Although the province has recently announced a 1% increase in funding annually for public health units over the next three years, the conclusion of COVID-19 funding in 2023, will be leaving a noticeable funding gap at Huron Public Health.
That’s according to Dr. Miriam Klassen, the Medical Officer of Health for Huron and Perth. She says that the shortfall has been coming down the pipe for a while.
She expressed gratitude for the province’s funding increase but highlighted that it’s insufficient to maintain staffing levels due to rising operating expenses, wages, and benefits – with the cost of living on the rise, leading to increased staffing costs.
To address the financial challenges, HPPH confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that they will be eliminating 13.5 positions within the organization, representing a 10% reduction in staffing levels. Various roles, including program evaluators, public health nurses, and an online communications coordinator, will be affected.
Written by: B. Shakyaver
