The budget allocation for the Prescott and Russell Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre (VTAC) expires on March 31, 2027, and the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) are asking the province for $750,000 in permanent funding to secure bilingual healthcare across the region.
At the recent 2026 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference, the UCPR delegation met with representatives from the Ministry of Health to highlight the importance of maintaining funding for the VTAC, a vital component in expanding access to essential health services for residents throughout the counties.
Mario Zanth, Warden of the UCPR Council and Mayor of Clarence-Rockland, shared an update on his official Facebook page regarding his expectations and how this funding has strengthened healthcare resources. Zanth noted that by the end of its first four months of operation, the centre had already assisted 905 patients, including 312 residents without a primary care provider.
«We know VTAC works. Now let’s work together to make sure it is here for the long term,» Zanth stated following the meeting with John Jordan, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health, and Stéphane Sarrazin, Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell.
For his part, Sarrazin, a strong champion of the project since its launch, offered a more measured view regarding the term «permanent.»
«Permanent is always a strong word in politics, because governments change every four years,» Sarrazin said in an interview with the Tribune-Express.
However, the MPP noted he is «very confident» that a solution will be found to keep the VTAC operational next year.
«The Ministry of Health understands that this is an essential service relieving pressure on emergency rooms,» he added. «Much like our community paramedics, funding gets renewed year after year because we’ve proven it benefits the community. I expect we’ll see similar good news.»
Sarrazin pointed out that the VTAC is only in its initial months of operation and its community impact will continue to grow.
«The service got off to a slow start in early 2026, and there are still people unaware of its existence,» said the MPP. «There is much to gain by raising awareness, but the data already proves its value.» Sarrazin added that discussions will continue during the public pre-budget consultations he will take part in early next year.
