FULL EPISODE: Are private clinics the solution to Canada's health-care crisis?

As the federal government pledges $196 billion over 10 years to provinces for health-care — including $46.2 billion in new money — evidence suggests more Canadians are pulling out their wallets to pay privately. How much are you willing to pay for faster service?

The federal government has announced it's prepared to give $196 billion over 10 years to the provinces for health-care — including $46.2 billion in new spending.

In response, the head of the Council of the Federation that represents the premiers, Heather Stefanson, says they were "disappointed" by the size of the proposal and that it was "significantly less" than what they were looking for.

Our question this week: Are private clinics the solution to Canada's health-care crisis? How much are you willing to pay for faster service?

Plus, in our Ask Me Anything segment we take a closer look at the state of electric vehicles in Canada. George Iny will answer your questions. He's the director of the Automobile Protection Association.

As surgical wait lists grow, Canada's private clinics cash in

It's a contentious reality in Canada's universal medicare system: you can pay to jump the queue for surgeries with long waiting lists, such as hip and knee replacements.

Dr. Pascal-André Vendittoli is pictured in surgical scrubs in an operating room at the Duval Clinic. 

Dr. Pascal-André Vendittoli is medical director of the Duval Clinic, a private facility in Laval, Que. specializing in hip and knee replacements for fee-paying patients.  

Dr. Pascal-Andre Vendittoli

Dr. Pascal-André Vendittoli is medical director of the Duval Clinic, a private facility in Laval, Que., specializing in hip and knee replacements for fee-paying patients.  

Jagmeet Singh says the Canada Health Act could be used to challenge private health care. Could it?

Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says the federal government needs to utilize the Canada Health Act, which he said has significant powers to challenge for-profit privatized care. But does it really?

A nurse walks toward a patient in the emergency department of Humber River Hospital, in Toronto, on Jan. 25, 2022.

Humber River Hospital ICU

The Canada Health Act, enacted in 1984 after being passed unanimously in the House of Commons, laid out criteria to ensure 'reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers.' That meant Canadians would have access to medically necessary services without being directly charged for those services

Ontario expanding number and range of surgeries offered at for-profit clinics

Ontario is significantly expanding the number and range of medical procedures performed in privately run for-profit clinics as the province deals with a surgical backlog made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A politician makes an announcement while a province's premier stands behind her.

Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones makes an announcement on health care with Premier Doug Ford in Toronto, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023.

Doug Ford Sylvia Jones health ontario

Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones and Premier Doug Ford said Monday that expanding the role of private clinics in the health-care system would bring the province in line with many other jurisdictions in Canada and abroad.

Federal government is in a tight fiscal environment, Freeland says ahead of health talks

A combination of a slowing global economy, rising inflation and rising interest rates is restricting the federal government's ability to take on new spending, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said Friday following a meeting with her provincial counterparts.

Canada's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland attends a news conference about the fall economic statement in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada November 3, 2022. REUTERS/Blair Gable

CANADA-BUDGET/

Canada's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland attends a news conference about the fall economic statement in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada November 3, 2022. Freeland said Friday that economic conditions are putting constraints on the federal government's ability to spend.

Trudeau pitches 10-year health-care deal with $46B in new spending

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Tuesday the government is prepared to increase health-care spending by an eye-popping $196.1 billion over the next decade — a cash injection the government is pitching as a generational fix for an ailing system.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Canada's premiers in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023 in Ottawa.

Trudeau Premiers 20230207

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has offered Canada’s premiers a deal that would increase health funding to provinces and territories by $196.1 billion over 10 years, including $46.2 billion in new funding. But some premiers are underwhelmed with the amount.

Trudeau pitches nearly $200-billion deal to fix Canadian health care

PM and premiers haggle over billions — but the future of health care needs more than money

The provinces couldn't reasonably have imagined they would get what they asked for. And the question of which level of government covers what share of the cost of public health care may not be the most important issue facing health care in Canada right now.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic driving up surgical wait times, there's some evidence suggesting a growing number of Canadians are pulling out their wallets to pay privately. 

Are private clinics the solution to Canada's health-care crisis?

More Stories Like This