Ontario wait times for priority surgeries rise, study says

A new study says wait times for most publicly funded priority surgeries and procedures in Ontario have increased between 2017 and 2025. The report, released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, found longer waits for MRI scans, cataract surgeries and cancer surgeries among 12 tracked procedures. The study says median MRI wait times rose from 35 days in 2017 to 47 days in 2025. It also found that the longest waits for some patients worsened sharply, especially for MRI and CT scans. Median wait times for cataract surgery and hip fracture repair rose slightly, while wait times for all cancer surgeries also increased. Researchers linked the findings to Ontario's shift toward more private clinics for publicly funded care, but Health Minister Sylvia Jones said the report does not reflect the reality of the health system. The debate adds to wider discussion in the province over whether expanding private delivery is reducing backlogs or increasing costs without improving access.