Conservatives’ Bill 60 Leaves Ontarians and Public Healthcare Behind
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2023
QUEEN’S PARK – As Ontarians struggle to access the healthcare services they rely on, the Conservatives are pushing ahead with their plan to create a for-profit healthcare system that will compete for the nurses, doctors, and frontline workers that our hospitals desperately need.
“The greatest challenge we have in our healthcare system right now is not having enough people to provide care to those that need it,” said MPP John Fraser, Interim Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party. “Unamended, Bill 60 will make the human resources crisis in our hospitals even worse.”
Ontario Liberals will be proposing a range of amendments to Bill 60 including the following:
- New health service centres must operate on a not-for-profit basis.
- Strong conflict of interest protection must be in place along with full transparency about ownership, fees and violations by these facilities.
- Introduction of a Ministry oversight program in collaboration with regulatory colleges.
- Fees paid to community health centres should not exceed those paid in public hospitals.
“With major details being left up to the regulations, this Bill is asking legislators to sign a blank cheque,” said MPP Dr. Shamji, Ontario Liberal Health critic. “As a doctor, I would never sign a prescription without knowing what it said. The government needs to supply these details.”
Carter Brownlee