Emergency Care — Ontario
Sourced from Canadian federal statutes and official sources. Provincial information reflects each province's own legislation and court rulings. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
Canadian emergency departments triage by medical urgency, not by your ability to pay or your status. The standard tool is the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) — a 5-level rank from Level 1 (resuscitation) to Level 5 (non-urgent). The scale is the reason someone who arrived after you may be seen first.
If you're uninsured, you'll still be treated. Billing happens afterwards. Don't let the worry about cost keep you out of the ER.
Quebec is the one province with a statutory duty to rescue — under the Quebec Charter, people are required to help someone in serious danger. Everywhere else, professional codes of ethics prohibit physicians and nurses from abandoning patients in active need.
Hospitals may transfer you to a better-equipped facility if your condition needs specialised care that's elsewhere.
When does it apply?
- Everyone who presents at a hospital ER, regardless of citizenship, residency, insurance, or ability to pay.
What to Do If a Canadian Hospital Refuses Emergency Treatment
- Go to the nearest ER or call 911 for anything life-threatening.
- Bring the health card if you have it, but don't delay over it.
- Be honest about your symptoms. Triage works on what you say, not what they guess.
- If you get worse waiting, tell triage immediately. The CTAS level can be reassessed.
- Uninsured? Sort billing after. Cost is not a reason to skip emergency care.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't avoid the ER for lack of a card. You'll be treated.
- Don't leave without being seen if your condition is serious. Patient-against-advice departures show up in records.
- Don't use the ER for non-urgent care. Walk-in clinics and family doctors handle minor things faster.
- Don't argue with triage about wait times. The order is medical, not first-come — and arguing rarely speeds it up.
How Ontario differs from federal law
Ontario hospitals cannot turn away patients who need emergency care, regardless of ability to pay or insurance status. This is a core principle of Ontario's healthcare system.
- Ontario's Public Hospitals Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.40 requires hospitals to provide emergency care. Emergency departments must assess and treat all patients based on medical need.
- Triage is used to prioritize patients. The Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) is the standard used in Ontario emergency departments — you are seen based on the severity of your condition, not the order of arrival.
- If you have OHIP, emergency hospital care is covered at no cost to you. If you do not have OHIP (e.g., during the 3-month waiting period or as an undocumented person), you will still receive emergency treatment but may be billed afterward.
- Ambulance services in Ontario are managed by municipalities and the province. If you call 911 for an ambulance, there is a $45 co-payment for OHIP-covered patients (or $240 if the ambulance was deemed medically unnecessary). Patients on Ontario Works or ODSP may be exempt.
- Ontario's Patient Ombudsman can investigate complaints about emergency care at public hospitals.
Additional Steps in Ontario
Call 911 for life-threatening emergencies. For non-urgent medical advice, call Health811 (formerly Telehealth Ontario) — a free, 24/7 service staffed by registered nurses who can advise you on whether to go to the ER, a walk-in clinic, or see your family doctor. If you have a complaint about your emergency care, contact the hospital's patient relations department first, then the Patient Ombudsman at patientombudsman.ca.
Relevant Law: Public Hospitals Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.40; Ambulance Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. A.19; Excellent Care for All Act, 2010, S.O. 2010, c. 14
Common Questions
What is the emergency care right in Canada?
Canadian emergency departments triage by medical urgency, not by your ability to pay or your status. The standard tool is the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) — a 5-level rank from Level 1 (resuscitation) to Level 5 (non-urgent). The scale is the reason someone who arrived after you may be seen first.If you're uninsured, you'll still be treated. Billing happens afterwards. Don't let the worry about cost keep you out of the ER.Quebec is the one province with a statutory duty to rescue — under the Quebec Charter, people are required to help someone in serious danger. Everywhere else, prof...
When does emergency care apply?
Everyone who presents at a hospital ER, regardless of citizenship, residency, insurance, or ability to pay.
What should I do if a hospital in Canada refuses to treat me in an emergency because I have no insurance?
Go to the nearest ER or call 911 for anything life-threatening.Bring the health card if you have it, but don't delay over it.Be honest about your symptoms. Triage works on what you say, not what they guess.If you get worse waiting, tell triage immediately. The CTAS level can be reassessed.Uninsured? Sort billing after. Cost is not a reason to skip emergency care.
What mistakes should I avoid with emergency care?
Don't avoid the ER for lack of a card. You'll be treated.Don't leave without being seen if your condition is serious. Patient-against-advice departures show up in records.Don't use the ER for non-urgent care. Walk-in clinics and family doctors handle minor things faster.Don't argue with triage about wait times. The order is medical, not first-come — and arguing rarely speeds it up.
Emergency Care in other states
Same topic, different jurisdiction. Pick the one that applies to you.