Nancy Polsinelli, Commissioner of Health Services, presented an overview of services provided by Paramedic Services, Long Term Care, Adult Day Services, Chronic Disease Prevention, Infectious Disease Prevention, and Early Growth and Development, which fall under the Living and Thriving pillars of the Strategic Plan.
Nancy Polsinelli reviewed the proposed 2021 operating and capital budget for Health Services and highlighted the financial, staff resourcing and mental well being pressures placed on Health Services in response to the pandemic. She outlined provincial funding challenges, funding received through the Phase I Safe Restart Fund and noted that staff delivered $0.30M in efficiencies and cost savings for the 2021 Budget.
Councillor Saito raised concern that provincial funding is frozen at 2020 levels and that health needs will continue to increase in the areas of mental health, Paramedics, Long Term Care and Adult Day Services, beyond the 2021 budget year. She requested staff to report back to Regional Council regarding advocacy opportunities to the provincial government to highlight the fact that the status quo funding is insufficient. Nancy Polsinelli undertook to report back on how advocacy can be increased.
Councillor Crombie stated that the City of Toronto has implemented 211 service to provide direct access for mental health support. She asked staff to review the program and report back to a future meeting on the type of resources required to establish a similar program in the Region of Peel.
Councillor Vicente asked the Chief Administrative Officer if any initiatives could be deferred for a year or longer that would have the least amount of impact on priorities and services for residents. Janice Baker responded that the proposed budget includes areas that are critical to growth and service pressures noting that it is not an ambitious budget in terms of new initiatives. She undertook to provide a list of the 2021 initiatives to the next Regional Council Budget meeting, for Council’s review and further direction.