My Canadian father-in-law had to wait over a year before being able to see a neurologist about his suspected Parkinsons symptoms. Fortunately, he's well off enough that he was able to afford medical treatment in another country, but many people trapped in such systems are not.
Just to share a perspective from someone who used to live in New York… I had what I suspected was a mild concussion with some annoying symptoms at the time. I could see a neurologist within 3 days IF my schedule was flexible (it was not). I ended up getting seen 10 days later.
Half of my work colleagues received health care abroad. Wait times in Quebec are insane. Yes, constant joint pain may be not 'life threatening' yet degrades quality of life significantly. Basically if you are not actively dying you can't get access to healthcare in Quebec.
