On May 8, the Ford government passed Bill 60, the Conservative-led legislation to privatize hospital services, despite widespread criticism from OPSEU/SEFPO and union allies, healthcare workers, and members of the public.Bill 60 will:
- Give the government the power to deregulate certain health professions by making changes to definitions of Medical Laboratory Technologists, Medical Radiation Technologists, Registered Respiratory Therapists, Physicians, Registered Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses.
- Bring in an unlimited number of private clinics with licenses to provide OHIP-covered services.
- Pull ‘easy’ cases to the private sector, leaving a heavier load on the public system.
- Worsen the staffing crisis and wait times in our public healthcare system by pulling funding and staff from it.
Read OPSEU/SEFPO’s full submission on Bill 60
here.Our healthcare system is facing a severe short-staffing crisis. We need stronger retention and recruitment strategies and more funding for publicly-run healthcare services. Bill 60 will not provide solutions to either of these critical issues. Instead, it will make wait times for care longer and less accessible.This a direct attack on Ontario’s public healthcare system by a government that repeatedly prioritizes corporate profits over people. But the fight against Bill 60 is far from over.Here’s what you can do to fight back:
- Take action online & tell your MPP to keep health care public! click here
- Vote NO to privatization in the Ontario Health Coalition’s province-wide referendum: click here
- Join a rally near you on June 3rd to say loud and clear, “Enough is Enough!”: click here
Keep an eye on your email inbox and OPSEU/SEFPO’s website and social media pages for more province-wide actions in the coming months!
