Voluntary merger between Porcupine and Timiskaming Health Units into Northeastern Public Health confirmed
Timmins, Ontario — On December 2nd, official notice of approval and support from the Ontario government for a voluntary merger between the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) and the Timiskaming Health Unit (THU) was received. Both boards of health have also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening public health across the region as Northeastern Public Health/Santé publique du Nord-Est. The health units applied to the Ontario Ministry of Health as a part of a provincial initiative to strengthen public health in Ontario. THU and PHU have been exploring a merger over the last several years.
Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health/CEO of PHU states: “We were very pleased to hear the announcement about strengthening public health in Ontario at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in 2023 as we had already initiated this work. With the support of our Boards of Health, we are excited to be able to move forward together on January 1st, 2025, as directed by the Ontario government. Our shared community partnerships and established working relationships between our various teams will continue to grow stronger as we become one public health agency. As well, our similar population characteristics and culture in this northeastern region will facilitate the integration of programs and services”.
“Building on the strengths of PHU and THU will allow for consistent, high-quality public health service delivery in Northeastern Ontario. By merging, we establish a critical mass and will have increased capacity to deliver programs and services across the region”, states Dr. Glenn Corneil, acting Medical Officer of Health/CEO for THU.
Over the past year, THU and PHU have begun program integration work in addition to preparations required for a voluntary merger. Staff working in both health units’ school health teams worked to create joint communication materials for school boards and parents, which has been well-received and has improved consistency across the region as the two health units share several school boards.
As Northeastern Public Health begins operations on January 1st, 2025, programs, services, and office locations will stay the same. Throughout this process, PHU and THU will continue to engage with the public, community partners, First Nations communities, and municipalities to provide updates and maintain our strong local connections.