The Porcupine Health Unit is taking a funding hit. The province has created a new funding model, which has areas where population is growing quickly, like the GTA, classified as under-funded. The rest of Ontario was then classified as over-funded, meaning 80 per cent of health units are going to have their funding frozen.
Mayor Steve Black says all health units have a base cost, regardless of how many people walk through the door. He says there are also other factors to consider, like higher health costs in northern Ontario than in the GTA. Black says to base funding on population growth alone, is something the city isn’t supporting.
This funding cut is going to affect the PHU in the next year. They will have to decide if they want to try and get more dollars from the city, or if they will look at the services provided and make changes there. Black says that decision will come as prices go up, and the province’s share is frozen.