Brant Country, Haldimand-Norfolk health units merging into Grand Erie Public Health

The Brant County Health Unit (BCHU) and the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit (HNHU) have announced they're merging following approval from Ontario's Ministry of Health.

The joint organization will be called Grand Erie Public Health, and will replace the BCHU and the HNHU starting Jan. 1.  It's one of several health units across Ontario that are merging.

Grand Erie Public Health will serve the County of Brant, Brantford, Haldimand County and Norfolk County, a media release Monday said.

It said the benefits of the merger include increased public health capacity, better service delivery and stronger community partnerships.

"We are excited about our two health units becoming one and firmly believe that this merger will greatly enhance public health capacity, services and overall impact. We are grateful to the Ministry of Health for this opportunity," Amy Martin, Norfolk County mayor and its board of health chair, said in a statement.

Programs and services will remain unchanged during the transition, according to the media release, with gradual integration through 2025.

"This merger is focused on ensuring business continuity, retaining front-line expertise, and addressing health disparities," the joint statement said.

Mergers will help build 'stronger' health system: Ontario

Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma welcomed news of the merger.

"Communities spanning from the City of Brantford to the shores of Lake Erie and everybody in between will benefit from the efficiencies and innovation by working together for the common good for our entire region," Bouma said in a statement.

According to Monday's media release, the BCHU and HNHU decided to look into the initiative after the Ministry of Health offered, in 2023, "unprecedented one-time funding" for public health mergers.

In a statement released Tuesday, Haldimand County said the merger is "an important step" in the county having a "voice at the table."

There have been concerns about the lack of representation from the region, according to the statement, since the province designated Norfolk County as the Board of Health for both municipalities in 2001. 

In the statement, the county said the merger will allow "Haldimand to better advocate for resident needs when it comes to making important public health-related decisions."

A total of four mergers involving nine health units across the province were announced as part of the ministry's More Convenient Care Act, 2024. 

Deputy Premier and Health Minister Sylvia Jones said the mergers are part of provincial efforts to build "a stronger, more connected health-care system."