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Friday, November 21, 2025
Public Health Sudbury and Districts - Sudbury
Board of Health approves 2026 budget with a focus on leveraging technology to achieve sustainability within a precarious fiscal environment

At its meeting today, the Board of Health for Public Health Sudbury & Districts approved the cost-shared operating budget for Public Health in the amount of $32,029,390. The budget, with the smallest growth in three years, maintains services through 2026, while making a robust $2,413,088 investment in technology to realize long-term efficiency and sustainability of services.

“Over the last 10 years, we’ve seen an 18% decrease in funding when adjusted for inflation,” said Mark Signoretti, Chair of the Board of Health for Public Health Sudbury & Districts. “As Public Health strives to deliver on the growing needs of the community during this period of fiscal constraint, our top priority remains to support innovation and excellent service delivery in a sustainable and affordable way, so we can help people live healthier lives.” said Signoretti.

“With growing pressures across many health issues, including the complex toxic drug crisis and resurging infections, life expectancy has declined in Canada in recent years, a stark change from two centuries of almost continuous growth,” said Dr. Mustafa Hirji, Acting Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer for Public Health Sudbury & Districts. “The need for Public Health’s work is clear. In the absence of adequate provincial funding, we need to leverage technology so that we can build the capacity to deliver for our community,” said Dr. Hirji.

With provincial funding shortfalls for several years, Public Health carefully assesses how best to use valuable resources to ensure the most beneficial impact is achieved. While major changes in programming have been avoided for 2026, staff needed to be reallocated to help address current needs. Without a change in fiscal context, provincial underfunding threatens the loss of programming in future years.

In 2026, Public Health will continue focusing on efforts that have the greatest positive impact on the public’s health. To make services sustainable for the long term, the agency will leverage technology by embracing artificial intelligence to work more efficiently, by digitizing data through an electronic medical record (EMR) and new administrative systems, and by embarking on a transformative information technology (IT) roadmap that will enable continuous innovation. The 2026 budget also prioritizes the recruitment and retention of skilled professionals, helping advance strategic priorities. Led by the Board of Health, Public Health will also strengthen advocacy to the province for adequate funding that protects health and prevents disease for everyone.

Additional information about the 2026 budget is included in the November Board of Health package. For more information about Public Health Sudbury & Districts, please visit phsd.ca or call 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).