Frequently asked questions

  1. What is a French Language Health Planning Entity?
  2. How many French Language Health Planning Entities exist?
  3. How are French Language Health Planning Entities funded?
  4. What is the difference between a French Language Health Planning Entity and a LHIN?
  5. Why were French Language Health Planning Entities created?
  6. What type of recommendations do French Language Health Planning Entities give to Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs)?
  7. Why is it necessary to offer health care services in French when most francophones are bilingual?
  8. Why aren’t French health care services available throughout the region?
  9. How can a region become designated?
  10. What is a designated agency?
  11. What is an identified agency?
  12. How is funding for the French Language Health Planning Entities determined?
  13. Does Ontario Regulation 515/09 provide recourse mechanisms if French communities are not satisfied with the entities selected?

  1. What is a French Language Health Planning Entity?

    French Language Health Planning Entities are organizations appointed by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) to advise Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) on health matters pertaining to the French community in a given area.

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  2. How many French Language Health Planning Entities exist?

    The Ministry has appointed six (6) entities. Each entity has the mandate to advise two or three LHINs, as required:

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    3. French Language Health Planning Entities

    Local Health Integration Networks
    Entity #1
    		 Erie St. Clair LHIN
    South West LHIN
    Entity #2
    		 Waterloo Wellington LHIN
    Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant LHIN
    Entity #3

    Reflet Salvéo

    		 Central West LHIN
    Mississauga Halton LHIN
    Toronto Central LHIN
    Entity #4

    Entité 4

    		 Central LHIN
    Central East LHIN
    North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN
    Entity #5

    French Language Health Services Network of Eastern Ontario

    		 South East LHIN
    Champlain LHIN
    Entity #6

    Réseau du mieux-être francophone du Nord de l’Ontario

    		 North East LHIN
    North West LHIN

    1 & 2 = Entity 1

    8 & 9 & 12 = Entity 4

    3 & 4 = Entity 2

    10 & 11 = East Network

    5 & 6 & 7 = Reflet Salvéo

    13 & 14 = North Network

  3. How are French Language Health Planning Entities funded?

    Funding, approved by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care for a 5-year term, will be transmitted to the French Language Health Planning Entities via the Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs). Planning Entities and LHINs will enter into accountability agreements to guide their work and determine the activities to be funded.

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  4. What is the difference between a French Language Health Planning Entity and a LHIN?

    LHIN stands for: Local Health Integration Network

    LHINs are responsible for planning, coordinating and financing health services for the entire population in any given geographic area. There are 14 LHINs in Ontario. Entities, for their part, advise LHINs on the planning of French language health services. The LHIN remains responsible for the financing of local health services.

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  5. Why were French Language Health Planning Entities created?

    Each Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) is responsible not only for ensuring that French language health services are available within its catchment area, but also that the needs of the Francophone population are taken into account in the planning of the local health system.

    French Language Health Planning Entities help LHINs identify community needs and plan French services.

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  6. What type of recommendations do French Language Health Planning Entities give to Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs)?

    Entities will advise LHINs on:

    • methods of engaging the local Francophone community;
    • health needs and priorities of the Francophone population in the area, including needs and priorities of diverse groups within that community;
    • health services available to the local Francophone community;
    • strategies to improve integration and accessibility of French language health services within the local health system;
    • identification and designation of health service providers for the provision of French language health services;
    • planning for, and integration of, health services in the area.

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  7. Why is it necessary to offer health care services in French when most francophones are bilingual?

    Access to health services in one’s mother tongue is a determining factor in improving public health. Several studies have linked the availability of health services in one’s mother tongue to improved efficiency of care and to the increased use of preventive health services.

    Research has demonstrated that receiving health care services in a language other than one’s mother tongue has a negative impact on the health of linguistic-minority communities.

    When health services are not available a patient’s mother tongue consultation times are longer; more medical tests are ordered; the odds of misdiagnosis and/or treatment error is increased; and there is a greater likelihood that the patient will not follow their treatment plan.

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  8. Why aren’t French health care services available throughout the region?

    The French Language Services Act does not require all health facilities to offer French language health services. Only those facilities that have been have obtained formal designation are required to offer French language health services.

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  9. How can a region become designated?

    For region to become designated, at least 10% of the population must be Francophone. In urban centres the Francophone population must number at least 5,000 individuals.

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  10. What is a designated agency?

    Designation is a legal recognition by the Government of Ontario, of the agency’s capacity (proficiency?) to provide services in French. Designated agencies must provide services in French on the same terms as government ministries.

    To receive designation, an agency must meet the following criteria:

    • offer quality services in French on a permanent basis;
    • guarantee access to its services in French;
    • have francophones on its board of directors and on its executive board;
    • develop a written policy for services in French that is adopted by the board of directors and that sets out the agency’s responsibilities with respect to French services.

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  11. What is an identified agency?

    Agencies providing public services can be identified by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Local Health Integration Network to obtain designation. These agencies provide, at a minimum, support such as interpretation services and training on cultural awareness to their employees, in order to guarantee quality services. An identified agency is an agency in the process of obtaining its designation.

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  12. How is funding for the French Language Health Planning Entities determined?

    Funding is based on two key factors: the size of the Francophone population in the entity’s geographic boundary, and the geographic dispersion of the area

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  13. Does Ontario Regulation 515/09 provide recourse mechanisms if French communities are not satisfied with the entities selected?

    The selection criteria in the Regulation were intended to ensure the most effective and representative planning entities are engaged to represent and respond to the growing diversity within the French local communities. The Minister may remove an entity if it no longer meets the criteria established by the regulation.

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