Province Accepts Counties' Proposed Health Unit Action Plan Following Governance Review
Grey and Bruce counties have agreed on a skills matrix for new board members, and provincial advisors to the Chief Medical Officer of Health say a reconstituted board is expected in 2026.
The Ontario Ministry of Health has approved an Action Plan developed to address serious governance concerns at the Grey Bruce Health Unit (GBHU), following several months of provincial oversight and collaboration with local partners.
The plan, accepted December 19 by Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore, was created in consultation with Grey and Bruce counties and other governance stakeholders.
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The move marks a significant milestone since the province assumed temporary control of the GBHU Board of Health on August 14, 2025, under Section 77.1 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
The decision followed months of mounting concerns about leadership, finances, and governance practices — and resulted in the removal of seven municipal representatives from the board.
Counties Reach Agreement on Skills Matrix
A key development in the reconstitution of the GBHU Board came on November 27, when Grey and Bruce counties reached consensus on a finalized skills matrix to guide the selection of new board members.
The matrix outlines sixteen core competencies — such as legal, financial, Indigenous relations, and public health experience — which a fully reconstituted board would ideally represent in collective form.
The finalized skills matrix was endorsed by Dr. Moore, who currently holds the powers of the Board of Health, and shared with governance partners the following day. It is being described as a foundational step in the creation of the broader Action Plan.
Special Advisors Dr. Eileen de Villa and Jim Pine, appointed by the province to support Dr. Moore in his temporary role, acknowledged the efforts of local leaders: “We want to express our sincere gratitude to Wardens Matrosovs and Charbonneau, their councils, and senior administrative staff for their hard work. We also thank members of the furloughed Board for their thoughtful input.”
Operational Decisions Under Provincial Oversight
In the absence of a functioning local board, several operational decisions have been made under provincial authority. These include:
Banking Arrangements: Approval of a five-year extension with the health unit’s current banking provider, RBC, with a new policy to review the arrangement after three years.
Labour Relations: Approval of the OPSEU/SEFPO Local 276 memorandum of settlement, securing a three-year collective agreement. Details will be posted to the GBHU website.
In addition, the health unit’s leadership team has begun a strategic planning process and a review of enterprise risk management with support from the Special Advisors.
De Villa and Pine praised the efforts of GBHU staff, writing: “The dedicated professionals working at the Health Unit continue to deliver essential public health services with professionalism, compassion, and care.”
Background: Province Took Control Amid Governance Turmoil
The provincial intervention followed months of instability on the board, including poor attendance, questions about quorum, and controversy over executive decision-making without full board participation.
Public scrutiny intensified in 2021, when Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra received over $630,000 in compensation — the highest in Ontario — sparking calls for increased oversight.
Despite repeated requests, the investigative report that prompted the board’s restructuring remains withheld from the public. Owen Sound Current continues to pursue its release through a formal appeal with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.
The newly accepted Action Plan is expected to guide the reconstitution of the Board of Health and return local governance to the GBHU. The plan is slated to be shared with the public in early 2026.
Until then, Dr. Moore retains decision-making authority, supported by Dr. de Villa and Pine.
Editor’s Note: Owen Sound Current continues to seek transparency regarding the Ministry of Health’s investigative report that led to the provincial takeover of the GBHU Board. We will provide updates as the file progresses through Ontario’s information appeal process.
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