Municipal Members Removed from GBPH Board Despite Province's Understanding They’re Responding to Ministry Report
Seven municipal reps removed from Grey Bruce Public Health Board despite the Minister of Health's expectation they would assist in informing a response; no one will say who authorized the ousting.
Seven municipal members of the Grey Bruce Public Health (GBPH) Board were removed effective August 6, a change both counties say they learned of through letters sent directly to the affected members from the board’s chair.
The development comes as the Ministry of Health confirms it delivered an investigative report on GBPH’s governance, finances, and operations to the board chair, with instructions to submit a detailed plan to address its findings.
The Owen Sound Current reported earlier today on the change in board composition and the absence of any public explanation.
Counties Say They Were Not Consulted
In a joint statement issued late August 11, Grey County Warden Andrea Matrosovs and Bruce County Warden Luke Charbonneau confirmed that municipal representatives had received termination letters:
“In recent days municipal representatives on the Board of Health received letters from the Chair advising of the termination of all municipal appointees to the Board effective August 6, 2025.
Supporting healthy communities is a long-standing priority for the councils of Bruce and Grey counties. Public Health plays an important role in the wellbeing of the thousands of residents who call Bruce and Grey counties home, and the millions who visit each year.
Bruce and Grey County want to support the public health needs of our residents. We want to work collaboratively with the Ministry on the best solutions for residents.
We understand and share the public’s concern and as we learn more about these decisions, Bruce and Grey counties will be transparent with the public.”
Neither county indicated that it had been consulted in advance. It’s a notable omission given that the Public Appointments Secretariat still lists the GBPH board’s composition as requiring seven municipal members and a smaller number of provincial appointees.
Ministry of Health Confirms 2023 Investigation
Later Monday, the Ministry of Health confirmed that the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) “launched an assessment” of GBPH in 2023:
“The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health launched an assessment of the Grey Bruce Public Health Unit in 2023 following multiple complaints related to the board’s operations, finances, and governance practices.
The report has been provided to the Chair, and they have been directed to submit a detailed plan to address its findings.
In the interim, we expect the Chair and all board members — both municipal and provincial — to work collaboratively to inform their response to the Chief Medical Officer’s report.
The Grey Bruce Public Health Unit remains fully operational, and the Chief Medical Officer of Health’s office is working closely with the health unit to ensure services continue without interruption.”
— Jackson Jacobs, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier & Minister of Health
Given the Minister of Health’s statement that municipal representatives on the board were to be a part of the response to the CMO’s report, we asked in a follow-up email whether she is aware that they have all been removed from the board. No response had been received at the time of publication.
Local MPP’s Office Also Aware of Report
A representative for MPP Paul Vickers provided his statement to The Owen Sound Current:
“My office is aware of recent developments regarding the board composition of the Grey Bruce Board of Health.
I am also aware of the letter and accompanying report that has been delivered to the organization by the Ministry of Health, on the advice of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.
It is my understanding that the board is in the process of acting on the recommended actions outlined in said report.”
Vickers did not say whether his office knew in advance that all municipal representatives would be removed.
The Owen Sound Current asked in a follow-up email whether the province authorized these changes, and whether they are part of a province-wide change in public health board governance. No response to those questions had been received at the time of publication.
Lack of Local Response
The Owen Sound Current contacted Board Chair Nick Saunders on August 10 seeking information on the removal of municipal representatives from the Grey Bruce Public Health Board. He did not respond.
We had contacted Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra on August 9, asking what he could tell the public about how and why the changes to the board were made and under whose authority. The next day, we followed up with Dr. Arra and his communications coordinator to ask when the Ministry of Health’s audit report would be presented in open session and whether we could obtain a copy.
On the morning of August 11, we received an email from an account titled Admin Medical Officer, stating they were filling in for Grey Bruce Public Health’s communications coordinator and would respond to our questions by the end of the day. By the time of publication, no further response had been received.
Key Questions Remain
Several issues remain unresolved. For now, governance of Grey Bruce Public Health has shifted almost entirely into the hands of provincial appointees, a change compounded by recent adjustments to the executive committee’s structure (as previously reported) that further reduce municipal involvement in key decisions.
With no public explanation of who authorized the removal of all municipal members, why it happened while the Ministry expected their participation in addressing the CMOH’s findings, or when that report will be made public, the health unit’s decision-making is now concentrated in fewer hands than before.