Leah Casselman responds to a Toronto Star editorial defending the Local Health
Integration Networks.
March 15, 2006
To The Editor:
At the end of the CBC mini-series Prairie Giant, Tommy Douglas warns that
Medicare would be challenged by those who claim we can’t afford it. He points
out that, yes, health care is expensive, but adding a return on investment to
shareholders doesn’t make it any less expensive.
On March 11 the Star editorial made one more pitch on behalf of the
government’s Local Health Integration Networks, claiming they are necessary
because of rising costs. Like Tommy, we wonder how, under this scheme, adding a
new layer of bureaucracy and more for-profit delivery are going to make it any
less expensive?
The Liberal government’s rhetoric has portrayed the Local Health Integration
Networks in a manner that is inconsistent with the content of the legislation.
The biggest deception is the suggestion that the government is transferring real
power to the local level.
The LHINs are now admitting that they are anything but local, scrambling to
deal with diverse needs over vast regions. The Central East LHIN, for example,
means one board makes decisions affecting residents from Haliburton to
Scarborough. That’s not local.
Secondly, the biggest shift in power in this reorganization is not to the
local level, but to Queen’s Park. Lawyers Brian D. Mulroney and Susan Sorenson
of Borden Ladner Gervais wrote: “… the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and
the Lieutenant Governor in Council have kept for themselves, the substantive
powers and responsibilities needed by the LHINs to truly achieve a
transformation of the provincial health care system.” Other law firms examining
the legislation have come to similar conclusions.
Thirdly, these LHIN boards are appointed by government, not elected by local
communities. Many of the present appointees have hefty Liberal credentials.
Regardless of party affiliation, should any board member differ with the
minister of health, they can be easily removed at the minister’s pleasure.
The Star says the LHINs are “little known or understood by most residents,”
yet will “have profound impact on the lives of every Ontarian.” We couldn’t
agree more.
Every Ontarian should look a little deeper and see this reorganization for
what it is: yet another assault on our Medicare system.
Leah Casselman President, OPSEU
