Whereas the Northern Health Travel Grant program (the “Program”) offers financial assistance to Northern Ontario residents who need to travel long-distances for specialized medical services or procedures at a ministry-funded health care facility;
And Whereas, the grants for this Program are based on the distance residents must travel to reach the nearest medical specialist or ministry-funded healthcare facility;
And Whereas, residents must travel at least 100 kilometers one-way to access the nearest medical specialist or ministry-funded healthcare facility for services that are not available locally to qualify for the grant;
And Whereas, there are many occasions in which residents of Windsor-Essex County must travel at least 100 kilometers one way to access health care facilities or services that are not available locally;
And Whereas, there are four primary children’s hospitals across the province, located in London, Hamilton, Toronto and Ottawa, and none of these facilities are within 100 kilometers of Windsor-Essex County;
And Whereas, it has been reported that more than 5,000 times each year pediatric patients across Windsor-Essex County must drive to London Health Sciences Centre for treatment at its Children’s Hospital, which places a financial strain on families and care-givers;
Now Therefore, the Town of LaSalle calls upon the Provincial Government and Ministry of Health to establish a grant system similar to the Northern Health Travel Grant program in Windsor-Essex County to provide support to the residents of Windsor-Essex County when they need to travel long-distances for specialized medical services or procedures at a ministry-funded health care facilities;
And that, this motion be circulated to all municipalities for support, Premier Doug Ford, MPP Anthony Leardi, Minister of Health and Deputy Premier Ms. Sylvia Jones.