It may have changed, but it used to be standard not to.
I remember a news article from about 15 years ago where doctors at a Vancouver hospital were unhappy about it. Not because they were treating the sick traveler for free, but because some stupid regulation meant that he had to remain in an ER bed rather than moving him to a normal hospital bed and freeing the space for anyone else who might need it.
Most (all that I am aware of) health facilities here in Toronto will charge you before you get service unless you can prove you have coverage in the province. So yes Americans who are visiting will be charged for health services.
Healthcare in Canada is done by province -- there isn't a national system, just 10 different ones that have to comply with a federal mandate. They're all a little different.
That said, as an American in Alberta I can confirm for sure that they'll make you pay up front here too.
Cost out of pocket was much, much lower than it would be in the US, but certainly not trivial.
It may have changed, but it used to be standard not to.
I remember a news article from about 15 years ago where doctors at a Vancouver hospital were unhappy about it. Not because they were treating the sick traveler for free, but because some stupid regulation meant that he had to remain in an ER bed rather than moving him to a normal hospital bed and freeing the space for anyone else who might need it.