May 17, 2012 - Agenda

Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 6:30 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

Schedule of Appointments

7:10 – 7:20 p.m.  Ms. Linda Stobo, Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control, re Item #8 (Report No. 072-12)

7:20 – 7:30 p.m.  Ms. Nathalie Vandenheuvel, Public Health Nurse, Reproductive and Early Years Program Team re Item #9 (Report No. 073-12)

Action Required

1)   Report No. 065-12 re 2012 Healthy Smiles Ontario Budget; Appendix A

2)   Report No. 066-12 re 2012 Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program Budget; Appendix A

3)   Report No. 067-12 re 2012 -2013 100% Ministry of Children and Youth Services Budgets; Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C

4)   Report No. 068-12 re Funding Stabilization Reserve Contribution for Employer Paid Benefits; Appendix A

5)   Report No. 069-12 re 2013 City of London Budget Target; Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C, Appendix D

6)   Report No. 070-12 re 2012 Board Member Compensation

For Information

7)   Report No. 071-12 re Medical Officer of Health Activity Report – May; Appendix A, Appendix B

8)   Report No. 072-12 re Supporting Smoke Free Ontario by Reducing Contraband Tobacco Act

9)   Report No. 073-12 re Evolution of the Let’s Grow Program: Delivery of an On-line Program to Generation Y

10) Report No. 074-12 re 2011 Outcome Reports & Performance System

11) Report No. 075-12 re Drinking Water Fluoridation in London – May Update; Appendix A

12) Report No. 076-12 re Opioid Dependence: A Situational Update; Appendix A

13) Report No. 077-12 re DineSafe Middlesex-London and Food Safety Program Update

14) Report No. 078-12 re Ontario Energy Drink Work Group Update; Appendix A

15) Report No. 079-12 re Daily Aspirin Reduces Cancer Risks; Appendix A, Appendix B

16) Report No. 080-12 re Bed Bugs One Time Funding Final Reports; Appendix A, Appendix B

17) Report No. 081-12 re 2012 Provincial Budget – Impact on Non-Bargaining Employee Compensation; Appendix A

18) Report No. 082-12 re alPHa Resolutions for Consideration at June 2012 Conference; Appendix A

Confidential

Other Business

Next scheduled Board of Health Meeting – Thursday, June 21, 2012       7:00 p.m.

Correspondence Received

a)    Dated 2012 April 11 (Received 2012 April 18) Copy of correspondence from Mr. Carman Kidd, Chairperson, Board of Health, Timiskaming Health Unit, to The Honourable DaltonMcGuinty, Premier of Ontario, advising that the Timiskaming Health Unit Board of Health adopted the following recommendations in response to the freezing of social assistance programs:

WHEREAS single people on Ontario Works receive $599/month and single people on ODSP, who frequently have higher living costs, receive only $1,064/month; 

AND WHEREAS the freezing of Ontario Works has preempted the reporting of the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario to the government;

AND WHEREAS the scheduled $200 increase in the Ontario Child Benefit will be lessened to $100, with the remaining $100 being postponed until July 2014;

AND WHEREAS the Finance Minister has announced that benefits for people who rely on social assistance will be reduced by $30 million this year and by $200 million over 3 years;

AND WHEREAS the combination of the social assistance rate freeze, the postponed increase in the Ontario Child Benefit, and decreased access to benefits will “take $180 million out of the pockets of the poorest Ontarians” (Wellesley Institute, 2012);

AND WHEREAS the basic allowance portion of the Ontario Works Financial Assistance currently may not pay for adequate nutrition for families after shelter costs are taken into account, which underlies the poor health status of people on social assistance;

AND WHEREAS living costs are rising, with 4.2% increases in food prices 7.2% increases in energy costs over the last 12 months (according to Statistics Canada), and a federal rent increase guideline set at 3.1% for 2012;

AND WHEREAS cutbacks in services will have a direct and negative impact on the health of some of Ontario’s most marginalized populations;

AND WHEREAS people within the Timiskaming District in the lowest income group already have the highest rates of poor or fair self-reported health;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Timiskaming Health Unit Board of Health urge the provincial government to re-examine the 2012 Ontario budget and implement a strategy to reduce expenditures without affecting Ontario’s most marginalized populations by freezing social assistance programs and child benefits. This will include a letter from the Board of Health to Premier McGuinty, and a letter to the editor for local newsprint.

FURTHERMORE that a copy of the letter to Premier McGuinty and of this resolution be forwarded to the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, the Ministry of Community and Social Services, the Minister of Child and Youth Services, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, local MPP’s, the Ontario Public Health Association, the Association of Local Public Health Agencies, and Boards of Health requesting that they endorse the resolution without delay.

b)    Dated 2012 April 12 (Received 2012 April 23) Correspondence from The Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long Term Care, to Dr. Graham Pollett, Secretary-Treasurer, Middlesex-London Board of Health, thanking him for his correspondence re the Nutritious Food Basket and developing a comprehensive Ontario Food and Nutrition Strategy.

c)    Dated 2012 April 24 (Received 2012 April 25) Correspondence from Dr. Richard Schabas, Medical Officer of Health, Hastings & Prince Edward Counties Health Unit, to the Chair, All Boards of Health, providing an analysis of the implications of the recommendations in the Drummond Report for public health.

d)    Dated 2012 April 23 (Received 2012 April 27) Correspondence from The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, to Dr. Graham Pollett, Secretary-Treasurer, Middlesex-London Board of Health, in response to his letter of 2012 April 3 re trans fat in Canada’s food supply and advising that the Food Expert Advisory Committee recommends that Health Canada continue the voluntary approach to the reduction of trans fat. 

e)    Dated 2012 April 30 (Received 2012 May 1) A copy of correspondence from Ms. Maria Harding, Chair, Thunder Bay District Health Unit, to The Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Transportation, advising that the Thunder Bay District Board of Health passed the following motion:

THAT with respect to Report No. 24-2012 (Prevention of Injury and Substance Misuse), we recommend that a letter be sent to the Ministry of Transportation to: 

·         Endorse the safety reminder issued by the Chief Coroner of Ontario that children under the age of 16 should not operate All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) intended for adults and that all ATV riders should complete an approved riders safety course in their area or through the Canada Safety Council;

·         Endorse mandatory helmet use for all ATV riders at all times;

·         Recommend persons under the age of 16 be under close supervision and accompanied by an adult;

·         Recommend that this legislation be enforced by a “peace officer”; 

AND THAT a copy of this letter be sent to the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, the Minister of Children and Youth Services, local members of the Provincial Parliament, the Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA), the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa), Ontario Boards of Health, Municipalities in the District of Thunder Bay, Northern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA), The Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Attorney General for their support and action. 

f)     Dated 2012 May 1 (Received 2012 May 1) A copy of correspondence from Ms. Linda Stewart, Executive Director, Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa), to The Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long Term Care, reminding the Minister of alPHa Resolution A09-4, Trans Fat in the Food Supply, in follow up to the correspondence that she recently received from the Middlesex-London Board of Health.

g)    Dated 2012 May 2 (Received 2012 May 7) A copy of correspondence from Mr. Andy Sharpe, Chair, Board of Health, Peterborough County-City Health Unit, to The Honourable DaltonMcGuinty, Premier of Ontario, advising that the Board of Health for the Peterborough County-City Health Units supports the new Private Members’ Bill to restrict youth under 18 years of age from using indoor tanning equipment.

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