Hamilton gets $22.6 million to up lagging COVID shots
Hamilton is getting nearly $22.6 million in one-time COVID funding from the province at the same time worry remains about cuts to public health.
The pandemic has not stopped the Conservative government's postponed plan to slash public health funding by decreasing its share of the cost. At the same time, sweeping changes to Ontario's health-care system include amalgamating Ontario's 34 public health units down to as few as 10.
My understanding was the government of Ontario was advancing a program to cut public health funding," Coun. Maureen Wilson said at a board of health meeting Wednesday. I hope if there is anything that comes out of this it is the fundamental importance of public health."
The board already agreed in June to have the mayor send a letter to the province reiterating the importance of local governance over public health.
At Wednesday's meeting it received a copy of a letter from the board of health for Southwestern Public Health outlining the need for increased - not decreased - base funding and multi-year cash for COVID recovery.
The extensive resources required to support our COVID response resulted in the necessary reduction or cessation of many programs and services," states the letter to Health Minister Christine Elliott.
Hamilton also has a huge backlog from the pandemic, said Dr. Ninh Tran, an associate medical officer of health.
Those costs are real," said Wilson. Those health realities are real."
The city is getting over $21.8 million in one-time funding from the province for the fiscal year that ends March 31, but it's for COVID. It will also get up to $759,000 for the next year.
Ontario recognizes the considerable time and resources necessary for public health units to continue to effectively respond to COVID-19, including leading the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination program at the local level," states a funding letter.
The funding is particularly key in Hamilton which as among the lowest COVID vaccine rate in the province.
We're having meetings with ministers next week," said Mayor Fred Eisenberger. We will be advocating for continued, ongoing offsets for the COVID related expenses and speaking to the issues of the need to maintain and even increase public health funding."
Joanna Frketich is a Hamilton-based reporter covering health for The Spectator. Reach her via email: jfrketich@thespec.com