Standing Strong: Combatting the Ford Government's Hospital Privatization Plans

2025-10-04

Waterloo Region Health Coalition

It was a warm, sunny Saturday morning – a wonderful day for a rally. AND RALLY WE DID!

About 45 people came together on the public sidewalk at the corner of King St. E. and Sportsworld Crossing Road. The common goal: fightback against the Ford government’s expanding hospital privatization plans. Armed with placards and cowbells, participants waved at passing motorists to honk in support of public health care.

Three speakers inspired the protesters with personal anecdotes and observations.

Jim Stewart, Waterloo Region Health coalition chairperson, said he believed we are seeing the political far right trying to end public health care and replace it with a private for-profit system. Jim told about a time when he was overcome by debilitating pain while golfing. Unable to move, he was taken to hospital by ambulance. He estimated that the 3-day hospital stay, CT and MRI imaging, physicians, nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, medications, etc. would total $50K in the USA: $10K CDN deductible plus 20% of the bill as co-payment. That cost would be on top of an average of $1500/month for a family's health insurance in the USA.

Jeff Donkersgoed, VP of the OSSTF D24 (Waterloo), stressed that public education is being defunded just like healthcare.  These programs are fundamental public goods, essential for economic growth, social equality, and individual well-being. So, it's everyone's fight.

Aislinn Clancy, MPP for Kitchener Centre and Deputy Leader for the Green Party of Ontario, felt that Doug Ford continues to deflect attention away from the dismantling of public health care and public education. Instead, the provincial government emphasizes issues such as speed cameras, bike lanes, and U.S. tariffs. Aislinn saw the premier as helping his rich friends in the for-profit health care sector by underfunding and starving our public health care system out of existence[1].

How well-off do you have to be to pay for private health care?  The U.S. government does not provide health benefits to citizens. Most people in the U.S. have health insurance.[2] The average premium for non-subsidized health insurance for a family of 4 is approximately $1,500 per month[3].

DO WE WANT A USA-TYPE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM? DID WE VOTE FOR THAT?

For more information on the health care privatization in our province, check out the Ontario Health Coalition website at https://tinyurl.com/4fjtmpn4

_______________________________________________

[1]  Carty, Hannah and Zhu, Kayla. “Doug Ford’s donors keep benefitting from his private healthcare push”’. Investigative Journalism Foundation. 2023-03-21. https://theijf.org/doug-fords-donors-keep-benefitting-from-his-private-healthcare-push

[2] “Healthcare in the United States: The top five things you need to know” MIT Health, 2024-01-15. https://health.mit.edu/my-mit/internationals/healthcare-united-states

[3] Long, Wiley. “How Much is Health Insurance for a Family of 4?”. HSA for America, 2025-04-03. https://hsaforamerica.com/blog/how-much-is-health-insurance-for-a-family-of-4/