Thunder Bay’s Health Unit is getting just over $13 million from Ontario’s Ministry of Health.
$13M is the health unit’s base funding from the province for programs and services the public health provider offers.
Officials say no additional base funds for their core programs were approved for the 2019-2020 year.
Medical Officer of Health, Janet DeMille, says she was a bit discouraged since they had asked for a general increase for their mandatory cost-share budget and did not receive it. DeMille explained, “that just puts increased pressures on us to manage a variety of different programs here at the health unit on a shrinking budget.”
An additional $10,000 in one-time funding was also approved by the province for the Public Health Inspector Practicum Program.
Highlights of the health unit budget include funding for the Northern Fruits and Vegetables Program and the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program.
Money was also set aside for improving partnerships with Indigenous communities by developing an Indigenous organization strategy.
The Board of Health received the financial update at their meeting this afternoon.
