Boards of health vote in favour of merger

Today, the Board of Health for Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) voted to merge with Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Public Health (KFLAPH) and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit (LGLDHU) to form South East Public Health.

Yesterday, the KFLAPH board voted in favour of the merger, and LGLDHU is to meet tomorrow to hold its vote.

If all three boards vote in favour, and once the legislative process is complete, South East Public Health would come into being Jan. 1, 2025.

“It’s an exciting time. A merger is the best way to serve our communities,” said Jan O’Neill, HPEPH Board Chair. “We’ve been working behind the scenes to prepare to join forces, and we recognize that this will be an evolving process that won’t happen all at once on Jan. 1.”

Last August, the Ministry of Health announced its ‘Strengthening Public Health’ initiative, which included funding to local public health agencies choosing to voluntarily merge.

In March 2024, the three boards of health for HPEPH, KFLAPH and LGLDHU voted in favour of an intent to merge and submitted a business case to the province for a health unit that would serve more than 550,000 people across the South East region. The government announced Monday that it had approved funding for the voluntary merger, including the funding proposed in the business cases from the three agencies in the spring.

Dr. Piotr Oglaza is to be named Medical Officer of Health for South East Public Health, while Dr. Ethan Toumishey and Dr. Linna Li will both be named Deputy Medical Officers of Health. Dr. Hugh Guan will maintain his role as Associate Medical Officer of Health. A board of health will be in place with representation from across the new geographic region in the new year.

“We’re enthusiastic about the merger,” said Dr. Ethan Toumishey, Medical Officer of Health and CEO for HPEPH. “Our three agencies have a positive history of working collaboratively together and this merger will strengthen and expand the delivery of public health services to the residents of our communities.”

Collaboration with local partners are to continue as each office works with their communities toward a smooth transition to a merged entity and to maintain appropriate services and supports across the South East region.

Partners and members of the public should continue to engage with their local public health offices as usual until otherwise directed.