Peggy Sattler MPP, London West

Government of Ontario

Make Online Health Card Renewals Inclusive

I am calling the Ontario government to fix an important issue pertaining to Ontario health cards.

Ontario's online health card renewal service is only available to those who hold an Ontario driver’s licence. People who do not hold a driver’s licence are required to renew their card in person, and not even the Ontario Photo Card is accepted as sufficient documentation to renew the health card online.

This is very limiting for anyone who does not drive, including those who cannot drive due to disabilities.

I urge the Ontario government to make the OHIP card’s online renewal more inclusive by making it available to all eligible residents, including those who do not drive.

TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO:

WHEREAS the right to public health care, and to a health card, is a right for all Ontarians;

WHEREAS the Ontario health card online renewal service is limited to residents with a valid Ontario driver’s licence and not available to people with other normally accepted forms of government identification, such as the Ontario Photo Card, which provides similar residency information as a driver’s licence;

WHEREAS this prevents Ontarians who do not drive, including people with specific disabilities that prevent them from diving, from renewing their health card online; and

WHEREAS many Ontarians are making the decision not to get a driver’s licence in order to reduce their carbon footprint and explore greener, sustainable travel;

THEREFORE, we the undersigned petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to direct ServiceOntario to provide online health card renewal service to all eligible residents, including those who do not drive.

13 signatures