Ontario's health critic calls for details after Grey Bruce health board reps fired

CBC

3 days ago

Ontario's NDP health critic is asking the province for more details about why all seven municipal representatives on Grey Bruce Public Health's 11-member board of directors were fired last week, while the four provincial appointees remain in place.
France Gélinas said a vaguely-worded health ministry statement in response to questions about the firings doesn't go far enough to explain such a significant change in governance. The health unit serves a wide area around the Bruce Peninsula, including the communities of Owen Sound, Walkerton and Tobermory.
"We need transparency here," said Gélinas, who represents the Nickel Belt riding. "The government cannot go on making serious decisions about the governance of public health based on ... what?"
Gélinas was reacting to news the board's municipal representatives each received letters last week from board chair Nick Saunders advising of them of the "termination of all municipal appointees to the board" effective Aug. 6.
The health unit is governed by an 11-member board which includes seven elected municipal politicians: three from Bruce County and four from Grey County.
In response to questions from CBC News about the firings, the health ministry said Ontario's chief medical officer of health launched an assessment of the health unit's operations in 2023 following "multiple complaints" about the board's operations, finances and governance.
The health ministry's statement said a report that outlines the medical officer of health's findings has been sent to Saunders "and we are currently awaiting their action plan."
The statement doesn't offer any specifics about why the municipal board members were removed. The report has also not been made public.
The ministry's statement said the health unit continues to operate normally and the province expects all board members — including those now removed — "to work collaboratively to inform their response to the chief medical officer's report."
CBC News reached out to the health ministry for more clarification, but did not receive a response on Tuesday.
Gélinas said the province should at least make public the chief medical officer's report.
"The government appointees got to stay but the municipal leaders .... all got fired, more or less," said Gélinas. "If this has to do with the report, prove it. Otherwise, it has to do with political manoeuvring and getting people they want in charge of public health."
CBC News reached out to all the fired board members for comment.
Kevin Eccles, a former board member who is also mayor of the municipality of West Grey, said in an email response he would like to speak about what's happened but said after receiving legal advice "I am not making a statement at this time."
Grey Country Warden Andrea Matrosovs and Bruce County Warden Luke Charbonneau issued a joint statement Monday saying they want to work with the health ministry "on the best solutions for residents."
Bruce County warden 'concerned'
In an interview with CBC News on Tuesday, Charbonneau said he's not been given a clear justification about why the municipal representatives were removed. He's also not seen the report mentioned in the health ministry's statement.
"The county of Bruce is concerned about the whole situation," he said. "I have not seen a reasoning that provides a justifiable reason for the letters that were sent terminating our board members."
The changes at Grey Bruce Public Health follow moves by the Doug Ford government to step in and take over in cases where local politicians appear to be struggling with fiscal management, including London's largest public school board and hospital.
The municipal representatives removed by last week's decision include:
Grey County:
Andrea Matrosovs (The Blue Mountains).
Sue Carleton (Township of Georgian Bluffs).
Shirley Keaveney (Municipality of Meaford).
Kevin Eccles (Municipality of West Grey).
Bruce County:
Don Murray (Township of Huron-Kinloss).
Kenneth Craig (Municipality of Kincardine).
Jay Kirkland (Town of South Bruce Peninsula).
The provincial appointees who remain in place are:
Nick Saunders (Chair).
Chad Richards (Vice-chair).
Helen-Claire Tingling.
Beverly Wilkins.