Skip to content
  1. Home
  2. Local News

Smith encourages everyone to apply for drug council

Nipissing MPP Monique Smith News Release ********************** For the first time in Canada, a Citizens’ Council is being created to help inform Ontario’s prescription drug funding policy, Hon.
Kate Adams
Nipissing MPP Monique Smith
News Release

**********************

For the first time in Canada, a Citizens’ Council is being created to help inform Ontario’s prescription drug funding policy, Hon. George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long Term Care announced today. Nipissing MPP Monique Smith joined him in encouraging residents of Nipissing to be a part of the new Council.

“This is a great opportunity for residents of Nipissing to get involved” said Smith. "I encourage all eligible residents of the riding of Nipissing to apply to be part of the Citizens’ Council to ensure that our region has a voice.”

The McGuinty government is encouraging Ontarians from all backgrounds and corners of the province to apply for the Ontario Citizens’ Council.

With new drugs constantly coming to market and limited public funds available, drug funding decisions have become increasingly complex. The new Citizens’ Council will provide a real voice to Ontarians by engaging them in an open process that will help to shape the future direction of Ontario’s drug policy.

Recruitment for the Ontario Citizens’ Council begins today and ends on June 30, 2008.

"Good governance includes opening up processes to the everyday citizen's point of view,” said George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. “This council reflects our government’s commitment to ensure the public’s opinions and values are heard.”

QUICK FACTS

- The Council is modeled after the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Citizens Council in the United Kingdom. This council has been highly successful in bringing the views and opinions of the general public forward on national health issues since 2002.

- The Council will be composed of 25 individuals representing a cross-section of ages, cultures and regions of the province.

- The Council will meet twice annually to reflect upon pressing matters of provincial drug policy and to give advice to the government.

**********************