(Niagara At Large is posting the following media release on a call by Ontario’s New Democratic Party and its Welland Riding member Cindy Forster calling for a stop to expanding the power of controversial Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) until a promised review of them is completed.)
Queen’s Park– Ontario NDP MPP Cindy Forster called for moratorium on expanding LHIN powers before a delayed review of the legislation is completed.
Niagara's NDP MPP Cindy Forster, File photo by Doug Draper
“The Liberals promised a comprehensive review of the LHINs, but have delayed instead of delivered,” said Forster. “Giving the LHINs more power before conducting the promised review is reckless and irresponsible.”
The 2006 law creating the local health integration networks (LHINs) stipulated that a “comprehensive review” be completed by the Legislature by 2010. But in 2010, the Liberals changed the law to delay the review, which has yet to happen.
On Monday the Liberals signaled that LHINs will be given additional responsibilities over family doctors.
Forster, whose Welland riding includes a community where the emergency room was shut by the LHIN, said she hears regularly from families concerned about their local LHIN.
“Families don’t have to experience a loss of an emergency room to know there’s something wrong when an organization can restructure local health care services with little accountability,” said Forster. “It’s time to move ahead with this review.”
(We welcome you to share your views on this post. Please remember that we only post comments by people willing to share their real first and last names.)
Niagara At Large 
Scrap the LHINS. My middle name is Lynn, not LHIN ;-|)
LikeLike
Sorry Cindy — McGuinty doesn’t care what you think !!
His parliamentary puppets will vote any way he tells them to!!
That is why we must do away with the party system and institute recall to make the bunch accountable.
LikeLike
Well, considering what a great job the LHIN’s have done so far.. . . .of COURSE we want to give them expanded powers! (sarcasm intended) I haven’t spoken to any doctors about this yet, but as a patient, I think it’s scary.
LikeLike
The LHINS have a voracious appetite for our health dollars and it’s quest for more power, they remind me of those boa contrictors down in Florida everglades that are devouring everything that moves,.they are an unwanted intrusion into our health debate. they deliver nothing to our health system, they are a haven for McGuintys cronies.
LikeLike
“On Monday the Liberals signaled that LHINs will be given additional responsibilities over family doctors.”
This doesn’t sound like a step forward to me. Some bureaucrat with no medical or clinical training will be dictating to family docs?
LikeLike