This section is Presented This section was produced by the editorial department. The client was not given the opportunity to put restrictions on the content or review it prior to publication. by HAVEN HOME HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING Ontario Premier Doug Ford is moving to privatize public hospitals and allowing private clinics to charge patients thousands of dollars for essential care, the coalition claims, stating that this goes against the Canadian Health Act. Mar 23, 2026 • Last updated Mar 23, 2026 •
Ross Sutherland, co-chair of the Kingston Health Coalition and Nancy Nicol of Seniors Call For Action Now, joined forces to call on the federal government to address healthcare and environmental issues outside Kingston Liberal MP Mark Gerretsen’s office on Concession Street in Kingston, ON, on Friday, March 20, 2026. Photo by Bill Hall /The Whig-Standard
A snowstorm didn’t stop the Kingston Health Coalition from holding a demonstration at Kingston and the Islands Liberal member of Parliament Mark Gerretsen’s office to request a meeting urging the federal government to uphold the Canada Health Act.
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The coalition teamed up with SCAN (Seniors Call for Action Now), an environmental advocacy group, during Friday’s protest.
Ross Sutherland, chair of Ontario Health Coalition and co-chair of Kingston Health Coalition said both groups have been trying since October to meet with their MP after sending several letters.
“We’ve received replies acknowledging our letters but haven’t gotten a meeting,” Sutherland said. “However, when we sent out our press release about today’s protest early Wednesday morning I had a message by four o’clock that same day saying ‘We’d love to meet with you.’ So it looks like we’ll eventually meet up; there just isn’t a date yet since he’s currently away.”
The coalition urges Gerretsen to back efforts against healthcare privatization and bring this matter back into discussions among his colleagues in Ottawa.
A press release issued Wednesday by Ontario Health Coalition noted that threats against public health care nationwide are at an unprecedented level.
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Sutherland remarked that Canadians are facing “probably the biggest threats we’ve ever had” toward their health-care system.
According to claims made by coalition members，Ontario Premier Doug Ford is shifting towards privatizing public hospitals while letting private clinics bill patients thousands for necessary care- actions they argue violate Canada’s health laws.
The Ontario government’s own data suggests its recent wave of private clinics – some resembling hospitals – aims at redirecting around 1.2 million patients away from public healthcare facilities.
“They’re relocating numerous services out of hospitals while compensating external agencies more than what is usually paid for similar services , effectively creating two tiers within healthcare , ” Sutherland stated. “They’re dismantling parts of our system into community-based services alongside hospital systems，and these community options are going cost significantly more because they’re operated for profit.”
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Despite pouring hundreds of millions into private clinics，the government appears responsible for pushing most public hospitals toward financial deficits-essentially transferring public resources away according their report.
Patients already face charges exceeding $4 ,000 per eye at privately operated cataract surgery centers introduced under Ford’s leadership which contravenes established healthcare protection regulations.
Furthermore ，Sutherland pointed out that it’s not just Ontario dealing with crises within its health care framework ; he referenced Alberta’s recent legislative changes observing，“Ontario isn’t far behind.”
“They’ve recently approved legislation permitting private insurers’ involvement in funding essential medical services，which clearly breaches Canada’s healthcare act，” Sutherland remarked.“This means when visiting doctors there can be queries about whether patients possess money or insurance coverage before receiving treatment；those without either risk being turned away.”
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Sutherland highlighted how after passing laws meant for hospital privatization, the United Conservative Party led under Premier Danielle Smith saw Bill11 become law last December , claiming such new provisions establish groundwork aiding healthcare privatization while ending single-tier systems countrywide-permitting physicians simultaneous billing for patient fees alongside publicly funded services.
Sutherland elaborated that Alberta seems motivated largely by admiration towards America ’s free-market approach whereas Ontario appears influenced through ties between politicians such as Ford himself maintaining connections amid those establishing these clinic setups.
Sutherland urgently cautioned against potential ramifications stating if left unchecked; measures aimed solely intended at“gutting”our current structures might spread further without intervention at national levels.
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.<SUTHERLAND CONTINUED : "THIS NATIONAL LAW SHOULD ENSURE ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL MEDICAL CARE WHENEVER NEEDED WITHOUT FINANCIAL BARRIERS IN PLACE." "P<SUTHERLAND IMPLORED THAT CANADA MUST IMPOSE SEVERE PENALTIES UPON THOSE VIOLATING SAID LAWS." "P "SUTHERLAND STATED : 'THEY NEED TO EITHER NEGOTIATE RETURNING COMPLIANCE OR ENFORCE SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES WHICH EXIST AND ARE QUITE SERIOUS.'" "P "SOCIAL ADVOCATES OF KINGSTON ARE STILL AWAITING THEIR MEETING WITH GERRETSEN AS WELL."<Nicol FROM SCAN KINGSTON ADDED AT WEDNESDAY'S DEMO : 'WE'RE EXPERIENCING CLIMATE CHANGE NOW.'" "Nicol CONTINUED : 'UNTIL EMISSIONS ARE REDUCED THIS ISSUE WILL ONLY WORSEN.'" "Nicol CRITICIZED THE GOVERNMENT’S CUTBACKS REGARDING GREEN INITIATIVES." "”<Nicol NOTED PREVIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS FROM THE TRUDEAU ADMINISTRATION INCLUDING GREENER LOANS AIMED AT MUNICIPALITIES LIKE KINGSTON PROVIDING ASSISTANCE RETROFITTING HOMES AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS TOWARDS ENERGY EFFICIENCY."Nicol EMPHASIZED HOWEVER AS OF OCTOBER FIRST LAST YEAR BOTH PROGRAMS ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING NEW APPLICATIONS!" GERRETSEN WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT. Bihall@corusent. comShare this article via social media platforms!
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