MASS LBP is working with two more Local Health Integration Networks to help them develop their Integrated Health Service Plans. Citizens from the Mississauga Halton and Central LHINs were randomly selected through the MASS LBP civic lottery process.

5000 detailed invitation letters were randomly sent out to households in each LHIN asking recipients to enter their names in a draw that would determine the membership of each panel. Once the response deadline had passed, the 'winners' were then blindly selected from a pool of respondents until a given number of demographic attributes had been satisfied. Ultimately, each Panel will deliberate and put forth recommendations that will help guide the health planning strategies of the Mississauga Halton and Central LHINs.

Twenty-eight panelists for the Central Citizens' Reference Panel were selected on April 14, 2009. Thirty-six panelists from Mississauga Halton were drawn on May 8, 2009. Both civic lotteries were performed at the MASS LBP office in Toronto.

Panelists were selected to ensure a fair and evenly distributed representation of the LHIN's population. Prospective panelists were selected according to three criteria: geography, gender and age.

The Mississauga Halton Citizens' Reference Panel will sit for two days in May and June 2009. The Central Citizens' Reference Panel will meet on three occasions in May, June and September 2009.