It’s official, after the year and a half of lobbying and multiple rejections by area communities, a funding formula for the Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board will see a change.

The double-majority vote passed this past week.  It will save Timmins around $1.14-million a year.

It does come at a cost to other towns.  For example, Kapuskasing has to pay an additional $1.16-million a year as a result.  Cochrane and Hearst will also see significant increases.

Timmins Mayor Steve Black, long an advocate of the switch, says the change will come over the course of the next few months.

He adds the work won’t end, as he believes the cost for EMS and social services should be uploaded to the province.

Black says while many don’t agree with the change under the current legislation, he’s urging area leaders and MPPs to lobby the provincial government on changing it.

“They are doing a DSSAB Act review, we acknowledge that and are happy to see that.  But really, we need everyone, whether they feel they won or lost in this funding model change to now lobby the province together,” he said.

“(Because win or lose), you’d still be winning if there was a change of upload of services back to the provincial level where they belong.”

Ontario is the lone province that has EMS and social services paid for at the municipal level.

Filed under: Local News