June 28, 2006

TORONTO– The McGuinty government has named the final 45 local community leaders who will sit on the province's 14 Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) boards, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.

The final wave of appointees includes 41 leaders who were nominated by their local communities following an extensive search that included 59 public information sessions in 46 cities across the province.

"These board members, nominated by their local communities, will help ensure that local interests are front and centre when plans and decisions are being made," said Smitherman. "LHINs will help to remove barriers to accessing care and will ensure that the appropriate level and type of care is delivered when it's needed, where it's needed."

LHINs are local health organizations that plan, integrate and fund local health services – including hospitals, community care access centres, home care, long-term care, mental health, community health centres, and addiction and community support services – for a specific geographic area.

Board chairs, founding board members and CEOs for the LHINs were announced in June, 2005. An additional 39 board members were announced in April, 2006. With today's announcement, all 14 LHIN boards now have a full complement of nine members.

"We're on the side of Ontario families who want the best health care," said Smitherman. "The skills and experience of these local leaders will be an invaluable resource to the LHINs as they strive to provide the very best locally directed health care possible."

This is just the latest example of how the McGuinty government is working to improve health care for Ontario families. Others include :

• The creation of 150 Family Health Teams, which will improve access to primary care for more than 2.5 million Ontarians in 112 communities
• Investing $117.8 million to improve home care and community support services
• Providing $75 million over three years to create an additional 22 Community Health Centres and 17 satellites to improve access to the full range of primary care services, including health promotion and disease prevention.

Today's initiative is part of the McGuinty government's plan for innovation in public health care, building a system that delivers on three priorities – keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.

For further information :

Members of the general public : (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154

BACKGROUNDERS

Central Local Health Integration Network

Central East Local Health Integration Network

Central West Local Health Integration Network

Champlain Local Health Integration Network

Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network

Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network

Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network

North East Local Health Integration Network

North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network

North West Local Health Integration Network

South East Local Health Integration Network

South West Local Health Integration Network

Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network

Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network

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