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Decision Document |
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Board of Health |
Meeting No. | 23 | Contact | Candy Davidovits, Committee Administrator | |
Meeting Date |
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 |
Phone | 416-392-8032 | |
Start Time |
1:00 PM |
boh@toronto.ca | ||
Location |
Committee Room 1, City Hall
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Chair | Councillor John Filion |
The Decision Document is for preliminary reference purposes only. Please refer to the Board of Health’s Report to City Council or to the Minutes for the official record.
How to Read the Decision Document: • Recommendations of the Board of Health to City Council appear after the item heading. • Other action taken by the Board on its own authority, which does not require Council’s approval, is listed in the decision document under the heading “Decision Advice and Other Information ”. • Declarations of Interest, if any, appear at the end of an item.
Minutes Confirmed – April 20, 2009 |
HL23.1 | Information |
Adopted |
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Ward: All |
Resignation of Citizen Member of the Board of Health |
Decision Advice and Other Information |
The Board of Health:
1. accepted Wangari Muriuki’s resignation from the Board of Health, with regret, and thanked her for her service as a member of the Board of Health and of the Local Health Committee;
2. directed that the vacancy on the Board of Health be filled;
3. referred the vacancy on the Board of Health to the Nominating Sub-Committee to develop a process for filling the vacancy and to report to the Board of Health on the process;
4. appointed Alejandra Bravo to the Nominating Sub-Committee, so that the membership of the Sub-Committee is now the following:
Councillor John Filion; Councillor Janet Davis; Councillor Gord Perks; and Alejandra Bravo;
5. appointed Valerie Sterling to the Public Health Champion Awards Selection Committee to replace Wangari Muriuki; and
6. deferred filling the vacancies on the Sub-Committee to Conduct the Performance Appraisal for the Medical Officer of Health and the Drug Prevention Community Investment Program Review Panel until a new citizen member has been appointed to the Board of Health. |
Origin |
(April 23, 2009) Letter from Wangari Muriuki |
Summary |
Wangari Muriuki submitting her resignation from the Board of Health effective April 23, 2009. |
Background Information |
hl23.1 - Letter from Wangari Muriuki (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-21036.pdf) |
HL23.2 | Information |
Received |
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Ward: All |
Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Update |
Decision Advice and Other Information |
The Board of Health received, for information, the verbal update by the Medical Officer of Health on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness. |
Summary |
The Medical Officer of Health will give a verbal update on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness. |
Communications |
(May 19, 2009) letter from Associate Medical Officer of Health (HL.Main.hl23.2) |
HL23.3 | ACTION |
Adopted |
|
Ward: All |
2009/2010 Student Nutrition Program Service Subsidies |
Committee Recommendations |
The Board of Health recommends that:
1. City Council enter into agreements totalling $3,255,327.00 with the Toronto Foundation for Student Success ($2,800,954.90) and the Angel Foundation for Learning ($454,372.10) to administer the Community Partnership and Investment Program funding to eligible student nutrition programs across the City of Toronto.
2. City Council grant authority to the Medical Officer of Health to take the necessary action to give effect to Recommendation (1), including the execution of agreements with the Toronto Foundation for Student Success and the Angel Foundation for Learning on behalf of the City. |
Decision Advice and Other Information |
The Board of Health forwarded this report for information to the Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services, the Ontario Minister of Health Promotion, the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board. |
Origin |
(May 4, 2009) Report from Medical Officer of Health |
Summary |
This report requests that the Board of Health adopt the recommendations of the Toronto Partners for Student Nutrition (TPSN) Steering Committee regarding the 2009/2010 Student Nutrition Program service subsidy allocations.
The TPSN Steering Committee requests that the Board of Health recommend the City of Toronto execute agreements with the Angel Foundation for Learning and the Toronto Foundation for Student Success, for a combined total of $3,255,327.00, which includes an amount of $298,073.53 that will be held for appeals/late applications within the recommended allocation for the Toronto Foundation for Student Success.
|
Background Information |
hl23.3 - 2009/2010 Student Nutrition Program Service Subsidies - Staff Report (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-21097.pdf) |
HL23.4 | Information |
Received |
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Ward: All |
Final Evaluation of Toronto’s Pesticide Bylaw and Summary of New Provincial Pesticide Regulation |
Decision Advice and Other Information |
The Board of Health received, for information, the report (May 4, 2009) from the Medical Officer of Health. |
Origin |
(May 4, 2009) Report from Medical Officer of Health |
Summary |
City Council enacted Toronto’s Pesticide Bylaw (Municipal Code 612) in 2003 and it came into effect on April 1, 2004. Toronto Public Health led the implementation of the bylaw, frequently collaborating with Parks, Forestry and Recreation and Toronto Water.
Toronto’s bylaw succeeded in reducing pesticide use and encouraging residents and companies to adopt more sustainable lawn and garden care approaches. In 2007, almost 60 per cent fewer Toronto households reported any use of pesticides on their lawns, as compared with 2003. Furthermore, about two-thirds of homeowners report that they or their lawn care companies are using lower-risk pesticides and/or more natural alternatives, which is a higher proportion than before the bylaw was in place.
An estimated 154 municipalities in seven provinces – including 35 in Ontario – have passed bylaws to restrict pesticide use to protect health and the environment. This municipal leadership has prompted province-wide restrictions on the use and sale of pesticides, first in Quebec and now in Ontario. On April 22, 2009, Ontario Regulation 63/09 came into effect, restricting the use and sale of cosmetic pesticides across the province. The new regulation replaces municipal bylaws in Ontario, therefore Toronto’s Pesticide Bylaw is no longer in effect.
The Ontario regulation is more restrictive than Toronto’s bylaw, banning the sale of many common pesticides, limiting exemptions, and tightly restricting remaining uses. It should further decrease the use of pesticides, and therefore human exposure to these substances, in Toronto and across Ontario. TPH anticipates a smooth transition for the City and its residents in meeting the new provincial requirements. |
Background Information |
hl23.4 - Final Evaluation of Toronto's Pesticide Bylaw and Summary of New Provincial Pesticide Regulation - Staff Report (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-21099.pdf) |
HL23.5 | ACTION |
Amended |
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Ward: All |
Budget Adjustments to the Toronto Public Health 2009 Approved Operating Budget and Delegation of Authority to Receive and Spend Grants |
Decision Advice and Other Information |
The Board of Health recommended to the Executive Committee that:
1. City Council make the following adjustments to Toronto Public Health’s 2009 Approved Operating Budget:
a. an increase of $353.7 thousand gross and $0.0 net, and an increase of ten temporary positions, to reflect confirmed one time funding from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC) for the Nursing Graduate Guarantee Program (NGG) Phase 3; and
b. an increase of $61.3 thousand gross and $0.0 net, and an increase of one temporary position, to reflect confirmed one time funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) for the Enhanced Hepatitis Strain Surveillance System (EHSSS).
2. City Council delegate authority to the Medical Officer of Health to receive grants from various levels of government and agencies for Toronto Public Health programs covering 100 percent of the program cost.
3. City Council delegate authority to the Medical Officer of Health to execute agreements when necessary with other governments and agencies for the purpose of accepting grants for Toronto Public Health programs.
4. The grant agreements referred to in Recommendation 3 be in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.
5. The Medical Officer of Health report to City Council, for information, on the details of grants received, including the organization name, amount and the purpose of the grant as part of the quarterly operating budget variance report. |
Origin |
(May 4, 2009) Report from Medical Officer of Health |
Summary |
The purpose of this report is to request budget adjustments to Toronto Public Health’s (TPH) 2009 Approved Operating Budget due to confirmation of funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care (MOHLTC), and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), received after the approval of the Operating Budget in March 2009.
This report also seeks City Council authority for the Medical Officer of Health to accept grants with no maximum limit, and to enter into contractual agreements with organizations for the purposes of accepting grants covering 100 percent of the program costs. |
Background Information |
hl23.5 - Budget Adjustments to the Toronto Public Health 2009 Approved Operating Budget and Delegation of Authority to Receive and Spend Grants - Staff Report (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-21100.pdf) |
HL23.6 | Information |
Received |
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Ward: All |
Results of Follow-up of Previous Audit Recommendations |
Decision Advice and Other Information |
The Board of Health received, for information, the report (April 28, 2009) from the Auditor General. |
Origin |
(April 28, 2009) Report from Auditor General |
Summary |
The Auditor General’s Office conducts an annual follow-up review on the implementation of recommendations contained in audit reports issued since January 1, 1999. This report contains the follow-up results on the status of recommendations included in reports issued to the Board of Health.
The results of our review indicate that a majority of the audit recommendations have been implemented by staff. Audit recommendations fully implemented since our last follow-up review are listed in Attachment 1. Audit recommendations not fully implemented, as well as management’s comments and action plan, are included in Attachment 2 and will be carried forward to our next annual follow-up review. |
Background Information |
hl23.6 - Results of Follow-up of Previous Audit Recommendations - Staff Report (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-21049.pdf) |
HL23.7 | Information |
Received |
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Ward: All |
Local Health Committee Minutes |
Decision Advice and Other Information |
The Board of Health received, for information, the minutes of the North York Local Health Committee meetings held on January 13, 2009, and March 3, 2009. |
Summary |
• Minutes of the North York Local Health Committee meeting held on January 13, 2009. • Minutes of the North York Local Health Committee meeting held on March 3, 2009. |
Background Information |
hl23.7 - North York Local Health Committee Minutes - January 13, 2009 (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-21023.pdf) hl23.7 - North York Local Health Committee Minutes - March 3, 2009 (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-21024.pdf) |
HL23.8 | Information |
Received |
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Ward: All |
Strategic Planning - 2010-2014 Update |
Decision Advice and Other Information |
The Board of Health received, for information, the verbal update from the Medical Officer of Health on Strategic Planning - 2010-2014. |
Summary |
The Medical Officer of Health will give a verbal update on Strategic Planning - 2010-2014. |
HL23.9 | ACTION |
Adopted |
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Ward: All |
Compliance with the Ontario Public Health Standards |
Decision Advice and Other Information |
The Board of Health requested the Medical Officer of Health to complete the assessment of Toronto Public Health (TPH) compliance with the Ontario Public Health Standards, adjust service and program delivery within existing resources where appropriate to achieve compliance, and report back on any outstanding areas of non-compliance requiring additional resources. |
Origin |
(May 14, 2009) Report from Medical Officer of Health |
Summary |
The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care released the new Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS) in November 2008. The OPHS and related Protocols are published pursuant to Section 7 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, and establish the minimum level of public health services that Boards of Health in Ontario are required to provide. The new standards replace previous guidelines and establish an enhanced accountability and performance management framework within which programs and services are to be delivered by local public health units.
Toronto Public Health (TPH) recently undertook a preliminary compliance assessment to assess the compliance of current programs and services with the OPHS. The new standards represent a minimum benchmark while providing substantial scope for tailoring public health services to meet local population health needs. The purpose of this report is to inform the Board of Health of the preliminary results of the TPH compliance assessment. |
Background Information |
hl23.9 - Compliance with the Ontario Public Health Standards - Staff Report (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-21213.pdf) |
HL23.10 | ACTION |
Amended |
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Ward: All |
Funding for the Consumer Health Information Service (CHIS) |
Decision Advice and Other Information |
The Board of Health sent a letter to the Minister of Health Promotion expressing disappointment and strong concern for the elimination of funding for the Toronto Public Library Board's Consumer Health Information Services (CHIS) that will result in the loss of important public health information in the public domain. |
Origin |
(April 28, 2009) Letter from Chair, Toronto Public Library Board |
Summary |
The Toronto Public Library Board on April 20, 2009, was advised of the Minister of Health Promotion’s sudden decision not to extend funding for the Consumer Health Information Service (CHIS) beyond March 31, 2009, and at that meeting, adopted the following motion:
“It is recommended that the Toronto Public Library Board communicates the Board’s concern and disappointment regarding the loss of operating funding for the Consumer Health Information Service to the Minister of Health Promotion.” |
Background Information |
hl23.10 - Funding for the Consumer Health Information Service (CHIS) - Letter (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-21242.pdf) |
Meeting Sessions |
Session Date | Session Type | Start Time | End Time | Public or Closed Session |
2009-05-19 | Afternoon | 1:05 PM | 2:30 PM | Public |
Attendance |
Date and Time | Quorum | Members |
2009-05-19 1:05 PM - 2:30 PM (Public Session) |
Present |
Present: Bravo, Chari, Cho, Davis, Filion, Fletcher, Nelson, O'Brien, Perks, Sterling, Wong Not Present: Lee |