Research report
Ontario Hospital Privatization
Public hospital capacity remains underused while Ontario directs public funding toward private clinics
A report from the Ontario Health Coalition
Released September 15, 2026
Why it matters
Existing hospitals. Unused capacity. Patients still waiting
Ontario’s public hospitals already have operating rooms and diagnostic equipment that could serve more patients with adequate funding and staffing.
The Coalition argues that expanding these services could address backlogs without the delays involved in establishing new private facilities.
The findings
What the report found
Public hospital capacity is going unused
Hospitals reported that funding limits the hours they can operate MRI services and operating rooms.
Public hospital capacity is going unused
The Coalition reports delays in bidding and development, with many announced clinics still not operating.
Public hospital capacity is going unused
The large private clinic contracts examined are concentrated in southern urban centres
Public hospital capacity is going unused
The report documents concerns about user fees, extra-billing and queue jumping.
Why Choose Us
What does the report show about your community?
100
MRI machines studied
51
Public hospital corporations
MRI research scope · November 2025–September 2026
North East Central Peterborough, Kawarthas & Muskoka Toronto & GTA Hamilton / Niagara West
Ford must answer
Read the media release
A new Ontario Health Coalition report examines how the Ford government’s expansion of private clinics has affected communities across Ontario. It documents delays, higher costs and unequal access to care, while existing public hospital operating rooms and MRI capacity remain underused.
The Coalition argues that funding public hospitals to expand services could have addressed wait lists sooner. Instead, public money has supported new private facilities concentrated in southern urban centres, leaving rural and northern communities behind.
