A pair of Northern Ontario health units could soon be one.
The Boards of Health for the Porcupine and Timiskaming health units have decided to take steps towards a voluntary merger, with Porcupine Health Unit Medical Officer of Health and CEO Dr. Lianne Catton saying there have been "several reports over many years" recommending the merger, though "recent events including the COVID-19 pandemic have confirmed the benefits of a merger to increase staff capacity to deliver public health programming and to respond to surges and emergencies" while Timiskaming Health Unit's Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Glenn Corneil, says "the merger will strengthen local public health programs and services while increasing efficiencies", promising "programs and services will continue as-is in local health unit offices in both regions during the merger process."
The move still requires government approval, though this comes after Health Minister - and Deputy Premier - Sylvia Jones announced one-time funding for local public health agencies to "voluntarily merge to streamline and reinvest back into expanding programs and services".