Municipalities within the Thunder Bay District will likely be paying more money to the Health Unit.
Health Minister Christine Elliott told delegates attending the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa that the cost-sharing of public health services will become a 70-30 split with municipalities responsible for 30 percent.
“In the first year, no public health unit will experience an increase of over 10 percent of current public health costs as a result of this cost-sharing change. That’s the protection we have built in to ease the transition,” says Elliott.
Elliott also announcing a new round of consultation this fall into a possible merging of health units.
“This next phase of engagement will be supported by an expert advisor, dedicated to this work. Over the next few weeks, we will work with this advisor, with input from AMO, to begin this consultation, which we expect to launch this fall.”
Elliott says there will also be a discussion paper that outlines the proposed boundaries for new health units.
“These proposals are intended to help guide these consultations. They should in no way be considered final or inflexible.”
There had been talks earlier this year of a possible merger between the Northwestern Health Unit with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit.
