Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is struggling to meet the increasing health needs of the community due to significant funding gaps. Officials warn that these challenges could worsen if a public health emergency arises. OPH has reported difficulties in complying with Ontario Public Health standards, particularly regarding inspections and managing infectious disease cases, especially for lower-impact diseases.

In response to these financial pressures, Ottawa’s Board of Health has decided to request an additional $450,000 in one-time funding from the province. This request comes as the board prepares its $88.5 million budget for 2026. During a recent meeting on November 3, board members noted that the Ministry of Health is falling short of its commitment to cover 75 percent of the costs for mandated public health programs, which include disease monitoring, outbreak management, and immunization initiatives.

Mohammad Kibria, a manager at the city, highlighted that annual funding increases are not keeping pace with inflation, exacerbating the funding gap each year. To address these long-term issues, the Board of Health is advocating for a review of the funding formula and annual base funding increases of three to four percent. This adjustment aims to align funding with rising operational costs driven by cost-of-living increases and employee benefits.

Currently, the provincial government has committed to only a one percent annual increase in base funding, which is significantly lower than historical averages and the rising costs in the health sector. A report from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario indicates that the overall health sector budget is $3.4 billion short of what is needed to maintain services at 2024-25 levels, with this gap expected to widen.

The draft operating budget from the Board of Health will be presented to Ottawa city council on November 12, as part of the city’s overall budget planning for 2026. Public health units in Ontario rely on funding from both provincial and municipal governments. However, the province's contribution has decreased, covering only 58 percent of the costs for mandated programs in 2025 and projected to drop to 56 percent in 2026.

Board chair Catherine Kitts expressed concern that the current provincial funding formula does not accurately reflect the needs of public health units. Additionally, the board discussed the growing risks posed by climate change, including extreme heat events and poor air quality, which disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. This year, Ottawa recorded 18 days with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, and projections suggest that by 2030, the city could experience four times as many such days.

The board emphasized that OPH's capacity to address climate change impacts is limited without a coordinated response from all levels of government and adequate funding. The ongoing funding challenges pose a significant threat to the health and safety of Ottawa's residents as the city prepares for future public health demands.