Shoe stomps on Algoma Public Health

Ward 3 Councillor Matthew Shoemaker's knickers were in a knot tonight when Algoma Public Health failed to appear at a budget session to account for the almost $2.5 million it gets annually from the city. 

"I certainly want them here, whether they want to come or not," Councillor Shoe said. "I would appreciate if perhaps we made another outreach to them to attend, as per our request."

Ontario's Health Protection and Promotion Act makes municipalities pay for expenses incurred by APH in carrying out its duties defined in the act.

"As you are aware, APH is an autonomous board of health, separate from any municipal organization but with multi-municipal representation, including citizen representatives appointed by municipalities and with the potential for provincial appointees," Dr. Marlene Spruyt, APH's medical officer of health and chief executive officer, said in a letter responding to the city's invitation.

"It's their prerogative to choose whether to come or not," City Clerk Malcolm White told Shoemaker.

"We've clearly made the request. They've clearly declined the request," Mayor Christian Provenzano replied. "We don't have the power to compel."

"I don't see the point of having staff make a second request when we already know their position."

"I don't know if we should make such a to-do about it. We've asked them to come, very clearly. They've said no, very clearly. What's the point of asking again?" the mayor asked.

"It's just disappointing that they've given us what I would say is a dismissive letter," Shoemaker said. "Perhaps they don't realize the seriousness with which our request was made."

Councillor Steve Butland said he was looking forward to hearing the APH representatives because he wanted to ask them about reports that the provincial government is looking at slashing the number of health units in Ontario to 14 from the current 36.

An expert panel on public health, convened by the provincial minister of health and long-term care, recently recommended that the Algoma, Sudbury, Porcupine and Timiskaming health units be consolidated into one northeast region public health entity, with added territory from the North Bay/Parry Sound and Renfrew County health units.  

"We are not convinced that the expert panel focused on the correct diagnosis or that the recommended treatment is better than the disease. There will certainly be significant side effects," said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, chair of the Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health.

Dr. Sutcliffe is no stranger to the situation in Algoma.

She temporarily replaced Dr. Kim Barker as APH's medical officer of health after the departure of Dr. Barker in January 2015.