LHIN Announces Final Four

Dr. Donald Stemp chats with Elliot Lake Hospital Board Members during LHIN grand opening

Media Release

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The final four board members of the North East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) were announced today by Nipissing MPP Monique Smith on behalf of Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman.

“These board members, nominated by their local communities, will help ensure that local interests are front and centre when plans and decisions are being made,” said Smith. “LHINs will help to remove barriers to accessing care and will ensure that the appropriate level and type of care is delivered when it’s needed, where it’s needed.”

This final wave of appointees includes 45 leaders who were nominated by their local communities following an extensive search that included 59 public information sessions in 46 cities across the province.

The North East LHIN is one of 14 across Ontario. LHINs are local health organizations that plan, integrate and fund local health services – including hospitals, community care access centres, home care, long-term care, mental health, community health centres as well as addiction and community support services – for a specific geographic area.

Smith announced that Dr. Donald Stemp of North Bay, Marc Dumont of New Liskeard, Kim Christianson of Hearst and Peter Vaudry of Sault Ste. are the final members to be named to the North East LHIN board, bringing it to its full complement of nine.

The Chair of the North East LHIN, Mathilde Gravelle Bazinet, is delighted to welcome the last four Directors to the Board. “A tremendous number of Town Hall meetings will be held in the near future and it’s important that the Board Directors meet the public to receive their input about the quality of health care that is needed in their community.” In view of the large area included in the North East LHIN, 400,000 square kms., the nine Board Directors will be very busy in order to fulfill their Community Engagement responsibility.”

“We’re on the side of Ontario families who want the best health care,” said Smitherman. “Having been nominated by their communities, these board members will bring a strong local perspective to the North East LHIN board.”

This is just the latest example of how the McGuinty government is working to improve health care for Ontario families. Others include:

The creation of 150 Family Health Teams, which will improve access to primary care for more than 2.5 million Ontarians in 112 communities
Investing $117.8 million to improve home care and community support services

Providing $75 million over three years to create an additional 22 Community Health Centres and 17 satellites to improve access to the full range of primary care services, including health promotion and disease prevention.

Today’s initiative is part of the McGuinty government’s plan for innovation in public health care, building a system that delivers on three priorities - keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.

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