Health unit needs 8.3% more from municipalities

Peterborough Public Health expects to ask the city, county and First Nations it serves for 8.3 per cent more funding annually for the next three years, Peterborough County councillors heard Wednesday — and the medical officer of health says it’s because the provincial government won’t increase its funding in the face of growing demand for service.

Dr. Rosana Salvaterra said it at the county council meeting Wednesday — the last meeting before the municipal election — and councillors weren’t happy.

Rick Woodcock, the mayor of North Kawartha Township, called it “ridiculous” to expect municipalities to pay more while the province doesn’t increase its funding.

“This is provincial downloading — I believe we need to raise hell!” he said.

Salvaterra said the Peterborough County is likely to be asked for $928,080 to operate the health unit next year. That’s an increase of $71,127 over what county council paid in 2018.

The same 8.3 per cent increase will likely be requested of the city, Curve Lake First Nation and Hiawatha First Nation in 2019.

For the city, it’s a request for about $1.3 million in 2019 (up from $1.2 million in 2018).

County councillors weren’t being asked to vote or even debate on it, Wednesday: Salvaterra was advising them what to expect when PPH makes its request for funding at municipal budget time, early in 2019.

The province has already advised PPH that they shouldn’t expect any more funding for 2019 — even though the provincial government requires them to offer more programs than ever, she said.

“We see cannabis enforcement as additional work,” she said, for example.

Larry Stinson, director of operations for PPH, was also at the meeting; he said the only other option for the health unit would be to reduce staff and decrease service levels. Even with the 8.3 per cent increase, Stinson said, he expects a deficit next year of about $158,000 for PPH next year.

Warden Joe Taylor called it further “erosion” of the principle that property taxes should not fund health care.

Ron Gerow, the mayor of Asphodel-Norwood Township, called it “grossly unfair” for the provincial government to hold back money while it dictates the required public health programs.

For years the province has been paying 75 per cent of the cost of public health programs, he pointed out, with municipalities paying the remaining 25 per cent.

But by 2021 the increases will mean the municipalities will cover 30 per cent of the cost of public health programs — so the province isn’t adhering to its own rules, Gerow said.

“We should be holding their feet to the fire,” he said.

But Troy Speck, county chief administrative officer, pointed out that only eight of Ontario’s 30 public health units currently receive 25 per cent of their funding from the municipalities they serve — the rest receive a far greater proportion of their funding from municipalities (some local governments pay up to 45 per cent of the cost of public health programs).

Salvaterra said the idea that the province pays 75 per cent of the cost of public health programs is “a policy goal,” not legislation.

“It’s not in writing,” she said.