Concerned about the slippery slope of allowing private medical clinics in Ontario to do more, the Ontario Health Coalition is taking a 7 ft Teddy bear on the road.
It stopped in Windsor Friday morning, and in Chatham in the afternoon.
"The bear is a symbol of care and caring," says Coalition volunteer Peter Boyle. "It's a friendly little reminder that we can not bear to lose this system that we've had for one-third of Canada's history."
Universal healthcare in Canada celebrates 49 years on July 1.
The coalition is concerned right now about a court challenge in British Columbia that would allow private clinics to offer services offered in hospitals. As hospitals, across the country, cope with financial restraint, private clinics in many communities are offering more to patients, including here in southwestern Ontario.
"Yes, we have problems with the health care system... and we're trying to make them better all the time," says Boyle. "But when you start creating two tiers of the system, one for the rich and one for the rest of us, that's going to take away from what we've had for 50 years."
On Monday, the coalition will present the provincial government outlining how private clinics put an undue financial burden on Ontario residents. It's expected to point out how cataract surgery can cost up to $1,200, and hip surgery can put a patient $22,000 out of pocket.
Boyle also says the clinics pray on patients by having them undergo unnecessary tests and treatments.
"We want to make sure that in Ontario... makes these clinics follow the law, not overcharge seniors, not charge them what's not needed and give our system back to the people where it belongs," says Boyle.
- With files from Maureen Revait
