Hon. Eric Hoskins, MPP
Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
10th Floor, Hepburn Block
80 Grosvenor Street
Toronto, Ontario M7A 2C4

Dear Minister Hoskins,

This morning, I learned the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) served notice they were terminating their agreement with the Sydenham District Hospital. Sydenham District Hospital is located in Wallaceburg and in my riding of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex.

This action appears to be the immediate culmination of aggressive and hostile decisions, to the detriment of the healthcare needs of my constituents, which have been precipitated by the Board and CKHA senior administrative staff over the past couple of months.

In saying that, let me acknowledge my information is based largely on what has been reported in the media and on what I have been told by the Chair of the Sydenham District Hospital Board.

I have not been contacted or briefed by any CKHA board member or senior administrative staff relative to these issues.

I would also be remiss if I failed to acknowledge that delivery of healthcare and hospital services is a constitutional responsibility of the provinces and territories. At the same time, significant funding via transfers flows from the federal government to the Province of Ontario under the Canada Health Act (CHA) and through Equalization. As you know, federal funding to provinces under the CHA has increased at 6% a year for several years under successive federal governments.

I believe a review of these issues by your officials will substantiate claims that the health and wellbeing of Wallaceburg, Walpole Island First Nation and area residents are profoundly compromised by the actions of the CKHA. Chief Dan Miskokomon of Walpole Island First Nation in particular has expressed his concerns about the actions of the CKHA.

In the interests of my constituents, I would like to ask your consideration for the following:

Your intervention to prohibit the CKHA from any action which would compromise the health of my constituents relative to services provided by SDH until such time as:

1. Operational funding is restored to SDH including that which is necessary to implement a going forward plan prepared by the SDH Board.

2. Capital funding necessary to restore lands, buildings and equipment at SDH, which have been neglected by the CKHA since the amalgamation agreement was signed, is provided to SDH.

3. All pre-amalgamation assets and equipment transferred by the CKHA are returned from Chatham to SDH.

Minister, this is a public health and safety matter which trumps all others.

I would by very grateful for your favourable consideration of these requests, as I know all residents of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex will be as well.

Yours truly,

BEV SHIPLEY MP
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex