The purpose of this report is to recommend that City Council authorize the City Manager to enter into Mutual Aid Agreements (MAA) with Boards of Health to provide for public health mutual aid and assistance during emergencies. A recent request to enter into a MAA has been made by the Medical Officer of Health for the Simcoe-Muskoka Board of Health.

The City of Toronto has an emergency management program spanning the broad scope of

mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery activities, in compliance with the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.  An important element of preparedness and response is to make arrangements that will ensure adequate assistance in the form of qualified personnel, services, equipment, or materials to initiate and sustain an effective emergency response. The Ontario Public Health Standards also encourage the use of formal Mutual Aid Agreements to enhance capacity that may be needed by Boards of Health.

Such MAAs would allow for requests for assistance, the ability to accept offers to provide assistance or providing assistance to others based on the contents of the agreement, particularly as a way to mitigate capacity issues related to the need for credentialed and specialized staff skills during an emergency. The health and well-being of a community is best protected through the concerted efforts of multiple public health agencies providing assistance to one another when in need.