LHIN Emergency: Health Care Chaos
LHIN Emergency !
Urgent notice
Bill 36, the LHINs legislation, passed third and
final reading on Wednesday, March 1st. This does NOT mean that the fight
is over. Demonstrations organized by the Ontario Health Coalition will
continue March 2 and 3rd.
Click here for details.(note: this link will take you to an
external site - a new browser window will be open)
March 15, 2006
Leah Casselman responds to a Toronto Star editorial defending the Local
Health Integration Networks.
February 23, 2006
Submission by Brendan Kilcline, Hospital Professionals Division
Executive (Kingston) to the Standing Committee on Social Policy, re:
Bill 36 (LHINs) .pdf
February 21, 2006
NEWS RELEASE Government throwing health care into crisis as LHIN
legislation to be brought forward
February 20, 2006
Members of OPSEU’s Hospital Professionals Division demonstrate against the
LHINs at Health Minister George Smitherman’s office Feb. 17
February 15, 2006 LHIN protests
in 38-plus cities across Ontario.
February 13, 2006
Brenda Clapp, Local 710 .pdf
February 7, 2006
Doris Meredith Local 720 Thunder Bay .pdf
February 7,
2006 OPSEU calls for amendments to Bill 36 (LHINs Act) in a
62-page submission to the government's Standing Committee on Social
Policy. .pdf
February 6, 2006 More submissions to the
Standing Committee on Social Policy on Bill 36 (LHINs) .pdf
Sue McSheffrey,
Local 481
CarolAnn Bolton, Local 345
February. 4, 2006 Legitimate worries about health network plan:
Contracting out, private care among concerns Toronto Star
February 3, 2006 News
Release McGuinty should reconsider controversial LHIN
appointment, says OPSEU - Proof LHINs not local
February 3, 2006
OPSEU members in Thunder Bay join coalition partners in protest. View
photo.
February 3, 2006
OPSEU President Leah Casselman responds to Health Minister
Smitherman’s letter in the London Free Press commenting on the legislative
committee hearings in London.
February 2, 2006 More legislative committee
submissions on Bill 36:
.pdf
Jill McIllwraith, Local 260 London
Marlene Rivier, Local 479 Ottawa
Gavin
Anderson, Local 480 Kingston
Ann Steadman, Local 145 Sarnia
February 1, 2006 More
submissions to the committee hearings on the LHINs.
Patty Rout,
Chair, OPSEU Health Care Divisional Council. .pdf
Ron Elliot, RVP, Region 1 (in
London) .pdf
January 30, 2006 Read
Leah Casselman’s presentation to the standing committee
hearings on Bill 36 .pdf
January 6, 2006 Emergency Health
care meeting schedule and meeting announcements for each
community.
December 7, 2005 More than 1,200 people attended a public
meeting in Ajax to protest the planned Dec. 14 closure of pediatric
and obstetric services at the local hospital – a foreshadowing of
things to come under the Liberal Local Health Integration Networks.
View photo and story.
November 24, 2005 News Conference: Four major health care
unions say flawed Liberal plan will create health care chaos
February 25, 2005 Transit shelter ads: LHINs, layoffs and the home care crisis are featured in these ads, on display in transit shelters in 15 major Ontario communities. OPSEU Print ads: "Will we still be there to help" -- OPSEU health care workers facing layoff due to Liberal policies.
(see ads in right column)
February 11, 2005 Member meeting timetable update: LHINs meetings across Ontario .pdf
Local Health Integration Networks, Layoffs, and Managed Competition -- OPSEU fights back
Last summer, the Liberal cabinet quietly approved a plan to create 14 regional Local Health Integration Networks (LHIN). Unelected LHINs may replace CCACs, district health councils, public health units and Ministry regional offices. This could lead to increased competition for scarce
funds, and job losses; while allowing politicians to avoid responsibility for funding decisions, more uncertainty in the health care system and more profit-driven health care delivery.
The LHINs will be unaccountable. When vital services are lost to a community, the Minister of Health will be able to wash his hands of the decision.
Meanwhile, the Liberals are creating chaos in health care:
- Health Minister George Smitherman has announced that hospitals must present balanced budgets. The hospitals responded by announcing layoffs of experienced front line staff.
- Smitherman suggested that health care support workers (who he once called the heroes of SARS) are overpaid.
- The Liberals continue the costly Tory practice of contracting out home care. Managed competition has seriously compromised therapy for patients receiving care at home.
- Our mental health system continues to erode, with bed closures and inadequate community support.
OPSEU is launching an advertising campaign that asks Dalton McGuinty to keep his promises to improve health care. Our radio ads start Jan. 17 in most Ontario communities, with newspaper and transit ads to run in early February.
We will also be holding meetings across the province to inform our members about the coming changes to health care.
OPSEU wants to ensure regional reorganization (LHINs) does not create more chaos and instability in health care. Employment stability means better patient care. We must keep active
You can help. Click on the links on this campaign page to send a letter to your MPP (see list of questions to ask on this site) send a letter to the editor, or sign a petition. If you have information that might help OPSEU, please contact dcox@opseu.org
