How quickly the table can turn when you come face to face with an individual or group you have taken issue with.
Such was the case at the March 11 meeting of city council.
To set the scene, at the Feb. 2 meeting, Dan Sheridan, the city’s Director of Finance advised Southwestern Public Health had presented its 2024 levy to the city and it came at a 37 per cent increase over last year’s levy.
For this year, the city is obliged to pay just over $1.5 million, up from $1.1 million in 2023.
That revelation generated blowback from several council members.
Coun. Steve Peters wondered if there was an appeal process.
Coun. Gary Clarke took it a step further, “let’s vote no and see where it goes. This is an outrageous budget request.”

Mayor Joe Preston chimed in with, “Health is not in the municipal budget. We have to be firm with the health unit that increases have to be held to a certain limit.”
Let’s sidetrack for a moment.
If health is not in the budget, what about the area’s ambulance service? Better yet, what about Valleyview Home?
Don’t they fall under the health umbrella and the city is responsible financially each year?
But we digress.

At that February meeting, council voted 8-1 to accept the report and ask for further information from Southwestern Public Health.  Coun. Clarke was the lone dissenting voice.
That further information came in the form of a deputation to council from Bernia Martin, board of health chair, program director Peter Heywood and Monica Nusink, Chief Financial Officer.
Martin kicked off the show with this opening statement.
“On Nov. 22, 2023, the (Southwestern Public Health) board of directors was presented with the 2024 budget and it was approved unanimously.”
Approved unanimously, meaning the city’s two representatives on the health unit board, Mayor Preston and Coun. Jim Herbert voted in favour of acceptance, knowing what the implications likely would be for the city.
Bit of a game-changer there and within just 10 seconds of the start of the health unit presentation.
Martin continued, “As you may know, the province froze funding for public health at one per cent for 2024 and also for 2025 and 2026.
“And with that one per cent freeze, we as committed municipalities end up shouldering the remainder of the costs associated with public health.”
A second blow delivered by the health board.
The problem here is not Southwestern Public Health, council needs to set its sights on the province, specifically the Conservative government of Doug Ford.
And by the way, the province has made it clear health units across the province have every right to pursue municipalities to make up any shortfalls that are the result of the one per cent freeze.
“Your public health unit is led by a compassionate and committed board of directors,” continued Martin, “who are very strategic and forward-thinking in their decision-making.
“That is certainly focussed on data-driven decisions that not only benefit us in the short term but also in the long term for our communities.

“So, when we look at our 2024 program budgets and supporting costs, we really have to think about the programs and services prescribed by the Ontario Public Health Standards. The requirements that boards of health must comply to ensure those positive health outcomes in our community.”

“Much of our work is upstream and preventative in nature and we know that for every dollar that we spend today, we save exponentially in the long term on health care.”
Martin offered a couple of examples, beginning with immunization.
“For every dollar we spend today saves us on outbreaks and expensive health care costs if an outbreak were to occur.
“Dental care is another one. Early intervention for young children saves us on long-term health care costs down the road.”
Having delivered a couple of body blows, Martin handed the baton over to Heywood, who had this reminder.
“Four years ago today, the global pandemic was declared and during that time, public health took an opportunity to lead that response in collaboration with the municipalities, the community partners.
“As we move into 2024, we also have to think about some of the emerging issues that are coming forward in our public health world.
“That includes inflationary pressures and changes to the Ontario public health standards as well as the budget.”
Here, Heywood transitioned to the road ahead.
“Southwestern Public Health aims to ensure better health outcomes across the community through evidence-formed planning, addressing various public health priorities and opportunities and challenges in the coming fiscal year.
“There are two points I really want to highlight throughout this presentation. Like all public sector organizations, wages are our most significant expense. We also have the good fortune of a board of health that just doesn’t want to maintain the status quo. We want to move the needle. And we want to drive significant change through strategic investments.”
He continued, “The Ministry of Health has introduced the Strengthening Public Health strategy. It’s a three-pronged strategy that involves voluntary mergers with smaller public health units and the re-scoping of the Ontario Public Health Standards which are the requirements that drive programs and services for Southwestern Public Health.”
Take note of that reference to voluntary mergers.
“And, we also want to look at the one per cent provincial annual funding increase for each of the next three years.
“So, what else is on our mind as it relates to public health? Well, it is also about climate change. And the challenges with recruiting and retaining qualified human resources, including public health staff.
“It’s about new data and the health status of our residents. And the need to retain a strong public health presence within our community. Not just for today, but for the immediate future.
“So, when we look at our 2024 program budgets and supporting costs, we really have to think about the programs and services prescribed by the Ontario Public Health Standards.
“The requirements that boards of health must comply to ensure those positive health outcomes in our community.”

“I understand the good work you do and I would hope the citizens of St. Thomas see the good work that we’re doing. We have to make tough decisions, but I don’t see where you made any tough decisions.”

Read into that statement that the health unit is simply doing what it is mandated to do by the province and guess who is getting the tab for anything beyond the one per cent freeze?
Heywood continued, “We also need to think about the accountability of the board of health and through that, we offer orientation to board of health members around governance, around programs and services so they have the information necessary to make informed decisions.
“And, we also want to make sure that we are accountable fiscally through the Ministry of Health, so we offer and provide quarterly financial updates as well as annual updates to the Ministry of Health and board of health around our fiscal practices.
“In the spring of 2023, our team of epidemiologists and public health planners made a presentation to the board of health to talk about the health status of our community.
“It was identified that the health status of our community, in comparison to other communities across the province, was not faring as well in some particular areas.
“For example, the local rate of hospitalizations per 100,000 population due to conditions entirely attributable to alcohol reached an all-time high in 2021 of 305.7 hospitalizations per 100,000.”
Heywood went on to zero in on cannabis use and vaping.
Turns out a greater proportion of youth in the health unit region reported vaping in the past 12 months, 32 per cent versus the provincial average of 22.7 per cent.
When it comes to cannabis use in the region, 25.6 per cent of youth in the region reported yes, against the provincial average of 22 per cent.
Looking at health unit priorities, Heywood listed emergency preparedness, harm reduction, substance use prevention in youth – in particular vaping – and mental health promotion as topping the list.
Rounding out the list were nurse-family partnerships, child immunization, infection prevention and control and climate change and extreme weather.
After a very brief financial overview from CFO Nusink, the health unit delegation opened the floor up to questions.
In answer to a query from Coun. Jeff Kohler, Heywood confirmed all programs offered by the health unit are mandated by the province.
And Kohler conceded there isn’t much that can be done about the levy increase.
Coun. Gary Clark argued all of the financial pressures faced by the health unit are similar to what municipalities have to contend with.
“I understand the good work you do and I would hope the citizens of St. Thomas see the good work that we’re doing.
“We have to make tough decisions, but I don’t see where you made any tough decisions.”
Clarke urged staff and council to explore what appeal measures may exist.
Clarke’s request to Preston to clarify whether he did or did not vote in favour of the budget at the November board meeting resulted in a vague reference to issues with last year’s health unit budget.
And, most notably, when the mayor asked if the other council rep on the health unit board – that would be Coun. Jim Herbert – had anything to add, Herbert was uncharacteristically silent.

THE NEXT CHAPTER FOR CENTRE STREET BAPTIST CHURCH

Another city church is about to be re-purposed.
The former Centre Street Baptist Church at 28 Southwick Street is to be converted to 29 apartment units, with a mix of 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom and bachelor units.

After 183 years, the historic church held its last service in September of 2022.
The property is now owned by 1000592435 Ontario Inc.
The exterior of the church is to remain to preserve the look of the building and the existing stairs and elevator are to remain.
The estimated value of this project is $1,550,000.
City council Monday evening approved a no-interest loan and residential grants under the city’s Community Improvement Program (CIP).
The project is eligible for the following:

• A Residential no-interest Loan equal to 50% of the cost of renovating existing residential units and/or constructing new residential units, to a maximum loan of $12,500 per unit (total maximum loan of $100,000 per property/project). The loan is repayable in equal monthly payments over a 7-year period.

• A Residential Grant equal to 50% of the cost of renovating existing residential units and/or constructing new residential units, to a maximum grant of $7,500 per unit (total maximum grant of $60,000 per property/project). If the units meet the definition of ‘affordable’, the 50% grant can be increased to a maximum grant of $12,500 per unit (total maximum grant of $100,000 per property/project).

• A Planning and Building Fees Grant equal to 100% of planning application, building permit, and other types of fees paid for a project approved and completed under any of the other incentive programs contained in this CIP. The maximum total grant available under this program is $5,000 per project/property.

PRESERVING LOCAL MEDIA

“When the public’s right to know is threatened, and when the rights of free speech and free press are at risk, all of the other liberties we hold dear are endangered.” – U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd

May 3 is UN World Press Freedom Day and thanks to the efforts of an area group known as Ink-stained Wretches, city council formally acknowledged the day by endorsing a proclamation at the March 4 meeting of city council.
So who is this group and what is their mission?
It’s a grassroots volunteer advocacy group formed in March of 2020 by former newsroom workers at the Waterloo Region Record newspaper.
They have long been concerned with the decline in robust local journalism in their municipality and across Canada.
Thanks to the efforts of Bell and Rogers, newsrooms are now on the endangered species list.
So the group is attempting to counter this through the promotion of quality journalism.
One of their members, Quinlan Carnegie, has been in touch with this corner and this year forwarded a proclamation to mayor and council about May 3.
This year marks the 31st anniversary of UN World Press Freedom Day and the proclamation from Ink-Stained Wretches urged the city to recognize the day and light the Jumbo monument in the UN colours of blue and white.
Members of city council were unanimous in endorsing the proclamation and the hope is this becomes an annual recognition in the city of the vital importance of local media.
You can find out more about the organization at https://www.ink-stainedwretches.org/

POINT TO PONDER

A special meeting of council has been called for Monday (March 25). It is to be an in-camera meeting to deal with “a position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the municipality.”
This falls under section Section 239 2(k) of the Ontario Municipal Act dealing with negotiations carried on by the municipality.
Have you noticed there is seldom a council meeting where there is not a need to go into a closed session for discussion?
Years ago this corner used to keep a scorecard of time spent by council in open session and time spent in-camera and the balance was heavily weighed in favour of the latter.
Perhaps it is time to resurrect that scorecard because the need to maintain confidentiality is not the same as the desire to avoid public scrutiny.

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And a reminder, I can be heard weekday afternoons as news anchor and reporter on 94.1 myFM in St. Thomas. As always, your comments and input are appreciated.