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 ministry-funded health care facilities;
And that, this motion be circulated to all municipalities for support, Premier Doug Ford, MPP Anthony Leardi, MPP Andrew Dowie, Minister of Health and Deputy Premier Ms. Sylvia Jones and all local municipalities.
Carried.