NDP Critic for Health and Long-Term Care France Gélinas is questioning whether the McGuinty Liberals are committed to Ontario’s public health units in the wake of a listeriosis outbreak.

“Over one-third of Ontario’s public health units lack permanent full-time Medical Officers of Health. This is despite the fact that six years ago, the Walkerton Inquiry’s number 1 recommendation was to fill these positions. Especially in light of questions surrounding the public reporting of this listeriosis outbreak, the McGuinty Liberals need to properly support our public health units,” said Gélinas, MPP for Nickel Belt.

According to the Association of Local Public Health Agencies approximately one-third of Ontario Medical Officers of Health positions are either vacant, part-time or led by temporary “acting” directors.

The Walkerton Inquiry’s recommendation # 1 stated “The Health Protection and Promotion Act should be amended to require boards of health and the Minister of Health, acting in concert, to expeditiously fill any vacant Medical Officer of Health position.”

“Ontarians deserve confidence that the proper reporting mechanisms are in place in our public health system. A public health unit is dysfunctional without key staff and the Ontario Medical Association has said that a single dysfunctional health unit could incubate a national epidemic. We must make public health a priority to ensure we’re prepared to handle outbreaks like listeriosis,” said Gélinas.