Regulation - LGIC
Amendments to regulations under the Health Protection and Promotion Act to effect the voluntary mergers of certain local public health agencies.
Regulation Number(s):
RRO 1990 Reg. 553
RRO 1990 Reg. 559
RRO 1990 Reg. 569
RRO 1990 Reg. 559
RRO 1990 Reg. 569
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Health Protection and Promotion Act
Summary of Decision:
The Ministry of Health made regulatory amendments under the Health Protection and Promotion Act to effect the voluntary mergers of certain local public health agencies (LPHAs) and Boards of Health.
Amendments to Reg. 553, Reg. 559, and Reg 569 are effective as of January 1, 2025.
Amendments to Reg. 553, Reg. 559, and Reg 569 are effective as of January 1, 2025.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
The approved regulatory changes are not expected to result in any new compliance costs to regulated entities.
LPHA mergers are expected to help address long-standing challenges in the public health sector by optimizing capacity, stability, and sustainability to deliver more equitable health outcomes.
Changes will improve critical mass and capacity needed to optimize performance and meet unexpected surges in demand; skilled personnel and competencies needed to fully deliver core public health services and better alignment with community and system partners to support progress on improving population health outcomes while reducing health inequities.
LPHA mergers are expected to help address long-standing challenges in the public health sector by optimizing capacity, stability, and sustainability to deliver more equitable health outcomes.
Changes will improve critical mass and capacity needed to optimize performance and meet unexpected surges in demand; skilled personnel and competencies needed to fully deliver core public health services and better alignment with community and system partners to support progress on improving population health outcomes while reducing health inequities.
Further Information:
Attachment - Summary of Amendments to Reg 559
(Download Adobe Reader)
R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 553: AREAS COMPRISING HEALTH UNITS
R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 559: DESIGNATION OF MUNICIPAL MEMBERS OF BOARDS OF HEALTH
R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 569: REPORTS
Proposal Number:
24-HLTC042
Posting Date:
December 2, 2024
Summary of Proposal:
The Ministry of Health is proposing to amend Reg. 553 (Areas Comprising Health Units) and Reg. 559 (Designation of Municipal Members of Boards of Health) under the Health Protection and Promotion Act to effect the voluntary mergers of the following local public health units (also known as local public health agencies (LPHAs) and Boards of Health:
• Porcupine Health Unit and Timiskaming Health Unit to become the Northeastern Health Unit and governed by the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit.
• Brant County Health Unit and Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit to become the Grand Erie Health Unit and governed by the Board of Health for the Grand Erie Health Unit.
• Haliburton, Kawartha and Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Peterborough County-City Health Unit to become the Haliburton, Kawartha, Northumberland and Peterborough Health Unit and governed by the Board of Health for the Haliburton Kawartha Northumberland Peterborough Health Unit.
• Hastings & Prince Edward Counties Health Unit and Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Health Unit and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit will become the South East Health Unit and governed by the Board of Health for the South East Health Unit.
The proposed amendments to Reg. 553 (Areas Comprising Health Units) would specify the names of the newly merged LPHAs, as noted above, and combine the geographic areas currently outlined in the regulation.
The proposed amendments to Reg. 559 (Designation of Municipal Members of Boards of Health) would specify the number of members that municipalities shall appoint to the newly merged boards of health. See attachment.
The proposed amendments to Reg. 569 (Reports) would update the list of named LPHAs and addresses of certain public health clinics to reflect the merged entities.
The identified mergers are a part of Ontario's strategy to Strengthen Public Health. LPHAs were invited to voluntarily merge to improve critical mass and capacity, support the skilled personnel and competencies needed to fully deliver core public health services, and to better align with community and system partners.
The Boards of Health for these LPHAs are engaged in local decision-making processes to seek agreement to proceed with the proposed mergers, pending regulatory approval.
• Porcupine Health Unit and Timiskaming Health Unit to become the Northeastern Health Unit and governed by the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit.
• Brant County Health Unit and Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit to become the Grand Erie Health Unit and governed by the Board of Health for the Grand Erie Health Unit.
• Haliburton, Kawartha and Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Peterborough County-City Health Unit to become the Haliburton, Kawartha, Northumberland and Peterborough Health Unit and governed by the Board of Health for the Haliburton Kawartha Northumberland Peterborough Health Unit.
• Hastings & Prince Edward Counties Health Unit and Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Health Unit and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit will become the South East Health Unit and governed by the Board of Health for the South East Health Unit.
The proposed amendments to Reg. 553 (Areas Comprising Health Units) would specify the names of the newly merged LPHAs, as noted above, and combine the geographic areas currently outlined in the regulation.
The proposed amendments to Reg. 559 (Designation of Municipal Members of Boards of Health) would specify the number of members that municipalities shall appoint to the newly merged boards of health. See attachment.
The proposed amendments to Reg. 569 (Reports) would update the list of named LPHAs and addresses of certain public health clinics to reflect the merged entities.
The identified mergers are a part of Ontario's strategy to Strengthen Public Health. LPHAs were invited to voluntarily merge to improve critical mass and capacity, support the skilled personnel and competencies needed to fully deliver core public health services, and to better align with community and system partners.
The Boards of Health for these LPHAs are engaged in local decision-making processes to seek agreement to proceed with the proposed mergers, pending regulatory approval.
Contact Address:
Ministry of Health
Office of Chief Medical Officer of Health, Public Health
Public Health Strategic Policy, Planning and Communications Branch
Box 12, Toronto, ON
M7A 1N3
Office of Chief Medical Officer of Health, Public Health
Public Health Strategic Policy, Planning and Communications Branch
Box 12, Toronto, ON
M7A 1N3
Effective Date:
January 1, 2025
Decision:
Approved