![\"Shirley](\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/nexus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/0301-cd-healthcoalition-e1646090829418.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&h=216\")
<\/picture>\nElliott, who was announcing a plan to resume surgeries at the time, said the government was \u201cmaking sure that we can let independent health facilities operate\u201d and mentioned \u201cprivate hospitals.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, the spokesperson for the minister said the government \u201cis committed to supporting the province\u2019s public health-care system.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe use or function of private hospitals and independent health facilities in Ontario is not being expanded or changed,\u201d Alexandra Hilkene said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cMinister Elliott\u2019s comments were in reference to the gradual resumption of previously scheduled non-urgent surgeries and procedures that were delayed as part of \u2018Directive #2\u2019 at public hospitals, as well as existing independent health facilities and private hospitals in Ontario.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe recognize the impact the delay of certain surgeries and procedures has had on patients. These facilities perform publicly (OHIP) funded procedures and will ensure patients can access the health care they need when they need it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roebuck acknowledged Elliott had clarified some of her comments, but said \u201cher words are pretty confusing and jumbled with her statement that she didn\u2019t say she wanted to privatize health care.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n \u201cThe problem is somebody has got to fix it and it\u2019s going to be up to us, the voters,\u201d said Roebuck, referring to a provincial election in June.<\/p>\n Katha Fortier, who oversees Unifor\u2019s health-care division, said public hospitals are in a \u201ccrisis,\u201d but putting more funding towards private health care turns the system \u201con its head.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey steal resources from the public system and make the public system even worse,\u201d Fortier, also the assistant to Unifor\u2019s national president, said. \u201cThey are not magically going to create nurses and all of the \u2026 people that you need to perform surgeries. They\u2019re going to take them out of our public system.\u201d<\/p>\n Speakers at the press conference also brought up the government\u2019s funding of more beds for private long-term care homes as a concern in light of what these facilities have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n A study released by the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table in January 2021 determined for-profit long-term care homes had 78 per cent more resident deaths than non-profit facilities during the pandemic\u2019s first two waves.<\/p>\n