Officials at the Grey Bruce Health unit say… BRING IT ON… the Health Unit welcomes any probe by Queens Park… in response to calls from OPSEU for an investigation.
OPSEU is asking Ontario’s Health Minister David Caplan to investigate operations at the Grey Bruce Health Unit.
Medical Officer of Health, Doctor Hazel Lynn says they have no problem with the Ministry of Health investigating management at the Health Unit.
Chair Larry Kraemer says the board of health and the public health unit are operated under close scrutiny already.
He adds their financial records are public information — which anyone can access.
Warren “Smokey” Thomas, head of OPSEU was in Owen Sound this week to discuss concerns he had with layoffs at the Health Unit.
Thomas was concerned the new 17 million dollar waterfront building was behind the need for job cuts.
Doctor Lynn says funding for the new building came from a separate budget – and not operating costs.
Lynn adds the Health Unit required a budget increase of 5 percent to avoid staff cuts.
However, she says the Public Health Unit was granted a budget increase of 3.8 percent, or about 380 thousand dollars more than last year ($376,396).