October 15, 2015 - Agenda

Complete Agenda Package (PDF 2.4MB)

Thursday, October 15, 2015 - 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

Delegations

7:05 – 7:15 p.m. Ms. Trish Fulton, Chair, Finance and Facilities Committee re Item # 1- Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting

Confidential

The Board of Health will move in camera to discuss matters concerning identifiable individuals.

Other Business - Upcoming Meetings

• Next Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting: Thursday, November 5, 2015 @ 9:00 a.m.
• Board of Health Governance Education Session: Thursday, November 19, 2015 @ 4:30 p.m.

Correspondence

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

a) Date: 2015 September 30 via email

Topic: Energy Drinks
From: Ms. Lesley Parnell, Chair, Board of Health, Peterborough County-City
To: The Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

Background:
Energy drinks are high-calorie, low-nutrient beverages with caffeine, herbal and other vitamin ingredients. The Middlesex-London Health Unit has received similar correspondence from other health units throughout 2015.

Recommendation: Receive.

b) Date: 2015 September 30 via email

Topic: Enforcement of the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA)
From: Ms. Lesley Parnell, Chair, Board of Health, Peterborough County-City
To: The Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

Background:
The Sudbury and District Health Unit (SDHU) submitted correspondence to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care asking that all health care providers who give immunizations submit information directly to health units electronically. Currently, parents are required to submit this information to health unit. Correspondence from the SDHU was endorsed at the September 17th, 2015 Board of Health meeting.

Recommendation: Receive.

c) Date: 2015 September 30 via email

Topic: Public health support for a basic income guarantee
From: Ms. Lesley Parnell, Chair, Board of Health, Peterborough County-City
To:  The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development
       The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health
       The Honourable Kellie K. Leitch, Minister of Labour
       The Honourable Kevin Daniel Flynn, Minister of Labour
       The Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
       The Honourable Tracy MacCharles, Minister of Children and Youth Services
       The Honourable Deborah Matthews, Minister Responsible for the Poverty Strategy

Background:
A basic income guarantee is a governmental assurance that no one’s income will fall below a level that is sufficient to meet their basic necessities and to live with dignity, regardless of employment status. There is a strong association between socioeconomic status and health outcomes. The basic income guarantee has the potential to prevent poverty and to improve health outcomes in our population. The Middlesex-London Health Unit endorsed correspondence from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit at the June 18th, 2015 Board of Health meeting.

Recommendation: Receive.

d) Date: 2015 September 30 via email

Topic: Northern Ontario Evacuations of First Nations Communities
From: Ms. Lesley Parnell, Chair, Board of Health, Peterborough County-City
To: The Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario

Background:
First Nations communities in Northwestern Ontario and the James Bay coast require seasonal evacuation and relocation on a nearly annual basis. This is done in a reactionary manner without a proactive strategy to resource and maintain evacuation centres in host municipalities. Correspondence was received at the September 17th, 2015 Board of Health Meeting from the Sudbury and District Health Unit.

Recommendation: Receive.

e) Date: 2015 September 25 (Received 2015 October 2)

Topic: Public Health Funding
From: Dr. Hazel Lynn, Medical Officer of Health, Grey Bruce Health Unit
To: The Honourable Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

Background:
A funding review workgroup was struck in 2010 to investigate the status of public health funding in Ontario and to advise the ministry on a potential funding model and principles to guide its implementation. The report produced by the workgroup was accepted and the ministry will begin to implement the new model in 2015. Two percent growth funding (approx. $11 million) for mandatory programs is being distributed to public health units who have not reached their model-based share – the Middlesex-London Health Unit is one of these health units.

Several health units across the province have expressed concern for the new funding model and called for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to reverse their decision on the report and to revise the funding formula. This new funding formula is seen as biased against smaller, northern and rural health units. At the September 17th meeting, the Board of Health approved writing a letter to the Minister of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care expressing the Health Unit’s appreciation for supporting a more equitable approach to public health funding.

Recommendation: Receive.

Adjournment