After a presentation by the Northwestern Health Unit at Monday night’s regular meeting, town council agreed concerns over lack of funding for health programs must be brought to the province.
Dr. Pete Sarsfield, CEO and medical officer of health for the health unit, was here to address council’s qualms about an increase in its levy to municipalities.
A number of municipalities were upset when it was announced the levies were being raised, and Dr. Sarsfield has been approaching councils to explain why more funding is necessary.
“We have been eliminating services, we have also been reducing management,” he noted. “The workload of staff and management has been rising and we’ve been approaching the province looking for additional funding.”
“Many many staff, including management, feel they’re drowning,” he stressed. “In the last week, I’ve had three people say they’re going to have to leave the health unit.”
Dr. Sarsfield noted while the health unit struggles to keep up with the programs mandated by the province, health in Northwestern Ontario continues to deteriorate and residents are dying five years earlier than in the rest of Ontario.
In the north, prevention is being ignored by the mandated programs, he charged, even though it is a huge concern to this area.
“I believe what the mandatory programs are should be negotiated with municipalities, not imposed [on them],” he argued.
“I’m on your side but when there’s a 19 percent increase, you have to ask these questions,” said Coun. Dave Bourgeault. “I don’t know what we can do about it other than side with you and lobby with you.”
During the lengthy debate, Dr. Sarsfield fielded a number of questions from councillors who were concerned about the efficiency of the health unit and the risks involved in taking $150,000 out of its emergency reserves on top of the levy increase.
“I am not opposed to what you do, it’s how you do it that’s the question. We get elected to be fiscally responsible so we have to ask these questions,” stressed Coun. Bourgeault.
Dr. Sarsfield and councillors appeared to come to an understanding that there is little room to maneuver unless the province changes its mandate–or provides more funding.
“I think we need to lobby the province to say this is not equitable. You are saying everyone should have equal access to health care and that is not happening,” noted Coun. Sharon Tibbs.
“We have the largest area and very few people to pay for services. The government would love to have us at loggerheads to get the pressure off of them,” she added.