For Immediate Release:
August 10, 2010
Today, Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak and Ontario PC Health Critic Christine Elliott called for a full review of the recent health care cuts imposed by Dalton McGuinty´s Hamilton – Niagara – Haldimand – Brant (HNHB) LHIN, after an investigation by Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin confirmed that the LHIN made these decisions through a “secret” and “plainly illegal” process. The LHIN closed emergency rooms in Niagara.
In light of the Ombudsman´s finding that the “illegal bylaw” used by the LHIN had to be copied by Dalton McGuinty´s 13 other regional health care bureaucracies, Hudak and Elliott also repeated their call that Dalton McGuinty honour his legal commitment to hold a full legislative review of every LHIN bureaucracy, which is he secretly cancelled in the 2010 Ontario Budget papers.
The Ontario PC Caucus has uncovered waste, untendered contracts and bloated salaries at the LHINs across Ontario. To date, the LHINs have squandered $200 million health care dollars on salaries and administration while mismanaging a $250 million Aging at Home strategy for Ontario seniors. Hudak repeated his commitment that, as Premier, he will eliminate McGuinty´s LHIN bureaucracies and reinvest this money into frontline patient care.
“The Ombudsman has confirmed that Dalton McGuinty´s second term rot has set in deep at the LHINs. In a time of scarce health care dollars we cannot afford this kind of waste anymore. That is why, if I am elected Premier, I will eliminate Dalton McGuinty´s bloated LHIN bureaucracies – and reinvest this money into public frontline patient care”. Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak
“The Ombudsman today proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Dalton McGuinty allowed the LHINs to ignore their legislated responsibility to consult with the public before imposing drastic cuts on local frontline health care services. Dalton McGuinty and his LHIN appointees have run out of excuses – all of their health care cuts must be revisited right away.” Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak
Ombudsman Andre Marin´s report said the following:
“While the LHIN may have been well-intentioned in holding its ´education´ sessions, these meetings were plainly illegal.”
“The LHIN´s apparent failure to grasp the significant of its transgressions – and its reluctance to alter its practice – do not bode well for the integrity of its decision-making in the future.”
“Despite its lip service to the principle of transparency, the Ministry is not fully committed to openness with respect to the LHIN process.”
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For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at
(519) 428-0446 or (905)-765-8413, 1-800-903-8629