Media Release HISTORIC RESOLUTIONS SIGNED IN NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO MOOSONEE AND MOOSE FACTORY HOSPITALS TO PROCEED WITH INTEGRATION

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1 Media Release HISTORIC RESOLUTIONS SIGNED IN NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO MOOSONEE AND MOOSE FACTORY HOSPITALS TO PROCEED WITH INTEGRATION Thursday, July 15 th, 2010 (Msnee) After a three-year prcess, histric reslutins were signed tday in Msnee, Ontari cnfirming cmmitment t integrate the prvincial James Bay General Hspital and the federal Weeneebayk Health Ahtuskaywin int the new Weeneebayk Area Health Authrity (WAHA). This histric event invlved crpratin and cllabratin amng leadership f the NE LHIN, the Bards, the Chiefs f the Hudsn and James Bay cmmunities as well as the Federal, Prvincial and Municipal gvernment. Reslutins by the three hspital bards Weeneebayk Health Ahtuskaywin, James Bay General Hspital, and WAHA cnfirm their cmmitment t prceed with integratin by way f the Nrth East LHIN s Vluntary Integratin prcess. The gal is t have the integratin cmpleted by Octber 1, This integratin f hspital prgrams and services will imprve the quality, accessibility, delivery, effectiveness, efficiency and cultural apprpriateness f health care services in cmmunities alng the Hudsn and James Bay Cast. The new WAHA will ensure better crdinatin f federal and prvincial prgrams and services, as well as imprve the utilizatin f health prfessinals, facilities and equipment. WAHA will serve a vast gegraphy with hundreds f kilmeters between the area s cmmunities, many accessible nly by air r water. During the extensive prcess t achieve tday s milestne f a cmmitment t vluntary integratin, the NE LHIN has attempted t ensure expectatins with regards t WAHA are fully met fr members f the signatry cmmunities. The WAHA Bard is a cmmunity-based reginal bard and will enter int a service accuntability agreement with the Nrth East LHIN nce the integratin is cmplete. Similar t the accuntability agreements between the Nrth East LHIN and it s 26 ther Nrth East LHIN hspitals, this agreement will utline the funding prvided t WAHA and the perfrmance indicatrs WAHA will meet in the delivery f its services. The WAHA Bard members include: Le Lne, Chair Frt Albany Lucille Uiselt, Vice Chair, Msnee Andrew Linklater, Treasurer Frt Albany Henry Ksees, Kashechewan

2 Jhnny Ksees, Kashechewan Bb Gravel, Msnee Gerge Small, Mcreebec Je Hunter, Peawanuck Mike Waban, Peawanuck Mike Okimaw, Attawapiskat Christine Kstachin, Attawapiskat QUOTES Deb Matthews, Minister f Health and Lng-Term Care Tday s signing f these reslutins demnstrates the respectful, thughtful and cllabrative apprach necessary t respnd t the health needs and pririties f Ontari s residents, particularly in ur nrthern cmmunities. Luise Paquette, Nrth East LHIN CEO Tday s achievement is made pssible by the cllective effrt f many peple, all f whm share the gal f imprving the health care status f peple living in ur cmmunities alng the Hudsn and James Bay Cast. Randy Kapashesit, NE LHIN Bard Member Bth as a Nrth East LHIN Bard member, and as a lcal cmmunity member, I lk frward t seeing this prcess result in the imprvement f health care services fr peple living in the cmmunities that the WAHA Bard will serve. Le Lne, Chair f WAHA After many years f wrking t imprve the health f ur peple, we are ready t take the next imprtant step t make integratin a reality. Gerge Small, Chair f Weeneebayk Health Ahtuskaywin The Weeneebayk health authrity has strived t change health care fr the better. The immergence f WAHA is a cntinuatin f ur cllective effrts. Lucille Uiselt, Vice Chair f the James Bay General Hspital and WAHA We lk frward t a mre efficient health care system that will serve all f us and that WAHA will deliver fr us.

3 Wayne Taipale, Mayr f Msnee The twn f Msnee has always been supprtive f wrking with ur neighbring First Natins cmmunity t imprve health care services fr all f us. We are pleased t see the cperatin amng the health Bard t achieve integratin and the frmal establishment f WAHA. QUICK FACTS Apprximately 11,500 residents live in the James Bay and Hudsn Bay castal cmmunities 87% f Abriginals living in the James Bay and Hudsn Bay Cast (Statistics Canada). The Lcal Health System Integratin Act gives LHINs the legislative pwer and authrity they need t effectively plan, crdinate and fund their lcal health service prviders t make it easier fr patients t access the care they need. The NE LHIN has wrked as an active partner in leading and advancing the Weeneebayk Area Health Authrity since The Weeneebayk General Hspital is the last and nly funded federal hspital in Ontari. LEARN MORE Backgrunder is attached Fr mre detailed infrmatin n this release, please cntact: Natalie Tarini, Cmmunicatins Officer: ext. 238 r natalie.tarini@lhins.n.ca. Frm left t right: Lucille Uiselt; Vice Chair James Bay General Hspital, Peter Vaudry; Interim Bard Chair NE LHIN, Le Lne; Chair WAHA, Gerge Small; Chair Weeneebayk Health Ahtuskaywin.

4 Frm left t right: Jim Harrld; CEO f WAHA, Kelly Reuben; Interim CEO f WAHA, Eric Sparks; CEO James Bay General Hspital, Luise Paquette; CEO Nrth East LHIN. -30-

5 Backgrunder Signed Reslutins Cnfirm Cmmitment t Integratin The Weeneebayk Area Health Integratin Framewrk Agreement was signed August 31, 2007 by the by the Federal and Prvincial Ministers f Health, five cmmunities f the Weeneebayk Area, and the Twn f Msnee. The agreement was meant t prvide a framewrk fr the: Creatin f WAHA. Merging f hspitals in the Weeneebayk Area, t be perated by Weeneebayk Area Health Authrity (WAHA). Planning, management and delivery f health care and related prgrams and services in the Weeneebayk Area by WAHA n an integrated basis. Funding f health care and related prgrams and services t be delivered by WAHA, whereby Canada wuld prvide cntributin funding primarily fr nursing and public and cmmunity health prgrams and services fr First Natins and Inuit persns, and Ontari will prvide funding primarily fr physician and hspital services; and Capital planning fr Health Care Infrastructure and the prvisin f capital funding frm Canada and Ontari. On Octber 7, 2008, WAHA crpratin was created. On May 28, 2010, the Mushkegwuk Cuncil annunced that the Signatries in attendance were in favur f cntinuing with immediate prgress under the LHIN Vluntary Integratin in rder t get the integratin underway in a timely manner. An Operatinal Grup led by KPMG and cnsisting f representatives frm Health Canada, Ministry f Health, NE LHIN and the three hspitals cntinued t wrk n the integratin f James Bay General Hspital and Weeneebayk General Hspital int WAHA. On July 14, 2010, NE LHIN annunced the signing f reslutins by the three hspital bards: James Bay General Hspital, Weeneebayk General Hspital and WAHA. These reslutins cnfirm their cmmitment t prceed with integratin by way f the Vluntary Integratin prcess. The gal is t have the integratin cmpleted by Octber 1, 2010.