French Language Health Services

French Language Health Planning Entities under the Connecting Care Act, 2019

On April 1, 2021, a new regulation under Section 44 of the Connecting Care Act, 2019 (O. Reg 211/21), came into effect to support coordinated and effective engagement of French-speaking communities on French language health services issues. This regulation outlines how the Minister, in consultation with Ontario Health, is to select French language health planning entities (FHLPEs) to work with Ontario Health. The regulation also sets out the duties of Ontario Health for engaging and collaborating with the FHLPEs.

Ontario Health shall engage the French language health planning entities. The entities will advise Ontario Health on:

• the methods of engaging the French-speaking community in the area;
• the health needs and priorities of the French-speaking community in the area, including the needs and priorities of diverse groups within that community;
• the health services available to the French-speaking community in the area;
• the identification and designation of health service providers for the provision of French language health services in the area;
• the strategies to improve access to, accessibility of and integration of French language health services in the local health system; and
• the planning for and integration of health services in the area