Regional Councillor Report

Submitted by: Colleen Jordan, Regional Councillor Wards 3 & 4

Date: February 11, 2008

Health & Social Services Committee - January 31, 2008

The Health Committee approved the Emergency Medical Services 2008 Budget which allows for 3 FTE positions to be hired on or after July 1^st in the Quality Development and Planning and Logistics Program, as well as providing advanced care paramedic education and training for 8 FTE paramedic positions and replacements to computer equipment, addition of 1 new ambulance and replacement of 5 ambulances.

The Health Department presented their budget which provided some growth capacity to assist in its ongoing efforts to achieve or maintain compliance with the Mandatory Health Programs and Services guidelines, other applicable legislation and standards and protocols.

The budget included 17.5 new FTE positions to be hired after July 1, 2008.

During the 2007 budget deliberations 9.5 of the 17.5 positions were approved, conditional on receiving provincial funding. Provincial funding was not forthcoming in 2007 so these 9.5 positions are included in 2008 and it is anticipated that provincial funding will be forthcoming this year under the 5% allowable increase by the province.

The following amendment was endorsed to deal with the remaining 8 positions:

‘That the proposed 8.0 FTE additional new positions be approved subject to the Province funding their share of the costs for these positions and the 2008 Health budget being reduced by this amount and furthermore that $193,000.00 of the resulting savings be directed to offset the proposed reduction in the 100% provincially funded Infant and Child Development Program that is not being funded by the Province.’

The Social Services Department 2008 budget which totals $219.4 million resulting in a net cost to the Region of $71.3 million was approved by the Committee. This budget allows for a 2% per diem increase in homelessness prevention and hostel programs, increases for counselling and clerical staff in Family Services, an increase in provincial funding for Best Start to sustain the subsidy for childcare spaces and increases to accommodate the escalation in caseload of social assistance clients. In addition, staffing level changes, improvements in infection control as well as increases in building maintenance, cleaning materials, utilities etc. have been included in the long term care facilities budgets.

These budgets will be presented to the Finance Committee for their review of business plans and budgets for property tax impacts at their meetings February 6^th and 7^th.