MPP Jim McDonell Grills New Champlain LHIN Chair
QUEEN’S PARK – The new Chair of the Champlain Local Health Integration Network, Jean-Pierre
Boisclair, appeared before Government Agencies Committee today, where MPP Jim McDonell brought to
his attention the challenges faced by patients in Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry.
“Mr Boisclair must be aware that healthcare is a great concern in SDSG because too many residents fall
through the cracks” – said MPP McDonell. “Many of our residents wait 6 months or more for a family
doctor, yet the Province won’t fund new physicians in the area because they say we are over-supplied.
Despite the known retirements of 12 doctors over the next two years, a number of local graduates who want
to return home to practice are being forced out of the province by this Government’s policies. Our
Constituents experience the longest wait times in the Province for a long-term care bed, yet the LHIN
reports the region is over-supplied – it doesn’t add up”.
Mr Boisclair told the Committee his focus would be on providing primary care, helping the health system
transition to meet new challenges and help its transformation to deliver efficiency and value. Commenting
on MPP McDonell’s feedback regarding local residents’ experience with the healthcare system and the
funding challenges facing local health providers, Mr Boisclair said MPP McDonell “provided food for
thought” and “added to what keeps [him] awake at night”.
“As someone new to the Champlain LHIN Board, Mr Boisclair takes on a great challenge and I wish him
the best of luck” – MPP McDonell said. “I sympathise with him as he tries to manage this complex health
network while handcuffed to this Government’s short-sighted and destructive policies. I want to ensure local
concerns are brought directly to the LHIN’s highest levels, as local feedback can often get lost within the
bureaucracy. I look forward to working with Mr Boisclair to resolve both current and future healthcare
issues in our region and I will offer him any and all assistance in order to deliver more and better health care
to SDSG residents”.
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