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North East Public Health Regional Boundaries – Modernization of the Ontario Public Health System (Motion #17-19)

Moved by Noland – Crispo. Approved by Board of Health for Public Health Sudbury & Districts, May 16, 2019.

WHEREAS the Health Protection and Promotion Act amendment effective April 1, 2005, enabled the merger of the Muskoka-Parry Sound Health Unit with the Simcoe County District Health Unit and with the North Bay & District Health Unit; and

WHEREAS North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit and Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) have invested greatly since that time to successfully transition to their respective new agencies; and

WHEREAS the new public health entity for northeastern Ontario is proposed to include the existing public health units in the region (Algoma Public Health, Public Health Sudbury & Districts, Porcupine Health Unit, North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, Timiskaming Health Unit) along with Muskoka District and a part of Renfrew; and

WHEREAS the northeast public health entity is the only one of ten proposed regional entities that would not respect existing health unit boundaries and would require the costly dissolution of existing health units; and

WHEREAS the demographics, socioeconomic status, health status, and important health care referral patterns of the Muskoka District are all distinct from those of the northeast; and

WHEREAS the proposed northeast public health entity is a massive area (402,489 km2) with significant administrative and geographic complexities, for which the incorporation of an additional distinct area would tax the region’s ability to respond appropriately to diverse public health needs; and

WHEREAS the Board of Health for SMDHU having expressed similar observations, is requesting the support of northeast boards of health for their position that SMDHU remain intact as they transition to a new regional entity;

THEREFORE be it resolved that the Board of Health for Public Health Sudbury & Districts endorse the position of the Board of Health for SMDHU that the organization of their public health services remains intact as they transition to the new regional public health entity.

CARRIED

This item was last modified on June 12, 2019