Towns seek more money for health units

Ken Johnston

The Rainy River District Municipal Association (RRDMA) passed two resolutions to send to Northern Ontario Municipal Association at its annual meeting in Bergland Jan. 28, 2006.
The resolution garnering the most interest was from Atikokan and asked that the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care fully fund the 2006 proposed budget of the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) in accordance with the Ministry’s 65% to 35% ratio.
Atikokan Councillor Charlie Viddal noted that the NWHU board is pushing this to try and ensure more funding from the province to meet program gaps throughout the region by NWHU. “The province is trying to institute a 4% funding cap on (health units). This way would give NWHU’s more money to provide programs.”
Lake of the Woods and Dawson Townships clerk Pat Giles asked what the cost implications would be for municipalities if they had to pick up 35% of the tab on more programs than present.
Viddal noted that the board hopes not to hurt smaller municipalities but noted that there is a severe lack of provision of essential programs mandated by the province.
Fort Frances Mayor Dan Onichuk noted that if the 4% budget cap is implemented the NWHU will only be able to hire eight new employees to try and implement more of those programs. “However, if we get the 65% (to 35% guarantee) from the province we will create 20 new jobs.
NWHU’s Pete Sarsfield also told RRDMA members that there is an indication by the province that they are going to restructure health units. “There are 36 health units now. We will likely see that number cut to 15-25,” said Sarsfield. “We may be merged with Thunder Bay or even as far away as Sudbury.”
Sarsfield said that to him the local provision of health unit services will seem a lot less local. “We could possibly lose some of our smaller offices.” He thinks that the changes will take place over the next two years.
There is also a push afoot to have the provincial government take over 100% of the funding for health units. Sarsfield said Ontario is the only jurisdiction in Canada where municipalities have to pay. He said if he were a town councillor he would push the government to take it over.
Presently the 19 municipalities served by NWHU pay $2.75 million per year. Sarsfield said the only down side of the province paying the entire bill is that local communities would lose the ability to offer meaningful input on how and what programs are delivered by health units.
RRDMA’s resolution passed as did another one asking NOMA to work on guidelines for people who serve on multiple boards.