November 21, 2019 - Board of Health Meeting

Members Present:

Ms. Maureen Cassidy (Vice-Chair)
Ms. Trish Fulton (Chair)
Ms. Aina DeViet
Mr. Ian Peer
Mr. Matt Reid
Mr. John Brennan
Ms. Tino Kasi
Mr. Michael Clarke

Regrets:
Ms. Kelly Elliott

Media:

Mr. Robert Lothian, 106.9 The X, FanshaweMr. Marek Sutherland, CTV News London

Others Present:

Dr. Christopher Mackie, Secretary-Treasurer
Ms. Elizabeth Milne, Executive Assistant to the Board of Health and Communications Coordinator (Recorder)
Ms. Menna Abdou, Dietetic Practicum Student
Mr. Joe Antone, Manager, Health Equity and Indigenous Reconciliation
Mr. Joe Belancic, Manager, Procurement and Operations
Ms. Cynthia Bos, Manager, Human Resources
Ms. Emma Belanger, Nutritious Food Basket Volunteer
Ms. Laura Di Cesare, Director, Healthy Organization
Ms. Melanie Elms, Public Health Nurse
Ms. Nicole Gauthier, Manager, Privacy, Risk and Governance
Mr. Brian Glasspoole, Manager, Finance
Ms. Donna Kosmack, Manager, South West Tobacco Control Area Network
Ms. Heather Lokko, Director, Healthy Start
Ms. Kim Loupos, Registered Dietitian
Ms. Mai Pham, Epidemiologist
Ms. Kendra Ramer, Manager, Strategic Projects
Ms. Maureen Rowlands, Director, Healthy Living
Dr. Alex Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Ms. Linda Stobo, Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control
Mr. Stephen Turner, Director, Environment Health & Infectious Diseases
Mr. Alex Tyml, Online Communications Coordinator
Sister Kathleen Lichti, Sisters of St. Joseph
Ms. Tracey Whiteye

At the request of Chair Fulton, Vice-Chair Cassidy agreed to chair the meeting.

Vice-Chair Cassidy called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.

Vice-Chair Cassidy noted two additions to the agenda for the evening: walk-on item 1a) a delegation from Sister Kathleen Lichti and Tracey Whiteye on Indigenous reconciliation; and walk-on correspondence item y) an update on the Ministry’s consultation process on public health modernization.

Walk-on Item 1a)

Delegation from Sister Kathleen Lichti and Tracey Whiteye on Indigenous Reconciliation

Dr. Mackie introduced Sister Kathleen, Ms. Whiteye, and Mr. Joe Antone, Manager, Health Equity and Indigenous Reconciliation, and provided background, including a summary of the Health Unit’s work toward reconciliation and the blanket exercise that staff recently participated in.

Sister Kathleen and Ms. Whiteye described their work toward truth and reconciliation, and the Kairos blanket exercise that Sister Kathleen leads through the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Mr. Antone provided context for the presentation, summarizing the Health Unit’s role and work toward reconciliation, including how MLHU has begun to formulate the recommendations in its Reconciliation Plan through activities such as community engagement and consensus building.

Dr. Mackie added that one of the Health Unit’s underlying principles in its work toward reconciliation is, whenever possible, to devolve decision making to Indigenous community leaders and partners. The Board acknowledged the value of MLHU staff carrying out this kind of dialogue with Indigenous leaders in order to support reconciliation in the broader community.

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Ms. Fulton, that the Board of Health:
1) Receive the delegation from Sister Kathleen Lichti and Ms. Tracey Whiteye on Indigenous Reconciliation; and
2) Continue to work with community partners on reconciliation.
Carried

Disclosures of Conflict(s) of Interest

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

Approval of Agenda

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the AGENDA for the November 21, 2019 Board of Health meeting be approved as amended. Carried

Minutes

It was moved by Mr. Brennan, seconded by Mr. Clarke, that the MINUTES of the October 17, 2019 Board of Health meeting be approved. Carried

It was moved by Mr. Brennan, seconded by Mr. Peer, that the Board of Health receive the October 17, 2019 Relocation Advisory Committee meeting minutes. Carried

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health receive the October 31, 2019 Finance & Facilities Committee meeting minutes. Carried

Delegations and Reports

October 31, 2019 Finance & Facilities Committee Meeting (Report No. 068-19)

Q3 Financial Update and Factual Certificate (Report No. 032-19FFC)

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Ms. Fulton, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 032-19FFC re: “Q3 Financial Update and Factual Certificate” for information. Carried

2020 Budget – Program Budgeting and Marginal Analysis (PBMA) Disinvestment Proposals (Report No. 033-19FFC)

Mr. Reid summarized the report and noted that the Finance & Facilities Committee received this report for information.

Proposal to Draw Down Reserve Funds (Report No. 034-19FFC)

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Ms. Fulton, that the Board of Health approve:
1) Using up to $818,258 from the Funding Stabilization Reserve to fund, in part, the cost of leasehold improvements in connection with the Health Unit’s relocation of premises to Citi Plaza;
2) Using up to $123,771 from the Dental Treatment Reserve to fund, in part, the cost of leasehold improvements related to dental treatment facilities in the new location;
3) Using up to $29,462 from the Accumulated Sick Leave Reserve to defray OMERS costs for 2019;
4) Returning $6,044 from the Environmental – Septic Tank Reserve to the Ministry of the Environment if that Ministry accepts the funds, and, if not accepted, then applying these funds to leasehold improvements related to Environmental Health in the new location; and
5) Closing the Dental Treatment Reserve, the Accumulated Sick Leave Reserve, and the Environmental – Septic Tank Reserve.
Carried

Policy Review (Report No. 035-19FFC and Walk-On Report No. 036-19FFC)

Mr. Reid noted that the policies outlined in this report were reviewed by the Finance & Facilities Committee and referred to the Governance Committee for final approval.

Procurement Guideline Policy Update (Report No. 036-19FFC)

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Peer, that the Board of Health:
1) Receive Report No. 036-19FFC for information;
2) Approve the updated Appendix outlined within this report, which relates to the financial operations of the Middlesex-London Health Unit, to go to Governance Committee for final review; and
3) Approve staff to immediately begin using the reduced bid period if issuing bids electronically.
Carried

November 21, 2019 Governance Committee Meeting (Verbal Update)

Ms. DeViet provided an update on the November 21, 2019 Governance Committee meeting and reviewed the following reports for the Board’s consideration:

Q3 2019 Activity Report (Report No. 015-19GC)

Ms. DeViet noted that the Governance Committee received this report for information.

Governance Policy Review and Development (Report No. 016-19GC)

Ms. DeViet reviewed the policies considered at the Governance Committee meeting.

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Mr. Reid, that the Board of Health:
1) Receive Report No. 016-19GC re: “Governance Policy Review and Development” for information; and
2) Approve the governance policies as appended to this report.
Carried

Ms. DeViet noted that the next Governance Committee meeting will be held in February 2020.

Launch of the Updated Community Health Status Resource (Report No. 069-19)

Dr. Summers introduced the report and advised that today, November 21, 2019, marks the official launch the Community Health Status Resource. Epidemiologist Ms. Mai Pham described how to access the tool online and reviewed the kinds of data that are available on the resource website.

Discussion ensued on the following items:
• Health outcomes for minorities and vulnerable groups.
• Next steps, including examining more robust means of generating data.
• That such evidence is extremely helpful for informing policy.
• Data automation and sharing of data between systems.
• The challenges of securing reliable data and information on vulnerable communities and minorities: what these challenges are and how such disparities are being addressed within our jurisdiction and at the Health Unit as part of this project.

It was moved by Mr. Clarke, seconded by Ms. Kasi, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 069-19 re: “Launch of Updated Community Health Status Resource” for information. Carried

Monitoring Food Affordability and Implications for Government Public Policy Action (Report No. 070-19)

Dr. Mackie introduced the report and provided context. He then introduced Ms. Linda Stobo, Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control, and Ms. Kim Loupos, Registered Dietitian, who answered questions.

Discussion ensued on the following items:
• Whether the calculation for food costing is a standard formula used across Ontario.
• Affordability of the recommendations contained in the new Canada’s Food Guide.
• The definition of “disability” under the Ontario Disability Support Program.
• How this model might look if a basic income guarantee were built into it.

It was moved by Ms. Fulton, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health:
1) Request that the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services continue to include episodic and short-term disabilities within the definition of disability for the Ontario Disability Support Program.
2) Request that Bill 60, An Act to amend the Ministry of Community and Social Services Act to establish the Social Assistance Research Commission, proceed to the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly to set evidence-based social assistance rates premised on local living costs.
3) Request that Health Canada update the food list in the National Nutritious Food Basket to reflect the recommendations in the 2019 Canada’s Food Guide, and develop a national food-costing protocol to facilitate consistent and effective monitoring of food affordability.
4) Forward Report No. 070-19 re: “Monitoring Food Affordability and Implications for Government Public Policy and Action” to Ontario boards of health, the City of London, Middlesex County, and appropriate community agencies.

Carried

Summary Information Report for November (Report No. 071-19)

Dr. Mackie provided context for the report. Discussion ensued on the collective kitchen program and the need for a rating system that addresses depictions of smoking and vaping use in movies.

Ms. Stobo described the collective kitchen program in detail. Ms Donna Kosmack, Manager, South West Tobacco Control Area Network, answered questions about the ratings system for depictions of smoking in movies. She also compared the current ratings systems for movies depicting smoking and vaping in Canada and the United States.

Ms. Lokko arrived at 8:21 p.m.

It was moved by Ms. Kasi, seconded by Mr. Clarke, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 071-19 re: “Summary Information Report for November 2019” for information. Carried

Medical Officer of Health/CEO Activity Report for November (Report No. 072-19)

Dr. Mackie provided context for the report and updated the Board on developments since the report was issued, specifically those related to the recent Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) report on a case study of a youth who suffered from lung illness related to vaping. The CMAJ report had prompted the Chief Medical Officer of Health to issue a statement earlier today validating the vaping-related lung illness case in the Health Unit’s report from September 2019.

Discussion ensued on the following items:
• The case study in the CMAJ article.
• The availability of e-juices and vape products for purchase online, with little regulation.
• Marketing of vape products and flavoured e-juice liquids to youth.
• The lack of rated and regulated substances for vaping.
• The need for education for adults who are considering vaping as a smoking cessation aid.

It was moved by Mr. Brennan, seconded by Ms. Kasi, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 072-19 re: “Medical Officer of Health/CEO Activity Report for November” for information. Carried

Correspondence

Ms. DeViet provided an update, from the County perspective, on correspondence item w), highlighting some of the County’s concerns over the proposed amalgamations and how the Health Unit might maintain access to services for County residents should a larger regional entity be formed.

Ms. Fulton noted that a report will be coming forward to the Board next month on the status of action items resulting from the review of MLHU services in the County.

It was moved by Mr. Brennan, seconded by Ms. Fulton, that the Board of Health receive correspondence items a) through v) and x), and refer item w) to staff. Carried

Dr. Mackie introduced item y) and provided context.

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health refer item y) to staff for a report at the December Board of Health meeting. Carried

Other Business

• Next Finance & Facilities Committee meeting: December 5, 2019 @ 9:00 a.m.
• Next Governance Committee meeting: February 2020 (exact date TBA).
• Next Board of Health meeting: Thursday, December 12, 2019 @ 5:30 p.m.

Confidential

At 8:42 p.m., it was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Clarke, that the Board of Health move in-camera to consider matters regarding identifiable individuals, the security of the property of the Board of Health, financial information that belongs to the local board and has monetary or potential monetary value, and to approve confidential minutes from its October 17, 2019 Relocation Advisory Committee and Board of Health meetings. Carried

At 9:45 p.m., it was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health rise and return to public session. Carried

At 9:46 p.m., the Board of Health returned to public session.

Adjournment

At 9:46 p.m., it was moved by Mr. Clarke, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the meeting be adjourned. Carried

MAUREEN CASSIDY
Vice-Chair

CHRISTOPHER MACKIE

Secretary-Treasurer