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;
We the undersigned petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows: To instruct the Ontario government to immediately establish a timetable and a process for renewed negotiations concerning optometry fees.
