The City of Dryden is asking the Northwestern Health Unit to conduct an internal review.
Council passed a motion on Monday asking for a detailed plan to control costs, improve efficiencies and find savings.
They are worried that municipalities may be asked to shell out more money if the province moves forward with future cuts.
Norm Bush says the City of Dryden needs answers.
“Has the Northwest Health Unit performed an internal review of their programs, with the goal of looking for cost reductions in their service deliver or looking for alternatives in their service delivery?”
He also questioned “Have they done, as the government requested, or made available as an opportunity, a line-by-line audit of their operations? Again looking for cost reduction opportunities. Have they done those things?”
Bush says local taxpayers shouldn’t be asked to pay more.
Shayne MacKinnon, who sits on the Health Unit Board, was strongly opposed to the City requesting a review.
“It’s directing our partner to undertake an internal review. Council is not aware whether they do that now. So it would be like an outside organization directing (the City) to undertake a study without Council being able to respond.”
MacKinnon says the Executive Director of the Health Unit has made herself available in February to communicate their plan to Council, stressing she should be given that opportunity.
He notes the Chief Administrative Officer of the Kenora District Services Board was given the chance to outline their cost savings plan in an open forum.
A visibly upset MacKinnon walked out of the Monday Council meeting prior to the vote, realizing his plea to have the motion deferred had no chance of being approved.
