The provincial government’s consultation sessions on public health and emergency services, halted because of the COVID-19, Coronavirus, are set to resume this month.
The session aimed at this part of Eastern Ontario had been set for mid-February, but was postponed when the virus outbreak hit.
Hastings County CAO Jim Pine, who acts as a consultant for the province, reported to County Council on Monday that the meetings are starting up again this week.
The first is in the Hamilton-Wentworth area, Tuesday of this week.
Pine tells Quinte News, “We’re dong 14 scheduled around the province. We’ve done six and then there was a pause because of the emergence of COVID-19, Coronavirus, but we are able to start scheduling some of the regional meetings again. Tuesday, I’ll be in Hamilton to deal with the Hamilton-Niagara-Haldimand region.”
Pine tells Quinte News there is a “great interest” in the meetings.
Pine says the government is “out there looking for new ideas.”
The session aimed at Eastern Ontario will be held March 19, at the Frontenac County building. He indicated, “Representatives from Hastings County and this part of Eastern Ontario are invited to that session, as well as the one in Ottawa.”
Meanwhile, this does not affect the government’s decision to change public health funding to 30% for the municipal share, up from 25 percent.
