Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones says findings in a report released by Ontario Ombudsman, André Marin confirm that the LHIN (Local Health Integration Network) layer of bureaucracy is not serving Ontario families.

The report revealed that the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant (HNHB) LHIN made decisions with respect to local health-care restructuring in Hamilton and Niagara through “secret” and “plainly illegal” meetings. The LHIN’s decision-making process was completely disconnected from the legislation that governs them, which requires the LHINs to have “community engagement”.

The Ombudsman’s investigation found that the HNHB LHIN passed an illegal bylaw that allowed their board to hold secret board meetings – billed as education sessions where no minutes were kept. The Ombudsman also found that the ‘illegal’ practice used by this one particular LHIN has since been copied by every other LHIN in Ontario.

“Important health care decisions that have a direct impact on families are being made in secret,” said Ms. Jones. “The McGuinty Liberals are not being open and transparent with the public.”

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care received The Ombudsman’s preliminary draft report and recommendations a year ago. However, they did not act until Monday, 24 hours before the report’s release, to order the LHINs to rescind their illegal bylaws and stop holding closed “education” meetings.

“LHINS are a huge layer of middle management that is diverting funds from front-line patient care,” said Ms. Jones.

“Just like with the ehealth scandal, the Ontario PC Caucus has uncovered troubling practices in Dalton McGuinty’s LHINs, including untendered contracts and bloated executive salaries.”

“An Ontario PC Government will eliminate Dalton McGuinty’s LHIN bureaucracies, and reinvest this money into front-line patient care,” she said.

Mr. Marin launched his investigation in March 2009 after receiving complaints about the decision to close the emergency departments at the Port Colborne Hospital and Douglas Memorial Hospital in Fort Erie, and restructuring at Hamilton Health Sciences.