Contact us NEWS HEADLINES The Save our Sydenham Message line is now open. The FREE number to call is 1-877-363-6SOS or 1-877-363-6767. SOS Store Front Window is located at 360 James Street, downtown ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Feb.4 Primary care essential for today’s health care Submitted by Shirley Roebuck, Save Our Sydenham I would like to take this opportunity to comment on announcements made recently, by the Erie-St. Clair Local Health Integration Network. Gary Switzer, CEO of the Erie-St. Clair LHIN has stated that the LHIN’s business regarding small community Emergency Rooms in the LHIN is concluded, and while the fate of the CKHA Sydenham Emergency, the Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Emergency and the Leamington Emergency is considered by Premier McGuinty’s Panel on Rural and Northern Health Care, the Erie St. Clair LHIN will now focus on Primary Care, while directing the hospitals to develop “contingency plans” for the small Emergency Rooms . Primary Care is obviously an essential element of today’s health care. Primary Care should involve doctors, nurses and other heath practitioners, working together to promote health, offer education, provide treatment for everyday complaints and generally improve the patient’s overall health. There should be specialized units dedicated to problems like diabetes, heart disease, drug addictions. All of these things are as essential as an Emergency department to the local community. Mr. Switzer has been vague about the true meaning of “contingency plans” for the ER’s. If the contingency plans are, in fact, transitional plans to turn ER’s into Urgent Care centers, they will simply be part of McGuinty’s plan to centralize health care and shut rural hospitals. These plans are supposedly purposed to develop strategies for any “unforeseen problems” in the ER, for example, a physician shortage. The Sydenham ER faces an on-going struggle to keep physicians, due in part to a CKHA’s lack of support for physician recruitment for the Sydenham campus, and for a perceived lack of respect for these physicians who work in our small community hospital. Health care in Ontario is in turmoil. The Liberal government demands balanced hospital budgets, and this is being accomplished on the backs of patients and health care workers. In late 2009, in Fort Erie, Ontario, a tragedy happened; a young woman was involved in a car accident, and because the Fort Erie ER had been closed by the government, the ambulance took her to the larger Welland ER, but she died en route. How many more tragedies are acceptable in the government’s eyes? Premier McGuinty talked about his government becoming transparent, and responsible to the public. In October 2009, he noted that the public would judge him. I do not see any responsiveness to Ontario’s shouts for more realistic health care reform. The premier is correct: the public will judge him, come Election Day. Chatham Kent Health Alliance now has a rare chance to turn the tide toward transparent and realistic change. There is an interim CEO in place, who knows the challenges facing health care today. There is now an opportunity to work with local health care workers and physicians who know the local system. Local businessmen have ideas. I hope our leaders will look to the hospitals of Eastern Ontario, including the Ottawa Hospital, CHEO, Cornwall Community Hospital and Queensway-Carlton Hospital who have openly warned about drastic decreases in hospital beds and services, if the provincial government does not start providing proper funding. Why not tell the government that the Sydenham campus is a vital part of the Chatham Kent Health Alliance? Instead of looking at Sydenham Campus as a liability, why not choose to see it as a valuable resource, which can support and help the entire catchment area of CKHA? There has to be more than manipulated data and budgetary mandates pushing health care reform. Why not look to new ideas, which reflect the public’s needs and wants? Thank you for this chance to share my thoughts. Health care is an emotional issue for most people, and that emotion springs from people’s love for family and friends and community. We all want and deserve to have appropriate health care in our communities, which rotates around a hospital with in-patient beds and a fully manned Emergency room. _________________________________________________________________________________Feb. 4 High hopes for emergency departmentTO THE EDITOR: Last week I contacted Gary Switzer (CEO-LHIN) to clarify the actions taken by the LHIN Board in order to determine what the impact was on Sydenham District Hospital. The response from Gary is below. This is good news for our hospital and you all deserve thanks for hanging in there in order to get to this point. What a community! While I am very pleased with the response from the LHIN I want to stress three things: 1. While we can all breath a collective sigh of relief we cannot sit back and relax but instead we must remain vigilant in looking out for our hospital. 2. The Rural and Northern Health Care Panel has three phases (Phase 1 will be complete at the end of February) and your SOS Committee will monitor and review each phase as well as the response by the LHIN and report these findings to you. 3. The response below from Gary Switzer is very positive, but your SOS Committee realizes that there remains a long journey ahead to fully protect SDH. If you happen to see one of the doctors, nurses or health-care professionals who work at SDH, please take a moment and tell them how much they mean to our community. Here is the response from Gary Switzer - CEO, LHIN, which was received Jan. 29. Good afternoon Jeff, Thanks for reaching out to clarify the board motion that was passed at our last meeting. There was plenty of dialogue during our meeting on a number of subjects including the Small Community Hospital ED Study. We rely on the approved motion to provide the mandate for moving forward. The approved motion is as follows; Moved by Leland J. Martin and seconded by Gary Parent that the ESC LHIN Board i. accept the LHIN staff findings as presented; and ii. instruct LHIN staff to submit this information to the Rural and Northern HealthCare Panel for their reflection So, it is our "findings" that were accepted, which were identified in our presentation and more specifically, our conclusions and the recommended option three. I want to reiterate clearly and sincerely that there are no plans to close our Wallaceburg ED. Improving the community's access to primary care is where we want to focus our attention. That was the recommendation made by staff and that is the mandate we now have to go forward with. We will have a duty to review the information and guidelines provided by the Rural and Northern Health Care Panel as they come forward through the three phases. I recommended to the board that staff will review each phase within 30 days of receiving the report. The intent here is to stay current on the report and advise our board accordingly. These are actions our board has requested, and all impacted LHINs will undertake. At this time, and for the foreseeable future, there are no plans to close or study the possible closure of any emergency department, including Sydenham Campus. In fact, each hospital must produce a contingency plan to ensure the sustainability of their EDs. I hope this answers your questions. I can certainly appreciate the ambiguity brought on by the discussion that took place at our meeting. But our mandate is clear, which is good news for all of Erie St. Clair. Jeff Wesley Chair of Save Our Sydenham Article ID# 2432771 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ombudsman wraps up LHIN study of Niagara hospitals Posted By RAY SPITERI , REVIEW STAFF WRITER Ontario ombudsman Andre Marin has completed his investigation into the public consultation process followed by the agency that oversees hospitals in Niagara. "Mr. Marin is getting ready to release his findings sometime in the next several weeks, " spokeswoman Linda Williamson said of the investigation that started last March. "He will not be commenting publicly prior to the release." The provincial government watchdog received 37 complaints about the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network from residents, community associations, health-care professionals and a Hamilton-area MPP. Of those, 13 were about the Niagara Health System's hospital improvement plan. The rest concerned the LHIN's consideration of Hamilton Health Sciences' proposal for changes at McMaster University Medical Centre. In Niagara, complainants felt the LHIN did not consult enough with residents on a controversial restructuring plan for hospitals, including closing emergency departments in Fort Erie and Port Colborne. LHIN chief executive officer Pat Mandy said she has "no idea" what to expect from Marin's report and, like everybody else, she is awaiting the ombudsman's findings. "We certainly co-operated with the investigation. We gave the ombudsman's office all of the information that they requested, and they met with several of us," said Mandy. "Part of the LHIN's role is community engagement and we've been involved, I think, in significant community engagement right from the inception of the LHIN (in 2005)." Sue Salzer, head of a community group opposed to recent changes at Douglas Memorial Hospital, said she has been anticipating Marin's report for months. "It was originally scheduled, as we were told by (the ombudsman's) office, for the end of October. Then it was the end of November. And now I have correspondence from them that indicates that the ombudsman himself ... will meet with the premier previous to the release of the report," said Salzer. "Based on everything that we have heard from people who have been extensively interviewed by them, we feel that it may cast some aspersions upon the operation of the LHIN with respect to their public consultations." Marin's findings will be all the more timely, given the recent calls for a coroner's inquest into whether Reilly Anzovino, an 18- year-old Fort Erie woman fatally injured in a car crash on Boxing Day, might still be alive if the Fort Erie emergency department had still been operating. The collision happened on Highway 3 near Nigh Road. Anzovino was just 16 kilometres from Douglas Memorial Hospital, but the ER there closed in September, forcing the ambulance to take nearly twice as long to transport the teen to the nearest hospital in Welland. Anzovino died en route to Welland County General Hospital. But Niagara residents' health-care concerns are not limited to Fort Erie. In December, Niagara Falls city council called for the appointment of a provincial investigator to look into concerns raised by the Ontario Medical Association's emergency medicine section about the operation of the ER at Greater Niagara General Hospital. Williamson said the ombudsman did not assess the merits of the Hamilton and Niagara restructuring proposals during his investigation. Rather, Marin's investigation focused on the LHIN's role in the decisions made and alleged problems with the process, including complaints of insufficient consultation. The ombudsman's role is to ensure government accountability through oversight of the administration of services. While the ombudsman does not have jurisdiction over hospitals, he does have jurisdiction over LHINs. The LHIN in this area is the second-largest in the province, covering 1.4 million residents. This is the first ombudsman investigation into one of the province's 14 LHINs, created five years ago as part of the McGuinty government's plan to hand over the responsibility for health-care funding and planning to local appointees. Article ID# 2280619 __________________________________________________________________________________ January 28th Message from Jeff Hello All: This morning I contacted Gary Switzer (CEO-LHIN) to clarify the actions taken by the LHIN Board in order to determine what the impact was on Sydenham District Hospital. The response from Gary is below and I urge you to read the entire email - I have hi-lited certain sections for you. This is good news for our hospital and you all deserve thanks for hanging in there in order to get to this point.What a community! While I am very pleased with the response from the LHIN I want to stress three things: 1. While we can all breath a collective sigh of relief we can not sit back and relax but instead we must remain vigilant in looking out for our hospital; 2. The Rural and Northern Health Care Panel has three phases (Phase 1 may be complete in the next two months) and your SOS Committee will monitor and review each phase as well as the response by the LHIN and report these findings to you;and, 3. The response below from Gary Switzer is very positive but your SOS Committee realizes that there remains a long journey ahead to fully protect SDH. If you happen to see one of the doctors, nurses or health care professionals who work at SDH please take a moment and tell them how much they mean to our community. Here is the response from Gary Switzer - CEO, LHIN which was received today. ___________________________________________________________________________________ Good afternoon Jeff, Thanks for reaching out to clarify the Board motion that was passed at our last meeting. There was plenty of dialogue during our meeting on a number of subjects including the Small Community Hospital ED Study. We rely on the approved motion to provide the mandate for moving forward. The approved motion is as follows; Moved by Leland J. Martin and seconded by Gary Parent that the ESC LHIN Board: i. accept the LHIN staff findings as presented; and ii. instruct LHIN staff to submit this information to the Rural and Northern HealthCare Panel for their reflection So, it is our “findings” that were accepted, which were identified in our presentation and more specifically, our conclusions and the recommended option three. I want to reiterate clearly and sincerely that there are no plans to close our Wallaceburg ED. Improving the community’s access to primary care is where we want to focus our attention. That was the recommendation made by staff and that is the mandate we now have to go forward with. We will have a duty to review the information and guidelines provided by the Rural and Northern Health Care Panel as they come forward through the three phases. I recommended to the Board that staff will review each phase within 30 days of receiving the report. The intent here is to stay current on the report and advise our Board accordingly. These are actions our Board has requested, and all impacted LHINs will undertake. At this time, and for the foreseeable future, there are no plans to close or study the possible closure of any Emergency Department, including Sydenham Campus. In fact, each hospital must produce a contingency plan to ensure the sustainability of their ED’s. I hope this answers your questions. I can certainly appreciate the ambiguity brought on by the discussion that took place at our meeting. But our mandate is clear, which is good news for all of Erie St. Clair. Let's Make It Happen ! Gary Switzer CEO Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network Phone: 519-351-5677 Ext201 Toll Free: 866-231-5446 Fax: 519-351-9672 www.eriestclairlhin.on.ca__ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------_ Posted on January 28th Gary Switzer wrote this message on FACEBOOK on January 27th Gary Switzer Wrote: I’ve been reading your posts and want to assure you that there is no reason to feel threatened. _______________________________________________________________________We do not have any plans to close the Wallaceburg ED. Getting you primary care is where we want to focus our attention. In fact, we have asked that hospitals provide contingency plans to help ensure that we can keep your ED... open. This is good news! Primary care is the care you receive at your family doctor or at a clinic – it’s ear infections, prescription renewals, or managing diabetes. Bottom line, we need more family doctors, clinics and after-hours access. Primary care keeps us healthy day-to-day, and Emergency Departments are there for emergencies - when we’re too sick for our family doctors or no other option is available. We need both. I’m looking forward to seeing what solutions the Primary Health Care Task Group comes up with. The community will be involved in this committee. I’ll pass on more details when they are finalized. Reaction to LHIN meeting on Tuesday, January 26th. & Jeff's letter to Switzer ___________________________________________________________________________ January 26 Jeff's letter to Switzer Good Evening Gary: I went to the LHIN meeting today full of optimism and with a very positive attitude only to have my hopes for a just resolution for our community destroyed once again. Although it is the system you inherited the public meeting process for the LHIN is an insult to democracy and the very intelligence of the people you purport to represent: 1. At the LHIN meetings there is absolutely no process for the public to make comment, ask questions and get access to the reports being considered (you should visit a municipal council meeting to see how things should be done); 2. Reports that were being discussed by the Board (who had copies) were not provided to the public nor were they shown on the overhead projection (2010/2011 Business Plan as an example);and, 3. The meeting you promised with SOS was not provided as you said there was no time. The motion that was passed started out in a positive manner in the sense that you reaffirmed the motion the Board made last year to not make any changes to the SDH ER until the Rural and Northern Health Care Panel report is done ( a move both our MPP and CKHA supported at that time as well). Unfortunately, the Board then went on to say that they did not want to wait forever and that a report from staff on SDH ER actions was to be prepared within 30 days of the Panel's Phase 1 report. As I mentioned after the meeting that just makes no sense at all. Do the right thing not just the expedient thing and wait for the full Panel results. Phase 2 is public consultation and Phase 3 is final decisions from the Ministry of Health. Yet your Board is now on record as saying they want a report after Phase 1 BEFORE the public is consulted and before the final Ministry decisions. What if Phase 2 and 3 change what was in Phase 1? Once again poor communications have resulted in yet another crisis and yet another huge amount of anguish and negative backlash in our community. If your Board had allowed public comment I would have asked a question to clarify everything yet this was not allowed. The Province should be ashamed for setting up such an undemocratic system! During the meeting there were a couple of untoward comments about small community and rural hospitals and I would suggest to certain Board members that if they wish to make such statements they had better back up those claims and then look in the mirror as to why the problem with equipment exists. Here are my requests arising out of the meeting and which I would have shared with you after the meeting had there been time: 1. Please provide a copy of all information that the LHIN provided to the Panel; 2. Please provide a copy of all studies and research that the University of Windsor provided on small community hospitals and ERs; 3. Please provide the correspondence / data/ reports that EMS has provided to the LHIN / Panel; 4. The CKHA indicated that the definition of an Urgent Care centre for rural areas may be changed - how do you suspect it will be changed? 5. What were the results of your interactions with the Panel which you mentioned to me? 6. There are 6 individuals, approved by the provincial government, being interviewed for LHIN vacancies - are any of these candidates from Wallaceburg? Chatham-Kent?;and, 7. Please provide a copy of the 2010/2011 Business Plan that was discussed in open session at the meeting. Sincerely, Jeff Wesley _________________________________________________________________________________ From: Jeff Wesley, SOS Chair My report on the LHIN dealing with SDH. Barring a proper decision from the Rural and Northern Health Care Panel I have never felt more strongly than now that our ER is threatened by the LHIN and we need to rally around our community hospital. ______________________________________________________________________________ Conrad's personal comments: I also attended the ES LHIN meeting today and I anticipated patiently for the "good news" that we were suppose to hear from Gary Switzer. There were none. What a disappointment. Long winded reports and verbal diarrhea were most evident. Outcome: The ES LHIN's next steps were: 1) Create a Primary Health Care Task Group 2) Launch a clinical services review 3) Await the recommendations from the Northern and Rural Panel. Their hidden agenda has been the same at each presentation that I attended...PRIMARY CARE!! PRIMARY CARE!! Forget the ERs. Yet they gave up 4.5 million dollars from their budget. Where will it come from? Answer: The Hospital Budgets. Hospitals within the LHIN have to work with zero increase and now they will have to suffer the effects of more reductions. For the Task Group, is SOS going to be directly involved? That's a "fantacy question". It is so frustrating to attend Merry Go Round Sessions. All we want to hear is that Wallaceburg will continue to have a viable ER for YEARS to come. ___________________________________________________________________ December 28th SOS wishes everyone a safe and Happy New Year Our wish for the 2010 New Year is that we start getting our Sydenham Hospital back. We have lost so much. We can't afford to lose anymore. SOS wishes to thank everyone who has picked up and mailed the McGrinchy Post card. 2000 cards have been distributed and hopefully all will be mailed. It's not too late to mail your card. McGuinty needs to know that we care about Sydenham Hospital and WE WANT IT BACK! If you haven't called in your story in regards to Sydenham Hospital, please call our SOS Toll Free Line ASAP. (1-877-363-6767). SOS needs your help. In the New Year, I will be asking for volunteers to email all members of the Northern and Rural Hospital Panel. We want to bombard them until the Panel agrees to come to Wallaceburg. I will need many volunteers. If you are interested in joining the Rural Panel email bombardment team, please sent me a message to conrad@saveoursydenham.com. Conrad Noel SOS Vice Chair _____________________________________________________________ December 18 SOS would like to thank Marlene Bushey for selecting SOS to receive expression of sympathy donations in Memory of her husband David M. Bushey. Many thanks Marlene for your thoughtfulness. Memorial Gifts in the amount of $ 315.00 have been made to SOS from:
_________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Updated December 28th On behalf of SOS, I would like to thank the following businesses and stores that have distributed the McGrinchy Post cards and SOS magnets. Your cooperation is always greatly appreciated. Wallaceburg: 1) Taylor's Variety on Dufferin 2) South West Credit Union 3) CKXS Radio Station on James Street 4) Homeward Realty on Duncan Street 5) Harvey's ....BEST DISTRIBUTION CENTRE ******* 6) Sobey's 7) Kentucky Fried Chicken 8) Napa Auto Parts , 330 Selkirk 9) Canadian Tire 10) Currier Chiropractic Clinic, 632 Wellington 11) Shoppers Drug Mart 12) LCB0 13) Oaks Inn 14) M & M Meat Shop 15) Lance's Jewellery, James Street 16) Dr. Jeff Fox Chiropractic Clinic, James St 17) Tim Horton, 40 McNaughton 18) Crabby Joe's 19) Walker's Jewellery, 77 Margaret Ave 20) Ray's Mini Mart on Dufferin 21) Jimmy's G's on Murray Street 22) Madi's Milk, 208 Margaret Ave 23) Home Hardware, Dufferin St 24) Stekelbos Jewellery, Dufferin Street 25) Doctors' Clinic 26) Wallaceburg Chamber of Commerce, Duncan St 27) Wallaceburg United Way Office, Wallaceburg 28) Alana's Sun Tan Inc on Margaret Ave 29) Martin Insurance, James Street 30) Victoria's Garden -Flower Shop on James St 31) Dollarama Walpole Island: Municipal Building Dresden: 1) Basket on Wishes 2) Burns Bakery 3) Frozen Frog 4) Babcock Jewellery 5) McTavish Pharmacy 6) Verna's Sewing 7) Tim Horton 8) McBrayne Seeds Port Lambton & Mitchell's Bay businesses. _____________________________________________ Call the toll free # 1-877-363-6767. SOS needs to hear your personal story related to Sydenham Hospital. Your message will be transcribed and made available on this website but specially will be added to the package that SOS intends to present to the Northern and Rural Health Panel. SOS NEEDS YOUR HELP Just call and leave your message. We don't need your name and there is no caller ID on this SOS line. P.S. Many nurses are seriously affected by the drastic reduction of services at Sydenham Hospital. Call in and tell your story. SOS strongly encourages everyone to visit the SOS Website on a regular basis. If you have any questions or concerns, click on CONTACT US at the top of this message and send me your email. ___________________________________________________________________________ December 14 IMPORTANT: Here's your chance for input on new CEO for Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. There are only 6 questions to answer. Check out this link to complete the survey: http://www.odgersberndtson.ca/index.php?id=2953&L=4 _________________________________________________________________________________ December 12 Originally posted on: Tuesday, October 17, 2006 Dr. E. R . Tiffin's picture will be displayed at SOS Store Front Window, 360 James cktimes.ca Archives: Sydenham Campus Celebrates 50th Anniversary Saturday, October 14, 2006 Chatham-Kent, October 13th, 2006: At 4:00 pm, fifty years ago this Saturday, Sydenham District Hospital admitted its very first patient. According to newspaper reports, the newly-opened hospital's first baby was born at 3:55 am Monday, October 15th and the second baby, just minutes later. An emergency operation was performed at 4:00 am and by 7:00 am, the third baby had arrived. Each of the first 100 babies born at Sydenham, received a gift of a silver spoon from Leach Jewelers. The hospital boasted 73 beds, 19 medical staff, and state-of-the-art facilities including the Emergency Room, Operating Rooms, Nursery, Laboratory and Diagnostic Imaging. Although 1956 marked the first patient admission, the hospital history dates back to the First World War when a group of Wallaceburg and area residents began active advocacy to build a local hospital. The War Memorial Hospital Committee fundraised over $37,000 for a building, but with no ongoing operating funding available, the project was abandoned and funds put in safe keeping. In the late 1940s interest was regenerated, and on September 15, 1952, the first Board of Directors was officially incorporated. Sod was turned in June 1955, including then Minister of Health, the Honorable McKinnon Phillips. The first leaders of the new hospital included: Chairman of the Board, H.W. Burgess; Administrator, Mr. J.S. Renton and Chief of Staff, Dr. E.R. Tiffin. In 1967, the Centennial Wing was added to SDH, increasing the number of beds to 124 and expanding space for Laboratory, Physiotherapy and Radiology. In 1973, the Intensive Coronary Care Unit opened. 1991 marked the opening of the Burgess Birthing Centre and in 1994, the expansion and renovation of the Emergency Department. Over the years, with changes to health care, local demographics, and government restructuring, inpatient beds were reduced and outpatient services expanded. In 1976, beds totaled 88 and by 1995, beds totaled 45. SDH joined Chatham-Kent Health Alliance in 1998. Its future within CKHA includes growth in complex continuing care, ambulatory care, and day surgery. Sydenham's proud history will be prominently displayed within the Wallaceburg Museum at an exhibit slated to open in Summer 2007. ____________________________________________________________ SOS Editorial: Dr. Tiffin's picture was retrieved from the dumpster at the hospital. What else has been thrown away instead of being offered to families or relatives? 2009: CKHA has reduced the medicine beds to 5 beds. Will our the Sydenham Board Directors on the CKHA take a firm stand and protect our ER and these 5 medicine beds? _________________________________________________________________________________________________ November 27 Each week, SOS will post the summary comments of EVERYONE who calls the SOS Message line. Thanks to Shirley Roebuck who has taken the task of listening to each message and then transcribing them for us. Thanks Shirley. Please remember that eventually all comments will reach the ears of each and every member of the Rural and Northern Health Panel. It's crucial that SOS hears your story. Please call our SOS message line. It's a free call. 1-877-363-6767. Summary comments: SOS call line: 2009-11-19: -visiting elderly female patient at SDH -patient was upset because of male roommate -caller felt is was totally disgusting, and wrong to have sexes mixed in rooms -patients were upset, embarrassed -when caller left, elevator would not work -walked down 2 flights to lobby, where she noticed that the hospital was in disrepair, windows not painted etc -shame on Tremblay and the LHIN for not doing what they should have done -bad practice for both sexes to be sharing rooms -does not promote healing, comfort, sense of safety -CKHA should not put dollars ahead of patient care -the hospital is not closed yet -it should be in working order, as this is a safety issue -does not promote confidence from the public to see a building in such disrepair. Is this a deliberate strategy to make people think the building is no longer good? - the CFO who resigned recently stated he would not spend one cent on the Wallaceburg hospital. 2009-11-27: -caller spoke about the excellent care he received after an industrial accident; he states he was burned, and rushed to SDH -he wonders how much more he would have suffered if he had to go to Chatham; even 20-30 minutes make a difference in care. -it is not right what the LHIN and CKHA are doing to this hospital, that people need and love. -the client’s grandfather helped to build the hospital -patient outcomes will worsen with farther travel times -which company will invest in a town with no ER? All of the specialized clinics in the world will not replace the Emergency response to critical situations. This is not only a health-care issue but an economic recovery issue. 2009-11-27: June 1, 1988- around 2pm a 100lb filled propane tank exploded about 20 feet from where I was standing sending a huge fire ball in my direction that I could not avoid, causing burns to over 57% of my body. An ambulance was dispatched to the factory (Libby processing) and proceeded to take me to Wallaceburg Sydenham District Hosp. emerg. Once in emerg. I noticed that both my feet had intravenous lines put in so pain meds could be started, and any burn debriding needed was done before bandaging was started. All I remember was that I was lying on the ER bed with many nurses and doctors attending to me, before being transferred to Victoria Hosp burn ward in London. I vividly remember the ambulance drive from the accident site to the hosp. as I was still fully conscience. I remember the ambulance attendant constantly pouring saline solution on me during the short drive to help stop the continuing burning effects. So much water was being used that a continued stream was pouring out the back of the ambulance all the way to the hosp.( I was later told by said ambulance attendant that he used up all the saline they had on that short trip). If I had to go to Chatham I would have continued to burn for another 15-20 min. seeing the cooling effects of the solution would not have been available. Being sent to Wallaceburg ER saved me from much pain and continued burning. My wife was contacted by my employer and told of my accident, and was at my side in minutes, if I was sent to Chatham first she would of had to drive in a panicked mode on 40 highway to be with me. I am so grateful for our ER and all the doctors and nurses who attend to our needs daily, Wallaceburg ER saved me from more serious injuries in being there in 5-7-minutes instead of the long drive to another hosp. If I can help in any way just let me know, I'm a fighter for our hosp, and plan to go all the rounds needed to go to keep it functioning and there for the next person that needs it. -patient outcomes will worsen with farther travel times; every Ontarian deserves equal access to timely care, despite geographical location. Closing Wallaceburg instantly creates a 2 tier heal care system. -which company will invest in a town with no ER? All of the specialized clinics in the world will not replace the Emergency response to critical situations. This is not only a health-care issue but an economic recovery issue. -family and loved ones will have to travel farther to be with patients; this is a burden on the aging population, especially in inclement weather. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPEN LETTER TO THE RURAL AND
NORTHERN HEALTH CARE PANEL
Nov. 27, 2009 Rural and Northern Health Care Panel C/O Minister of Health and Long Term Care 80 Grosvenor St. 10th Floor, Hepburn Block Toronto, ON M7A 2C4 Dear Chairperson Fjeldsted and Panel Members: The SOS Committee, on behalf of the users of Sydenham District Hospital and the affected communities, are writing to express our concerns about the process to be followed by the Rural and Northern Health Care Panel. Specifically:
Furthermore, there has been no proper legislative or public consultations process regarding the hospital cuts to date. The LHINs’ “public engagement” has been severely flawed as evidenced by what has become known locally as the “great flicker event.” Our local hospital is vital for our local economy and for the well-being of our residents. It is perplexing that the provincial government has helped to fund a local community task force to find ways to create jobs, start up business and attract industry, yet, if we lose our local emergency department and hospital services they will have struck an irreparable blow to our future growth and development. How can a community that once boasted more industrial jobs per capita in all of Ontario regain some of that “boasting” with no emergency department to protect workers? This area also boasts some of the finest agricultural lands and innovative farmers in all of Canada. Our farmers need a local emergency department to provide protection to farm workers and the many migrant workers who arrive here each growing season. We are also very fortunate to have as our neighbours both St. Clair Township (borders the USA) and Walpole Island First Nation (their community members also helped fund and build Sydenham District Hospital) both of whom have very unique issues related to health care. Issues their capable leadership must be consulted on. As you deliberate about rural and northern health care please keep in mind how you would feel if you lived in one of the affected communities and were faced with the prospect of no local emergency health care. How do you think my daughter and her five week old son feel about that possibility? Rural and northern communities deserve no less than large urban communities when it comes to health care – otherwise how will the rural and northern way of life survive? From a financial point of view if you look at the recent spending scandals at eHealth, WSIB and others we are convinced that if the government stops these abuses this funding should be designated to maintain vital health care services in rural and northern communities – like Wallaceburg, Dresden, Walpole Island, Port Lambton and Sombra and in hospitals such as Sydenham District. The people of these communities made huge sacrifices to not only build but also to support this hospital (which by the way came into the CKHA debt free) and it should not be allowed to die a slow death just because of an inability of others to properly manage taxpayer’s money. In terms of community support for our local hospital we have
done nothing wrong but everything right and we should not be punished because
of that. Thank you for your time. I look forward to your timely response and your public consultation meeting in the community of Wallaceburg. Sincerely, Jeff Wesley ________________________________________________________________________________________________November 26 CKHA plans to rebuild Sydenham Hospital, not close it HEALTH: Disappointed with turnout at public information sessions Posted By BOB BOUGHNER, THE DAILY NEWS Article ID# 2191342 Reassurance that Sydenham campus will not close came yesterday from a top Chatham-Kent Health Alliance official. "Absolutely not,'' Jennifer Wilson, chair of the executive committee of the CKHA triboard, said during a meeting of the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network. "In fact, we want to rebuild it,'' she said. "The hospital is over 50 years old.'' Wilson attended the monthly LHIN meeting with Ken Tremblay, the alliance's outgoing president and CEO. She said an interim successor to Tremblay would be announced during last night's triboard meeting in Wallaceburg. The issue was discussed in-camera and the person's name was scheduled to be released after 11 a. m. today. "A lot of things have closed in Wallaceburg but we have no intention of closing the hospital,'' she said. Tremblay, in an interview, said, "we've been saying for a decade the hospital won't close but some people aren't listening.'' He said the alliance is planning to make a submission to government early next year on its re-development plans for the Wallaceburg campus. "Things aren't going to happen overnight,'' he said. "It's going to be a lengthy process.'' Public information meetings by the alliance in 2010 are likely to include a new partner. Tremblay said he's certain his successor would welcome participation by the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network. The suggestion that LHIN be represented at the meetings came from chief executive officer Gary Switzer. "We are telling the community that you (LHIN) are the new sheriff,'' said Tremblay. Both Tremblay and Wilson described the turnout at seven recent information sessions as "disappointing.'' Only 71 people turned out for the sessions, six of which were held in Wallaceburg and one in Chatham -- it attracted two people. "There are those in the community who either love or hate us,'' said Tremblay. "Some people think I created the LHIN to annoy the public.'' Tremblay said people attending the community forums definitely wanted more information about the LHIN. He said he's invited Switzer to be a guest speaker at an upcoming meeting of the Chatham Rotary Club. Tremblay said the alliance is highly regulated. "We're not a church group or the Boy Scouts but a complicated organization that is highly regulated,'' he said. He said it costs $375,000 a day or $136 million a year to operate the alliance. "We are proud of the fact we are back-to-back recipient of one of the top 100 Canadian employer awards for 2009 and 2010,'' he said. He said pressures will continue for the alliance and challenges will continue to grow. "They will escalate and become more complex,'' he said. "Healthcare is becoming more expensive.'' Tremblay said approximately 700 of the alliance's 1,300 staff are eligible for retirement as is one-third of its physicians. ______________________________________________________________________________________ SOS Editorial: Wilson talks about Sydenham Campus NOT Sydenham HOSPITAL. Our Community deserves full access to our HOSPITAL with full services in ER, When the CKHA with their new interim CEO can tell the community serviced by Sydenham Hospital that the ER and necessary medicine beds will be maintained, then and only then will trust begin. Conrad Noel SOS Vice Chair and and Save Our Sydenham Webmaster ________________________________________________________________________________ November 19- Nov. 26 NEWS RELEASE - URGENT INFORMATION FROM YOUR SOS TEAM As you are aware, the SOS Committee criticized the Premier and his government's plan for its Rural and Northern Health Panel for lack of public consultations. In their present mandate there are no plans for public consultations until after the panel completes its work. This is totally unacceptable. In the very near future, you will be asked to contact individual members of the Panel. Meanwhile, SOS has established a telephone message line for you to express your comments and tell your story as to what has happened to you personally or to your family since the SERIOUS reduction of Sydenham Hospital medical services. The Save our Sydenham Message line is now open. The FREE number to call is 1-877-363-6SOS or 1-877-363-6767. Your comments and personal stories will be summarized and forwarded to the Rural and Northern Health Panel. Once again, here's your chance to influence the decision makers. Please tell anyone and everyone about the SOS message line. Call and tell us your story. Conrad Noel SOS Vice Chair __________________________________________________________________________________ SOS Store Front Window Display Lance Babcock has donated space at 360 James Street (former Fashion Shop) for SOS to display information pertinent to SDH. In the window display you will find a series of articles , pictures, data related to SDH. Conrad ________________________________________________________________________________ SOS Editorial : I have attached the Website Information referred to in the Minister's comments in regards to the five questions. Conrad SOS Vice Chair Rural and Northern Health Care Panel On July 28th, 2009, Ontario officially announced the formation of a Rural and Northern Health Care Panel as stage one of the development of a Rural and Northern Health Care Framework. The mandate of this panel is to identify a vision, strategic directions and principles to assist Government and LHINs in ensuring quality of care as defined by access to care in rural and northern communities. The panel is charged with the task of conducting an environmental scan of existing historical and current work underway, assessing the current state of rural and northern health and producing a final report to be submitted to the Minister. Stages two and three of the staged approach are; Broader Community Consultations and Development of a Provincial Framework/Plan. These stages will commence upon completion of the panel’s work. The panel would appreciate your input and has formulated the following five questions for your consideration. If you would like to provide the panel members with your insight, please submit your comments to: ServiceOntario, INFOline. email: infoline.moh@ontario.ca Rural and Northern Health Care Panel – Questions for Consideration What is the single greatest challenge or barrier to accessing health care services in rural, remote and northern areas today? What is the single most important change that you feel will have the most impact in improving access to health care in rural, remote and northern areas? What do you feel should be the founding vision for improving access to health care in rural, remote and northern areas of the province? What are the guiding principles that are needed to support the province and LHINs in their decision making? Do you have any other comments that you feel are important for the Panel to consider at this early stage of planning? LEARN MORE Rural and Northern Health Care Panel Terms of Reference - PDF McGuinty Government Strengthening Health Care In Rural And Northern Communities Public Inquiries Call ServiceOntario, Infoline at 1-866-532-3161 (Toll-free in Ontario only) TTY 1-800-387-5559. In Toronto, TTY 416-327-4282 Hours of operation : 8:30am - 5:00pm _________________________________________________________________________________ MARIA VAN BOMMEL, M.P.P. Lambton-Kent-Middlesex PRESS RELEASE VAN BOMMEL ASSURED OF PUBLIC FEEDBACK FOR RURAL HEALTH November 3, 2009 Queen’s Park – Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Maria Van Bommel today questioned the Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-term Care about rural health services and the role and mandate of the Rural and Northern Health Care Panel. “There are serious concerns being expressed about the process the panel is following and the lack of consultation to date,” said Van Bommel. “Hearing from Ontarians about health care issues and services in their communities is very important and I know my constituents expect to have a voice. Could the Minister please address the concerns of my constituents?” “Ontarians should have access to high-quality health care no matter where they live in the province,” responded Minister Matthews. “That is why we created the Rural and Northern Panel to examine the unique challenges that these communities face. We will be consulting with Ontarians. This plan is about improving health care services in their communities. Their voices are crucially important to this.” The rural and northern panel will highlight existing programs and services targeting northern and rural communities; identify rural and northern Ontario’s health care challenges; recommend steps the government can take to improve access to health care in rural and northern Ontario using existing resources. Our government is looking forward to seeing the panels’ report early in the New Year. “The panel is now in its first stage,” continued the Minister. “Part of their work includes engaging Ontarians on five specific questions through the website. Their report will then form the base for discussion at broader community consultations – the second phase of our approach – and inform the development of our provincial framework, which is the third and final stage of their work.” “Hospitals are important to communities and constituents in my riding are understandable anxious about changes occurring at their hospitals,” continued Van Bommel. “Could the Minister please confirm that the panel will be looking at the sustainability of hospitals and emergency rooms as part of the larger picture of local health care in rural communities?” “The challenges facing rural and northern communities across Ontario and long-standing, difficult and complex,” said Matthews. “Health care facilities serve multiple roles relative to those in urban centres and are farther apart with significant travel between locations. I can tell you the panel will be recommending guidelines for LHINs, to be used when considering changing roles for health facilities.” “We will continue to invest more in our hospitals, and the health care sector overall – just as we have done in every single year that we have been in office. Hospital funding in Ontario has increased from $10.9 billion in 2003/04 to $15.4 billion in 2009/10 – an overall 42% increase.” According to the Minister, the submission of the panel’s report in the New Year is not the end of the story – it’s a start to an important discussion that will include the community facing these challenges every day. The McGuinty government is committed to working with all our partners and interested Ontarians to develop a framework that helps deliver better care in rural and northern communities. Contact: Maria Van Bommel, MPP 1-416-326-6160 ________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ November 2 NEWS RELEASE – SAVE OUR SYDENHAM COMMITTEE Phone: Jeff Wesley (Home – 519-627-5331 Office - 519-436-4612) Nov. 2, 2009 For Immediate Release SOS Committee Calls for Cross-Province Public Consultations, Moratorium on Hospital Cuts and Closures and Joins a Network of Ontario Groups Fighting the Cuts The SOS Committee is criticizing the Premier and his government’s plans for its Rural and Northern Health Panel for lack of public consultations. How can you make recommendations and decisions about local health care without ever stepping foot in those communities or asking for public input? Noting that many devastating cuts and closures are already underway, SOS is calling for a moratorium pending proper public consultations and a review of the current cuts. The government announced the Panel in response to a major protest against hospital cuts and closures, involving thousands of residents from small and rural communities (including two bus loads of SDH supporters and a key note speech from SOS Chairperson Jeff Wesley) in front of the Ontario Legislature last April. However, when it finally released the Terms of Reference for the Health Minister’s Panel on Rural and Northern Care, there is not a single mention of hospitals. In addition, there are no plans for public consultations until after the panel completes its work (along with recommendations and decisions made) this winter; too late for many of the small and rural hospital cuts and closures now underway. SOS is calling for the following: The Terms of Reference must explicitly include a review of the impact of small and rural hospital cuts and closures on the affected communities. A moratorium on cuts and closures, pending the completion of the Panel’s work, in keeping with the recommendation for a moratorium made by the Ontario Medical Association. Cross-province public consultations, on the record, in the affected communities, with the opportunity for residents to bring their experiences, concerns and submissions forward. “SOS is also joining a call by groups affiliated with the Ontario Health Coalition across Ontario who are angry that the decision to cut and close local hospitals is occurring without any legislation authorizing hospital restructuring across the province, without any proper debate in the legislature and without any real public consultations. It is dishonest and poor governance,” said Jeff Wesley, Chairperson of the Save Our Sydenham Committee. “This Panel is not supposed to be another game of “smoke and mirrors”. It was supposed to respond to the very serious concerns about loss of vital hospital services raised by thousands of residents – not only here but all across the province. Our local hospitals are vital for patient safety, to help reduce wait times and for our local economy. The Premier needs to start listening, not just to bureaucrats in the Ministry of Health, but to patients and health workers in the communities affected. There should be a moratorium on cuts, proper policy developed and debated, and only then could major hospital restructuring be considered.” IMPORTANT UPCOMING ACTIVITIES: 1. Natalie Mehra, Director of the Ontario Health Coalition (representing 400 community organizations fighting to protect rural and northern health care) will be in Wallaceburg on Tues. Nov. 3rd and will be joined by SOS Chairperson Jeff Wesley and SOS member Shirley Roebuck (she is a nurse) for a live interview and question session on local radio station 99.1 CKXS FM beginning at 5:00 pm. All three will also be available for one on one media interviews afterwards. 2. Lance Babcock, a local Wallaceburg business person, has donated space at 360 James Street in Wallaceburg for SOS to use in engaging and informing SDH users and the SDH community on current events and happenings. 3. The SOS Committee is putting the final touches on a unique 1- 800 phone number to allow timely feedback from SDH users and the community served by SDH. This will be a vital part of the local health care information given to the Panel, our local MPPs and the Government. _________________________________________________________________________________ OPEN LETTER TO THE MINISTER OF HEALTH Nov. 2, 2009 Hon. Deb Matthews Minister of Health and Long Term Care 80 Grosvenor St. 10th Floor, Hepburn Block Toronto, ON M7A 2C4 Dear Minister Matthews, The SOS Committee, on behalf of the users of Sydenham District Hospital and the affected communities, are writing to express our concerns about the Terms of Reference and process for your government’s Panel on Rural and Northern Health Care. As you know, the Panel was announced in the legislature, in response to planned questions from government MPPs regarding hospital cuts and closures in their communities. It was announced just prior to a major protest involving thousands of Ontarians affected by hospital cuts and closures in our communities. In many communities, local MPPs announced the Panel to the local media as a government response to large protests and major concern over these cuts. The Terms of Reference for the Panel do not even mention the word “hospital”. Despite requests by the Ontario Health Coalition for public consultations, there are no planned public consultations until after the Panel completes its work and reports to the Minister sometime this winter. We are requesting a revision of the Panel’s Terms of Reference to include cross-province public consultations, on the record, in communities affected by the cuts. This should be a first step, and should inform the Panel’s report and recommendations to the Minister. As residents and taxpayers, we expect that this Panel not be used as more “smoke and mirrors” for a Health Ministry that has consistently denied the extent of the hospital cuts, the risks and impacts of these on patients and our communities. We are calling on your government to ensure that: The Terms of Reference must explicitly include a review of the impact of small and rural hospital cuts and closures on the affected communities. Impose a moratorium on cuts and closures, pending the completion of the Panel’s work, in keeping with the recommendation for a moratorium made by the Ontario Medical Association. Ensure that the Panel on Rural and Northern Health Care conducts cross-province public consultations regarding hospital cuts, on the record, in the affected communities, with the opportunity for residents to bring their experiences, concerns and submissions forward. There has been no proper legislative or public consultations process regarding the hospital cuts to date. The LHINs’ “public engagement” has been severely flawed as evidenced by what has become known locally as the “great flicker event.” There has been no legislation authorizing hospital restructuring across Ontario. There has been no debate in the legislature about the impacts of centralizing hospital services out of local communities. There is no transportation system to ensure timely access for patients in communities losing hospital services. The process to date has been deeply flawed and undemocratic. Our local hospital is vital for our local economy and for the well-being of our residents. We look forward to hearing your response to this request, and we hope that you will bring our concerns to your government. You have taken on a huge challenge but we believe that you are up to the task. As you deliberate about rural and northern health care please keep in mind how you would feel if you lived in one of the affected communities and were faced with the prospect of no local emergency health care. How do you think my daughter and her four week old son feel about that possibility? Rural and northern communities deserve no less than large urban communities when it comes to health care – otherwise how will the rural and northern way of life survive? If you look at the recent spending scandals at eHealth, WSIB and others we are convinced that if your government stops these abuses (which we think you can) then this funding should be designated to maintain vital health care services in rural and northern communities – like Wallaceburg, Dresden, Walpole Island, Port Lambton and Sombra and in hospitals such as Sydenham District. The people of these communities made huge sacrifices to not only build but also to support this hospital (which by the way came into the CKHA debt free) and it should not be allowed to die a slow death just because of an inability of others to properly manage taxpayer’s money. In terms of community support for our local hospital we have done nothing wrong but everything right and we should not be punished because of that. Thank you for your time. I look forward to your timely response. Jeff Wesley Chairperson SOS Committee cc. Maria Van Bommel MPP Pat Hoy MPP Local Media ________________________________________________________________________________ November 2 Letter to the Editor from Pat Davis in response to Wm P. Magee. I would like to take this opportunity to respond to the letter from Mr. Magee who took Bruce Corcoran to task for a splendid editorial he penned more than a month ago. The timing is certainly interesting for it would appear it took such a length of time to find an apologist for Mr. Tremblay. As a citizen in Wallaceburg, I would suggest Mr. Magee would appear to be one of those sadly misinformed individuals who are long on opinion and short on fact. I do hope you offered your views with the experience of having received care at Sydenham District Hospital prior to Mr. Tremblay's arrival when it was a modern, clean, well maintained facility providing outstanding health care by a caring and dedicated staff to more than 25,000 citizens and then more recently after six years under his watch. If you haven't, then I would respectfully submit you do not bring much to the discussion. To be sure, the people in my community understand perfectly where to lay blame and it is not solely with Mr. Tremblay. Believe me; we understand health care decisions are made at Queen's Park. But that does not excuse Mr. Tremblay's arrogant, indifferent, heavy-handed, mean-spirited and patronizing manner in which he dealt with the people of Wallaceburg during his tenure. If you would like examples, feel free to give me a call some time and I will be glad to share my personal experiences of dealing with Mr. Tremblay. I must say I found it pretty rich for you to offer that the only people who questioned Mr. Tremblay's leadership were a "small group in Wallaceburg and North Kent who were part of Jeff Wesley's lobby group." Certainly you are entitled to your view. But may I submit that perhaps yours is a tad coloured by virtue of the fact that your hospital is new, well-maintained and enjoys much of the equipment and services that were paid for by the people of Wallaceburg. The Hay Report which you reference was widely acknowledged as a "junk report." And let me assure you S.O.S was not borne of that failed report and its nonsensical recommendations, but rather goes back to 2003. The facts are Mr. Tremblay has failed to balance the CKHA budget multiple times. It was Mr. Tremblay who closed the birthing centre, medical beds and the Intensive Care Unit among many other services. It was Mr. Tremblay who failed to recruit medical staff to Sydenham and let’s not forget it was Mr. Tremblay who hired and let me be extraordinarily charitable here, "a consultant" to dig up dirt on Jeff Wesley. And speaking of Jeff Wesley allow me to comment on your assertion he has led S.O.S to further his political ambitions. To the contrary sir, he has knowingly and selflessly sacrificed those ambitions by leading a group of passionate citizens fighting to keep what they are entoleted to and paid for. And I say that has one who has opposed him politically for almost 20 years. Of all your misconceptions, by far the most egregious is your failure to understand that when it comes to our community - it’s well being trumps politics every time. Jeff has fought this battle with conviction, truth and with the support of virtually our entire community. In closing, let me say that I wish Ken well as he goes on to Peterborough. I really do. I also hope he does better by them, than he did by us and I hope he will have learned something from his experience here. No doubt his successor will be given the same marching orders as he had. However, it will be our hope as a community that his replacement will be one who will talk with and not down to us. Pat Davis Wallaceburg ON Patrick L Davis, Chief of Staff Bev Shipley's Office Lambton-Kent-Middlesex (519) 627-4899 1-800-585-2640 Cell (519) 784-0669 FAX (519) 627-4635 Email - shiplb1@parl.gc.ca<mailto:shiplb1@parl.gc.ca> _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ MARIA VAN BOMMEL, M.P.P. Lambton-Kent-Middlesex PRESS RELEASE RURAL HEALTH PANEL MEMBERS REVEALED For July 28, 2009 WALLACEBURG—Area MPPs Maria Van Bommel and Pat Hoy today announced the members of the Rural & Northern Health Care Panel that will recommend steps the Province can take to improve access to health care in rural and northern communities. “Our government is committed to providing quality health care for all Ontarians regardless of where they live,” said Van Bommel, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. “We recognize the unique challenges that rural and northern communities face, and are committed to examining these issues and providing a provincial framework to support them.” “The panel’s members represent a broad range of stakeholders and health care professionals who will draw on their experiences working in rural and northern areas,” said Hoy, MPP for Chatham-Kent-Essex. “We also want to identify rural Ontario's unique health care challenges, such as increased travel time required to access health care facilities; recruiting and retaining qualified health care professionals; and providing timely emergency services to remote locations.” “I am committed to improving access to quality health care for people who call rural and northern Ontario home. The diverse skill sets of Rural and Northern Health Care Panel members will prove to be invaluable as we take steps towards strengthening health care for the people in these communities,” said Health Minister David Caplan. “Rural and northern communities are facing difficult and complex challenges. I look forward to working with the panel to develop a planning framework to deliver the best health care possible for rural and Northern communities. We have assembled a team with broad representation to take on this important task and I am confident that everyone will rise to the challenge,” said Hal Fjeldsted, Chair, Rural and Northern Health Care Panel. Members of Ontario’s Rural & Northern Health Care Panel: Hal Fjeldsted (Chair) – Kirkland Lake Brian Bildfell - Essex-Windsor Jocelyn Blais – Hearst, Northeast Ontario Lynn Brown – Fort Erie Mike Brown - Algoma-Manitoulin Margret Comack – North Perth Sheri Doxtator – Oneida Nation of the Thames Kathy Faries - James Bay/Weeneebayko Carol Mitchell – Huron-Bruce Dr. Terry O'Driscoll – Sioux Lookout Raymond Pong – Sudbury/Northeast Ontario Doug Reycraft - Municipality of Southwest Middlesex Gerry Rowlands - Tillsonburg Donna Williams – Balmerton/Northwest Ontario - 30 - Media Contact: Pat Hoy, MPP, 519-351-0510 |
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