CE LHIN puts closure on hold after OPSEU request

'While there is no guarantee that the service will not still close, at least there is now an opportunity to rationally look at these services.'

Toronto (31 Jan. 2011) - The Central East Local Health Integration Network (CE LHIN) has asked Salvation Army Liberty Housing and Support Services to place their closure plans on hold.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) approached the CE LHIN and the minister of health’s office over last week’s unexpected layoff of the facility’s 11 staff. The union had argued that there appeared to be no process in place around the closure.

As a LHIN-funded health care provider, Salvation Army would be responsible for bringing forward an integration proposal to the LHIN. An integration proposal can mean closure of a service or transfer of those services to another provider.

In this case, no integration proposal was brought to the LHIN.

The LHIN also has the power to reject an integration proposal if they feel it is not in the public interest.

This week the LHIN dealt with a similar case – the Oshawa-based United Survivors Support Centre was facing closure. Services by the Centre were redistributed to Durham Mental Health Services and the Canadian Mental Health Association – Durham in an integration decision on Wednesday.

“While there is no guarantee that the service will not still close, at least there is now an opportunity to rationally look at these services and seek a way to either save them or relocate them to another provider,” says OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas.

Any integration proposal brought forward to the LHIN is required to include a human resources adjustment plan.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE