TORONTO – The McGuinty government is taking an important step toward a more integrated health care system and better patient care by giving new powers to 14 Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs). If passed, the legislation introduced today will give LHINs the tools they need to plan, co-ordinate and fund health care services in their communities, announced Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman.

"Our health care system is a $33 billion operation, and you can’t run an operation that big from head office," Smitherman said. "This bill would allow decisions about how health services are delivered to be made locally, and it would allow local communities to participate in this conversation. We’re moving toward a system that is accountable and equitable, and where decisions would be made with patients in mind."

LHINs are designed to plan, integrate and fund local health services – including hospitals, community care access centres, home care, long-term care, mental health, community health centres as well as addiction and community support services – in an effective and transparent manner. The networks would allow local communities and health care providers to work together to identify local priorities, plan local health services, and deliver them in a more coordinated fashion. The province would continue to set strategic directions and provincial standards for high quality, accessible health care.

LHINs would not be providers of direct services. Ontario’s model would respect the governance of the existing health care organizations.

«This is another positive step forward for Ontario's important leadership in health care reform,» said Roy Romanow, former Royal Commissioner on the future of health care in Canada. «Proper health care reform must be integrated - not piecemeal - and the LHIN legislation is part of the kind of collaborative systems change and integration needed if patients are to feel the full benefits of reform.»

«The best decisions about the delivery of health services are those made locally. I see that every day,» said Frances Lankin, President, United Way of Greater Toronto. «This legislation would give communities the power to make their own decisions about their future, and I applaud that.»

«Community-based care reflects the needs of each community and is best planned, co-ordinated and funded in an integrated manner in that community,» said David Naylor, President of the University of Toronto and former Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. «LHINs would engage their communities to involve Ontarians in a broad conversation and debate about their health care.»

This initiative is part of the McGuinty government's plan to build a health care system that delivers on three priorities - keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.

For further information :

To contact LHIN CEOs and Chairs, please call 1 (866) 571-7036

Members of the general public : 1-888-779-7767

Backgrounder LHIN Endorsements 2 pages | 29k | PDF format

Backgrounder McGuinty Government Introduces Legislation to Address Local Health Care Needs 3 pages | 46k | PDF format

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