As municipalities struggle with their budgets for the year 2000, a number of councils have voiced concern over the Northwestern Health Unit’s hike in municipal levies.
During Monday night’s regular meeting here, a number of councillors voiced concern over whether the health unit has been managing its services efficiently in light of the increase.
“I think there has to be some justification for that,” Coun. Sharon Tibbs said.
But Coun. Bill Martin, who sits on the board of the Northwestern Health Unit, defended the levy jump and the health unit’s budget.
“We were in between a rock and a hard place,” he said. “We did the best we could.”
Coun. Martin argued improving life expectancy outweighed the cost to municipalities, noting health unit figures indicate life expectancy is as much as five years shorter in Northwestern Ontario than in the rest of the province.
“The object of the health unit is to improve the well-being of the citizens of the catchment area,” he said. “If [it] prevents 10 cases of lung cancer a year by helping people stop smoking, what savings is that to the taxpayer in Northwestern Ontario?”
Dr. Peter Sarsfield, medical officer and CEO of the Northwestern Health Unit, also said Tuesday health care should be more of a priority among municipalities because of the numbers indicating area residents face more health problems and shorter lives than the rest of Ontario.
“I have sympathy for municipalities, they are in a corner . . . but those are not just ideas, those are dead people,” he stressed.
While no one denied the importance of health care services, some Fort Frances councillors remain concerned. Kenora/Rainy River faces the highest per capita fees in the province, and the health unit also had to dip into reserve funds for an additional $150,000 this year.
“Is it being done efficiently?” asked Coun. Dave Bourgeault. “Nobody is arguing what the Northwestern Health Unit does. [But] on behalf of the citizens of the town and taxpayers, where does this go next year or the year after.
“It’s the province that needs to be brought into this,” he argued.
Atikokan also has shown concern over the levy increase and wrote a letter to the health unit asking the board reduce per capita costs to the town.
“There are some administrative line items that could be reduced,” said Atikokan Coun. Garry McKinnon.
Atikokan is still working on its budget for the year 2000 and is struggling to complete it without any tax increases.
“We expect there will be a modest tax increase,” admitted Coun. McKinnon. “[But] we believe we can only go to the taxpayers so many times.”
Dr. Sarsfield said he understands the dilemma of the municipalities but doesn’t believe the Northwestern Health Unit should be blamed.
“We’re an easy target. Atikokan can send us thousands of angry letters and they have to pay it, it’s the law,” he remarked.
Coun. Tibbs stressed she doesn’t want the health unit and town council to fight over the cost of running mandatory provincial programs but rather they should approach the province together.
“Rather than alienating the Northwestern Health Unit, we should stand shoulder to shoulder,” she said.
“I personally think the province acted in an immoral way by transferring responsibility without resources,” agreed Dr. Sarsfield.
Dr. Sarsfield said no district health unit across the province has been able to meet the government’s mandatory programs. While the number of programs have increased, provincial funding has remained the same for eight years.
“Either acknowledge that we can’t do mandatory programs or give us more money,” he said.
A number of municipalities (40 percent) already have agreed to pay the Northwestern Health Unit’s levy for the year 2000.