Healthcare and labour leaders weigh in after province announces healthcare services in private clinics

The expansion will see private clinics take on the backlog of publicly funded surgeries and procedures.

The first step in the Province's plan is to tackle the long list of patients looking to receive cataract surgeries, going through private diagnostic centres such as the TLC Laser eye Centre in Waterloo.

Doris Grinspun, C.E.O of the Registered Nurses Association, said this is not the direction that the provincial healthcare system should be heading towards. 

“This is the direction to put money in the pockets of investors and for profiteers,” Grinspun stated. “We never should have gotten to where we are.”

Grinspun added that she has been advocating for overnight surgeries in hospitals to alleviate backlogs to multiple Premiers.

Jeff Pelich, President of the Waterloo Regional Labour Council, represents a variety of front line healthcare workers.

He told CityNews 570 that the provincial government's decision to expand services to private clinics was bound to happen.

“The Ford government was creating a crisis. They were under funding public healthcare. They were creating situations for staff shortages due to Bill 124 and the wage cap, and they were going to turn around and say 'look, the solution is privatization'.” Pelich explained.

Pelich called on local MPPs such as Jess Dixon, Brian Riddell and Mike Harris to show their support for public healthcare.