Smitherman's Bill 8 threatens for Ontario's Catholic hospitals.

Toronto--Erosion of the Catholicity of Ontario's Catholic hospitals seems set to continue during the term of Dalton McGuinty's Liberal government.

The cost of patient services continues to escalate in all hospitals and most institutions have run deficits in order to meet them. Health Minister George Smitherman is bringing in Bill 8; this proposes to introduce "accountability agreements" making hospital chief executive officers directly accountable to the Ministry of Health rather than to the (volunteer) members of the hospital board.

While board members and CEO's of regular secular hospitals have problems enough with this approach--the potential sidelining of the boards is not balanced by any obligation on the part of the Ministry--the character of Catholic hospitals in Ontario is particularly under threat.

Concerns have been expressed by members of the Catholic Health Corporation of Ontario that conditions imposed by Bill 8 would have a chilling effect on the recruitment of suitable board members and medical staff, many of whom are attracted by the mission and values of Catholic hospitals. Catholic hospitals are not sure just what Smitherman means by "accountability." Sister Bonnie MacLellan of CHCO has no problem with the financial aspect of this word; she is, however, concerned that Catholic hospitals may be required to offer services "that may not be in keeping with the mission of the Catholic Church."

Bill 8 has been through second reading in the Ontario legislature and is currently into a 60-day period of consultation (Files from Star, Catholic Register).