January 19, 2017 - Board of Health Agenda

Complete Agenda Package (PDF 2.2MB)

Thursday, January 19, 2017 - 7:00 p.m.
399 Ridout Street North
Side Entrance, (Recessed Door)
Board of Health Boardroom

Disclosure of Conflicts Of Interest

Approval of Agenda

Approval of Minutes

Public Session - December 8, 2016

Election of 2017 Board of Health Executive and Other Procedures

Delegations

7:30 – 7:45 p.m.
Mr. Trevor Hunter, Chair, Governance Committee re Item #2 Governance Committee Meeting January 19, 2017.

Other Business

• Next Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting: Thursday, January 26, 2016 @ 10:30 a.m.
• Next Board of Health Meeting: Thursday, February 16, 2017 @ 7:00 p.m.
• Next Governance Committee Meeting: To Be Determined
• Board of Health meeting schedule

Correspondence

 a) Date: 1 November 2016 (Received 24 November 2016)
Topic: Association of Municipalities of Ontario and Alcohol Policy
From: Northwestern Health Unit
To: Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) Board Meeting

Background:
A number of municipalities under the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) are working towards advocacy efforts to request a portion of the provincial tax revenues to be reallocated to municipalities due to associated policing and emergency service costs. From a public health perspective there may be a disconnect between the provincial revenue generation and the significant health impacts at the municipal level. The Northwestern Health Unit may pursue steps to work with AMO to highlight the social harm of alcohol and the benefits of policies that reduce availability, educate municipalities on the public health considerations of alcohols policies and request that funds be used for public health efforts to prevent the misuse of alcohol and the associated social costs.

Recommendation:
Receive.

b) Date: 28 November 2016
Topic: Bill 5 – the Greater Access to Hepatitis C Treatment Act, 2016
From: Peterborough Public Health
To: The Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins

Background:
Sylvia Jones, MPP from Dufferin-Caledon has introduced Bill 5, Greater Access to Hepatitis C to the Ontario Legislature. This legislation would provide treatment earlier than the current clinical criteria that demand an individual’s liver is halfway to cirrhosis. The Bill passed first reading on September 13, 2016. The Member of Provincial Parliament encourages Boards of Health to write a letter of support to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to urge the adoption of this legislation. Previous correspondence relating to this item was received at the November 17th, 2016 Board of Health meeting.

Recommendation:
Receive.

c) Date: 25 November 2016 (28 November 2016)
Topic: 2016 Ontario Public Health Standards Modernization/Review
From: Grey Bruce Public Health
To: The Ontario Public Health Standards Modernization Committee

Background:
The Board of Health for the Grey Bruce Health Unit strongly recommends that the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care adopt a “Health in all Policy” approach when reviewing the Ontario Public Health Standards. They also ask that the Ministry support a cross-sectorial approach to program and service delivery, for example, taking a lifespan approach to issues like Child Health and Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention and involving strategic partnerships.

Recommendation:
Receive.

d) Date: November 25, 2016 (received 05 December 2016)
Topic: The Cost of Health Eating 2016
From: North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
To: The Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins, Hon. Helena Jaczek, Hon. Christopher Ballad

Background:
The Board of Health for the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit endorsed a position statement commending the provincial government for action taken on investigating the basic income guarantee, supporting Bill 6 (An Act to amend the Ministry of Community and Social Services Act to establish the Social Assistance Research Commission), supporting the Nutritious Food Basket as part of the modernized Ontario Public Health Standards, supporting the work of staff addressing food insecurity and forwarding correspondence to relevant bodies.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit Board of Health made similar recommendations to the above position statement at the November 17th, 2016 Board of Health meeting.

Recommendation:
Receive.

e) Date: 05 December 2016
Topic: Health Hazards of Gambling
From: North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
To: The Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins

Background:
Gambling has been identified as a significant public health issue in Ontario and internationally with 35 percent of Ontario gambling revenues coming from those who have moderate to severe gambling problems. The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit endorsed a position statement that a public health strategy of prevention and harm reduction be recommended and that municipalities collaborate with the Health Unit to mitigate gambling related harms and to allocate resources to study gambling prevalence, determine the impact of future casino development and establish a responsible gambling program.

Recommendation:
Receive.

f) Date: 08 December 2016
Topic: Children’s Marketing Restrictions, federal Healthy Eating Strategy and support for Bill S-228 and Bill C-313.
From: Huron County Health Unit
To: The Honourable Dr. Jane Philpott

Background:
Creating supportive environments for healthy food choices makes the healthier choice the easier choice. Many public health advocacy groups have recommended limitations on marketing that is targeted at children. The Huron County Health Unit echoes the recommendations identified by the Healthy Kids Panel and wrote the Federal Minister of Health to support their plan to consider marketing restrictions.

The Board of Health received a report in March 2016 regarding the Impact of Sugar Sweetened Beverage and Creating Supportive Environments. At this meeting the Board of Health endorsed the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s position statement that includes a wide range of recommendations one of which is a reduction in marketing to children.

Recommendation:
Receive

g) Date: 15 December 2016
Topic: Marijuana controls under Bill 178, Smoke Free Ontario Amendment Act, 2016
From: Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit
To: The Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins

Background:
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit drafted correspondence to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to recommend the inclusion of marijuana as a prescribed product or substance in Bill 178, Smoke-Free Ontario Amendment Act, 2016. This could allow for the prohibition of marijuana smoking in all places where tobacco smoking is prohibited and provide a way of mitigating potential issues of legal marijuana use following future policy change. This will additionally limit the exposure to second-hand marijuana smoke.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit Board of Health considered a report regarding Cannabis: A Public Health Approach in January 2016 and recommended: 1) staff to advocate for an evidence-based public health approach to Cannabis in the context of legalization, including strict regulation for the non-medical use of cannabis, as well as its production, distribution, product promotion and sale; and 2) establish baseline data and mechanisms to monitor local use of cannabis in the coming years; and 3) forward this report and appendices to the Association of Local Public Health Agencies, the Ontario Public Health Association, Ontario Boards of Health, the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, the federal Minister of Health, and other elected officials as appropriate.

Recommendation:
Receive.

h) Date: 08 December 2016 (Received 03 January 2017)
Topic: Access to Publicly Funded Oral Health Programs for Low-Income Adults and Seniors
From: County of Lambton
To: The Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins

Background:
The County of Lambton Board of Health recognized and praised the expansion of the Healthy Smiles Ontario program but noted that the expansion did not address barriers experienced by working poor adults and seniors. The Provincial Government has indicated a policy direction of extending coverage in the future, but not until 2025. The County of Lambton Board of Health advocates for the expansion of oral health programs to these populations to be accelerated prior to 2025 and wrote correspondence to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care regarding this issue.

Recommendation:
Receive.

i) Date: 14December 2016 (Received 28 December 2016)
Topic: Memo from Dr. Robert Kyle, Commissioner and Medical Officer of Health re: Marketing of Food and Beverages to Children
From: Durham Region
To: The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau

Background:
See item (f) above.

Recommendation:
Receive.

j) Date: 14 December 2016 (Received 28 December 2016)
Topic: Memo from Dr. Robert Kyle, Commissioner and Medical Officer of Health re: Nutritious Food Basket
From: Durham Region
To: The Honourable Kathleen Wynne

Background:
See item (d) above.

Recommendation:
Receive.

k) Date: 14 December 2016 (Received 28 December 2016)
Topic: Memo from Dr. Robert Kyle, Commissioner and Medical Officer of Health re: Student Nutrition Programs
From: Durham Region
To: The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau

Background:
The Committee of the Whole of Regional Council adopted recommendations to endorse correspondence to the Governments of Canada and Ontario to provide enhanced and stable funding to student nutrition programs.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit Board of Health considered a report in November 2017 discussing the numerous strategies for comprehensive nutrition in Middlesex-London. The Student Nutrition Program is an integral part of this strategy.

Recommendation:
Receive.

Copies of all correspondence are available for perusal from the Secretary-Treasurer.

 Adjournment