Hour 2 of Ottawa Now for Thurs. July 3rd, 2025

The Ford government says it would like to see up to 20,000 more orthopedic surgeries – such as hip and knee replacements – performed at private surgical centres across Ontario. This targeted timeline, for those curious, is over the next 2 years. And as of today, the call for applications to open those new surgical centres has begun, as the province will provide $125 million to make it happen. Accreditation Canada will serve as the final seal of approval – the same body that establishes quality standards for hospitals. MPP Adil Shamji, an E.R. physician and the Ontario Liberals’ Health Critic, says the government should only be outsourcing medical procedures from hospitals to not-for-profit clinics. Otherwise, we could be providing a ‘wild, wild, West’ for any vendor to perform their practices. He joins Kristy Cameron in Hour 2. And in local entertainment news, the multi-year wait finally ends tonight, as the Hard Rock Casino opens its doors to the general public! CFRA’s Chris Holski delivers a quick preview of the Opening Night festivities.