Minutes - January 23, 2020 - Board of Health Meeting

Members Present:

Ms. Maureen Cassidy (Chair)
Ms. Aina DeViet (Vice-Chair)
Mr. Ian Peer
Ms. Arielle Kayabaga
Mr. Matt Reid
Mr. John Brennan
Ms. Kelly Elliott
Mr. Bob Parker

Regrets:
Ms. Tino Kasi
Mr. Michael Clarke

Others Present:

Dr. Christopher Mackie, Medical Officer of Health/CEO (Secretary-Treasurer)
Ms. Elizabeth Milne, Executive Assistant to the Board of Health and Communications Coordinator (Recorder)
Dr. Alexander Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Ms. Laura Di Cesare, Director, Healthy Organization
Ms. Mary Lou Albanese, Manager, Infectious Disease
Mr. Joe Antone, Manager, Health Equity and Indigenous Reconciliation
Mr. Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager
Ms. Heather Lokko, Director, Healthy Start
Mr. Alex Tyml, Online Communications Coordinator
Mr. Stephen Turner, Director, Environmental Health and Infectious Disease
Mr. Brian Glasspoole, Manager, Finance
Ms. Cheryl Tung, Public Health Inspector
Ms. Alison Locker, Epidemiologist
Mr. Stephen Parker, Director, Foodborne Disease and Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Division, Health Canada

Dr. Mackie called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

Ms. Kayabaga arrived at 7:03 p.m.

Dr. Mackie welcomed everyone to the inaugural meeting of the Board of Health and opened the meeting by acknowledging the Indigenous Peoples of this land and the First Nations within Middlesex and London. Dr. Mackie then introduced Mr. Joe Antone, Manager, Indigenous Reconciliation and Health Equity, who led a traditional ceremony and smudging.

Dr. Mackie noted the difference between ceremonial tobacco and commercial tobacco, and thanked Mr. Antone for leading the ceremony this evening.

Meeting Procedures

Election of 2020 Board of Health Executive and Other Procedures (Report No. 001-20)

Dr. Mackie opened the floor to nominations for the position of Chair of the Board of Health for 2020.

It was moved by Mr Peer, seconded by Ms. Kayabaga, that Ms. Maureen Cassidy be nominated for Chair of the Board of Health for 2020. Carried
Ms. Cassidy accepted the nomination.

Dr. Mackie invited nominations three more times. Hearing none, it was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. Kayabaga, that
1) Nominations for the position of Chair be closed; and
2) Ms. Maureen Cassidy be acclaimed as Chair of the Board of Health for 2020.
Carried

Ms. Cassidy took over as Chair and welcomed Mr. Bob Parker to the Board of Health, appointed by the Province of Ontario earlier this month.

Disclosures of Conflict(s) of Interest

Chair Cassidy inquired if there were any disclosures of conflicts of interest. None were declared.

Approval of Agenda

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Mr. Peer, that the AGENDA for the January 23, 2020 Board of Health meeting be approved as amended. Carried

Ms. Cassidy acknowledged the outgoing Chair, Ms. Trish Fulton, thanking her for her time and acknowledging her service to the Board of Health.

Chair Cassidy opened the floor to nominations for the position of Vice-Chair of the Board of Health for 2020.

It was moved by Mr. Brennan, seconded by Mr. Peer, that Ms. Aina DeViet be nominated for Vice-Chair of the Board of Health for 2020.

Ms. DeViet accepted the nomination.

Chair Cassidy invited nominations three more times. Hearing none, it was moved by Mr. Brennan, seconded by Mr. Peer, that
1) Nominations for the position of Vice-Chair be closed; and
2) Ms. DeViet be acclaimed as Vice-Chair of the Board of Health for 2020.
Carried

Chair Cassidy opened the floor to nominations for the position of Secretary-Treasurer of the Board of Health for 2020.

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that Dr. Christopher Mackie be nominated for Secretary-Treasurer of the Board of Health for 2020. Carried

Dr. Mackie accepted the nomination.

Chair Cassidy invited nominations three more times. Hearing no further discussion or nominations, it was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that Dr. Mackie be elected Secretary-Treasurer by acclaimed vote. Carried

Establishment of 2020 Standing Committees

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Ms. Elliott, that the Board of Health establish the Finance & Facilities Committee and the Governance Committee, and recognize the Relocation Advisory Committee. Carried

Dr. Mackie outlined the membership composition of the Relocation Advisory Committee (RAC), an ad-hoc committee of the Board of Health. He noted that the RAC’s Chair, Mr. Ian Peer, was appointed at the Committee’s first meeting to serve until the RAC ceases to exist. All additional RAC members, including individuals previously appointed (Mr. Michael Clarke, Mr. Matt Reid, and Mr. John Brennan), must be reappointed. The newly appointed Chair of the Board of Health will also sit on the RAC Committee.

Chair Cassidy invited a motion to reappoint the members of the Relocation Advisory Committee for 2020, and reviewed the Committee’s terms of reference.

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the Board of Health:
1) Maintain the current composition of the Relocation Advisory Committee; and
2) Reappoint all previously appointed members for the duration of the committee.
Carried

Thus, the membership of the Relocation Advisory Committee for 2020 consists as follows:
1) Ms. Maureen Cassidy (Board Chair and City Representative)
2) Mr. Ian Peer (RAC Chair and Provincial Representative)
3) Mr. Michael Clarke (Provincial Representative)
4) Mr. Matt Reid (City Representative)
5) Mr. John Brennan (County Representative)

Chair Cassidy invited nominations for members of the Finance & Facilities Committee for 2020, and reviewed the Committee’s terms of reference.

It was remarked that the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board of Health sit on the Finance & Facilities Committee automatically.

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Ms. Kayabaga, that Mr. Ian Peer be nominated to the Finance & Facilities Committee for 2020.

Mr. Peer accepted the nomination.

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. Kayabaga, that Ms. Tino Kasi be nominated to the Finance & Facilities Committee for 2020.

It was noted that Ms. Kasi had advised Mr. Peer, in advance of the meeting, that she would accept nomination to the Committee.

It was moved by Mr. Brennan, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that Ms. Kelly Elliott be nominated to the Finance & Facilities Committee for 2020.

Ms. Elliott accepted the nomination.

Chair Cassidy invited nominations three more times. Hearing none, it was moved by Mr. Brennan, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that nominations be closed and that Mr. Peer, Ms. Kasi, and Ms. Elliott be appointed to the Finance & Facilities Committee for 2020.
Carried

Thus, the membership of Finance & Facilities Committee for 2020 consists as follows:
1) Ms. Maureen Cassidy (Chair and City Representative)
2) Ms. Aina DeViet (Vice-Chair and County Representative)
3) Mr. Ian Peer (Provincial Representative)
4) Ms. Tino Kasi (Provincial Representative)
5) Ms. Kelly Elliott (County Representative)

Chair Cassidy invited nominations for members of the Governance Committee for 2020, and reviewed the Committee’s terms of reference.

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms Elliott, that Mr. Bob Parker be nominated to the Governance Committee for 2020.

Mr. Parker accepted the nomination.

It was moved by Mr. Brennan, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that Mr. Matt Reid be nominated to the Governance Committee for 2020.

Mr. Reid respectfully declined the nomination.

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Ms. Elliott, that Mr. Ian Peer be nominated to the Governance Committee for 2020.

Mr. Peer accepted the nomination.

It was moved by Mr. Brennan, seconded by Ms. Elliott, that Ms. Arielle Kayabaga be nominated to the Governance Committee for 2020.

Ms. Kayabaga accepted the nomination.

Chair Cassidy invited nominations three more times. Hearing none, it was moved that nominations be closed, and that Mr. Parker, Mr. Peer, and Ms. Kayabaga be appointed to the Governance Committee for 2020. Carried

Thus, the membership of the Governance Committee for 2020 consists as follows:
1) Ms. Maureen Cassidy (Chair and City Representative)
2) Ms. Aina DeViet (Vice-Chair and County Representative)
3) Mr. Bob Parker (Provincial Representative)
4) Mr. Ian Peer (Provincial Representative)
5) Ms. Arielle Kayabaga (City Representative)

It was moved by Ms. Elliott, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health approve the Board of Health and standing committee meeting schedule for 2020. Carried

Minutes

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. Kayabaga, that the MINUTES of the December 12, 2019 Board of Health meeting be approved. Carried

Reports and Agenda Items

FoodNet Canada Ontario Sentinel Site Update and Memorandum of Agreement (Report No. 002-20)

Dr. Mackie introduced Mr. Stephen Parker, Director, Foodborne Disease and Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Division, Health Canada.

Mr. Turner introduced Ms. Mary Lou Albanese, Manager, Infectious Disease Control; Ms. Cheryl Tung, Public Health Inspector; and Ms. Alison Locker, Epidemiologist. Each plays a key role in the FoodNet Ontario Sentinel site program at MLHU. Mr. Tuner also provided context to the report and its appendices.

Mr. Parker provided an overview of the FoodNet Canada program, including each of the four sentinel sites (located in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia). He also outlined the role of Health Canada in supporting the sentinel sites in each province.

Discussion ensued on the following items:
• FoodNet’s relationship with retailers, manufacturers, and suppliers of food products at the federal and provincial levels.
• Sampling of products from both national and provincial producers.
• Which sentinel sites sample water, and why the Ontario site does not include water in its most recent Memorandum of Agreement.
• Distribution channels and various other sites, such as farmers’ markets, which could be important sources for testing products not prepared in federally inspected facilities and which could have impacts on public health.

It was moved by Ms. Elliott, seconded by Ms. Kayabaga, that the Board of Health:
1) Receive Report No. 002-20 re: “FoodNet Canada Ontario Sentinel Site Update and Memorandum of Agreement”; and
2) Direct staff to renew the contract with FoodNet Canada for an additional one-year term.
Carried

Medical Officer of Health/Chief Executive Officer Activity Report for January (Report No. 003-20)

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 003-20 re: “Medical Officer of Health/Chief Executive Officer Activity Report for January” for information. Carried

Correspondence

Ms. Cassidy mentioned a letter in the correspondence for Dr. Michael Clarke, thanking him for his term on the Board and expressing sadness at his departure.

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the Board of Health receive items a) through l). Carried

Other Business

Dr. Mackie invited all Board members to attend the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) winter symposium, to be held February 20–21 in Toronto.

Chair Cassidy noted that last week’s consultation with the Province was very constructive, and that a number of London City Councillors, Middlesex County Councillors and Board of Health members attended and participated. The session was facilitated by Mr. Jim Pine and attended by representatives of the Ministry of Health.

Ms. DeViet provided an update on the Minister’s address at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference, which she attended earlier this week.

Chair Cassidy reviewed the next meeting dates:
• Next Finance & Facilities Committee meeting: February 6, 2020 @ 9:00 a.m.
• Special meeting of the Board of Health: February 6, 2020 @ 12:00 p.m.
• Next Governance Committee meeting: February 27, 2020 @ 6:00 p.m.
• Next regular Board of Health meeting: February 27, 2020 @ 7:00 p.m.

Verbal Update – Coronavirus

Dr. Mackie gave a verbal update and noted that much work has been done, locally and provincially, on the novel coronavirus 2019. He then invited Dr. Alex Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health, to review at both the provincial and local level.

Dr. Summers provided some background on coronavirus and explained how this family of viruses can cause illness and be transmitted. He also outlined the history of transmission for nCoV-2019, how it has been transmitted thus far, and what the global response has been. Dr. Summers advised the Board that novel coronavirus has now been designated a reportable disease by the Minister of Health, which means that labs and physicians now have a duty to report suspect and confirmed cases to the Health Unit. MLHU will continue to monitor the situation while working closely with its community and provincial partners.

Discussion ensued on the following items:
• Case definitions for coronavirus and how someone may be identified for testing.
• That some persons are under investigation, but no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus have yet been reported in Canada.
• That the risk to residents of Ontario and Middlesex-London is low, and that flu remains the largest burden of illness in our region.

It was moved by Ms. Kayabaga, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health receive the verbal update from Dr. Summers on coronavirus. Carried

Confidential

At 8:10 p.m., it was moved by Ms. Kayabaga, seconded by Mr. Brennan, that the Board of Health move in-camera to consider matters regarding identifiable individuals and to approve confidential minutes of its December 12, 2019 meeting. Carried

At 8:43 p.m., it was moved by Ms. Kayabaga, seconded by Ms. Elliott, that the Board of Health rise and return to public session.
Carried

At 8:43 p.m., the Board of Health returned to public session.

Adjournment

At 8:43 p.m., it was moved by Ms. Kayabaga, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the meeting be adjourned. Carried

MAUREEN CASSIDY
Chair

CHRISTOPHER MACKIE

Secretary-Treasurer