June 2, 2006

NEW LISKEARD - The McGuinty government is strengthening community-based services by funding the construction of a new building to house the Centre de santé communautaire du Témiskaming (CSCT) and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) New Liskeard Branch, Health and Long Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.

“We’re on the side of families in Temiskaming who deserve access to quality mental health and primary care”, Smitherman said. “This innovative partnership will result in even better service in the future.” 

The government is providing up to $4.74 million for the cost of the 19,000 square foot project.  This funding will cover the land acquisition, planning and development, construction and some furnishing and equipment costs. Once completed, residents will be able to access community-based mental health services, primary health, nutrition, health promotion and disease prevention services at the new centre, as well as programs for caregiver and grief support, fitness, diabetes and rural farm health.

“This is a very important announcement for the people of Temiskaming Shores. The funding will change the way our services are delivered by allowing us to bring better, more co-ordinated care to the local area,” said Jocelyne Maxwell, Executive Director, Centre de santé communautaire du Témiskaming. “By sharing one location, the CSCT and CMHA are ensuring that local residents have access a full range of services in one location.”

CSC de Témiskaming provides multi-disciplinary primary health care from its headquarters in New Liskeard, and its satellites in Earlton and Kirkland Lake.

"The very best kind of health care is the care offered in the community" said David Ramsay, MPP Temiskaming-Cochrane. "This innovative merging of facilities is going to result in better more comprehensive care for the people of this region, where they need it most -- closer to home."

This is just the latest example of how the McGuinty government is on the side of Ontario families wanting quality community-based services. Other initiatives include :

• Investing $117.8 million to improve home care and community support services
• Providing $75 million over three years to create an additional 22 Community Health Centres and 17 satellite CHCs to improve access to the full range of primary care services, including health promotion and disease prevention
• Investing $68.5 million to improve access to community-based mental health services for 22,910 more Ontarians this year.

Today’s initiative is part of the McGuinty government’s plan for innovation in public health, building a system that delivers on three priorities - keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.

For further information :

Members of the general public : (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154

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