Changes to the funding model for the Leeds, Grenville & Lanark Health Unit come with a price tag. Municipalities across the region will be on the hook for $1 million more this year. The provincial government announced its plan to merge the 35 Health Unit into 10 regional public health entities on April 11.
Mandatory programs were previously funded 75 per cent by the government and 25 per cent by member municipalities. That is changing to a 70-30 ratio. Allied programs previously funded entirely by the province will now fall under the same ratio.
Board of Health Chair Doug Malanka says the Health Unit wants to work with the government to help them achieve their goals. He says at the same time, the Health Unit wants to ensure programs and services are protected under the new regional plan through the consultation process. Â
The government hopes to establish the regional public health entities by 2020-21.
Malanka says the Health Unit sent a letter to Christine Elliott, Minister of Health, yesterday. He says the letter outlines the goals of the Health Unit moving forward, including no loss of services to communities, meaningful involvement in the planning of services and ensuring like-Health Unit populations are grouped together.
Malanka says programs delivered by the Health Unit touch on everything from the air we breathe, water we drink and food we eat. Â