Chirico: province must fund mandated health programs

Deputy-mayor Peter Chirico wants the Ontario Health and Long Term Care Ministry to fund local programs it mandates, “totally, absolutely and that’s it.”

Chirico brought forward a resolution to that effect at Monday night’s committee meeting of council.

His General Government Committee voted to receive but not approve the North Bay and District Health Unit’s levy, which, after adjustment, could be 22 per cent higher than last year.

Municipalities have very little say
Much of that increase, Chirico said, comes from programs the province downloaded to municipalities.

“Because the MOH mandates these services to health units, municipalities have very little say in what they do on their day to day business,” Chirico said.

“And since we are levied by the health unit to provide these services that we have no control over, we certainly wish to have the Health Ministry fund these programs 100 per cent, totally, absolutely and that’s it.”

Hasn't happened
Municipal downloading, Chirico said, has been taking place since 1997.

He called the $30,000 increase in the provincial Community Reinvestment Fund grant given to North Bay embarrassing.

“The CRF was to, in fact, top off any funding difference between what was mandated and funding from the government, and our levy was to remain virtually neutral,” Chirico said.

That hasn’t happened, though, he added.

"The whole point of this resolution is that this has got to stop and the province must pick up the tab on this one 100 per cent for all the programs they’ve mandated for the health unit,” Chirico said.

Line in the sand
Coun. Judy Koziol suggested another resolution asking the province to allow the Medical Officer of Health “to decide what’s required.”

But Chirico said the Public Health Protection Act allows the province to mandate all public health programs.

Coun. Maureen Boldt said she’d “absolutely” support Chirico’s resolution.

Coun. Dave Mendicino also supported the resolution saying, “this council has to come out as soon as possible” on the issue.

Mike Anthony agreed, saying the health unit itself has recognized “ballooning costs” have been due to provincial mandates.

“And as somebody has already said it is time to draw that line in the sand.”

The resolution will be voted on next Monday at the regular council meeting.