in Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Southgate, West Grey
August 18, 2025
BY SOUTHGREY.CA STAFF — Grey Bruce Board of Health Chairperson Nicholas Saunders has responded to the backlash he has received, as well as the latest actions taken by the Ontario Minister of Health, with regard to the dismissal of municipal-appointed board members on August 6.
In a letter addressed to Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieren Moore, written by Nicholas Saunders on August 15, Saunders details his recorded history of communication with the Ministry of Health:
On July 31, I wrote to Brent Feeney, Director of the Accountability and Liaison Branch, to request a meeting to clarify next steps and ensure alignment. In the same e-mail, I informed Mr. Feeney of the steps underway to compose the Action Plan and meet the 30-day deadline mandated in your July 18 written direction. I requested that he respond by August 5 with “any concerns or feedback … to ensure timely implementation.”
In the July 31 email, I expressly informed Mr. Feeney that, “We will initiate immediate communication with the Counties of Bruce and Grey, in coordination with your office, to replace municipal members with non-elected appointees who align with the skills-based matrix.”
On August 1, Mr. Feeney replied that “the process for developing the Action Plan remains at the discretion of the Board.” He further encouraged the Board to communicate directly with the Counties of Bruce and Grey, given that your office had “already provided the Counties with a high-level overview of the governance findings and recommendations in the Report, so they are expecting to hear from the Board.”
Accordingly, on August 6, I informed Elizabeth Walker, Executive Lead for Public Health that letters had been sent to all of the municipal appointees on the Board to notify them that their appointments had been terminated and to begin working with the Counties of Bruce and Grey for appointing non-elected members who meet the skills-based matrix, pursuant to your July 18 written direction. I asked her provide feedback “and any concerns regarding the Action Plan” by August 11. On August 8, she replied, “Thanks Nick, appreciate the update.”
Given that I had kept your officials updated on the various steps being taken to implement your July 18 written direction to me, I was surprised to receive Ms. Walker’s August 11 e-mail telling me that I was to rescind “all termination letters issued to municipal members” of the Board and that your direction was instead merely a request.
Your July 18 correspondence expressly stated that it was a direction. You wrote, “I am, as a result of the Assessment Report, issuing you a direction pursuant to section 83 of the HPPA.” You directed me to send you an Action Plan and you directed that the Action Plan must include an update on “immediate actions” including “to immediately replace the municipal members on the Board of Health.”
Saunders went on to say, "The Board of Health has consulted external legal counsel and we now understand that your July 18 direction to replace the municipal members was unlawful." He clarified by stating, "The power to appoint and to replace municipal members rests solely with the County of Grey and the County of Bruce, and not with the Board of Health."
According to Saunders, he acted pursuant to the Ministry's direction, and claims that "the allegation that he acted unilaterally is inaccurate and extremely unfair."
Rewinding this kerfuffle to its origins, the Ministry-of-Health-appointed Assessor's Report of the Grey Bruce Board of Health dated December 2024, found that the Grey Bruce Board of Health "failed to fulfil its governance responsibilities," citing poor communication and conflict among board members and staff. The report admonished the board for a lack of "appropriate financial oversight" and "failed to implement specific recommendations arising from an audit conducted in 2018."
On August 14, Chief Medical Officer of Health Kieran Moore assumed control over the Grey Bruce Board of Health and reinstated board membership to municipal-appointed members. But the story continues to unfold and probably has some more twists and turns yet to be revealed.
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