From Non-Compliance to Open Defiance: Doug Ford Fails to Meet Deadline to Publicly Fund Nurse Practitioners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

01 April 2026

QUEEN’S PARK – Dr. Adil Shamji, Member of Provincial Parliament for Don Valley East and Ontario Liberal Critic for Primary Care, delivered the following statement regarding Doug Ford’s failure to meet the federal deadline to publicly fund nurse practitioners:

After 8 long years under the Ford Conservative government, healthcare is struggling more than ever before – reeling from frequent ER closures, rampant hallway healthcare, and over 2 million people without a family doctor.

Even when measured against that horrific track record, today sets a new low as Ontario misses the April 1 deadline to fully fund nurse practitioners for medically necessary services and ban private billing. It is particularly shocking considering the Minister of Health has announced she will not be compliant until April 1, 2027 – one year from now. Until then, patients will be forced to continue paying with their credit card, instead of their OHIP card.

With the passage of this deadline, Sylvia Jones has gone from non-compliant with the Canada Health Act to openly defiant,” said Dr. Shamji. “It is simply not credible and frankly not believable that Ontario requires more time to prepare.

The federal order was issued 15 months ago. Separately, Shamji’s Keeping Primary Care Fair Act created a roadmap to close private billing and fund nurse practitioners 18 months ago, but the Conservatives voted no.

Ontario’s patients shouldn’t be forced to pay for medically necessary care by nurse practitioners just because Ford’s failed leadership couldn’t deliver a solution by April 1. And the law agrees: Section 13 of Ontario’s Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act states unauthorized charges must be reimbursed by the government.

Doug Ford and Sylvia Jones must stop defying the law and ensure medically necessary services provided nurse practitioners are fully funded, immediately. Until then, they must reimburse ever patient who is forced to pay a bill.