Whereas there is a lack of Public Health Officers in rural and northern British Columbia; And whereas the current staffing levels are impacting development approval processes for obtaining public health permits; And whereas there is limited training opportunities for Public Health Officers in rural and northern British Columbia: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the provincial government to increase the provision of locally offered training and support for Public Health Officials in rural and northern British Columbia.
Ministry of Health The government, in partnership with the Northern Health Authority NHA and other regional health authorities, is actively addressing recruitment challenges and aiming to enhance the retention of qualified and trained environmental health officers EHO. Together, health authorities and the government are working closely to create provincial training programs and exploring additional opportunities, as recommended by health authorities, post-secondary institutions, and other partners, to further support this endeavour.