The proposed merger of the Huron and Perth health units is moving forward.
Huron County's Board of Health Chair Tyler Hessel says they're in the process of asking the province for transition funding in the amount of about $1-million.
Hessel says the province suggested very early in the process that some transition funding might be required, but at that time they didn't know how much they'd need and didn't have the necessary information to justify that request.
Their consultant has stated transition funding will be required and the amount will be about $1-million.
Hessel says if everything goes smoothly, the transition will take about two years. He also points out the mandate of both health units in going forward with the merger is to improve the delivery of service.
Hessel says it's quite likely there will be some reduction in staff, because the merger will mean change and some people many not choose to work in the new environment. But he stresses the primary goal is improving service, not saving money.
According to Hessel, "At this point we're going back to the province to ask for the transition funding. It's over a $1-million so we've kind of put it back on the province to say ok we think this is a great idea but we always said there's likely going to need some transition funding and after our consultants came back they said we're going to need transition funding."