An increase of nine per cent in the WDG Public Health 2010 operating budget would have been required in order to maintain the same level of local public health services as in 2009.  Public Health expects the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) will not provide that level of funding so the budget has been adjusted accordingly.

As staff salaries and benefits account for almost 82% of the budget, positions needed to be eliminated in order to achieve some permanent cost reductions.  Dr. Nicola Mercer, Medical Officer of Health (A), explains, "A total of 13 staff positions were eliminated.  We are also cutting costs by gapping positions through attrition."  

Any reductions in services and programs due to staffing cuts will be distributed across Wellington and Dufferin counties.  Mercer adds, "We will always respond to human health emergencies and situations that put the public at risk. However, waiting times for some classes and non-emergency services are likely to increase. We are working to restructure the organization to ensure optimal delivery of mandatory public health services."

The MOHLTC confirms their budget in August.  Any additional reduction in the funding at that time will further impact WDG Public Health's operating budget.  

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Jan Craig
Program Manager, Communications
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health
T 519.846.2715 or 1.800.265.7293 ext. 4614
Jan.Craig@wdghu.org
http://www.wdghu.org/