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Northern Ontario health units merging (updated)

New area includes Porcupine, Muskoka, Algoma, part of Renfrew and more
PHU Pine Street

Provincial restructuring will see the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) join with other organizations in northeastern Ontario and beyond.

PHU communications specialist Gary Schelling confirmed today that five units in the northeast, as well as some additions, will become one proposed regional public health unit.

The Timmins-based organization will be merging with Muskoka, North Bay, Parry Sound, Sudbury, Algoma, Temiskaming, and part of Renfrew.

He said it's expected that the new regional boards of health will be effective April 1.

"There will be further consultation with local public health units, Boards of Health and municipalities, with respect to the recently announced public health transformation, folowed by the necessary legislative changes this fall," he wrote in an email.

"There are still too many unknown details to determine the impact on local public health; however, at this time, our focus will remain on our important public health work: protecting and promoting the health of all community members across the PHU."

The Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit also confirmed today it will cease to exist April 1, 2020. The Simcoe County portion will be merged with the York Region, with Muskoka joining the northeastern Ontario area. 

The changes are part of the provincial government's plan to reduce the number of public health units from 35 to 10 and cut public health spending by $200 million by 2020-2021.

The Porcupine Health Unit offers a variety of services, with its current coverage area being the Cochrane District and Town of Hornepayne.

The health unit's main office is in Timmins. It also has branch offices in Cochrane, Hearst, Hornepayne, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Matheson, Moosonee, and Smooth Rock Falls