Research report · September 2026
Not Adding Up
Surgical and Diagnostic Privatization in Ontario
More public money is going to for-profit care. Are patients getting faster access?
Andrew Longhurst · Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Andrew Longhurst and Michael Hurley at the Queen’s Park, Toronto, September 28, 2026
Bringing the research to communities across Ontario
On September 28, 2026, the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions/CUPE launched a province-wide press conference tour at Queen’s Park to share new research on the expansion of for-profit surgical and diagnostic services in Ontario.
The launch featured report author Andrew Longhurst, senior researcher and political economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, and Michael Hurley, president of OCHU/CUPE.
The tour brings the findings to local media and communities, highlighting what rising payments to for-profit providers mean for wait times, public hospital capacity and access to care.
Annual payments reached $674 million
Public payments to for-profit surgical and medical imaging facilities increased by 48% between 2017–18 and 2024–25.
Original Figure 2 · Not Adding Up, page 16 · Includes ICHSCs and private hospitals
For-profit funding is growing faster
For 2022–23 through 2024–25, average annual funding growth was 22.8% for for-profit surgical facilities, compared with 4.9% for public hospitals.
Original Figure 3 · Not Adding Up, page 19 · Percentages measure average annual growth
Wait-time results
Median waits, 2017 compared with 2025.
MRI SCANS
35 → 47
days
CATARACT SURGERY
67 → 68
days
Eight of 12 procedures had longer waits. Hip and knee replacement median waits decreased.
Why it matters
Higher costs for public funds
The report cites Ontario evidence of outsourced cataract surgeries costing more than twice as much as public hospital delivery.
Risks to equal access
46 of 147 unlawful extra-billing and user-fee contraventions recorded from 2023 to 2025 involved cataracts or other eye procedures.
A stronger public system is the way forward
Stop expanding privatization
End the expansion of for-profit surgeries and medical imaging.
Fund public hospital capacity
Increase funding and staffing to make better use of existing facilities.
Improve access to public care
Expand centralized wait lists, single-entry referrals and team-based care.
