Council members in Grey and Bruce Counties are looking for answers after municipally appointed members on the local board of health were dismissed last week.
According to a media release from Grey and Bruce, on August 6, municipal representatives on the Board of Health received letters from the Chair advising of the termination of all municipal appointees to the Board effective immediately.
Bruce County Warden Luke Charbonneau says Bruce County had three elected members of county council on the board including their CAO, and they were all left a little shocked.
"Since then, we've been discussing the matter with the Ministry of Health to try and understand the situation and to rectify it. But also, we want to ensure the health unit is being governed in compliance with the provincial legislation," Charbonneau stated.
Charbonneau says they're going to keep asking for answers from the Ministry of Health to understand why this decision was made.
In a joint statement, Grey County Warden Andrea Matrosovs voiced her concerns with the decision, as well, stating that "supporting healthy communities is a long-standing priority for the councils of Bruce and Grey counties."
Charbonneau added they will be transparent with the public about what they learn regarding the decision. He says everyone is wondering what prompted this sudden decision, because this system has been in use for years with council reps sitting on the health board.
"They're members of Bruce County Council, and they get appointed by council to sit as board members on the health unit's board of directors. We've had that kind of representation on the board of health for as long as I've been around and for quite a long time prior," Charbonneau noted. "They're appointed under legislation to represent the community in the management and governance of the health unit. So obviously, the County of Bruce is concerned to make sure that, as everyone should expect, that the health unit is being governed in accordance with the legislation."
In the joint statement from Grey and Bruce County Councils, both Charbonneau and Matrosovs state that they "understand and share the public’s concern," and that "supporting healthy communities is a long-standing priority for the councils of Bruce and Grey counties. Public Health plays an important role in the well-being of the thousands of residents who call Bruce and Grey counties home."
Ultimately, Charbonneau says they want the Ministry of Health to help the counties both ensure that the health unit is being run properly and meeting the expectations of the public regarding local public health.