The Ford government recently announced a new funding decision with respect to municipalities. Instead of the shifted funding formula previously announced, the new ratio will now be 70% provincial funding and 30% municipal funding for all municipalities starting on January 1, 2020. This funding formula change represents a BIG CUT, and includes programs that were previously funded at 100% by the provincial government.

With this change, the province is pushing responsibility for public health onto already strained municipalities, and forcing municipalities to bear the brunt of public outcry as the ones who have to implement the cuts on the ground. The Canadian Union of Public Employees is forming alliances with municipal leaders in regions across the province who want to fight these cuts. We need to reverse these devastating cuts at the provincial level, and we will do that by mobilizing opposition locally.

What do these cuts mean for public health workers?

Reduced provincial funding will mean real cuts to public health.

And, funding cuts always translate into cuts to the support staff who keep public health agencies running smoothly, and to the front-line workers who provide the services that protect our communities.

Now more than ever, public health workers need a strong union that will fight to protect the quality public services they deliver, and that will be a strong voice in upcoming mergers and at the bargaining table.

That union is CUPE.

Part of the province’s plan is to merge public health agencies into new mega-entities without local control. CUPE members will have a voice at the table throughout the merger process. To find out more about the process and about becoming a member, contact us.