Local Health Integration Networks

UPDATE: Mounting Health Care Cuts

List of the Ford government health care cuts to date: ● Cut OHIP+ so families with sick children will have to seek private coverage first and pay deductibles and co-payments. (June 2018) ● Cut planned mental health funding by more than $330 million. (July 2018) ● Canceled all new planned overdose prevention sites. (Autumn 2018). […]

RELEASE: Ford Governments Health Cuts Negatively Impact Patient Care: Coalition Calls Out Ford Government for “Dissembling” and Lack of Public Accountability

(June 19, 2019) Toronto – In what the Health Coalition has termed a bad news day for Ontario’s health care, the Ford government revealed that it has eliminated more than 800 full-time equivalent positions in the LHINs (Local Health Integration Network) and in the six health care agencies (including Cancer Care Ontario, Health Quality Ontario, […]

List of local hospital and health services cuts/mergers/privatization:

Cut over 120 full time equivalent staff including nurses, health professionals and patient support staff from Sudbury’s Health Sciences North. After protests by the public and the Health Coalition some of the cuts were rolled back but significant cuts continued nonetheless. (November 2018) Privatized lab service, transcription, and patient transportation; outsourced microbiology testing and relocated […]

RELEASE: More than 10,000 Protest to tell Ford Government to stop health privatization, cuts

(April 30, 2019) Toronto –  They came from across Ontario in the middle of a work day by the thousands with a message for the Doug Ford government. From a stage in front of the Ontario Legislature Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition called on the crowd of more than 10,000 to […]

UPDATE: 13++ Reasons to Come to the Giant Health Care Rally!

April 29, 2019 Because Doug Ford made cuts to OHIP+ and families with sick children now need to seek private insurance and pay deductibles and co-payments on medications for their sick children. Because Doug Ford cut planned mental health funding by more than $330 million! Because Doug Ford canceled ALL new planned overdose prevention sites. […]

RELEASE: Unprecedented Health Action Day Calls on Doug Ford to Halt Health Privatization Plans

April 23, 2019 Toronto – For the first time, more than 150,000 health professionals, nurses, support workers, doctors and tens of thousands of patient advocates are joining together in a Health Action Day, unified in their deep concern that the Ford government intends unprecedented health care privatization.  In hospitals and other health facilities tens of […]

RELEASE: Ford’s ambulance and public health cuts and restructuring come with high costs, reduced services: Coalition warns

(April 17, 2019) Toronto – It has been done before and it resulted in enormous costs, not savings, and it compromised services. This was the message of the Ontario Health Coalition in reaction to the growing array of health care services that the Doug Ford government plans to restructure and cut. The Coalition released their tally […]

URGENT UPDATE: Undeniable signals Doug Ford intends major health care privatization

(April 16, 2019) Toronto – The signals that Doug Ford intends major health care privatization, restructuring and cuts have become undeniable: if you care about health care for all it is time to come out. Cuts: The Ontario Budget contains bad news for health care. Cuts are coming. Overall health funding increases are less than […]

Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliott obfuscate questions on health privatization

Watch as Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliott sidestep the opposition leader, Andrea Horwath’s, question in the legislature on whether private for-profit health corporations will play a role in Bill 74, the new health care legislation. The Ford government repeatedly refuses to disavow for-profit privatization of our public health care system. It is imperative […]

URGENT UPDATE: FORD GOV’T SWEEPING HEALTH CARE RESTRUCTURING BILL

March 27, 2019 Ford government gives 2-days notice for public hearings to be in Toronto only The new health care law that the Ford government is pushing through has been “time allocated” for public hearings. That means that the Ford Conservatives have limited the time for public hearings. We have been asking for broad public […]

RELEASE: Ford Government is Steamrolling Health Restructuring Law Through in “Outrageously Undemocratic” Process Warns Health Coalition: Local Services at Risk

(March 18, 2019) The Ontario Health Coalition expressed outrage at the process by which the Ford government is rushing their new sweeping health care restructuring legislation through and is demanding public hearings across Ontario. In the new law, the Ford government has given itself new powers to order the privatization of health care services, along […]

Better health care through innovation “The Agenda, March 4, 2019”

RELEASE & ANALYSIS: Health Care Omnibus Bill Sets Up Ontario for Health System Mega-Mergers & Privatization: Worse than the Leaked Draft, Health Coalition Warns

(February 27, 2019) The Ontario Health Coalition released its preliminary analysis of the new health care omnibus bill today. Health Coalition spokespeople expressed deep concerns about the legislation and the sweeping upheaval to come. The legislation that was made public yesterday is worse than the draft bill in significant ways: it requires even bigger mega-mergers; […]

RELEASE: Warning that Leaked Health Care Omnibus Bill Would Create Health Care Chaos: Longstanding Leaders of Organizations Representing Patients, Care Workers, Doctors

(February 11, 2019) Academic leaders, democracy advocates, patient advocates, front-line care workers and doctors are all speaking with one voice when it comes to the leaked health care omnibus bill that has secretly been planned by the Ford government for months: if passed, it would cause health care chaos that will last for years. Speaking […]

Release: Health Coalition Extremely Concerned About LHIN Restructuring Rumours

Health Coalition Extremely Concerned About LHIN Restructuring Rumours Toronto – Following the story that broke on CBC news this morning revealing rumours that Ontario’s fourteen local health integration networks (LHINs) will be restructured into five the Ontario Health Coalition has raised questions about the Ford government’s intentions regarding this restructuring rumour. The Coalition had heard […]

RELEASE: Deeply concerned about Doug Ford’s planned revenue cuts, comparison of parties’ commitments on key health care issues

Deeply concerned about Doug Ford’s planned revenue cuts, comparison of parties’ commitments on key health care issues Toronto – Following the release of Doug Fords “platform” the Ontario Health Coalition has tried to analyze how Mr. Ford’s plan will impact health care funding.  Over the next four years, with four days until the provincial election […]

RELEASE: Ontario Election 2018 Health Care Resources

Click on each heading for Ontario election resources: **New  Leaflet inside (note: if printing use legal size paper)   Leaflet outside (note: if printing used legal size paper) Election Platform- top issues and “asks” for our political parties Media Release Provincial Election Platform release Health Care Questions for Candidates  All Candidates’ Meetings Media coverage of Health […]

RELEASE: $22 billion in cuts to funding for public services planned by Mr. Ford, worse than Harris, we are “extremely worried”

posted June 3, 2018

$22 billion in cuts to funding for public services planned by Mr. Ford, worse than Harris, we are “extremely worried” by Natalie Mehra, executive director Many Ontarians are captured by the idea of getting the same or more services for less money. But few know what the numbers might actually mean. Since Doug Ford did […]

UPDATE: 100 Patients, families and concerned residents traveled to the Ontario Legislature

(November 28, 2016) 100 Patients, families and concerned residents traveled to the Ontario Legislature as Wynne government forces through the mega-mergers of their local hospitals. This week, the Wynne government used extraordinary powers to order the forced merger of the hospitals in Durham and Scarborough. The merger will cost almost $50 million of dollars, taking this […]

Ontario Health Coalition Summary & Analysis of Minister of Health’s White Paper on Health Care Reform

(February 26, 2016) Ontario Health Coalition Summary & Analysis of Minister of Health’s White Paper on Health Care Reform   Patients First: A Proposal to Strengthen Patient-Centred Health Care in Ontario Discussion Paper issued by the Minister of Health & Long-Term Care, December 17, 2015   Process & Timelines   The process of public consultation […]

Report Rural and Northern Framework/Plan

The Ontario government has released its “Stage 1” report from the Health Minister’s panel on Rural and Northern Health Care.

Release Health Coalition Responds to Auditor General’s Report on LHINs and Consultants

(October 19, 2010) Ontario Auditor General Jim McCarter is releasing his report on use of consultants by the Ontario Ministry of Health, LHINs and hospitals.

Video “LHINs Under Fire” on TVOntario’s The Agenda

(September 13, 2010) Panel discussion featuring OHC Director Natalie Mehra, Health Policy analyst Steven Lewis, Globe & Mail columnist Adam Radwanski and Erie St. Clair LHINs CEO Gary Switzer.

Release OHC Applauds Ombudsman’s Report on LHIN Spin: Sends McGuinty Open Letter Calling for LHINs Review, and Investigate Poor LHIN Decisions to Cut Hospital Care for Thousands

(August 10-11, 2010) The Ontario Health Coalition applauds Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin’s report “The LHIN Spin” but the Coalition is deeply concerned that the McGuinty government has evaded its legislative requirement to conduct a full review

Release Toward Equality and Access: Realigning Ontario’s Approach to Small and Rural Hospitals to Serve Public Values

(May 17, 2010) This report contains a number of recommendations regarding the LHINs as well as descriptions of the LHINs’ impact on rural access to health care services.

Release Briefing Note on Ontario’s Hospital Cuts and Restructuring 2008

(December 2, 2008) A major round of hospital restructuring and cuts is underway in every health region in the province causing major layoffs, privatization and threaten local Emergency Rooms, birthing facilities and hospital beds.

Update regarding the status of the LHINs strategic plans and consultation

(October 17, 2006) An update regarding the status of the LHINs strategic plans and consultations.

Fact Sheet Liberals Shut Down Debate on Bill 36: What’s Next?

(March 1, 2006) Liberals Shut Down Debate on Bill 36.

Release LHINs Health Restructuring Bill Must Be Delayed

(February 26, 2006) Media Release & notes on amendments to LHINs legislation.

Analysis Updated OHC Analysis of LHINs Legislation

(January 12, 2006) Updated OHC Analysis of LHINs Legislation

Report Bill 36 LHINs Legislation Analysis

(January 3, 2006) Bill 36 LHINs Legislation Analysis

LHIN Planners Meetings:

(January 2005) Information from LHIN’s Planners Meeting, Jan. 12 and 13, Toronto

Notes Kingston LHINs Consultation Meeting

(December 7, 2004) Notes by a participant from the Kingston LHINs consultation meeting.

Report Kitchener – Waterloo LHINs Consultation Meeting

(November 19, 2004) Official report from the Kitchener-Waterloo LHINs consultation meeting.

Notes OHC Health Assembly LHINs Strategy Session

(November 14, 2004) Notes from the OHC Health Assembly LHINs strategy session.

Backgrounder LHINs: Local Health Integration Networks

(November 2004) LHINs: Local Health Integration Networks

LHINs Listserv

(November, 2004) We’ve started a new OHC LHINS email listserve to share intelligence & information on the government’s proposal and impact of regionalization in other provinces

Hamilton LHINs Consultation Meeting

(November 2004) Notes by a participant from the Hamilton LHINs consultation meeting.

Health Minister George Smitherman’s Speaking Notes

(September 9, 2004) From a speech at St. Lawrence Market announcing the creation of Local Health Intergration Networks (LHINs).