Health's prognosis uncertain

Members within the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care received a health scare of their own last week when documents released by the Official Opposition identified the Ministry for significant overhaul. Before most members were aware that their Division, Branch or Unit had been identified for change of any kind, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliot had already refuted the information as “internal non-partisan public service documents” that she had never seen. Her comments came despite some of the documents denoting the appointment of board members and references in other instances to cabinet approval having been achieved. The Minister went on to say that her Government would be bringing “desperately needed and overdue changes” to Ontario’s healthcare system at a later date.

The documents, be they draft or otherwise, left little if any of MOH&LTC functions provided by public servants untouched. The prognosis for AMAPCEO’s members in the Ministry of Health (approx. 1,700) and HQO and PHO (approx. 250) remains uncertain given the Government hasn’t formally tabled its intentions and the Ministry hasn’t consulted with bargaining agents – or health sector stakeholders. Exactly what role the ‘super agency’ will fulfill also remains unknown, as does the rationale as to why so many functions of the public service need to be divested to an agency acting outside the Ministry.

Former Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Bob Bell has thoughtfully articulated a number of concerns, many of which AMAPCEO shares, including most-recently in the Toronto Star.

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/07/15/busting-the-myth-of-bloated-health-care-bureaucracy.html

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2019/01/17/dont-harm-cancer-care-ontario-while-restructuring-health-agencies.html

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2019/02/01/tory-health-plan-uncharted-waters-for-750000-ontarians-receiving-home-care.html

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2019/02/07/health-care-super-agency-wrong-solution-for-ontarios-four-big-problems.html

AMAPCEO will continue its diligent efforts to protect members’ job security and to remind the Government of its promise to the electorate of no layoffs in the public service. Ontario remains the most cost-effective public service of any jurisdiction in the country. We urge the Minister and the greater Government to not only listen to experts like Dr. Bell, but to consult the public service, bargaining agents, health sector stakeholders and the public as a whole.

Getting it right, within the Ministry that oversees everyone’s health, is critical.

Dave Bulmer
President