La Corporation de la The Corporation of the Ville de Hearst Town of Hearst lhomiK ry 1 September 1 7, 2020 SEP 2 8 2020 The Honourable Christine Elliott Minister of Health 5th Floor 777 Bay Street Toronto, ON M7A 2J3 RE: Public Health Restructuring Honourable Minister, Municipalities were advised of the plans for the Ministry of Health (MOH) to restructure public health with the amalgamation of public health units throughout the province. The latest update predicted that the Porcupine Health Unit would possibly be merged with the Nipissing Health Unit. When the discussions of amalgamations began, we were advised that the MOH would be consulting health units and municipalities before making decisions on any changes. However, to this date, we did not hear of any scheduled consultations. Over the past two decades, Northern Ontario municipalities have seen various services amalgamated, with differing results. With so many small communities spread over such a vast territory, regional boards often fail to adapt to every community' s needs. Although northern municipalities share some characteristics (low populations, economically driven by the forest industry, aging population, youth-out migration, etc.), they are also very different on other fronts: language, socially assisted populations, drug use, relations and interactions with First Nations, etc. Larger boards with one-size-fits- all approaches are not the best solutions for Northern Ontario and we know by experience that amalgamating services does not achieve the financial and efficiency objectives that are originally driving these initiatives. For these reasons, the Town of Hearst Municipal Council has serious concerns with the idea of enlarging the district of the Porcupine Health Unit. Council recognizes that the matter was put on hold as a result of the COVID- 19 pandemic, but we emphasize our wish to be heard once the amalgamation matter is brought back to the table; municipalities expect to be informed and get a chance to comment on the proposed changes before any final decision is taken by the Ministry. nt; utit) • I' OI. IN() • T11.: 15) 3( i2- Et II • Fax: ( 7115) I62- 5 ) 112 ti. I'. I' O. I; ag 5( 11111 • X) 25 ru& AIe x w( 11, 1 Street • Itemst. (> 0( dis( r; i • , ih vNt' l)_ 11v1v1. lirai:. t ( I 2 - Public health programs and services are essential to the health of local communities. We trust that the MOH will follow through with its commitment of engaging with municipalities and that all comments received will be considered. Yours truly, s 4-2— Roger Sigouin Mayor c. c. Guy Bourgouin, MPP, Mushkegowuk- James Bay Porcupine Health Unit Board of Health The Corporation of the Town of Cochrane Township of Hornepayne The Corporation of the Town of Iroquois Falls Town of Kapuskasing The Corporation of the Township of Black River- Matheson Town of Moosonee Town of Smooth Rock Falls The Corporation of the City of Timmins.