Two local health units will not be moving ahead with a voluntary merger.
The boards of health for Algoma Public Health and the neighbouring Public Health Sudbury and Districts voted late last year to explore the feasibility of a merger, bringing the idea to separate votes by each board on Tuesday.
While the board of health for PHSD voted unanimously in favour of combining, with board for APH did the opposite, unanimously voting not to proceed with a voluntary merger, with Board Chair Sally Hagman emphasizing "ensuring the well-being of our communities is paramount" and the "decision reflects that commitment".
Wawa Municipal Council had recently sent a letter to both boards, with Mayor Melanie Pilon explaining the size of the area that would be served left concerns Wawa would be "losing its voice".
APH currently serves 21 communities across a 44,000 square kilometre area - including Wawa, Dubreuilville, and White River - though the combination of the health units would've more than doubled that to 95,000 square kilometres and more than 40 distinct municipalities, including the Chapleau area.
The two boards started exploring the possible merger last fall, after the provincical government offered funding for units who "voluntarily" merge, which prompted the neighbouring Porcupine and Timiskaming units to explore the option.
The PC government had planned in 2019 to merge the province's dozens of health units into ten, with a single one for northeastern Ontario, claiming larger agencies would mean cost savings and lead to improved public health services.