Former MP Jay Aspin is busy this morning as a director on the province's new Ontario Health board.
The purpose of the board is to create a single super-agency that will run the entire $60-billion health delivery system for the province.
The Ontario Health Board of Directors will take on a number of responsibilities, most importantly, ensuring the continuity of patient care throughout the transition process.
The first organizational meeting started at 9 this morning in Toronto.
"This is a real challenge and I'm just humbled to be a member of this board," Aspin told BayToday by phone from Toronto.
When the board is up and running it will oversee all of the province's hospitals, community health services, mental health agencies, cancer treatment centres, organ donation programs, home care, and end-of-life care.
The CEO and a board of directors, which includes Aspin, will be responsible for almost half of Ontario's entire budget.
Bill Hatanaka, of Toronto, is expected to chair the board, with up to 14 additional directors.
Hatanaka serves on the Fund Advisory Board of Invesco Canada and is a member of the Independent Review Committee of RP Investment Advisors.
Aspin's career has included key roles with the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission, the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and as federal Member of Parliament for Nipissing-Timiskaming. Aspin holds the Corporate Director (ICD.D) designation, and served on a variety of boards including the North Bay Civic Hospital Corporation, Certified Management Consultants of Canada, Canadian Space Advisory Board, is Chair of the Near North District School Board, Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Aspin told BayToday his appointment will not affect his position as head of the Near North School Board.
The members of the board of directors for Ontario Health will also be appointed to the boards for each of the Local Health Integration Networks, as well as the following provincial health service agencies: Cancer Care Ontario, eHealth Ontario, HealthForceOntario, Health Shared Services Ontario, Health Quality Ontario and Trillium Gift of Life Network.
"The individuals who have come forward to serve on this board are exemplary," says Christine Elliott, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. "They possess a wide range of specialized skills, from health care to business operations, from logistics to public service delivery, from community engagement to volunteerism. Together, they will ensure that Ontario Health is positioned to modernize and strengthen our public health care system. Our plan will enable local teams of health care providers to know and understand each patient's needs and provide the appropriate, high-quality connected care Ontarians expect and deserve."
