Southeast Public Health Board of Health Update for May 2026

Press Release – Southeast Public Health

The Southeast Public Health (SEPH) Board of Health met May 28 in Kingston for the regular monthly meeting. The agenda package is available online.

Finance Committee

The board approved a recommendation from the Finance Committee that legacy general and capital reserves will be held in a general operating reserve in accordance with the Health Protection and Promotion Act.

Finance Committee Chair Anne-Marie Koiner noted the importance of maintaining a unified financial approach following the merger. This approach means that all 15 municipalities will continue to benefit from reserves through the delivery of public health services across the region.

Governance Committee update

The board approved a recommendation by the Governance Committee that all board members complete a competency/skills inventory form to identify the abilities and interests of board members. This inventory will assist the board to effectively utilize the skills of its members and ensure that members can contribute their knowledge in key areas. It will also assist in developing the membership of board sub-committees.

alPHa advocacy

The board also gave its support for four motions that are being presented at the annual conference for the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa). In addition, the board passed a motion calling on alPHa to advocate for increased provincial funding for public health.

Merger update

The board received a memo outlining merger updates, including, but not limited to:

• Selecting a new Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system to support data reporting, secure storage of personal health information, ministry reporting, and an integrated solution for clinical data across programs. Implementation of the new Electronic Medical Records system will happen in two phases, with the first group of programs beginning to use it this summer.
• Transitioning the Merger Office to a Project Management Office (PMO). As a centralized point of accountability, the Project Management Office supports the planning, coordination, oversight, and execution of major organizational projects and initiatives. Over the two-year pilot period of the Project Management Office, it will be evaluated to determine the value of centralized project management.
• Continuing work to unify the IT network so staff can work seamlessly across all offices.
• Establishing a Records Management Working Group to align how documents are retained and organized consistently across the agency.
• Investing in training for frontline staff to build a strong foundation for day-to-day operations. Staff trainings include project management and virtual and in-person sessions training on new IT software.

The next meeting of the Board of Health is June 24, 2026.