RESOLUTION FOR GTAH MAYORS AND CHAIRS COMMITTEE

Friday April 28, 2006

Whereas local access to hospital and other health care services is essential for building strong, prosperous and healthy communities;

Whereas the GTA/905 Regions of Durham, Halton, Peel and York are among the fastest growing regions in Ontario, expanding by over 100,000 residents each year and representing half the annual population growth in Ontario;

Whereas Provincial funding for Ontario’s hospitals fails to take into account the increasing need for local hospital services in high growth regions of Ontario, such as the GTA/905 Regions of Durham, Halton, Peel and York such that there is a large and growing funding gap for hospital services in the GTA/905 compared to the rest of Ontario;

Whereas the GTAH Mayors and Chairs fully support Premier McGuinty’s request for a fairer share of federal transfer payments and that Ontario’s argument with the Federal Government parallels the GTA/905’s hospital funding situation vis-à-vis other Ontario regions;

Whereas new or expanded hospitals facilities across the GTA/905 Regions will not result in additional hospital operating funding until construction is completed over the next number of years,

Whereas the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in July 2005 committed to a “growth and efficiency adjustment” in hospital funding for the 2006/07 fiscal year and this funding has yet to be allocated;

And Whereas GTA/905 residents are now contributing more that $570 million to the Province of Ontario by way of the health care tax;

Be it resolved that the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Mayors and Chairs ask the Province of Ontario to:

1.       Provide immediate growth funding to GTA/905 hospitals so they can meet the hospital care needs of the growing number of residents in GTA/905 communities

2.       Commit to funding new Local Health Integration Networks (LHIN) for hospital and other health care services on the basis of LHIN population size, growth and characteristics

3.       Begin developing a hospital and health services plan for Ontario’s high growth regions to help build the “complete communities” envisioned in Places to Grow.

And that this resolution be sent to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and the Minister of Finance, as well as the area municipalities in the 905 area for endorsement.