiring an alternate level of care (ALC), to long-term care (LTC) homes not of their choosing.

If patients refuse the transfer, hospitals are authorized to charge a fee of $400/day for continued occupancy.

• Between September 2022 and April 2024, five patients were fined under this policy, with charges ranging from 13 to 93 days. In one notable case, an 83-year-old woman with dementia was fined $28,600 for refusing placement in a non-preferred LTC home.

• Critics argue that Bill 7 undermines patient autonomy and may lead to the displacement of seniors into LTC facilities far from their communities and families. Concerns have also been raised about the potential for elder abuse and the erosion of informed consent.

The Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner, has expressed strong opposition to Bill 7, the "More Beds, Better Care Act." Schreiner criticized the legislation as "an attack on the rights of the frail and elderly" and condemned the government's decision to pass the bill without proper public scrutiny or committee hearings.

- Ontario Autism Program Controversy:

• Program Changes: In 2019, changes to the Ontario Autism Program included providing direct funding to families instead of regional service providers, with funding amounts based on age rather than individual needs. Families and advocates argued that the funding was inadequate for children requiring intensive services, leading to service reductions and staff layoffs.

The Green Party of Ontario broader commitment to adequately funding public services suggests support for programs that meet individual needs, particularly for vulnerable populations.

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