Agenda - October 19, 2017 - Board of Health Meeting

Complete Agenda Package (PDF 1.8MB)

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

Disclosure(s) of Conflicts of Interest

Approval of Agenda

Approval of Minutes

Board of Health meeting - September 21, 2017

Delegations

7:05 – 7:15 p.m.

Mr. Trevor Hunter, Chair, Governance Committee re: Item # 1, October 19 2017, Governance Committee meeting – Verbal Update.

Receive: September 21, 2017 Governance Committee meeting minutes

Other Business

• Next Finance & Facilities Committee meeting: November 2, 2017 @ 9:00 a.m.
• Next Board of Health meeting: November 16, 2017 @ 7:00 p.m.
• Next Governance Committee meeting: December 14, 2017 @ 6:00 p.m.

Correspondence

a) Date: 2017 September 1 [received 2017 September 12]

Topic: Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act
From: Northwestern Health Unit (Board of Health and Medical Officer of Health)
To: Ontario Health Units

Background:
The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) passed a resolution commending the provincial government’s actions to improve income levels and working conditions with the introduction of Bill 148: Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017. NWHU cites research that people with lower incomes have poorer physical and mental health and higher rates of mortality. The correspondence included a summary of Bill 148, its potential impact on the communities served by NWHU, and the rationale for supporting this bill.

Recommendation:
Receive.

b) Date: 2017 September 14 [received 2017 September 18]

Topic: Ontario’s safe and sensible framework to manage federal legalization of cannabis
From: Peterborough Public Health
To: The Honourable Yasir Naqvi, Attorney General of Ontario

Background:
Peterborough Public Health (PPH) congratulated the Attorney General of Ontario on the release of plans for regulating legalized cannabis. PPH also advocated that the Province continue to use a public health approach and adopt measures such as plain packaging, prohibition of the production and sale of products that are attractive to youth, child-resistant packaging, and prohibition of cannabis advertisement.

Recommendation:
Receive.

c) Date: 2017 September 28
Topic: Report: “Access to Public Dental Programs in Ontario: An analysis based on interviews with Public Health Units
From: Ontario Oral Health Alliance
To: Medical Officers of Health; Chairs, Board of Health

Background:
The Ontario Oral Health Alliance released a report titled “Access to Public Dental Programs in Ontario: An Analysis based on interviews with Public Health Units.” This report was initiated based on anecdotal information that access to dental care for low-income children and youth and people on social assistance was challenging due to the lack of dental suites. An informal telephone survey in 2016 with oral health staff at Ontario health units found that twelve out of thirty-five health units have dental suites, while others partner with community health centres, and most health units have local dentists who provide care to low-income children and youth and people on social assistance. Challenges relating to the current structure of Healthy Smiles Ontario, Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program were identified.

Recommendation:
Receive.

d) Date: 2017 September 8 [received 2017 September 27]
Topic: Smoke-free buildings
From: Ms. Margaret M. Rivard
To: Middlesex-London Board of Health
Background:
Ms. Rivard submitted correspondence to the Middlesex-London Health Unit regarding no-smoking prohibitions in her lease and the negative impact of smoking on health. This correspondence has been forwarded to the Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control team for follow-up.

Recommendation:
Receive.

e) Date: 2017 October 6
Topic: Opioid Strategy – Update on an Opioid Emergency Task Force and Investments
From: Roselle Martino, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
To: Medical Officers of Health

Background:
The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care announced the creation of a new Opioid Emergency Task Force to ensure those closest to the crisis are providing critical insight about what is happening on the ground, to support the province's coordinated response to the crisis and to address new challenges as they emerge. Additionally, the Ministry’s Emergency Operations Centre has be to manage the crisis.

There have also been investments under the Opioid Strategy including $250,000 for the Middlesex-London Health Unit and Regional HIV / AIDS Connection for harm reduction programming and outreach workers.

Recommendation:
Receive.

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

Confidential

The Board of Health will move in-camera to discuss matters regarding identifiable individuals and labour relations and to consider confidential minutes from its September 20, 2017 Board of Health meeting.

Adjournment