The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Peterborough Public Health have written to the Ministry of Health to express concerns over funding for their planned merger.
They jointly wrote deputy premier and minister of health, Sylvia Jones, in early August. In late May, Jones indicated support for the two health boards’ plan to voluntarily merge.
“We continue to see this voluntary merger, when funded adequately, as an opportunity to improve the service delivery of public health for residents of our regions,” PPH chair Joy Lachica and HKPR chair David Marshall wrote.
However, they told the minister there are concerns about the province’s commitment to provide a specific budget for years two and three of the merger.
“This is needed for assurance that the province is fully funding the merger,” Lachica and Marshall said. They added the business case, and the funding proposal they submitted included a three-year budget.
However, they told Jones, “we have recently come to learn that a full three-year budget may not be approved at the outset. Instead, communication has indicated that an annual budget for fiscal year 2024/25 will be approved.
“Both boards of health passed resolutions stating an intent to merge was subject to sufficient funding being provided by the province. The communication that initial approval will be for only fiscal year 2024/25 has left both boards with uncertainty and concern at the province’s commitment to fully fund all merger-related costs for three years and whether municipalities could risk incurring increased costs in subsequent years.”
They asked for a three-year commitment and assurances for municipalities.
With that, they said they would proceed, otherwise, they have the right to withdraw from a merger. They added there is urgency, with a Jan. 1, 2025 ministry implementation date. They have asked for an answer by no later than early September. They further noted voluntary mergers were at the request of the province.
County coun. Cec Ryall represents the County of Haliburton on the HKPR district health unit board.
He told County council Aug. 28 that the health units last met Aug. 22 about the merger and, “the bad news is we received absolutely no comment from the ministry on where everything stood. We have no idea whether the funding will be approved or not. We have been alluded that it will.” He said there is another meeting scheduled for Sept. 5. (today). “We will see if we can drill down and get more information. Hopefully in the next meeting, we will have something.”
The boards announced Feb. 26 they would seek provincial approval, and funding, to voluntarily merge.
In August 2023, the Ministry of Health announced what it termed “plans to strengthen the public health sector” by offering one-time funding, resources and support to public health agencies deciding to voluntarily merge by Jan. 1, 2025.
The HKPR board were told by consultants in November 2023 that a merger could cost up to $3.5 million.
Joy Lachica, PPH board chair, told a Feb. 28 media scrum that several benefits had already been identified for the merger.
“Beyond strength in numbers… we’re looking at improved program expertise in specialist positions; cross coverage of staff and improved succession planning; enhanced strength of central corporate service functions; better surge capacity and resiliency, which, hopefully, will lead to less burnout for future public health emergencies,” she said.
Dr. Natalie Bocking, HKPR medical officer of health, said the two entities had committed to continuing all existing programs through the merger process. Bocking said the new entity would serve approximately 345,000 people. There would be no immediate staff cuts, with HKPR currently employing around 170 people and PPH 130. Bocking added, “this merger allows us to bring the strengths of each organization and look at how we can maintain our services and add to them.”
