Call for an improved and inclusive online renewal system for health cards

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

As it stands, the OHIP card’s online renewal service is only available to those who hold an Ontario driver’s licence. People who do not hold a driver’s licence are expected to do the renewal in person despite having all the necessary documents. Not even the Ontario photo ID 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 therefore ask 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.

Will you sign?

PETITION TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

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

WHEREAS the Ontario health card online renewal service is limited to only Ontario residents with a valid Ontario driver’s licence and not other normally accepted forms of government identification, such as the Ontario Photo card, and

WHEREAS this restriction prevents Ontarians who do not drive from renewing their health card online, in particular people with specific disabilities that prevent them from driving, and

WHEREAS the Ontario Photo card provides similar residency information as a driver’s licence, and

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

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