October 24th 2005 Premier McGuinty, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman and Dr Alan Hudson announced www.ontariowaittimes.com an ISTCL built, managed and hosted web site to provide the public with real information about wait times in hospitals across Ontario for a variety of procedures including Cancer and Cataract Surgeries, Cardiac Procedures, Hip and Knee Replacements and MRI Scans.

Adding this transparency to the health care system we have witnessed a ground swell of accountability from within the sector and illustrated an ongoing commitment by Premier McGuinty and Minister Smitherman to reducing health care wait times.

As a result of this performance reporting and the public momentum to achieve better results for Ontarians, the Provincial Government has today announced $222.5 Million for Cancer and Cataract Surgeries, Cardiac Procedures, Hip and Knee Replacements and MRI Scans

“The McGuinty government is building on its success in reducing wait times by funding an additional 154,000 medical procedures”, announced Minister Smitherman.

"Our efforts to reduce wait times are working, and today's $222.5 million investment builds on that success," Smitherman said. "Each additional procedure we're funding means one more Ontarian with their eyesight restored, their mobility regained, or success in overcoming a life-threatening disease like cancer. And we're carrying out these procedures more quickly."

Today's funding announcement coincides with ISTCL’s enhancements to www.ontariowaittimes.com released this morning showing comprehensive wait times trending data. ISTCL President, Robert Preston noted, “As this new functionality confirms, province-wide wait times are clearly dropping but more importantly it also adds one more element to the performance data made available to the Ontario public through this ISTCL built web site”.

Dr. Alan Hudson, Lead of Ontario's Wait Time Strategy noted, "The strategy is reducing wait times by collecting accurate data to make better decisions.” For general information on how ISTCL as one of Canada’s Leading Technology Company’s Staffing Solutions can assist your business succeed, contact Jessica Bouchard at 1.800.457.4123 ext 2801 or email Jessica Bouchard

To access the Government information “backgrounders” for the wait time site, please visit:

Backgrounder 1: Ontario's Wait Time Trends Going in the Right Direction: apr/bg_042806.pdf

Backgrounder 2: Improving Access to Five Health Care Surgeries and Procedures: apr/bg_042806a.pdf