A provincial funding cut for the Youth Action Alliance Program at the Grey Bruce Health Unit has resulted in the job losses predicted back in August.
It was back then Medical Officer of Health Doctor Hazel Lynn warned the jobs of two Tobacco Youth advisors would be at risk if the 300 thousand dollar program was ended.
Doctor Lynn says bridge funding was obtained so that things that had been planned for the fall like a youth summit and upgrading the website could be completed, but now the money has gone, and there is no grant money available to extend the program.
Two Tobacco Youth Advisors will be laid off December 23rd.
She says the health unit has applied for more funding and should know in mid January if there is any funding available, and if that is the case one or possibly both of the workers could be recalled.
Doctor Lynn says what she would like to see if the Tobacco Youth Advisor position moved into the Health Unit’s mandated programs — rather than the current position where the provincially funded programs come and go, often with very little notice.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union is condemning the layoffs, saying that more money is being poured in at the top and services are being cut on the front line.
OPSEU in a release claims the Medical Officer of Health’s recent pay raise could easily cover the salaries of these two workers for one year.
The union says they are asking the Ontario Ombudsman to look into the operation and management of the Health Unit.