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Our Diversity
The Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network is diverse - in its people, in its places, in its needs, and in its strengths.
Our Communities
The HNHB LHIN encompasses the areas of Brant, Burlington, Haldimand, Hamilton, Niagara and Norfolk, which each have a rich history of local identification and sense of community, despite the fact that there have been numerous boundary changes over the past three decades. The Regional Municipality of Niagara encompasses 12 municipalities. The new City of Hamilton incorporates 6 former municipalities and the counties of Haldimand and Norfolk were untied in 1974 and they separated again in 2001. Brant area, which includes both the City of Brantford and surrounding county of Brant, underwent additional boundary revisions in 2005. Burlington, part of the Regional Municipality of Halton, is considered part of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The HNHB LHIN appreciates the natural communities within our boundaries and plans for the health system recognizing its unique and diverse communities.
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Our Populations
The HNHB LHIN has the second largest population of all LHIN regions in Ontario. HNHB LHIN has wide variations in population density, given it includes both urban and rural land area. While Haldimand and Norfolk have the greatest percentage of rural settlement, it is important to note that all communities in the HNHB LHIN include rural areas. Approximately 70 percent of the HNHB LHIN population resides in Hamilton or Niagara. In general, the population is aging in all HNHB LHIN communities. This changing age structure is expected to produce greater demands on the health system. The median age in Haldimand, Norfolk and Niagara is greater than the Ontario average; and Niagara has the greatest percentage of seniors 75 years + in Ontario.
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Our People
Both Hamilton and Niagara are designated areas for French language services, as more than 5,000 people in each area identify their mother tongue as French. Hamilton is one of the top ports of entry for new immigration into Canada and as a result, approximately one-quarter of the city’s population are immigrants. HNHB LHIN has a significant concentration of Aboriginal peoples. Two of the largest First Nations territories reside in the area extending through Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk, with about half living on Reserves. Niagara, with its close proximity to the United States border, is a major receiver of refugees, which are not likely to be captures through census enumeration. There are also seasonal migrant workers who locate in Niagara, Haldimand and Norfolk for temporary agricultural and tourism employment, who are not included in our official population statistics.
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Our Health Needs
Lower income is associated with increased morbidity, premature deaths, as well as greater utilization of health services. The median income of residents in HNHB LHIN is below the Ontario average. Burlington is more affluent than other areas in HNHB LHIN, and its inclusion in the statistical calculation inflates the region’s median income, which would otherwise be significantly lower. In Hamilton, one in five residents are living in poverty and the community is currently discussing an anti-poverty agenda to address this problem.
Self-reported health status is a well-known indicator of the health status of a population. Poorer self-reported health is associated with greater use of health services. In the HNHB LHIN, the percentage of the population reporting fair or poor health is higher than the provincial average for Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk and Hamilton. The percentage of residents reporting limitations requiring assistance is also greater than the provincial average for all areas, with the exception of Burlington.
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