Ontario Continuing to Build a More Connected and Convenient Health Care System in Brantford-Brant and Haldimand-Norfolk

Province outlines next steps in Public Health Unit voluntary mergers

NEWS December 2, 2024

TORONTO — Today, the Ontario government introduced legislative and regulatory amendments through the More Convenient Care Act, 2024, that will, if passed, take the next steps in the province’s plan to provide more people with the right publicly funded care, in the right place. This includes supporting the voluntary merger of nine Public Health Units (PHUs) into four new organizations, including the merger of Brant County Health Unit and Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit.

“I am so pleased that the Brant County Health Unit and Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit have decided to voluntarily merge,” said Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma. “Communities spanning from the City of Brantford to the shores of Lake Erie and everybody in-between will benefit from the efficiencies and innovation by working together for the common good for our entire region.”

The voluntary merger of Brant County Health Unit and Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit will create a new PHU, Grand Erie Health Unit, and will strengthen the delivery of public health services in Haldimand-Norfolk, the County of Brant and the City of Brantford. The province will provide one-time funding, resources and supports to the new local public health unit to streamline and reinvest back into expanding programs and services that are building healthier communities across Brantford-Brant and Haldimand-Norfolk.

“With the More Convenient Care Act and related regulatory amendments, our government is taking the next steps to improve how the health care system connects people to high-quality care, at every stage of life,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By supporting the voluntary merger of nine PHUs, we are continuing to bring forward bold actions and innovative solutions to create a stronger, more connected health care system.”

If passed, the More Convenient Care Act, 2024 will complement the Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, connecting Ontarians to the care right care, where and when they need it.

Quick Facts:

Last year, the Ontario government released Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care. The plan focuses on providing people with a better health care experience by connecting them to more convenient care options closer to home while shortening wait times for key services across the province and growing the health care workforce for years to come.
Starting on January 1, 2024, the province restored $47 million in provincial annual base funding for public health units, which is the level previously provided under the 75 per cent provincial / 25 per cent municipal cost-share ratio. The province is also providing local public health units an annual one per cent funding increase over the next three years so they can more effectively plan ahead and prepare.
The province will also work with its partners to refine and clarify the roles of local public health units, to reduce overlap of services and focus resources on improving people’s access to programs and services close to home.

Since expanding the role of registered nurses to prescribe medications, 291 registered nurses have completed the training and are authorized to prescribe.
Last week, the province announced it is expanding the role of nurse practitioners and registered nurses to make it faster and more convenient to connect to care.
Ontario is investing $743 million over three years to continue to address immediate health care staffing needs, as well as to grow the workforce for years to come.
Across government and in collaboration with the Ontario Medical Association, the government is reviewing key forms to streamline and simplify them, minimize any duplication, and identify opportunities for digital solutions, while helping doctors put patients before paperwork.

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