Grey-Bruce Health Board Chair Demands Retraction from Province

The chair of the Grey-Bruce Board of Health, Nick Saunders, has formally requested that Ontario provincial officials retract statements regarding the termination of municipal representatives from the board. This request follows claims made by provincial authorities that suggested the dismissals were not coordinated with ministry officials, which Saunders asserts is incorrect.

In a letter sent to Dr. Kieran Moore, the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health, Saunders addressed the contradictions arising from a recent virtual meeting attended by members of the local public health board and Ministry of Health officials. During the meeting, it was confirmed that the decision to issue termination letters to municipal appointees was made collaboratively, rather than unilaterally by Saunders.

Clarification Sought

On August 14, 2023, provincial health officials had issued correspondence that Saunders believes directly contradicts the acknowledgment made during the meeting. In his letter, he stated, “While an apology is deserved, I merely ask you to confirm that you are withdrawing the allegation so we can get back to our primary focus of working collaboratively to rebuild relationships and support public health in Grey Bruce.”

In response to inquiries from a reporter at The Sun Times regarding the potential withdrawal of the statements, the Ministry of Health referenced an independent review conducted by Dr. Moore. This review identified “serious concerns about the board’s ability to fulfill its responsibilities,” leading to Dr. Moore temporarily assuming the powers of the local board of health.

Concerns surrounding the Grey Bruce Public Health board intensified after the wardens of Grey and Bruce counties issued a statement denouncing the removal of all seven municipal board members just a week prior. Following these dismissals, Dr. Moore announced his assumption of the board’s responsibilities, citing governance, leadership, financial management, and human resources issues as significant factors.

Defense of Actions

On August 6, 2023, Dr. Moore stated that Saunders had attempted to remove municipal members of the board without the authority to do so. Despite this, Saunders has defended his actions, claiming he was acting under directives from Moore and kept the office of the chief medical officer informed throughout the process.

In his letter, Saunders also referenced correspondence from Moore’s office that he believes supports his viewpoint. He noted that during the August 22 meeting, attended by all board members, Dr. Ian Arra, Jim Pine, and several ministry officials, the acknowledgment of coordinated efforts further substantiated his position.

As the situation evolves, the focus remains on the need for collaboration and effective governance within the Grey-Bruce Public Health board. The outcomes of these discussions may have significant implications for public health management in the region.