Ontario Health Minister talking about Healthcare in Halton.

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October 28th., 2005

Halton: At a recent fundraiser for Halton Liberal M.P.P Kevin Flynn, Ontario's Health Minister - M.P.P Smitherman, came to Halton to talk about his cabinet's ambitions for healthcare in Ontario.

Before introducing the guest speaker, M.P.P. Flynn talked about plans for a new hospital and equipment and the various other investments his party is working on as an investment in Halton's Local Healthcare Network. 

The Health Minister talked about the legislation the Ontario Liberal's are bringing forward using catch phrases such as; 'Local Health Integration Networks' the Minister say's; "will transfer extraordinary powers down to the community level".

The minister added; "micromanaging a thirty three billion dollar operation from an office down in Queens Park is a bad idea, it's a stale idea". The Minister acknowledged healthcare services have not evolved equally across our Province and accordingly, its time to appropriately empower the people in our local communities.  "A tool for Ontarians called 'The Ontario Health Quality Council' will introduce a new era of transparency that will show what it's like to balance Ontario's Healthcare budgets. This will give more of a sense of power and ownership back to the people who truly do own this great healthcare system in Ontario", said Minister Smitherman.

According to the Health minister, they are working on three priorities; working vigorously to reduce wait times. Working vigorously to help make Ontarians healthier, and delivering to the needs of Ontarians with more doctors and nurses. The Minister talked about the new web-base 'wait time tool' the Province launched giving hospitals and doctors as well as patience access to analytical data which animates our healthcare system which will help pin point some of the Provinces Healthcare problems.

At about halfway through his address, he paused to talk about the issues pertaining to Sorbara's resignation and how 'that' hasn't kept the team from moving forward and continuing with their job of governing Ontario.

On the issue of health promotion the Minister talked about Bill 164 - The Smoke Free Ontario, an Act that as of May 31^st next year will eliminate all designated smoking rooms in the Province of Ontario. He talked about how, by 2008, no child in Ontario will be exposed to tobacco products in retail establishments. He mentioned the Family Heath Teams that he hopes will renew an interest in small communities throughout the province and help address the patience needs that are accessing our hospitals emergency facilities, for non emergency issues.

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