THUNDER BAY, Ont. - Northern Ontario residents who must travel more than 100 kilometres for medical treatment will get some additional financial help, Premier Dalton McGuinty announced Wednesday.

Starting immediately, the province is increasing the mileage rate from 34.25 cents to 41 cents per kilometre, less a 100-kilometre deductible.

The government will also add an overnight accommodation allowance of up to $100 for each medically necessary trip, starting Oct. 1.

The $100 allowance wasn't supposed to start until next January, but McGuinty apparently wanted it made available to residents sooner.

A source in the premier's office said McGuinty was unhappy it would take six months to set up the accommodation allowance, so it will begin shortly before the Oct. 10 provincial election.

McGuinty announced the improvements to the Northern Health Travel Grant program during a stop in Thunder Bay on Wednesday, saying everyone should have access to high-quality health care, no matter where they live.

"It's only right that we provide fair compensation for the cost of receiving care in a timely manner,'' he said.

Critics pointed out that cancer patients in southern Ontario who had to travel outside their region for treatment previously had all expenses paid, including meals, travel and hotels, while northern patients got only a mileage allowance.

The government said Wednesday the medical travel program for southern residents had been cancelled because it was no longer needed after wait times had been reduced.

The opposition said the Liberals are clearly trying to appease northern voters in advance of the election.

"Every little penny certainly helps these people, but I suspect that this is just another opportunity for a photo op,'' said Conservative health critic Elizabeth Witmer.

"Obviously this is an attempt to get votes in northern Ontario.''

NDP Leader Howard Hampton said northerners shouldn't be duped by McGuinty's announcement.

"Dalton McGuinty has ignored the health problems facing northerners for four years,'' Hampton said in a release. "Suddenly, with a tight election race, he's making campaign promises.''

This is the first time the Northern Health Travel Grant has been increased since the previous Conservative government doubled payouts in 2001 by reimbursing patients for both legs of a medical trip.

Northern Ontario residents file more than 155,000 applications for medical travel assistance every year.

The program is available to people living in the districts of Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Muskoka, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timiskaming.