Credit Valley FHT to be expanded to serve local Francophone population

TORONTO/CNW/ - The Office of the French Language Services Commissioner is pleased to report that the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will be implementing concrete measures to ensure the development of primary French-language health care services in the Peel-Halton region. After carefully considering various potential delivery models, the Ministry has determined that the expansion of the Credit Valley Family Health Team is the best option to respond to the needs of the local Francophone population. This family health team will work in collaboration with the Centre de services de santé Peel et Halton — the organization that had initially turned to the Commissioner's Office for help. QUOTE "This good news allows us to look toward the future with renewed confidence, knowing that Francophones in the Peel-Halton region will soon have access to health services in French," said Commissioner François Boileau. "This positive outcome would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of our complainants and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's commitment to achieving results." QUICK FACTS

In March 2010, the Commissioner's Office presented an investigation report requesting concrete measures from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to address the lack of French-language health services in the Peel-Halton region.
As a first response to this investigation, the Ministry acknowledged that it was ultimately responsible for the provision of equivalent French-language health services; the Ministry then proceeded to modify the criteria used to select family health teams to reflect the specific situation of the Francophone community.
The Centre de services de santé Peel et Halton has received $125,000 from the Ministry to help with the recruitment of health professionals and help set up these new services.
The Credit Valley Family Health Team hopes to welcome its first Francophone patients by March 31, 2012.

LEARN MORE Read the French Language Services Commissioner's investigation report at www.flsc.gov.on.ca in the PUBLICATIONS section.