KFL&A Board of Health votes in favour of a merger

Kingston – Today, the Board of Health for Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Public Health (KFLAPH) voted to merge with Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit (LGLDHU) to form South East Public Health. 

The boards for HPEPH and LGLDHU will meet Wednesday and Thursday respectively to hold their votes. If all three boards vote in favour, and once the legislative process is complete, South East Public Health will come into being on Jan. 1, 2025. 

Last August, the Ministry of Health announced its Strengthening Public Health initiative, which included funding for local public health agencies choosing to voluntarily merge. 

In March 2024, the three boards of health for HPEPH, KFLAPH and LGLDHU voted in favour of an intent to merge and submitted a business case to the province for a health unit that would serve over 550,000 people across the South East region. The government of Ontario announced Monday that it had approved funding to support the voluntary mergers of nine Local Public Health Agencies (LPHAs) into four new entities, including the funding proposed in the business case by our three agencies in the spring. Costs associated with the transition and implementation of the mergers will be covered by the province at 100%, with no fiscal impacts to municipalities.

“We’re all excited and energized by the prospect of merging, and our teams have been working together diligently this year to prepare to become South East Public Health,” said Dr. Piotr Oglaza, Medical Officer of Health and CEO for KFL&A Public Health.

Dr. Oglaza will be named Medical Officer of Health and CEO for South East Public Health, while Dr. Ethan Toumishey and Dr. Linna Li will both be named Deputy Medical Officers of Health. Dr. Hugh Guan will maintain his role as Associate Medical Officer of Health. A board of health will be in place with representation from across the new geographic region in the new year.

 “This merger of the three health units will ensure that those who work at KFL&A Public Health will continue to serve the community as they always have, but with the improved capacity through the South East Board of Health, to become a stronger, more effective agency, providing best quality services on a daily basis to a larger geographic area,” said Wess Garrod, KFL&A Board Chair.

“I would like to recognize Hastings Prince Edward, KFL&A and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark for their commitment to enabling the three boards to come together. I also want to thank the boards of health for their due diligence, our Medical Officers of Health for their guidance, the leadership teams for their hard work, and staff for continuing to deliver the highest quality of service across all regions throughout this process,” Wess continued.

 Collaboration with local partners will continue as each office works with their communities to ensure a smooth transition to a merged entity and to maintain appropriate services and supports across the South East region.

Partners and members of the public should continue to engage with their local public health offices as usual until otherwise directed.