Because they think they are getting healthcare for free but you are paying a ton of taxes for it. Now I don't think the cabal of medical insurers and big pharma with their hands in everything is that great either but if I am suffering or have a potentially serious illness, I would like to be able to see a specialist and get tests done sometime before I drop dead. This idea that if I pay out of pocket for a service, I am somehow cheating a person who can't afford it out of that service is insane.

If doctor's can earn more by having private clinics, more people will become doctors. If the market demands more access to MRI's for instance, companies will make more MRI machines, more clinics will purchase them and more people will learn how to use them, maintain them etc. If I pay 1k to have an MRI done at a private clinic, that is one less person on the waiting list and the person who can't afford 1k moves up.

Public healthcare is so entrenched in the Canadian psyche that we are never going to just tear down the wall and have a free market. Need to slowly brick by brick change the system so people can learn "services x and y became optionally private and actually my access and services got better and it did not adversely effect those who could not afford to pay, maybe we should try z service as well."

I will leave it at that. Don't get me started on the public healthcare unions and their influence in politics. We will be here all day. Haha.