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4-The Canadian Champion, Friday, February il, 2005 Health council re-organization Witt nlui iaîwu,1 says luntuaeigut MPP believes change couldfurther tighten Region 's financial situation By LISA TALLYN Special to The Champiort The Liberal governmeni's reorganization ol districi health counicîls int Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) ssIll cheat Halton ouI of scarce health care dollars, says Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh. The 14 networks across the province, 10 be up and running by April, will plan, co- ordinale and l'und health care services. They are 10 do that locally along geograph- îc boundaries that match the way patients currently seek health care. "Right n0w the Liherals want 10 split Halton three or four ways and put parts of Halton mbt funding and planning zones with neighbouring municipalities," said Mr. Chudleigh. "Not only would that take away our collective voice and make Halton residents junior panners in funding and planning for hospîtals and Community Care Access services, but our high growth needs will he lost among those low growth areas that surround Halton." Chudleiglh said splittîng up Halton will pose a problcm for current service agencies, pushing up cosîs asminietratonl their admitratiwonl have to apply for three or more service areas tor contracts. "Halton should Ted Chudleigh stand on ils own, or at least he held togeth- er as a whole within a larger LHIN so ils needs will bc fully recognized. HalIons high growlh must he recognized within a LHIN or under funding will cripple our local health care systemn," said Mr. Chudleigh. David Jensen, a spokesperson with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, said, however, that the boundaries for the networks aren't final yet. He said they are currently heing reviewed and its 001 known yet when the End Son.. ul I i I n ae L A &»BO0Y FUR NITU RE GA LLERI ES» GREAT REBATE E-V- E- N-T Gel LA-Z-BOY" REBATES UUREDATE S ON SELECT lA-Z-11OY OCCUNEUIS & CIRSI' j135OREBATEMI111111111IM11'1 IN SLCT lA-Z-OT LEamDiER KA ,S ANLR LSEADER1C 1mluu RE m N SmSOF ----------------- 'SEllA DI ~ I BI STAT fAUTE+ 1!500REBATEM LA-ZM Mi-O MA-iI ON SELECT LA-Z-BOT SEEllONAS A NOTUONIRIIAI SEAIN6 BS INCLOING LEADER lA .TMil o Il :l &, 1L9-4e 0a 1i:lI ilI l :N i M L A ~ Bos4 0os'p~o You6s~smta- F0 Usiystr R0 N0 13 T 000GALLE LEASE FOR $299FOR 48 MONTHS WIH$O DOWN tinai boundaries will bc set. IJoder the prosince's canrent pioposal. Multon andi Oakville are to bc included in the Mississauga Oaks'iIll Health Integration Network and Boirlington is to be covered hy the Hamnilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Network. Mr. Jensen stressed that the idca behinol LHINs. -is vou're going Io) get the mioney where it's needed.' -They (the local networks) cao respond more effectively,' said Mr. Jensen. Minister of Health and Long-Term Care George Smitherman said last year when the govemment unveiled details of LHINS that they "will vastly improve our ability 10 respond to the health care needs of local communities." "For the patient, this means better access 10 the care they need as close toi home as possible." said Mm. Smitherman. Steve Isaak, executive director of the Halton-Peel District Healîh Council, said there ls "no question in my mind there are mauy positive stmengths that Halton bas been able 10 bring te0 co-coordînating and integrating health and social services with- in the current boundary." He disagrees, however, with Mr. Chudleigh that Halton will be cheated out of dollars under the new sysîem. "I don't think the funding is at risk because the total funding pot will still exist," said Mr. Isaak. "The vision for the networks is the right way Io go. It's essentially goîng to allow the planning and funding allocation deci- sions t0 be made together based on local information," said Mr. Isaak. -2.5, t6 Salue, DOHC toîrne (l 75HP) - 4 Wheel Disc BtaSes -Mudguards (Front & Iet - Auto On/Off Headlights - Heated Outside Mireors (Colour Keyed) - 8 Way Manual Onuer's Seat -60/40 Split Seat Seat w/Lock - VanIable Intermittent Wrpers -Remote Fuel Lid Release - Power TSueS Release - Ceuise Control -Tilt & Telescope Steerna Colutee (Maeual) - Per Heuted Outside Mireors - Power Dout Looks - Power Winedows W/Osue s Orde Auto "Up/Down' - AM/FM/COAudio Systeet (100 Watt - S Speakers - lmmobilizer Key System - Automatic Transmission *M 5AI 2 S 4 o hIa sW 3 ,AL P,, ! a NUORTH ENUD 610 IV MI LT( IARTIN STREET, IN 905-878-4137 w.sana SHIFT ~Lee to visit China tor larmrng study WardA 1 and 3 Councillor Barry Lee will soon be heading Io China t0 take part in an agricultural study group. Mr. Lee said he was approached to participate with a group that's exploring agricultural issues overseas. departing March 26 and returning April 9, Regional counicil gave him the go ahead for the trip and approved $5,000 from the councillor conference budget Wednesday for bis venture. "1 believe my participation with this study group will enable me toi bring back several models which will assist us ail in developing a more comprehensive, well-planned agri- cultural policy for the Region," Mr. Lee said in a report on the trip. He told counrcil he's very excited about taing part in the group and said he thinks it wiIl assist himi in bis work on var- ious committees, like the Halton agricultural advisory com- mittee. The itinerary for the trip can be viewed at www.agri- tourscanada.com. FOI relquest rating pe.àarfect for Region Halton Region's clerk's department receive top marks in 2004 for responding t0 Freedom otf Information (FOI) requests. A report from Halton Director of Legal Services Mark Meneray said 1001 per cent of FOI requests received by the clerk's office were processed wîthin the 30 day time limit. The report also noted that about 74 per cent of requesters asked for general records, while 26 per cent asked for their own person- ai information. The requests come under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, sshich gives the public access t0 govemment-held records while impostng miles on municipalities, local boards and commissions regarding the protection of person- ai information. NORTH END NISSAN'S CURE TO THE FEBRUARY BLAHS! L üo 10àF ýF f p2ÔO OF i