Ottawa Board of Health

Minutes

Meeting #:

13

Date:

Monday, November 04, 2024

Time:

5:00 P.m. - 7:00 P.m.

Location:

Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West, and by electronic participation

Present:

• Chair Catherine Kitts, 
• Vice-Chair Tammy DeGiovanni, 
• Member Nwanneka Ejiofor, 
• Member Marty Carr, 
• Member Sabrina Chung, 
• Member Laura Dudas, 
• Member Glen Gower, 
• Member Theresa Kavanagh, 
• and Member Rawlson King 

Absent:

• Member Brent Bauer 

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1.

Notices and meeting information for meeting participants and the public

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

Member Bauer and Member Ejiofor was absent during roll call. 

Member Ejiofor joined the meeting remotely at 5:22pm. 

3.

Regrets

Member Bauer sent regrets. 

4.

Declarations of Interest

No Declarations of Interest were filed.

5.

Confirmation of Minutes

• Moved by Member T. Kavanagh

  Confirmation of minutes of the meeting of September 16, 2024

  Carried

6.

Communications 

One communication item has been received (held on file with the Board of Health Secretary).

7.

Motion to Introduce Reports

• Motion No. BOH 13/01
  Moved by Member T. Kavanagh

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Chair of the Board of Health Verbal Report, the Medical Officer of Health Verbal Report, and the reports titled: 2024 Nutritious Food Basket and Food Security, Climate Change and Health Vulnerability Assessments, Risk Management at Ottawa Public Health, Attendance at the Association of Local Public Health Agencies’ (alPHa) Fall Symposium, Delegation of Authority - Contracts Awarded for the Period of January 1 to June 30, 2024, be received and considered;

  AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Rules of Procedure be suspended to receive and table the report titled “2025 Draft Operating Budget for the Ottawa Board of Health”.

  Carried

7.1

Chair of the Board of Health Verbal Report

File ACS2024-OPH-BOH-0014– City-wide

In her verbal report, Chair Kitts provided a recap of the Algonquin College Speaker Series and the Rural Summit and provided remarks regarding the 2025 Draft Operating Budget. 

The Board then voted to receive the Chair's Verbal Report. Discussions on this item lasted approximately 5 minutes.

• Motion No. BOH 13/02
  Moved by Member T. Kavanagh

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

  Carried

7.2

Medical Officer of Health Verbal Report

File ACS2024-OPH-MOH-0007 – City-wide

As part of her verbal report, Dr. Etches offered deepest condolences to all those grieving the recent loss and passing of the Honourable Murray Sinclair, I.P.C. She recognized the power of his leadership and his role as a visionary in matters of Indigenous justice and reconciliation, highlighting the enduring legacy he leaves behind that will certainly inspire actions to promote Indigenous wellbeing for generations to come. She then provided updates on fall respiratory illnesses, HART Hub Application, Health & Housing and the Drug Toxicity Crisis. In closing, she introduced Dr. Emil Azuma Prikryl, our newly appointed Associate Medical Officer of Health.  

The Board then voted to receive the Medical Officer of Health's Verbal Report. Discussions on this item lasted approximately 12 minutes.

• Motion No. BOH 13/03
  Moved by Member T. Kavanagh

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

  Carried

7.3

2024 Nutritious Food Basket and Food Insecurity

File ACS – ACS2024-OPH-HPP-0001 - City-wide 

The Board received a presentation from Erinn Salewski, Program Manager of Chronic Disease Prevention, Injury Prevention & System Integration and Emily Coja (Spencer), Senior Nutritionist.  A copy of their presentation is held on file with the Board of Health Secretary.

Following the staff presentation, Board Members heard from three (3) public delegations on this item before voting to adopt the report recommendations: 

• Swasan Al-Refaei, Manager of Strategic Projects in the Community Safety and Well-Being Office at CSSD
• Rebecca Dorris, Director of Advocacy, Ottawa Community Food Partnership & Community Advocacy Program
• Rachael Wlison, Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Food Bank

Discussion of this item lasted approximately 45 minutes. The Board then approved the report. 

• Motion No. BOH 13/04
  Moved by Member T. Kavanagh

  That the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit receive, for information: 

  1. ​The 2024 Nutritious Food Basket survey results and income scenarios; and 
  2. An overview of the work being done to address food insecurity and poverty in Ottawa​. 
  Carried

7.4

Climate Change and Health Vulnerability Assessments

File ACS – ACS2024-OPH-EHI-0004- City-wide 

The Board received a presentation from Emily Morrison, Program Manager, Environmental Health, and voted to adopt the report recommendations. A copy of their presentation is held on file with the Board of Health Secretary.

Discussion of this item lasted approximately 29 minutes. 

• Motion No. BOH 13/05
  Moved by Member T. Kavanagh
  1. That the Board of Health receive information about Ottawa Public Health (OPH)’s Climate Change and Health Vulnerability Assessments (CCHVAs) outlined in this report;
  2. And that the Chair of the Ottawa Board of Health share the CCHVA findings with Environment and Climate Change and Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Council Committees;
  3. And that the Board of Health direct the Medical Officer of Health to continue to collaborate with the City of Ottawa’s Strategic Initiatives Department’s Climate Change and Resiliency Service Area to inform the Climate Resiliency Strategy and implementation plan. 
  Carried

7.5

Risk Management at Ottawa Public Health

File ACS – ACS2024-OPH-KPQ-0002- City-wide 

The Board held this report for discussion. Discussion of the item lasted approximately 4 minutes long. The Board voted to carry the recommendations of the report. 

• Motion No. BOH 13/06
  Moved by Member T. Kavanagh

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

  Carried

7.6

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

File ACS – ACS2024-OPH-BOH-0015- City-wide 

• Motion No. BOH 13/07
  Moved by Member T. Kavanagh

  ​​That the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit approve the participation of Chair Kitts and Vice-Chair DeGiovanni at the Association of Local Public Health Agencies’ (alPHa) Fall Symposium, to be held November 8th, 2024.​ 

  Received

7.7

Delegation of Authority - Contracts Awarded for the Period of January 1 to June 30, 2024

File ACS – ACS2024-OPH-BDS-0005- City-wide 

• Motion No. BOH 13/08
  Moved by Member T. Kavanagh

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

  Received

7.8

2025 Draft Operating Budget for the Ottawa Board of Health

File ACS – ACS2024-OPH-BDS-0006- City-wide 

Mohammad Kibria, Manager, Business and Development Support Services, spoke to a PowerPoint presentation which served to provide Board Members with an overview of the 2025 Draft Operating Budget. 

Following the presentation, staff responded to questions from Board Members. 

At 6:58 p.m., during discussions on this item, the Board approved a motion to extend the time of the meeting beyond 7:00 p.m.

The discussion on this item lasted approximately 24 minutes. The Board then voted to carry the report recommendations.

• Motion No. BOH 13/09
  Moved by Member T. Kavanagh

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Health approve that the meeting time be extended past 7:00 p.m. pursuant to Subsection 8(1)(c) of the Procedural By-law.

  Carried
• Motion No. BOH 13/10
  Moved by Member T. Kavanagh

  ​​That, at its meeting of November 4, 2024, the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit: 

  1. Receive and table the 2025 Draft Operating Budget for the Ottawa Board of Health; and
  2. ​Direct staff to forward the 2025 Draft Operating Budget for the Ottawa Board of Health to Ottawa City Council on November 13, 2024 as part of City Council’s tabling of the City of Ottawa 2025 Draft Operating and Capital budget. 
  Carried

8.

In Camera Items*

None. 

9.

Motion to Adopt Reports

• Motion No. BOH 13/11
  Moved by Member T. Kavanagh

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Chair of the Board of Health Verbal Report, the Medical Officer of Health Verbal Report, and the reports titled: 2024 Nutritious Food Basket and Food Security, Climate Change and Health Vulnerability Assessments, Risk Management at Ottawa Public Health, Attendance at the Association of Local Public Health Agencies’ (alPHa) Fall Symposium, and Delegation of Authority - Contracts Awarded for the Period of January 1 to June 30, 2024, be received and adopted; 

  AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report titled “2025 Draft Operating Budget for the Ottawa Board of Health” be tabled, for consideration at the Board of Health meeting of 2 December, 2024.

  Carried

10.

Motions Requiring Suspension of the Rules of Procedure

None. 

11.

Notices of Motions (For Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)

None. 

12.

Confirmation By-law

• Motion No. BOH 13/12
  Moved by Member T. Kavanagh

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Confirmation By-law no. 2024-4, 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 November 6, 2024, be read and passed.

  Carried

13.

Inquiries

None. 

14.

Adjournment

The Board adjourned the meeting at 7:08 p.m.

15.

Next Meeting

Monday, December 2, 2024- 5:00 PM