Skip to content
Facebook LinkedIn Youtube
Ontario chamber of commerce logo.
  • Advocacy
    • Campaign Trail & Advocacy Updates – 2025 Federal Election
    • Ontario Competes
    • Our Publications
    • Ontario Economic Report
    • Ontario’s Mining Future 2030
    • Artificial Intelligence Hub
    • Economic Reconciliation Initiative
    • Housing Affordability Initiative
    • Policy Brief Series
  • Councils
  • Events
    • Advocacy Day
    • Annual General Meeting
    • Ontario Business Achievement Awards
    • Ontario Business Advisory Council
    • Ontario Economic Summit
    • Smart Growth Symposium
    • Webinars
  • Programs
    • Seeding Digital Skills
    • Skills Bridge
    • Talent Opportunities Program
    • Export and Trade
  • Membership
    • Affinity Programs
  • News
    • Media Releases
    • Policy Updates
    • Blogs
  • About
    • Contact
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • Employment
    • Strategic Plan
A magnifying glass icon on a white background.
x
x
  • Advocacy
    • Campaign Trail & Advocacy Updates – 2025 Federal Election
    • Ontario Competes
    • Our Publications
    • Ontario Economic Report
    • Ontario’s Mining Future 2030
    • Artificial Intelligence Hub
    • Economic Reconciliation Initiative
    • Housing Affordability Initiative
    • Policy Brief Series
  • Councils
  • Events
    • Advocacy Day
    • Annual General Meeting
    • Ontario Business Achievement Awards
    • Ontario Business Advisory Council
    • Ontario Economic Summit
    • Smart Growth Symposium
    • Webinars
  • Programs
    • Seeding Digital Skills
    • Skills Bridge
    • Talent Opportunities Program
    • Export and Trade
  • Membership
    • Affinity Programs
  • News
    • Media Releases
    • Policy Updates
    • Blogs
  • About
    • Contact
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • Employment
    • Strategic Plan
A man is riding a bike on a hill.

“Ontario Is Ready for Health Transformation”: New Study

COVID-19 Information Tariff Resources
Navigating U.S. Tariffs Shop Local
Become a Member
Become a Member >
Facebook LinkedIn Youtube

Media Release

“Ontario Is Ready for Health Transformation”: New Study

March 15, 2016

Ontario Chamber of Commerce Leading Conversation about Patient-Focused Health Care 80% of Province Ready for “Broad Reform”

Toronto ON, March 15 2016: In a landmark report released today, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has outlined an opportunity to bring real and meaningful change to Ontario’s health care system. The report, Transformation through Value and Innovation: Revitalizing Health Care in Ontario, coincides with new survey data showing that the province is ready for health care modernization and service delivery reform.

According to a poll released within the report, 77 percent of Ontarians are concerned about the sustainability of their health care system, and 80 percent agree with the statement that “Ontario’s health care system will need to undergo broad reform in order to meet the challenges of changing demographics”.

“Our single-payer health care system has long been a source of pride to Ontarians, as it should be,” said Allan O’Dette, President & CEO of the OCC. “But due to demographic shifts and economic challenges, funding that system is becoming an increasing source of concern. Health spending in Ontario represents almost half the provincial budget and as our population ages, it is projected that health care costs to government, individuals, and employers will grow well beyond sustainable levels.”

The report marks the beginning of the OCC’s year-long Health Transformation Initiative, which will convene expert stakeholders and industry leaders to develop a blueprint for the future of sustainable health care in Ontario – including an opportunity for a partnership with the private sector within the single- payer model.

While three quarters of Ontarians believe that the provincial healthcare system delivers better outcomes than those of comparable jurisdictions, international health research firm The Commonwealth Fund recently ranked Canada’s health system 10th out of 11 industrialized nations.

“Ontario is ready for health transformation,” said O’Dette. “Canadians have a genuine fear of what they perceive as ‘American-style’ health care, but this ignores both the considerable share of health coverage already delivered by the private sector as well as the integral role of industry in other countries with a single-payer model, like the UK and Australia. When it comes to health care, we must work collaboratively across industry sectors and institutions in order to build a system that is sustainable for generations to come.”

This report comes at a time when system change is being considered, as the federal and provincial governments are on the cusp of re-negotiating the health accords. The Ontario government has also indicated its new priorities for an innovative, patient-first system, including the creation of the Office of the Chief Health Innovation Strategist and naming the province’s first Patient Advocate.

Change is both welcome and necessary, as Ontario’s population is aging rapidly and increasingly suffering from chronic illnesses, while seeking new and costly medical innovations. This is contributing to unsustainable growth in government health costs that are being managed by artificially limiting spending, rather than increasing efficiency or value. Meanwhile, access to care is not uniform across geographic or population needs. On top of this, Ontario’s health and life sciences sector is encumbered by a lack of capital and too few opportunities to bring their innovations to market in their own province.

In response to this, the OCC will release a series of reports in 2016 which will outline how Ontario can improve health outcomes, address fiscal challenges, and leverage untapped economic opportunity in the health sector.

**Results from a survey of 1004 Ontarians conducted on behalf of the OCC by Leger, between February 22 and 25, 2016. The margin of error for this sample is 3.1%, 19 times out of 20.**

-30-

Learn more about the OCC.

Media Contact:

Michelle Kelly
Senior Communications Advisor
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
e. michellekelly@occ.ca
t. 416.482.5222 ext. 2410

Previous

Prioritize Ontario’s Economy in the Federal Budget: Ontario Chamber of Commerce

Next

‘Back to Balance’ In Sight, But Business Community Must Continue to be Part of the Solution: Ontario Chamber of Commerce

Follow Us

Facebook LinkedIn Youtube

Site Nav

  • Advocacy
  • Events
  • Programs
  • Membership
  • News
  • About
  • Contact

Receive Updates

Subscribe to our mailing list and stay up to date on everything with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce

Subscribe Now
PREMIER MEMBERS
A purple and green logo on a black background. Atkins reals logo on a white background. A green logo on a black background. A teal color with a white background. A blue and green logo with a cross in the middle. A blue bell logo on a white background. Rbc bank of canada logo. A blue and white logo with a black background. A blue and gray logo with a blue and gray background. Chambers of commerce group insurance plan logo. Rr america logo on a black background. The cn logo on a black background. Canadian fuels association logo. A logo with a red, orange, and yellow background. Mccarthy tetrault logo on an orange background. The meridian logo on a black background. A black and white photo of a man and a woman. A blue and red logo with the word mcdonald's. Bruce power innovation at work logo. The logo for the ontario medical association. The power corporation of canada logo. The lily logo on a black background. Fresh intelligence logo on a black background. A colorful logo with the word mcdonald's on it. A black and yellow logo with a yellow arrow. Waste Connections of Canada A blue logo with the word cogeco on it. A blue and orange logo with the number 5 on it. The canadian maple leaf logo on a black background. A logo with an orange and black background. Imperial Oil logo A logo with a red and gray background. GSK's logo The university of cleveland college of business and economics logo. The logo for luna feel the power. A red and black logo on a black background. Tln media group logo. 404 etr express rail route logo. The logo for astrezeca. Biomarin logo on a black background. The logo for the board of canadian registered safety professionals. A green, blue, and yellow logo. A blue and white logo with a blue background. Magna logo on a black background. Pfizer logo Servicenow logo on a black background. Canada life logo on a black background. Northbridge insurance logo on a black background. A green logo with the word mnp. Tc energy logo on a white background. Destination northern ontario logo. The interac logo with a hand on it. A thin red line on a black background. The cadillac fairview logo. Meta logo. Beer canada logo on a white background. Cibc logo with a canadian maple leaf. The logo for port montreal. The federation of rental housing providers of ontario logo. The logo for bennett jones. Kpmg logo on a white background. Agnico eagle logo. The logo for colleges colleges ontario. Leger 360

Ontario Chamber of Commerce © 2025 | Privacy Policy | Service Standard | Career Opportunities
The OCC is an accredited chamber of commerce