Sudbury MP Addresses LifeLabs Closure with Federal Minister of Health

SUDBURY – Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Sudbury, addressed LifeLabs’ recent decision to close its Sudbury Lab with the Federal Minister of Health, Marjorie Michel.

“We know the Ontario Ministry of Health has complete oversight over health laboratories. They have jurisdiction over the operating and licensing of labs in Ontario. But LifeLabs’ decision to close the specimen analysis work in Sudbury will have a direct impact on patient care. Delays in receiving test results creates an inequity, where people in Sudbury and northern Ontario won’t have equal access to care. That is the issue I tabled with the Federal Minister of Health,” said MP Lapointe.

Lapointe said Minister Michel committed to raising the issue with the Ontario Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones. Although it is not within federal health jurisdiction, Minister Michel understood the impact the LifeLabs closure would have on the residents of Sudbury and the northeast, including the loss of 40 Lab Technicians jobs.

On the job losses, MP Lapointe expressed concern for the lab technicians, and the loss of expertise Sudbury could face as a result of the lab closure. “These technicians have a specialized certification, and they work in a specific field. Their opportunities to find new lab processing work in our region is limited. Sudbury has the skilled workforce to do the work that LifeLabs requires.”

Lapointe is pressing the Ontario Ministry of Health to review LifeLabs planned closure. “An assessment should be undertaken to determine LifeLab’s ability to meet provincial requirements in light of this closure.”