New Index Hinders Rural Doctor Recruitment
The same government that brought you Ontario’s e-health fiasco is creating a new bureaucratic process that will cut funding to many rural communities trying to recruit and retain doctors. The McGuinty government’s “rurality index” means rural communities are given points according to factors such as population and proximity to healthcare facilities. The provincial government says communities who score fewer than 40 points would no longer receive funding for doctor recruitment. Clarington, with an index of 10, Scugog (26) and Uxbridge (27) would no longer be eligible for funding. It looks like no community in the GTA will get any funding to assist with physician recruiting. Communities, through their local elected officials, healthcare professionals, businesses and volunteers have made great strides in attracting physicians to their local clinics and hospitals. Clarington, Uxbridge and Scugog have established physician recruitment committees that have helped local families get doctors. Aside from taking away the rights of communities to work hard and recruit doctors, this index raises the question of whether the McGuinty government is using its new index to reduce medical services in rural areas and small town Ontario.
In other words, the “rurality” index could be used as a way for the government to justify depriving rural and small Ontario communities of healthcare facilities. The rurality index is a complicated concept. However, one factor on the index is proximity of a rural community to larger healthcare facilities – perhaps in a neighbouring city. This allows the provincial government to argue that families can get by without a local physician because they are relatively close to big city hospitals. It’s one more way this government is trying to justify the transfer of healthcare from hometown to downtown. The same thing is happening with our local hospital emergency rooms.
I am circulating a petition in opposition to this new attempt by the McGuinty government to control which communities get doctors by controlling the purse-strings for recruitment. The petition notes that citizens who have been paying this government’s new health tax since 2004 expect healthcare services will be improved rather than cut. Residents of smaller towns and rural communities have little to show for this forgotten tax. If the recruitment funding for doctors is dropped, we’ll have even less. I need your input.
There is a deadline of August 28, 2009 for members of the public to have their say in consultations. I would encourage you to sign the petition and to make your voices heard through the consultation process. I may be reached at 905-697-1501 or 1-800-661-2433 and by e-mail at john.otooleco@pc.ola.org.
It’s time for the McGuinty government to scrap the “rurality index” and get a reality index.
Public Comments Part of Provincial Consultation On Clarington Energy-From-Waste Incinerator
Last week, I had the opportunity to meet senior officials at the Ministry of the Environment regarding the steps the Province of Ontario will take in considering the Environmental Assessment of the incinerator. I have also met and spoken with Ontario’s Environmental Commissioner, Gord Miller to discuss public policy on energy-from-waste. The following is a brief timetable of key dates in the provincial review. Please keep in mind that the dates could be subject to change.
July 31, 2009: Durham Region is expected to formally submit its Environmental Assessment (EA) to the Ministry.
August 7, 2009: First opportunity for public and government agencies to provide comments is likely to begin. This process will continue for approximately seven weeks. At the end of the first public comments, the Ministry of the Environment will prepare its own review of the Environmental Assessment.
October 30, 2009: Second opportunity for public and government agencies to comment is expected to begin. This opportunity for input will last approximately five weeks.
December of 2009 or early 2010: Minister of the Environment, with Cabinet approval, will be required to make a decision on the Environmental Assessment. If the EA is approved, there would be ongoing certificates of approval issued by the Province on engineering and technical matters related to the design and operation of the facility. These applications must include an assessment of all sources of emissions.
Input from citizens and stakeholders will be welcome when the provincial government considers the York/Durham thermal treatment facility. (Also known as an incinerator.) The proposed project to be built south of Hwy. 401, in Courtice, will have a capacity of processing 400,000 tonnes of waste per year.
Whether you support the incinerator, are opposed or are undecided, I would encourage citizens to make the most of the provincial consultation process. This is the last chance to bring all the facts to the attention of the Province of Ontario.
I would like to thank the many constituents who have called, e-mailed or written me regarding the Clarington energy-from-waste proposal. Aside from the technical and environmental issues that must be resolved, this project must not be allowed to proceed unless there are assurances that only the highest international standards are followed in terms of building the facility and monitoring its impacts. I will continue to keep Durham Riding informed of all the details of the provincial review as soon as they are available.
One-Stop Access for OHIP Cards and Driver’s Licence
Starting this fall, Ontarians will benefit from one-stop access to health cards, driver’s licences and vehicle registration services. Over the next several months, ServiceOntario will expand access to health card services from the current 27 OHIP offices to all 300 integrated ServiceOntario Centres. The Province also intends to make driver and vehicle services available at all 300 centres. Vehicle registration stickers are available within five business days when ordered online. The changes announced last week will give people better access to routine government services. Close to 95 per cent of all Ontarians will be within 10 kilometres of an integrated ServiceOntario centre.
