Ottawa MPP request provincial audit of community health center

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Ottawa MPPs Chandra Pasma and Joel Harden are asking the Ontario Auditor General to conduct a “value for money” audit of the Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Center.

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The community health center, located in the Bayshore area, has been the focus of concern from former and current employees and customers in recent months after four health professionals were fired without cause as part of what management of the health center describes as a restructuring aimed at improving efficiency. .

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In the letter, Pasma and Harden said they continue to hear from constituents raising serious concerns about CHC’s management and financial practices “and the resulting impacts on vulnerable clients and hardworking staff.”

They point out that the mandate of community health centers is to serve some of the most vulnerable people in the community and that management practices are causing significant disruptions to some of the center’s programs. Those concerns include “leaving programs chronically understaffed and unable to provide the expected level of service to the community.”

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MPPs also say their attempts to get more clarity on the issues have been “faced with obstruction” and officials have failed to respond to numerous questions and concerns they have raised.

CEO Christopher McIntosh said he was surprised to hear the letter, noting that both MPPs met with members of the center’s board of directors and leadership team over the summer to discuss their concerns.

“Our conversation was honest and we answered all your questions. We ended the meeting by underlining the fact that we share the same values ​​to serve our community and we need you, as elected representatives of that community, to help us continue to stand up for ourselves, our staff model and our clients who face barriers.” . He said they made it clear they would be open to further meetings “in the hope of creating an ongoing dialogue.”

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The City of Ottawa is investigating CHC after receiving a complaint about its city-funded housing program.

Community members have also complained that at their recent annual general meeting, members were not allowed to ask questions but were asked to send emails to the board.

McIntosh noted that the center’s financial statements have been audited by an outside firm and are published as part of the annual report, which is posted on the website.

“As CEO of QCHC, I take my role very seriously and ensure that we provide oversight of all financial matters at the center in the interest of our staff and clients and as part of our responsibility to our patrons.”