York Region Public Health has received more than $30 million of provincial funding for costs related to COVID-19.
Newmarket-Aurora MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy and other York Region MPPs made the announcement at the York Region Administrative Centre in Newmarket Jan. 31.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has required such a significant response from our public health sector, who has gone above and beyond business as usual,” said Gallagher Murphy, who is also the parliamentary assistant to the minister of Health. “This additional funding will help protect and promote the health of Ontarians while easing pressure on our hospital and emergency departments.”
The funding will allow the public health unit to continue responding to COVID-19, including operating vaccine clinics and conducting case and contact management, while also performing regular duties for protecting the health of residents.
Between 2020 and 2022, extraordinary costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic incurred by York Region Public Health totalled approximately $142.6 million, according to Patrick Casey, director of corporate communications for the region.
He said extraordinary costs means costs incurred above what is included in the annual base budget. This included COVID-19 monitoring, case management, and delivery of the vaccine program.
Laura Smith, MPP for Thornhill, expressed her own thanks to the public health unit as a resident and a mother as she recalled taking her son to the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex in Newmarket when it came time for him to get his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. She also thanked them for offering constant support and guidance to residents.
"These were touchpoints for so many Ontarians who were scared and unsure and looking for answers and you provided those comforts," she said.
Wayne Emmerson, chair and CEO of York Region, said this funding will go a long way to continue COVID-19 vaccine efforts, as well as the return to other public health programming and better responding to future health needs.
He thanked the provincial government and members there for "helping to protect, preserve and promote the health and well-being of our communities.”
This funding is part of a total investment of $170 million in additional provincial funding for public health units across Ontario.
