@phillybomber - in Canada you need a referral from your general physician to see any specialist. If the physician does not see a reason for you to see one, you don’t get the referral. Physician, of course, is only following government health plan guidelines. In Ontario there is a shortage of physicians so if you are not happy with one, you cannot find another.

I live in Ontario. My husband and I moved a two hour drive out of the city and here there is an even bigger scarcity of physicians and specialists. We have been without a physician here since we moved seven months ago because no physicians are taking new patients. Because of the shortage, they already have more patients than they can handle. My physician in the city is still willing to see me - only till I find one here - but I don’t drive, which makes it very inconvenient. She can do phone consults for an existing problem, but for a new one, I would have to make an appointment.