Peggy Sattler MPP, London West

Government of Ontario

Establish a Timeline for Optometry Negotiations

TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO:

WHEREAS the Ontario government has underfunded optometric eye care for 30 years;

AND WHEREAS optometrists now subsidize the delivery of OHIP-covered eye care by $173M a year;

AND WHEREAS COVID-19 forced optometrists to close their doors resulting in a 75%-plus drop in revenue;

AND WHEREAS optometrists will see patient volumes reduced between 40% and 60% resulting in more than two million comprehensive eye exams being wiped out over the next 12 months;

AND WHEREAS communities across Ontario are in danger of losing access to optometric care;

THEREFORE, we the undersigned petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to instruct the Ontario government to immediately establish a timetable and a process for renewed negotiations concerning optometry fees.

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