With the Northwestern Health Unit currently conducting a review of its operations, town council will receive a grim compliance report from it at Monday night’s regular meeting here.
“It provides details for the fact we are providing only about 70 percent of so-called ‘mandatory programs’ for the Kenora and Rainy River districts–and this percentage is shrinking,” said Dr. Pete Sarsfield, CEO and medical officer of health for the health unit.
“The mandatory programs are, in theory, the ‘minimum services’ for health promotion and disease prevention, and are to be available to all residents of Ontario,” he said.
“The reality is that the more rural and northern residents of Ontario receive a smaller proportion of these ‘minimum services,’” he added.
Dr. Sarsfield said the Compliance, Expenditure and Staffing Information Report looks at how, and if, the health unit can keep running mandatory programs within its budget.
“It shows what we’ve been seeing for several years with health units everywhere–it feels like a sinking ship sometimes,” he remarked.
“Even though our levy went up from $33 per [capita] to $34.30, our budget is still reduced by $250,000 this year due to inflation, salary increases, and so forth,” Dr. Sarsfield said.
The report also has been submitted to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, as well as to the other 18 municipalities in the region.
The report coincides with the health unit’s decision to have Calgary-based consultants, the Blackwell Management Group, do a three-part operational review which could take until the end of the year to complete.
“It’s to look at the efficiency and effectiveness of the health unit–are we doing the right things and are we doing them right?” noted Dr. Sarsfield.
The consulting firm previously had done a thorough review at Lake of the Woods District Hospital, and Dr. Sarsfield mentioned this was the basis for choosing them.
The cost of the review, which will not exceed $50,000, will be matched by the ministry.
Other items on the agenda for Monday’s council meeting include:
•amendments to five bylaws, including the addition of several breeds to the vicious dog bylaw;
•death benefits for retired employees;
•two applications to manage Nevada ticket lotteries by the Rainbow Rhythmics Club and the Border Figure Skating Club;
•a request from the Mine Centre Mennonite Church for use of the West End Legion Park for gospel tent meetings Aug. 23-26;
•a report from Mayor Glenn Witherspoon on the July 2 slo-pitch challenge versus International Falls council;
•a letter from concerned citizens regarding the parking situation on the lane between Scott Street and First Street East on the west side of Armit Avenue; and
•30 items of information correspondence.
The committee of the whole will meet at 5:30 p.m., followed by the regular council meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
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