Data

General Issues
Health
Economics
Planning & Development
Specific Topics
Quality of Health Care
Health Care Reform
Collections
OECD Project on Representative Deliberative Processes
Location
Mississauga
Canada
Scope of Influence
Regional
Links
Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network: Citizens’ Reference Panel on Local Health Priorities
Mississauga Halton LHIN Integrated Health Service Plan: 2010–2013 Leading Health System Integration
Start Date
End Date
Ongoing
No
Time Limited or Repeated?
A single, defined period of time
Purpose/Goal
Make, influence, or challenge decisions of government and public bodies
Develop the civic capacities of individuals, communities, and/or civil society organizations
Approach
Consultation
Spectrum of Public Participation
Involve
Total Number of Participants
36
Open to All or Limited to Some?
Limited to Only Some Groups or Individuals
Recruitment Method for Limited Subset of Population
Random Sample
General Types of Methods
Deliberative and dialogic process
Planning
General Types of Tools/Techniques
Facilitate dialogue, discussion, and/or deliberation
Propose and/or develop policies, ideas, and recommendations
Recruit or select participants
Specific Methods, Tools & Techniques
Citizens' Reference Panel
Deliberation
Workshop
Civic Lottery
Legality
Yes
Facilitators
Yes
Face-to-Face, Online, or Both
Both
Types of Interaction Among Participants
Discussion, Dialogue, or Deliberation
Express Opinions/Preferences Only
Decision Methods
General Agreement/Consensus
Idea Generation
Communication of Insights & Outcomes
Public Hearings/Meetings
Primary Organizer/Manager
MASS LBP
Type of Organizer/Manager
Regional Government
For-Profit Business
Type of Funder
Regional Government
Staff
Yes

CASE

Mississauga-Halton Citizens' Reference Panel Integrated Health Services Plan

August 4, 2020 Joyce Chen
July 25, 2020 Jaskiran Gakhal, Participedia Team
April 30, 2019 Jaskiran Gakhal, Participedia Team
May 28, 2017 MASS LBP
April 9, 2010 MASS LBP
General Issues
Health
Economics
Planning & Development
Specific Topics
Quality of Health Care
Health Care Reform
Collections
OECD Project on Representative Deliberative Processes
Location
Mississauga
Canada
Scope of Influence
Regional
Links
Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network: Citizens’ Reference Panel on Local Health Priorities
Mississauga Halton LHIN Integrated Health Service Plan: 2010–2013 Leading Health System Integration
Start Date
End Date
Ongoing
No
Time Limited or Repeated?
A single, defined period of time
Purpose/Goal
Make, influence, or challenge decisions of government and public bodies
Develop the civic capacities of individuals, communities, and/or civil society organizations
Approach
Consultation
Spectrum of Public Participation
Involve
Total Number of Participants
36
Open to All or Limited to Some?
Limited to Only Some Groups or Individuals
Recruitment Method for Limited Subset of Population
Random Sample
General Types of Methods
Deliberative and dialogic process
Planning
General Types of Tools/Techniques
Facilitate dialogue, discussion, and/or deliberation
Propose and/or develop policies, ideas, and recommendations
Recruit or select participants
Specific Methods, Tools & Techniques
Citizens' Reference Panel
Deliberation
Workshop
Civic Lottery
Legality
Yes
Facilitators
Yes
Face-to-Face, Online, or Both
Both
Types of Interaction Among Participants
Discussion, Dialogue, or Deliberation
Express Opinions/Preferences Only
Decision Methods
General Agreement/Consensus
Idea Generation
Communication of Insights & Outcomes
Public Hearings/Meetings
Primary Organizer/Manager
MASS LBP
Type of Organizer/Manager
Regional Government
For-Profit Business
Type of Funder
Regional Government
Staff
Yes

The Mississauga-Halton Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) commissioned MASS LBP to convene a 36-resident reference panel to deliberate on health trends and issues before drafting recommendations for the LHIN's integrated health service plan.

Problems and Purpose

In 2009, MASS LBP completed a lengthy engagement process to help the Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) determine priorities for $1.8 billion in annual health care spending.

Over three months, MASS LBP engaged health service providers, physicians, community leaders and citizens about their priorities for the next three-year (2010-2013) Integrated Health Services Plan (IHSP). The process concluded with the Citizens' Reference Panel on Local Health Priorities, a body of thirty-six randomly selected citizens assembled to give residents of Mississauga Halton an opportunity to have their voices heard.

Background History and Context

Established in Ontario in 2005, Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) were "given a mandate to engage the residents and health service providers in their communities."[1] Every three years, the LHIN is expected to create an Integrated Health Service Plan to guide priorities and actions for the LHIN for the following three-year period.[1] Across Ontario, there are 14 LHINs, one of which is the Mississauga Halton LHIN.

Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities

MASS LBP operated as contractor for the Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network (MH LHIN), creating and facilitating the public engagement process.[2]

Participant Recruitment and Selection 

The 36 members of the Reference Panel were randomly selected through a civic lottery.

Methods and Tools Used

This case used the civic lottery and Citizens' Reference Panel methodologies characteristic of other participatory events designed by MASS LBP Citizens' reference panels refer to "a non-compulsory public jury used in Canada to provide policy advice to public and elected officials. They are generally convened by the government or a public agency and typically meet several times over a period of weeks or months to learn about, discuss, and reach agreement (or alignment) on a contentious public issue."[3] 

What Went On: Process, Interaction, and Participation

Preparation for the 2010-2013 IIHSP began in late April when MASS LBP hosted a workshop with leaders of Mississauga Halton's diverse communities. The afternoon of learning and discussion allowed the LHIN to connect with representatives of ethno-cultural groups and associations. Leaders had an opportunity to hear about the services available throughout the region, while the LHIN learned about how they can make existing services more accessible. In the end, the session proved to be a valuable learning experience for everyone involved.

A few weeks later, MASS LBP facilitated a dedicated session en francais for leaders of the Francophone community to address their particular needs.[4]

In early May, MASS LBP hosted a forum for over 100 health service providers representing hospitals, community support services, mental health and addictions, and long term care. The forum was an intensive, full day event where providers were introduced to the LHIN's strategic priorities before sitting down in small groups to talk about how their needs will be met — or not met — by the plan.[4]

Shortly thereafter, MASS LBP sat down with physicians at the Trillium Health Centre to discuss how the LHIN can better equip them with the information they need to help their patients access treatment at the community level.

The final stage of Preparing for 2010-2013, was the Citizens' Reference Panel on Local Health Priorities. Held over two Saturdays in May and June, the Panel brought together randomly selected citizens from the Mississauga Halton region to learn about health care delivery, exchange ideas and make recommendations for the 2010-2013 IHSP.[4]

Throughout, a series of specially designed and facilitated activities helped panelists work collaboratively on advice to the LHIN. Together, they studied the LHIN's IHSP framework, defined and provided key insight into the six strategic priority areas and key enablers to achieve those goals.[1]

  1. Empowering Citizens
  2. Health Human Resources
  3. Education and Prevention
  4. Accessibility
  5. Serving Populations within the LHIN: Paediatric Care, Seniors, Mental Health and Addiction Services
  6. Accountability

Influence, Outcomes, and Effects

The recommendations of the Citizens' Reference Panel was released in a report to the Mississauga Halton LHIN.

The Panel's proceedings concluded in a special ceremony where each panelist was presented with a personalized certificate of public service.

Altogether, Planning for 2010-2013 represents one of MASS LBP's most comprehensive and challenging public engagement programs to date. Feedback was received from dozens of agencies and hundreds of people from different walks of life, all passionate about the shared health care system.

Analysis and Lessons Learned 

Want to contribute an analysis of this initiative? Help us complete this section!

See Also

Citizens' Reference Panel 

MASS LBP

Halton Region Citizens’ Reference Panel on Strategic Priorities 2011 and 2015

Ontario Reference Panel on Health Technologies and on Integrated Health Services 

References

[1] Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network. (2009). Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network: Citizens’ Reference Panel on Local Health Priorities: May 30th and June 13th, 2009. Toronto, ON: MASS LBP. http://www.mississaugahaltonlhin.on.ca/~/media/sites/mh/uploadedfiles/Ho... [pdf]

[2] MASS LBP. (n.d.). MASS celebrated its 25th panel in 2016 — making Canada a modern leader in deliberative democracy. https://www.masslbp.com/rrp

[4] MH LHIN. (2009). Mississauga Halton LHIN Integrated Health Service Plan, 2010–2013. https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&u...[pdf]

External Links

Mississauga Halton LHIN Official Website

MH LHIN - Integrated Health Service Plan, 2010-2013.

Notes