Requested report highlights how Essex County addresses healthcare needs

Essex County Council received a report on how the County could - and does - address the healthcare needs in Essex County as information during its May 1 meeting.

The report was created following a motion County Council moved at the November 15, 2023, regular meeting that directed Administration to develop a report on how to address the healthcare needs of the region. The County reps from Amherstburg were asked by municipal colleagues to bring this forward at the County level.

“I think we can all appreciate healthcare is a complex topic that is multifaceted, so this question does not have an easy answer,” Sandra Zwiers, County CAO, told members of County Council while presenting the report she created on the matter.

When penning the document, she tried to be aware of the unique circumstances of Essex County. She realized the issues facing Essex County residents are much the same in other areas across the province and country.

“I think we are finding, no matter where you are in the country, there is a shortage of doctors. We’ve got an aging population, and we’ve also got extra issues to deal with coming out of COVID with mental health and addiction issues probably at an all-time high,” Zwiers said.

There are a lot of things going against the County in terms of healthcare in the region, she added.

The province is primarily responsible for providing services to residents in Ontario, but is governed by some overarching policy statements set by the federal government.

Local municipalities do play a part, Zwiers said. Many services residents receive come from work done at the local level.

Through the report, she took an inventory of things the County could be doing and is already doing.

Two major initiatives the County of Essex undertakes is EMS through Essex Windsor EMS and long-term care through Sun Parlour Home. Also, perhaps less obvious, is the healthcare provided through housing with supports.

The County, through its annual budget, funds those services. That funding model is cumbersome in some cases, with many moving parts and contributors to the bottom line, such as the province and local municipal partners at the City of Windsor and Pelee Island.

When applying for grants for special programs, Zwiers said the County of Essex is often competing with other municipal peers across the province and is challenged by escalating costs.

The County is also part of a number of tables or associations that focus on healthcare.

Advocacy work, Zwiers said, is something the County recommends administratively.

The County also provides financial contributions for infrastructure. “Having access to healthcare is one thing, having facilities and equipment to offer those services is a key component of a successful healthcare system in the region,” Zwiers said.

It also supports the operating assets of EMS and the long-term care home, and also, perhaps less recognized, supporting the Infrastructure Services Department and the road network in the region to allow for the movement of one area to another to access healthcare facilities.

In terms of the future acute care hospital, the County has committed to fund $100M to the system. The province requires a 10% community contribution the City and County need to cover. The City is also putting $100M in the project. The County has been putting funds away every year to meet this and is ahead.

In the County of Essex Reserve schedule, 2023 closed out with around $44M in the Hospital Reserve. It is projected the County will have around $51M in this reserve by the end of this year.

The 2024 Budget also provided funding to Erie Shores Healthcare, which is a ten-year agreement for a maximum of $2M.“Administration believes the County of Essex is participating in the healthcare solutions in our region,” Zwiers said.

“Should Council want to extend that or reengage services discontinued in the past, certainly Administration is open to analyzing that on your behalf with the mindset ‘is it our legislative responsibility. We could get involved, but I guess the question is should we get involved.’ And if we do, just making sure we have the appropriate expertise and bring the right skills to the table and that it is in reference to the affordability in our budget.”

Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue spoke of how Administration for his municipality is looking at including health-related facilities in the town through its Community Improvement Plan (CIP) – a tool enabled through the Planning Act that allows municipalities to provide tax assistance, grants, or loans to private property owners and tenants to assist in the revitalization of lands and/or buildings within a defined area – which may help attract a practice to the town.

The County has semi-committed to matching funds for any of the local municipalities that have one, he explained. He wondered if the County would consider this measure, which he believes would help all local municipalities to attract doctors, nurse practitioners, or other health-related facilities to their towns. That could be in the form of lowering the tax rate through the CIP.

Late last year, Essex County Council hosted a public meeting to garner public feedback for the purposes of amending the Official Plan to incorporate policies that would allow for the County to participate in matching grant programs of the seven local municipalities that have CIPs.

The County does not have the ability to establish its own CIP, but has the ability to support local municipalities for the purpose of carrying out a CIP with grants and incentives, provided the Official Plan of the County of Essex contains provisions for policies related to making grants and incentives.

Zwiers said Prue’s idea is something that could be considered. Back when County Administration presented the concept of a CIP and got County Council’s endorsement to continue on that path, Administration prioritized large industrial as the CIP matching initiative. Once the large industrial option is finalized, staff can look at other options, such as for housing, which has also been suggested.

With the push for more housing, more money needs to come from the Province for healthcare, as that means more individuals are coming to the area, Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy said.

She would be interested in looking at a year-to-year snapshot of Essex County – even by municipality – that shows which areas are underserved and by how much. Then when doing advocacy work, focus can be on the area that needs it the most.

Zwiers does believe that information is available and will look into providing that.

LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche did get some information about her municipality that noted around 10,000 residents, or a third of the population, do not have a primary healthcare provider.

Bondy added, in terms of other healthcare supporting-related services, the County does a great job in looking after trails and the library system, which improves quality of life and helps with mental health.

Amherstburg Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb thanked County Council and staff for the report. He realized the providing of healthcare for the region is more than just doctor recruitment. He really appreciated the scope of the report.

Figuring out what the needs are around the County is the approach that should be taken, Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers said.

County Council received the report

Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press