For consideration at the public meeting for the 2024 draft budget
An open letter to the council of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands:
For consideration at the public meeting re: 2024 NEMI Draft Budget
Having had the opportunity to read through the 2024 draft budget, I have the two following concerns:
First, line 439, Provincial Policing Services shows a 2.75 percent decrease. The number of officers and resources being deployed to the Manitoulin OPP has risen significantly. Traffic interactions and police calls for service totals presented to council through the Community Policing Advisory Committee reflect the results of more officers and resources. It is my understanding that Manitoulin OPP are part of a pilot project that will see increased resources until a particular service level has been achieved. Does this project currently reflect in lower policing costs to NEMI, and when the pilot has ended, is it likely that NEMI will see a substantial increase in policing costs?
Second, line 1090, Health Unit Levy shows an increase of 11.38 percent. There were 49 Public Health Sudbury and Districts employees on the sunshine list in 2022. The most recent CEO had a three-year income of $1,536,111 between 2020-2022.
COVID mandates propagated by PHSD were ultimately disastrous to the overall health of the people of our district. They were unnecessary and punitive. PHSD is supposed to protect and promote health. They did the opposite of this during C19. PHSD instituted policies that imprisoned our citizens, causing a significant decline in physical and mental health. Opioid overdose in our area is by far the highest in the province. Instead of tackling this issue, PHSD pays lip service to the seriousness of the issue and hints about a conference to deal with the emergency, but continues to delay that gathering. Instead, PHSD has determined climate change is a health emergency, diverting significant resources in an attempt to change human behaviour based on unprovable projections.
PHSD is not justified in requiring such a large increase from the municipalities. I ask NEMI council to challenge the PHSD budget, and for PHSD to return to the municipalities a much more reasonable budget.
Sincerely,
Zak Nicholls
Little Current
