The health units serving Sarnia-Lambton and Chatham-Kent could be merging in 2025 as part of a provincial effort to streamline services.
The boards of health for Lambton Public Health (LPH) and Chatham-Kent Public Health (CKPH) have announced plans to explore the impacts of a voluntary merger.
In August 2023, the Ministry of Health announced plans to strengthen the public health sector by offering one-time funding, resources, and supports to local public health agencies that decide to voluntarily merge.
Lambton County Board of Health Chair Kevin Marriott said they have to do their due diligence with provincial changes afoot.
“It is our responsibility to investigate these transformative changes outlined in the ministry’s plan, Strengthening Public Health, which includes voluntary mergers of existing public health units and a review of local public health roles and responsibilities,” said Marriott. "Partnerships currently exist among Lambton and Kent counties for shared school board districts under the Lambton-Kent District School Board and St. Clair Catholic District School Board, and a shared neighbouring First Nations community with Walpole Island.”
When asked about possible staffing changes under a new model, Marriott said public health staff are the greatest asset in the delivery of effective programs and services.
"Staff have been informed of the process underway, and management are here to answer any questions they have," he said. "Public health units and the boards of health are learning more about the provincial process. The situation is very fluid and I don't have any concrete information, but we want to do everything we can to keep staff. We have let staff know that they are our biggest asset and we can't afford to lose them."
Marriott said it's too early to say whether the merged entities would have one medical officer of health.
Chair of CKPH's Board of Health Brock McGregor commented on the news.
"We have counted on public health and its skilled workforce to protect and promote health through daily routine programs and services and during extreme situations that pose a significant health risk to our communities,” said McGregor. “Exploring opportunities under the new provincial landscape for public health is important to possibly resolve some of the long-standing capacity challenges facing the sector and aligning with new funding commitments that are proposed by the province for 2026.”
There are currently 34 boards of health in Ontario, governed by the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
Each has a responsibility to deliver programs and services, set out in the Ontario Public Health Standards, to promote and protect the health of individuals in their service areas.
Both LPH and CKPH said more updates would be provided as they become available.
