Municipalities in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts will have to pay more in the years ahead for public health.
Marilyn Herbacz, Chief Executive Officer with the Northwestern Health Unit says starting in 2020 the province will cover only 70 per-cent of the costs of the Health Unit.
“One of the biggest challenges this year is that the province is changing the cost-share model, including some of what used to be our 100 per-cent funded programs. That is the biggest impact to them as municipalities will now have to pay 30 per-cent of that,” says Herbacz.
She says however that despite the change in the funding model, communities won’t notice too much of a difference next year.
“There will be transitional funding that will be given to health units to help absorb some of the cost so municipalities won’t see more than a $200,000 increase.”
She says currently the province provides 75 per cent of the funding while 100 per cent of certain programs.
