Ottawa Board of Health

Minutes

Meeting #:
9
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West, and by electronic participation
Present:
  • Chair Catherine Kitts, 
  • Vice-Chair Tammy DeGiovanni, 
  • Member Elyse Banham, 
  • Member Brent Bauer, 
  • Member Danielle Brown-Shreves, 
  • Member Marty Carr, 
  • Member Sabrina Chung, 
  • Member Laura Dudas, 
  • Member Glen Gower, 
  • and Member Theresa Kavanagh 
Absent:
  • Member Rawlson King 

1.
Notices and meeting information for meeting participants and the public

This item has attachments. 
1.Avis publics_fr.pdf
2.Public Notices_en.pdf

Please see the attached document for public notices and meeting information, including: availability of simultaneous interpretation and accessibility accommodations; in camera meeting procedures; processes and timelines for written and oral submissions; personal information disclaimer for correspondents and public speakers; notices regarding minutes; and remote participation details.

2.
Roll Call

 

All members of the Board of Health were present at roll call. 

3.
Regrets

 

None. 

4.
Declarations of Interest

 

No declarations of interest were filed. 

5.
Confirmation of Minutes

This item has attachments. 
1.draft eMinutes 8 - EN.pdf
2.draft eMinutes 8 - FR_fr (1).pdf
  • Moved byMember Laura Dudas

    Confirmation of minutes of the meeting of December 4, 2023

    Carried

6.
Communications 

This item has attachments. 
1.01_Communications List EN.pdf
2.02_Communications List FR.pdf

Three communication items have been received (held on file with the Board of Health Secretary).

7.
Motion to Introduce Reports

 
  • Motion No. BOH9/1
    Moved byMember Laura Dudas

    BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Confirmation of the Chair and Vice-Chair for 2024, the Chair of the Board of Health Verbal Report, the Medical Officer of Health Verbal Report, the Verbal Report on the Education Session Regarding Voluntary Mergers and the reports titled: Indigenous Health, Rights and Reconciliation: Annual Update and Attendance at the Association of Local Public Health Agencies’ (alPHa) Winter Symposium, be received and considered.

    Carried

7.1
Confirmation of the Chair and Vice-Chair for 2024

 

File ACS2024-OPH-BOH-0001- City-wide

  • Moved byMember Laura Dudas

    THAT the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit:

    1. Confirm the election of Councillor Catherine Kitts as Chair for 2024, to be confirmed at the first meeting of each year of its term as required by the Health Protection and Promotion Act; and
    2. Confirm the election of Member Tammy DeGiovanni as Vice-Chair for 2024, to be confirmed at the first meeting of each year of its term as required by the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
    Carried

7.2
Chair of the Board of Health Verbal Report

 

File ACS2023-OPH-BOH-0002 – City-wide

Chair Kitts welcomed members of the Ottawa Board of Health back to session following the holiday break. Chair Kitts reflected on the significance of Black History Month and noted the significant health and social disparities that still exist due to anti-Black racism and how the Board and Ottawa Public Health continue commit to integration of equity into the fabric of everything we do. 

Chair Kitts also provided a recap of the Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference and discussed funding for routine childhood vaccinations. 

The discussion on this item lasted approximately 4 minutes. The report was then received by the Board. The attached memo includes the Chair’s Verbal Update.

  • Moved byMember Laura Dudas

    That the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit receive this verbal report for information.

    Received

7.3
Medical Officer of Health Verbal Report

 

File ACS2023-OPH-MOH-001 – City-wide

Dr. Etches discussed working with Indigenous partners to address evolving community needs in addition to acknowledging the efforts from Ottawa Public Health’s Indigenous Rights and Reconciliation team. She then provided updates on Children and Youth Immunization Coverage, COVID-19 and Respiratory Illness, Group A Streptococcus, Mental Health and Substance-use Health, and Black History Month.

Discussions on this item lasted approximately 25 minutes. The report was then received by the Board. The attached memo includes the Medical Officer of Health’s Verbal Update.

  • Moved byMember Laura Dudas

    That the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit receive this verbal report for information.

    Received

7.4
Verbal Report on the Board of Health Education Session Regarding Voluntary Mergers

 

File ACS2024-OPH-BOH-0003 – City-wide

Chair Kitts discussed the Government of Ontario’s announcement of one-time funding for local public health agencies to explore opportunities for voluntary mergers. She noted that while this initiative is primarily aimed at boards in smaller communities and rural regions, the goal of the province is to make better use of existing assets and reinvest any savings from mergers back into improving programs to better serve people. The Chair brought forward merger-related options assessed by OPH staff and encouraged discussion.

The discussion on this item lasted approximately 15 minutes. The report was then carried by the Board. The attached memo includes the Verbal Update.

  • Moved byVice-Chair Tammy DeGiovanni

    BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Ottawa Board of Health receive the verbal update regarding the Ottawa Board of Health Education Session, which was held on January 26, 2024 as information;  

    AND THAT the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Ottawa Board of Health and Medical Officer of Health continue to engage with representatives from the Ministry of Health, neighbouring boards of health and the Association of Municipalities Ontario with respect to voluntary mergers and explore opportunities for alternative service delivery models with neighbouring health units to strengthen local public health practice;  

    AND THAT the Chair of the Ottawa Board of Health direct the Medical Officer of Health to provide an update to the Chief Medical Officer of Health and the office of the Minister of Health on the due diligence conducted to explore possible merger scenarios by the deadline of April 2, 2024, reflecting the Board’s preferred approach to maintain its existing boundaries and governance structure with the City of Ottawa;

    AND THAT the Chair send a letter with a copy of this motion to the offices of the Minister of Health and the Chief Medical Officer of Health and copy the Mayor of the City of Ottawa and City Councillors, the City Manager and the Chairs of the Boards of Health of neighboring health units, advising of the Ottawa Board of Health’s preferred approach to maintain its existing boundaries and governance structure within the City of Ottawa; 

    AND FURTHERMORE THAT, the Chair of the Ottawa Board of Health report back to the Board on this matter at future meetings. 

    Carried (10 to 0)

7.5
Indigenous Health, Rights and Reconciliation: Annual Update

This item has attachments. 
1.IHHR_2023_Annual Update_ Final Report.pdf
2.04_Doc 1_OPH Reconcili-ACTION Evaluation Framework_EN.pdf
3.04_Doc 1FR - Cadre d'evaluation du plan Reconcili-ACTION de SPO.pdf
4.04_Doc 2_Indigenous Health, Rights, Reconciliation_Learning Resources (Nov 2023).pdf
5.04_Doc 3_Indigenous Youth Talking Circle_Sharing Thoughts on Reconciliation.pdf
6.04_Doc 4_SYS_Summary_OPH_Actions_FV.pdf
7.04_Doc 5_Service Areas_OPH Actions_FV.pdf

File ACS2023-OPH-HED-0001 – City-wide

The Board then received an Indigenous Health, Rights, and Reconciliation annual update recognizing Ottawa Public Health’s continuing efforts to become a culturally safe and humble organization, as outlined in the OHP Reconcili-ACTION Plan. 

The Board received presentations from representatives from the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition, Minwaashin Lodge, Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team, Innuqatigiit Centre and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. 

Discussion of this item lasted approximately 45 minutes. 

  • Moved byMember Laura Dudas

    THAT the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit receive, for information, this update on Ottawa Public Health’s continuing efforts to become a culturally safe and humble organization, as outlined in the OPH Reconcili-ACTION Plan.

    Carried

7.6
Attendance at the Association of Local Public Health Agencies’ (alPHa) Winter Symposium

This item has attachments. 
1.Report - alPHa Winter Symposium 2024.pdf

File ACS2023-OPH-BOH-0004 – City-wide

  • Moved byMember Laura Dudas

    THAT the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit approve the participation of Chair Kitts, Vice-Chair DeGiovanni and Member Bauer at the Association of Local Public Health Agencies’ (alPHa) Winter Symposium, to be held February 16, 2024. 

    Carried

8.
Motion to Adopt Reports

 
  • Moved byMember Laura Dudas

    BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Confirmation of the Chair and Vice-Chair for 2024, the Chair of the Board of Health Verbal Report, the Medical Officer of Health Verbal Report, the Verbal Report on the Education Session Regarding Voluntary Mergers and the reports titled: Indigenous Health, Rights and Reconciliation: Annual Update and Attendance at the Association of Local Public Health Agencies’ (alPHa) Winter Symposium, be received and adopted.

    Carried

9.
Motions Requiring Suspension of the Rules of Procedure

 

10.
Notices of Motions (For Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)

 

11.
Confirmation By-law

 
  • Moved byMember Laura Dudas

    BE IT RESOLVED THAT Confirmation By-law no. 2024-1, a by-law of the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit to confirm the proceedings of the Ottawa Board of Health at its meeting of February 12, 2024, be read and passed.

    Carried

12.
Inquiries

 

13.
Adjournment

 

The Board adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m.

14.
Next Meeting

 

Monday, April 15 - 5:00 PM

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