That if we allowed a two-tiered system in Canada, people who could afford to pay privately would leave the public system, reducing congestion and wait times for the rest of us. It sounded logical… until I got sick. Until I was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer and found myself relying on the very system I once thought needed “competition” to improve.

Now, I see how dangerous that story really is.

Let’s be clear: in Canada, health care is provincially administered but federally funded. And right now, we’re seeing a troubling trend: provinces slowly opening the door to privatization—quietly, sometimes under the radar, sometimes loudly—undermining the core of our universal system.

Some are even flirting with medical tourism, inviting people from other provinces to jump the queue—if they can pay. Why wait with your impoverished neighbors for that new hip if there’s money in the bank or you can take on more debt right? That’s not innovation. That’s erosion. Erosion of a system meant to serve all of us, based on need, not wealth.

Here’s the real issue: it’s not that health care is too expensive or it needs private subsidy—it’s that we don’t have enough people to provide it. Doctors, nurses, specialists—our system is stretched thin. And when private clinics start competing for those same health care workers, we all lose. It’s not just unsustainable—it’s unethical.

And while governments argue over funding and models, the real solutions get ignored:

• Invest in early detection and preventative care—because catching disease early saves lives and money.

• Build wraparound community care—so people can access support before their only option is the ER.

• Address the social determinants of health—poverty, education, housing, nutrition, addiction. They’re not “soft” issues; they’re foundational.

• Expand universal pharmacare and dental care—which we’re finally starting to see working for Canadians thanks to the Federal Liberal and NDP parties working together for Canadians. These programs are not luxuries. When people can’t afford their medications or dental work, their health deteriorates and the system bears the cost later. Universal access saves money and saves lives.

Yes, these programs come with a price tag today. But the price of doing nothing—or worse, selling off parts of our system to the highest bidder—is far greater in the long run.

We need to stop thinking in election cycles and start thinking in generational impact. Politicians may not like long-term investments that don’t deliver quick wins, but Canadians deserve leadership that looks beyond the next vote.

The truth is simple: privatization is a distraction. A dangerous, slippery slope. The more we focus on it, the less we focus on real, sustainable solutions. And the longer we delay, the harder it becomes to fix what’s broken.

Let’s not abandon a system that works when it’s properly supported. Let’s fight to make it better. Not just for people like me, but for everyone. This is Canada, the value of your health and your life should never be determined by your bank balance.