Report No. 019-12

Medical Officer of Health Activity Report – February

Recommendation

It is recommended that Report No. 019-12 re Medical Officer of Health Activity Report – February be received for information.

The following report highlights activities of the Medical Officer of Health since the last Board of Health meeting.

This past month was dominated by the City of London 2012 Budget process. Following the January 19, 2012 Board of Health meeting, where the Board reaffirmed the $6,095,059 budget submission to City Council, the Medical Officer of Health, immediate past Chair and City Council Appointee, Ms. Patricia Coderre, and Mr. John Millson, Director, Finance and Operations, attended the Feb 2^nd meeting of the City Council Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee (SPPC). This Committee is comprised of all members of City Council and is chaired by Mayor Joe Fontana. Following a question and answer period of approximately one hour, no progress was made in having City Council approve the Board of Health budget submission.  This was evidenced by the following resolutions passed by the Committee. 

“The following actions be taken with respect to the 2012 budgets submitted by boards, commissions and outside agencies which exceeded the Council target:

Middlesex London Health Unit (MLHU) budget:

A.  the MLHU BE REQUIRED to reduce the City-funded portion of the budget by $496,000, in accordance with the previous direction of Council in order to continue to work toward the City funding only  25% of the MLHU;  and,

B.  the MLHU and the City Solicitor BE REQUESTED to report back to the February 9th meeting of the SPPC with respect to the impacts specific to mandated programs and any potential legal implications based on existing agreements including the Public Health Accountability Agreement with the Province;

It being noted that the Municipality has remedies available to achieve the 25% City funding.”

The attached London Free Press article (Appendix A) summarizes the February 2^nd Committee outcome. A second meeting of the SPPC is scheduled for February 9^th. As this meeting will occur after the distribution of the Board of Health agenda package, a verbal update will be provided at the Feb 16^th Board of Health meeting.

The Board of Health directed staff to obtain a legal opinion regarding the City of London and County of Middlesex legal obligations to provide the Board the level of funding determined as necessary for fulfilling its duties and responsibilities under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Several meetings were held with the Health Unit’s solicitor, Mr. David Woodward. Attached as Appendix B is Mr. Woodward’s legal opinion.

The Medical Officer of Health and Dr. Bryna Warshawsky, Associate Medical Officer of Health and Director, Oral Health, Communicable Disease & Sexual Health Services, participated in a public meeting on fluoridation held by the Civic Works Committee of City Council on January 25, 2012, at Centennial Hall. This meeting is the subject of Board of Health Report No. 023-12 (this agenda). Attached as Appendix C are the comments made by the Medical Officer of Health.

Prior to the fluoridation meeting, the Medical Officer of Health hosted Dr. Arlene King, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, and Dr. Robin Williams, Acting Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health, both of whom were in London to participate in the public fluoridation meeting. The Medical Officer of Health arranged for them to receive an orientation to the Child and Youth Network initiative. Participating were Ms. Diane Bewick, Director, Family Health Services; Ms. Debbie Shugar, Manager, Family Health Services; and Ms. Lynne Livingstone, Director, Neighbourhood and Children’s Services, City of London.

Other meetings involving the Medical Officer of Health since the last Board of Health meeting included: attendance at a Father’s Day Breakfast planning meeting of the Coaching Boys to Men Working Group; a meeting with Councilor Joni Baechler; and attendance at a Regional HIV/Aids Committee Board meeting.

Graham L. Pollett, MD, FRCPC
Medical Officer of Health