The future of public health funding framework was the main area of focus for Prince Edward County in discussions at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) annual general meeting and conference this week.
Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson, accompanied by councillors Janice Maynard and Sam Grosso as well as Interim CAO Adam Goheen, met with Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones on August 19.
According to a release, in that meeting, the county outlined the budget shortfall faced by the local South East Health Unit (SEHU).
In response, the county says that the Minister of Health did commit that health units including SEHU would be involved in the policy review of public health funding framework.
“We welcomed the opportunity to meet with Health Minister Sylvia Jones and stress the importance of investing in local public health,” Mayor Ferguson says in the release.
“Our previous advocacy work on issues such as a new hospital and long-term care home have led to tangible results, which gives me hope the provincial government will take into consideration our concerns in this area as well.”
County Road 49 was also discussed as Mayor Ferguson met with staff from Transport Canada and Chris Malette, Member of Parliament for the Bay of Quinte, to discuss the rehabilitation of the road.
The municipality has previously secured nearly $20 million from the province for the project.
They are now seeking funds from the federal government for the unfunded portion of the rehabilitation.
“I reiterated how essential a rehabilitated County Road 49 is for the continued economic growth, safety, and well-being of our community,” Mayor Ferguson says.
“The message was well received by everyone in the room, and I was assured that they are working diligently to find a solution that will allow this project to move ahead.”
The county says a meeting with Brian Saunderson, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to advocate for enhanced affordable housing funding support did not take place due to a scheduling conflict.
The mayor also joined other mayors and wardens from across Eastern Ontario for meetings with several Ontario government ministers as part of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC).
Throughout the conference, the EOWC engaged in conversations around economic resilience, housing, health care, and long-term care.
