Local Health Integration Networks
 

Response to George Smitherman Letter Re: Standing Committee Hearings on LHINs

London Free Press – sent Feb. 2, 2006

Editor:

After reading the bizarre attack by Health Minister George Smitherman (Letters, Feb. 2) on your reporter and on critics of the Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs), one wonders if he actually read the transcripts of the hearings.

The London hearing was actually held Tuesday, not Monday. Of the 30 submissions – including First Nations groups, disability groups, and many other health providers -- 28 opposed the LHINs. Yet Smitherman focused only on the union critics.

It was also interesting to hear the minister’s “I will not close hospitals” promise, the very week layoff notices were issued to 117 health care workers in London hospitals. We note Smitherman did not promise not to close hospital beds – or programs.

Smitherman says decisions will now be made “at the community level.” The 14 LHINs are so big, they serve the equivalent populations of Saskatchewan or Nova Scotia. The Southwest LHIN extends from Tobermory to Long Point. LHINs are not “local”, they’re huge.

Further, his claim that LHINs will not increase bureaucracy flies in the face of what we already know: LHIN boards are not elected, they’re political appointments, and Mr. Justice Gomery has told us what that can lead to. Smitherman has appointed a controversial CEO from Britain to head the Southwest LHIN (what, no qualified Canadians?). This fellow earns $230,000 a year to contract out our health care services to for-profit companies.

In the last election, Ontarians asked the Liberals to fix the health care system – not create more chaos and hardship for caregivers and their patients.

Sincerely,

Leah Casselman, President OPSEU