In a scandal-like atmosphere, the LHIN Spin, a report released on the 10th of August, revealed that George Smitherman, Canada’s Former Health Minister, used Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) to make money out of the Government’s health care system, while keeping some entities under control.

The Ontario’s 14 LHINs started working 4 years ago, involving more than 300 workers, with a budget average of $80 million. The 14 LHINs is believed to have added to the bureaucracy of the health care system in Canada, while adding around $40 billion to the Ministry’s pocket.

The former Minister aimed at giving these health officials full control over the system, instead of keeping the whole issue under the mercy of the local Government. However, establishing these groups was pushed forward by the Minister in an attempt to evade being questioned for the continuous rise in the country’s health costs.

The report added some figures to show the magnitude of the swindle, stating that some of Canada’s provinces ended up allocating 46% of its net budget on medical care.

The report clarified, “While members of the 14 LHIN boards of directors are selected from their communities, the extent to which the broader public is actually engaged in decision-making remains undefined and inconsistent”.