Health board merger moves ahead, despite some ‘unanswered questions’

The boards of Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU) and Peterborough Public Health (PPH) have voted in favour of merging to form a single entity, effective Jan. 1.

In a joint statement, the boards said the move will “sustain and improve the delivery of public health programs and services” in their combined catchment areas.

In an announcement, the Ontario government said it will be investing $10 million to support the merger, catch-up activities and service improvements in the region.

Areas to be served by the new health unit include Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, Northumberland County, Hiawatha First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, Alderville First Nation, Peterborough County and the City of Peterborough.

Before the Dec. 4 vote was taken at a HKPRDHU board meeting, Dr. Natalie Bocking, HKPRDHU’s CEO, outlined why she’s in favour of the merger.

“My opinion is rooted in what I believe will provide the best level of public health capacity to our residents,” she said.

“If there were to be a public health emergency, or new emerging infectious diseases three years from now, it’s my opinion and recommendation that merging with Peterborough Public Health is the best option to build local public health capacity.”

HKPRDHU board member and Kawartha Lakes Ward 8 Councillor Tracy Richardson voted against the merger.

While Richardson noted she supports the concept of the merger, which, she said, “will create stability for the two units,” she said there are details surrounding issues such as leadership, structure and levy harmonization that she would have liked to have seen ironed out first.

“I do fully support that merging is probably the best solution, but the timing was a little bit premature for me, just because I felt there were so many unanswered questions,” she told Kawartha Lakes Weekly.

“Clearly, the rest of the board did not feel that way, and we’re moving forward, so now we just have to figure it out as we go.”

Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott said the HKPRDHU-PPH merger will “streamline operations and enhance their ability to deliver comprehensive and efficient services.”

“This integration will allow for the expansion of programs and ensure health initiatives will reach more people, fostering healthier communities across our region,” she said.

On Dec. 2, the Ontario government introduced the More Convenient Care Act, 2024. If passed, the act would “provide more people with the right publicly funded care, in the right place by building healthier communities, and bolstering the province’s health care workforce today and in the future,” the government said in a statement.

Among the items in the act’s proposed initiatives is the government’s commitment to support the voluntary mergers of nine local public health agencies (LPHAs) into four new entities.

HKPRDHU and PPH are among the LPHAs listed.

The decision to merge the two health units comes after an August 2023 announcement from the Ministry of Health offering one-time funding to  LPHAs that voluntarily amalgamate by Jan. 1, 2025.

Following this announcement, the HKPRDHU and PPH boards commissioned a feasibility study to determine the benefits of merging. In February, both boards voted in favour of moving forward with the merger process. A voluntary merger proposal and budget were submitted to the Ministry of Health in April.

The new health unit’s board will hold its first meeting in the new year.

In their statement, HKPRDHU and PPH said the leadership team, organizational structure and name for the new unit will be announced at a later date.