Ottawa
Board of Health
MINUTES 18
Monday,
October 30, 2017, 5:00 PM
Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West
Contact
for the Ottawa Board of Health:
Diane
Blais, Board of Health Secretary
613-580-2424, ext. 21544
Diane.Blais@ottawa.ca
Note: Please note
that the Minutes are to be considered DRAFT until confirmed by the Board of
Health.
Board
Members:
Chair: S. Qadri
Vice-Chair: J. Poirier
Members: D. Chernushenko, M. Fleury, A. Kapur, L. Leikin, C. McKenney, S.
Pinel, M. Qaqish, M. Taylor, P. Tilley
The
Ottawa Board of Health met in the Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West,
Ottawa, on Monday, 30 October 2017 beginning at 5:00 PM.
The
Chair, Shad Qadri, presided over the meeting.
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COMMUNICATIONS
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Six
communication items have been received (held on file with the Board of
Health Secretary).
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MOTION TO INTRODUCE REPORTS
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Motion 18/01
Moved by Member Tilley
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Chair of the
Board of Health Verbal Report; the Medical Officer of Health Verbal Report;
the Ontario’s Health System Transformation: Response to the Minister’s Expert
Panel Report; the Ottawa Public Health Application to Health Canada for an
Exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act report; the West Nile
Virus Activity – 2017 Season report; and the 2018 Ottawa Board of Health
Meeting Schedule report be received and considered.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the
Rules of Procedure be suspended to receive and table the report titled “2018
Draft Operating Budget for the Ottawa Board of Health”.
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CARRIED
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Following a ‘Consent Agenda’ process, the Board
considered the held Items in the following order: Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
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1.
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CHAIR
OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH VERBAL REPORT
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ACS2017-OPH-BOH-0005
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That the Board of Health for the
City of Ottawa Health Unit receive this report for information.
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Chair Qadri provided the Board with an update on recent
events. The Chair’s verbal report took approximately seven minutes. The
attached memo includes the Chair of the Board of Health Verbal Update.
The report was then received by the Board.
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RECEIVED
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2.
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MEDICAL
OFFICER OF HEALTH VERBAL REPORT
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ACS2017-OPH-MOH-0007
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That the Board of Health for the
City of Ottawa Health Unit receive this report for information.
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Dr. Isra Levy, Medical Officer of Health, provided the
Board with an update on recent events and took questions from Board members.
This discussion lasted approximately 19 minutes. The attached memo includes
the Medical Officer of Health Verbal Update.
The report was then received by the Board.
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RECEIVED
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3.
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2018
DRAFT OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE OTTAWA BOARD OF HEALTH
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ACS2017-OPH-PCS-0004
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That, at its meeting of October 30,
2017, the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit:
1. Receive and table the
2018 Draft Operating Budget for the Ottawa Board of Health; and
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RECEIVED AND TABLED
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2.
Direct
staff to forward the 2018 Draft Operating Budget for the Ottawa Board of
Health to Ottawa City Council on November 8, 2017, as part of the City
Council’s tabling of the City of Ottawa 2018 Draft Operating and Capital
budget.
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CARRIED
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Mr. Lou Flaborea, Manager, Performance & Corporate
Services, spoke to a PowerPoint presentation, which served to provide the Board
with some context on this report. Mr. Flaborea was accompanied by Ms. Brenda
Gorton, Account Manager, Finances Department. Board members asked questions
on the presentation, a copy of which is held on file with the Board of Health
Secretary. This discussion lasted approximately 16 minutes. The report
recommendations were then put to the Board and voted on separately.
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4.
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ONTARIO’S
HEALTH SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION: RESPONSE TO THE MINISTER’S EXPERT PANEL REPORT
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ACS2017-OPH-BOH-0007
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That the Board of Health for the
City of Ottawa Health Unit:
1.
Endorse
this report in response to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care’s Expert
Panel on Public Health Report entitled “Public Health within an Integrated
Health System”;
2.
Approve
that the Chair of the Board of Health submit this report to the Minister of
Health and Long-Term Care as part of the Ministry’s consultation, and write a
letter to the Minister outlining the key considerations in the report; and
3.
Approve
that the Chair of the Board of Health, subject to the approval of
Recommendation 1, forward the letter to all Ontario Boards of Health, Ottawa
City Council, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the
Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa), and local Members of
Provincial Parliament.
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Ms. Inge Roosendaal, Program Development Officer,
Community & Partner Engagement, spoke to a PowerPoint presentation, which
served to provide the Board with some context on this report. Ms. Roosendaal
was accompanied by Dr. Vera Etches, Director, Knowledge Exchange, Planning
& Quality & Deputy Medical Officer of Health. Board members asked
questions on the presentation, a copy of which is held on file with the Board
of Health Secretary. This discussion lasted approximately 38 minutes.
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In dealing with this item, the Board considered the
following motions.
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Motion 18/02
Moved by Chair Qadri
WHEREAS the Medical Officer of
Health’s report entitled “Ontario’s Health System Transformation: Response
to the Minister’s Expert Panel Report” identifies a number of potential
impacts that could have implications for the City of Ottawa, and these
impacts have also been noted by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario
(AMO), the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa), and the Council
of Ontario Medical Officers of Health (COMOH);
AND WHEREAS in respect of the issue
of structure and representation, it is expected that the Expert Panel’s
proposed amalgamation of health units may result in fewer City of Ottawa
representatives at the governance level, with a potential weakening of
municipal voice in local public health matters;
AND WHEREAS in respect of the public
health funding model, the impact of the Expert Panel’s recommendations is
uncertain but may result in decreased municipal contributions due to
alignment with regional boundaries rather than municipal boundaries;
AND WHEREAS the City of Ottawa
currently provides services to support the Board of Health’s operations, the
proposed governance model may result in disruption of those long-standing
services which may require re-negotiation in areas involving human resources
and labour relations, with potential additional expense; and
AND WHEREAS in respect of
municipal-public health collaboration, it is expected that the proposed alignment
with the Local Health Integration Network boundaries, which are determined by
hospital catchment areas, could negatively impact the direct relationships
with local municipalities and their departments, school boards, community
organizations and other local entities;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the
Board of Health forward the report to the Ottawa City Council with a request
that:
a)
Council
approve the report entitled “Ontario’s Health System Transformation: Response
to the Minister’s Expert Panel Report”; and
b)
Subject
to Council’s approval of the report, direct the City Clerk and Solicitor to
send confirmation of Council’s approval to the Ministry of Health and
Long-Term Care.
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CARRIED
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Motion 18/03
Moved by Member Taylor
That recommendation 1 be amended by
replacing the word “Endorse” with the word “Approve”.
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CARRIED
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The report recommendations were then put to the Board
and approved, as amended by Motions 18/02 and 18/03.
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CARRIED, as amended
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5.
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OTTAWA
PUBLIC HEALTH APPLICATION TO HEALTH CANADA FOR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE CONTROLLED
DRUGS AND SUBSTANCES ACT
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ACS2017-OPH-HPS-0004
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That the Board of Health for the
City of Ottawa Health Unit:
1.
Authorize
the Medical Officer of Health to apply to Health Canada for an exemption from
the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) to operate supervised
injection services (SIS) at 179 Clarence Street, as further described in this
report; and
2. That upon approval of
Recommendation 1 and approval of Health Canada under the CDSA, authorize that
SIS services continue to be provided at 179 Clarence Street until such time
as the Board of Health has the opportunity to consider the sixty (60) day
review and next steps in Q1 2018 (regardless of when Sandy Hill Community
Health Centre commences providing SIS services at 221 Nelson Street), as
further described in this report.
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Mr. Andrew Hendriks, Director, Health Protection, spoke
to a PowerPoint presentation, which served to provide the Board with some
context on this report. Mr. Hendriks was accompanied by Ms. Kira Mandryk, Supervisor
of Harm Reduction Services, Health Protection. Board members asked questions
on the presentation, a copy of which is held on file with the Board of Health
Secretary.
The following delegation addressed the Board on the Ottawa
Public Health Application to Health Canada for an Exemption from the Controlled
Drugs and Substances Act:
·
Mr.
Sean O’Leary from We The Parents
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MOTION 17/03
Moved by Member Tilley
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.
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CARRIED
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After hearing from the delegations, staff resumed
taking question from Board members. Discussion on this item lasted
approximately 39 minutes. Following this discussion, the report
recommendations were put to the Board.
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6.
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WEST
NILE VIRUS ACTIVITY – 2017 SEASON
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ACS2017-OPH-HPS-0003
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That the Board of Health
for the City of Ottawa Health Unit receive this report for information.
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Mr. Andrew Hendriks, Director, Health
Protection, spoke to a PowerPoint presentation, which served to provide the
Board with some context on this report. Mr. Hendriks was accompanied by Dr. Monir
Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health. Board members asked questions on
the presentation, a copy of which is held on file with the Board of Health
Secretary. This discussion lasted approximately 13 minutes. Following this
discussion, the report recommendations were put to the Board.
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RECEIVED
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MOTION TO ADOPT REPORTS
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Motion 18/04
Moved by Member Tilley
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the Chair of
the Board of Health Verbal Report; the Medical Officer of Health Verbal
Report; the Ontario’s Health System Transformation: Response to the
Minister’s Expert Panel Report; the Ottawa Public Health Application to
Health Canada for an Exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
report; the West Nile Virus Activity – 2017 Season report; and the 2018
Ottawa Board of Health Meeting Schedule report be received and adopted.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the
report titled “2018 Draft Operating Budget for the Ottawa Board of Health” be
tabled.
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CARRIED
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MOTIONS REQUIRING SUSPENSION OF THE
RULES OF PROCEDURE
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INQUIRY BOH 01-17 - OPH ROLE IN ENSURING HEALTH
STANDARDS IN RENTAL UNITS
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Motion 18/05
Moved by Member McKenney
That the Rules of Procedure be
suspended to add the Response to Inquiry, being BOH 01-17 titled “OPH Role in
Ensuring Health Standards in Rental Units”, to the Agenda for discussion.
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CARRIED
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Board members discussed this item for approximately 10
minutes.
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CONFIRMATION BY-LAW
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Motion 18/06
Moved by Member Tilley
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Confirmation
By-law no. 2017-5, 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 October 30, 2017, be read and passed.
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CARRIED
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INQUIRIES AND ANSWERS
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Member Fleury submitted the following written
inquiries:
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BOH 02-17
Given that injection drug-use takes place at all hours
of the day and night, could needle hunters expand their operating hours?
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BOH 03-17
Due to the 179 Clarence Street supervised injection
site, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has been interacting with a much greater
number of injection drug users. What is OPH doing to ensure drug users have
treatment/rehab options readily available? Is there a street outreach
component? How successful has OPH been in providing rehabilitation options
thus far?
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ADJOURNMENT
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The Board adjourned the meeting at 7:35 p.m.
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NEXT MEETING
Regular Meeting
Monday, December 11, 2017 - 5:00 PM, Champlain Room, 110
Laurier Avenue West
_____________________________ _____________________________
BOARD SECRETARY
BOARD CHAIR
Ottawa
Public Health Board of Health Meeting
Verbal
Report - Chair Shad Qadri
Monday,
October 30, 2017
Good evening and thank you very much for joining us.
Tonight, I
would like to begin by updating you on some of the exciting work that has been
happening at Ottawa Public Health (OPH) since we met last month.
OPH has been active in the community
supporting various events. In late September, OPH joined in the #RecoveryAlly
social media campaign and, along with dozens of partner agencies, attended the
Recovery Day event. The event and campaign, organized by the Community Addictions Peer Support
Association, aims
to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction and raise awareness about recovery
in Ottawa. Thank you to Board Members McKenney, Fleury and OPH employees for
joining me at the Recovery Day event in person and to all those who participated
in the #RecoveryAlly social media campaign. Several Board members participated
in the social media campaign to show support for people in our community in
recovery. Thank you to Members Pinel, Poirier and Tilley for supporting the
social media campaign.
In addition, as many of you know, the
Parenting in Ottawa Facebook page continues to be a hub of information sharing
where OPH responds to families’
parenting questions on topics such as breastfeeding, child growth and
development and more. This fall, Councillor Fleury supported the OPH team by filming a
number of videos with his new born son. The video series, which launches later
this year, provides parents with skills and how-to videos for bringing their
baby homes. The videos filmed by the Councillor included content on changing a
newborn’s diaper and bathing your baby. I am sure these videos will help to
answer frequently asked questions OPH receives from parents. I would like to
thank Councillor Fleury, his
wife Lai and their new baby Jacob who filmed the videos with Public Health
Nurse France Venne.
Finally, I
would also like to congratulate member Tilley.
Member Tilley was the recipient of the Community Service Award at Algonquin
College’s first ever Alumni of Distinction Awards Ceremony. The award
recognizes former students who have gone on to do great things, both in their
careers and in their community. My heartfelt congratulations.
That concludes
my verbal report for this evening and I welcome any questions.
Ottawa
Public Health Board of Health Meeting
Verbal
Report – Dr. Isra Levy
Monday,
October 30, 2017
Bonsoir, good evening,
As we meet on traditional
Algonquin land, I am reminded of our discussion last June about promoting
reconciliation and advancing Indigenous health equity in Ottawa. We are
continuing to keep these goals front and centre as we develop and implement our
programs and partnerships.
Tonight we have a report
before you, following your approval at the last meeting that Ottawa Public
Health begin operating a temporary Supervised Injection Service and your
direction that we bring forward a report with recommendations for a more
permanent solution early next year. As you now know, we did subsequently
receive the required approvals from Health Canada, and indications of funding
from the province, for our four-month plan, and we began services at Clarence
Street on September 26. I have visited our operations several times since then,
and I can assure you that you can be proud of the dedication, professionalism
and commitment to service of our staff – they are doing a very good job. Any of
you who wants to drop in there would be most welcome.
We will be reporting, as
directed, on progress at the first board meeting next year. I am bringing an
intervening report to you today, though, to address the technicality that the
Health Canada exemption allowing the temporary service at our location on
Clarence Street may expire before our next Board meeting. In the meantime, I
would like to thank all of our local partners who are working to meet the
growing harm reduction and other treatment needs in Ottawa, and also members of
the media who, for the most part, have been sensitively and professionally
describing the health challenges that are facing some drug users in our
community every day.
On a different issue, I am
now in a position to provide you with an update on the audit of our emergency
preparedness and response program that we brought to your attention in
February. At that time, I advised you that Ottawa City Council had approved the
Office of the Auditor General’s Audit Work Plan, which included a proposed
audit of Emergency Preparedness and Response for Health Services. Last week, I
was formally advised that the auditor has concluded that our program meets or
exceeds relevant requirements and standards in all key areas and therefore no
further audit-related work on the OPH Emergency Management Program is planned
at this time. I am happy to share this news with you, because it provides
further reassurance of the robustness and excellence of our program. It is
another tremendous and positive reflection on the professionalism and
commitment of our employees.
I can also tell you that
this month Ottawa’s citizens started getting their flu vaccinations. Pharmacies
and physicians’ offices in Ottawa now have vaccine, and we encourage people to
get immunized. It is the best protection against the flu virus, which causes
unpleasant and sometimes very serious illness. As more and more people are
getting their vaccines from more and more pharmacies, we have been able to make
our own clinics more and more efficient, and to redirect our staff resources to
high risk and harder to reach people, including people in shelters and
newcomers to Ottawa, as well as to the new requirements regarding providing
education to parents reluctant to vaccinate their children. That said, we are
still running some community clinics, and this weekend we had excellent
interest in our first clinic of the season, where, once again, our employees
showed their commitment and professionalism as they moved a large number of
people through the clinic, and managed to keep wait times manageable and fairly
short.
I also want to touch on the
organizational alignment exercise that we recently completed. Firstly, I am
pleased to be able to welcome Ms. Sherry Beadle back to OPH as our new Manager
of Environmental Health. Sherry has more than 25 years of field experience as a
public health inspector and leader, and comes to us now after a stint in the
Economic Development Office at the City. We look forward to Sherry’s
contributions as she brings those new skills and perspectives to our team.
The alignment exercise was
undertaken to prepare for the Ministry’s new requirements of Boards of Health,
and kept Ottawa’s health programming needs in mind. This month many of our
employees have started in new roles based on operational and language needs,
professional skills and designations, and their interests. I am confident that
the new structure will help us to be agile and responsive to our new realities.
Talking of those new
realities, the province’s health system transformation agenda continues apace.
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is receiving feedback on the
Minister’s Expert Panel on Public Health Report. That feedback is being
accepted until tomorrow. We have a report before you this evening that provides
an analysis of the implications of the report and recommendations for our
submission to the Ministry.
Meanwhile, late last week
the province invited MOHs and Board Chairs to hold the date for a summit in
mid-November, possibly to officially launch the new Standards, or to advise of
their decisions regarding next steps on the Expert Panel.
Also last week, the
Ministry informed us of proposed amendments to several regulations under the
Health Protection and Promotion Act and invited us to provide feedback on these
proposed amendments by November 8th. The majority of the proposed regulatory
amendments are in the area of environment health, though there are also some
proposed changes in the area of communicable diseases. Given these very short
timelines our staff will review the proposed regulatory changes and their
implications, and I will respond to the Province by the prescribed deadline as
needed. I will, of course, keep you apprised of any pertinent developments.
Mr. Chair, that concludes
my update, and as always I am happy to answer any questions.
Merci beaucoup.