WECHU to remain at current location after UWindsor move abandoned

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has signed a three-year lease to remain at its current Windsor location after a plan to move to the University of Windsor fell apart to due financial issues.

The health unit announced the decision Tuesday, citing substantial budget and inflationary pressures, coupled with ongoing changes affecting the public health landscape in Ontario.

In December, the health unit said it would be reducing its staff by about 10 per cent in 2024 due to budgetary restraints, impacting 24 jobs and the service level of a number of programs.

Funding for public health units involves a 75-25 cost-sharing formula with 75 per cent from the province and 25 per cent from municipalities.

In August 2023, the province announced an increase to base funding for public health units by one per cent a year for three years starting in 2024.

Dr. Ken Blanchette, Chief Executive Officer of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, previously said that does not keep up with current inflation.

Blanchette says  based on the budgetary constraints we feel that this is where we're going to be for a little bit of time to ensure we can continue to provide the programs and services to the community.

He says it was a very difficult decision to make.

"From our staffing perspective, our board perspective, we all really looked forward to the possibilities that were there. But the reality of the situation, fiscally and financially, it was the only decision and the responsible decision to make," he says.

Blanchette says moving into a different location carries increased costs.

"For us we did not want to have those increased costs effect any of the programs and services for the community," he says. "So the decision was quite easily made when you look at that being your only choices. As a board again, we're disappointed at not being able to move and relocate."

The health unit entered into a memorandum of understanding with the University of Windsor in 2022 to explore the possibility of research and knowledge translation opportunities, supported student placement opportunities, and jointly supporting academic public health programming. 

The proposal also included moving the WECHU Windsor operations on campus.

The lease at the current office at 1005 Ouellette Ave. was set to expire at the end of 2023 but was renewed given the current situation.