Loyalist Township is urging the provincial government to reconsider the closure of six of its community based Public Health Ontario labs.
Township staff believe closure of the labs will increase health inequities for rural communities and have impacts on clean drinking water.
These labs collect and process thousands of water samples and time sensitive medical tests each day. If closed, all material from rural areas would need to be sent to more centralized locations. Township staff noted concerns about the integrity of samples being compromised if the travel time for processing is increased.
Staff mentioned that frequent drinking water testing is vital for those who draw their water from private drinking water systems, such as wells.
Noting the Safe Drinking Water Act, (2022,) council are forwarding their motion to the Minister of Health, the MP and MPP of Hastings-Lennox and Addington, and all Ontario municipalities for their support.
