Board of Health
The full agenda, as filed
All 6 items in the clerk’s order. Each carries the city’s own words: the staff recommendation, what the body decided, and its status. Nothing below is written by us.
HL37.1deferred
Election of Chair for 2022 - Board of Health
Election of the Chair of the Board of Health under Part H, Section 22 of the Board of Health Procedures By-law, as amended, for a term of office starting May 16, 2022 and ending November 14, 2022, and until a successor is appointed.
The Board of Health deferred consideration of Item HL37.1 to its meeting on June 20, 2022.
HL37.2amended
Response to COVID-19 - May 2022 Update
The Medical Officer of Health will give a presentation on Response to COVID-19 - May 2022 Update.
The Board of Health: 1. Requested the Province of Ontario to consider implementing, in a focused manner, in other congregate settings (such as shelters, group homes) the measures that have been used successfully to support better infection prevention and control in long-term care settings.
HL37.3adopted
Community Immunization Engagement and Mobilization Plan Update
This report provides findings from the evaluation of the Vaccine Engagement Teams initiative, and responds to the Board of Health direction to provide recommendations for extending the successful work of Vaccine Engagement Teams in order to continue supporting the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. The Community Immunization Engagement and Mobilization Plan is a key part of the City of Toronto's COVID-19 vaccination program. It leverages community expertise and partnerships through Vaccine Engagement Teams to facilitate and promote equitable vaccine uptake across Toronto. A program evaluation of the initiative found that Vaccine Engagement Teams have been an effective strategy for increasing vaccine confidence, access, and uptake among diverse communities across Toronto. Toronto Public Health and Social Development, Finance and Administration have identified a continued need for equity-focused outreach that prioritizes populations most impacted by COVID-19 and with lowest vaccine uptake, children under the age of five, and those who are eligible for fourth and booster doses. Given this need, and an expected seasonal increase in COVID-19 activity in the fall, there is a need to extend the Community Immunization Engagement and Mobilization Plan until at least December 31, 2022 and to continue to review and further extend the program as required to support the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. The Vaccine Engagement Team model has proven valuable in promoting uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine, and offers promise as an approach to reducing socioeconomic barriers to government services, including public health, healthcare and social services. Additional information is needed about the use of this model to support health care access outside of COVID-19 response. Toronto Public Health and Social Development, Finance and Administration will work with health and social service system partners to determine deployment options for this model in an impactful way. This work will be undertaken as part of broader recovery efforts and an update will be provided to the Board of Health in the first quarter of 2023.
The Board of Health: 1. Requested the Medical Officer of Health, in partnership with Social Development, Finance and Administration, to extend the Vaccine Engagement Teams until at least December 31, 2022, and to continue to review and further extend the program as required to support the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, and submit associated expenditures to the Ministry of Health for reimbursement.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Medical Officer of Health and the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, recommend that: 1. The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health, in partnership with Social Development, Finance and Administration, to extend the Vaccine Engagement Teams until at least December 31, 2022, and to continue to review and further extend the program as required to support the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, and submit associated expenditures to the Ministry of Health for reimbursement.
HL37.4adopted
Toronto Public Health Operating Budget Variance for the Twelve Months Ended on December 31, 2021
This report provides an update to the Board of Health on the Toronto Public Health (TPH) Operating Budget Variance for the twelve months ended on December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, TPH gross expenditure was overspent by $44.3 million and revenue was overachieved by $58.9 million, resulting in a net favourable variance of $14.6 million. This favourable variance was partially offset by underachieved revenues in the non-program account.
The Board of Health: 1. Received the report (May 2, 2022) from the Medical Officer of Health for information.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Medical Officer of Health recommends that: 1. The Board of Health receive this report for information.
HL37.5adopted
Toronto Public Health Capital Budget Variance for the Twelve Months Ended on December 31, 2021
This report provides an update to the Board of Health on the Toronto Public Health Capital Budget Variance for the twelve months ended on December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, Toronto Public Health spent $1,217.9 thousand representing 24.2 percent of the 2021 Approved Capital Budget of $5,032.0 thousand. The underspending reflects the planned projects for 2021 which were affected by the impact of COVID-19 on the availability of resources within Toronto Public Health and its partners.
The Board of Health: 1. Received the report (May 2, 2022) from the Medical Officer of Health for information.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Medical Officer of Health recommends that: 1. The Board of Health receive this report for information.
HL37.6adopted
2022 Student Nutrition Program Service Subsidies
Student nutrition programs are meal and snack programs offered primarily in public schools. They help to ensure that children and youth at risk for poor nutritional intake have access to safe, adequate, and culturally appropriate nutritious food. Research shows that when students eat healthy meals at school they focus better, score higher marks in reading, math and science, and are more likely to graduate high school. Students develop healthier eating habits, which can lower rates of childhood obesity and overweight. Programs depend on funding from the City of Toronto (the City), the Province of Ontario (the Province), student and parent contributions, community fundraising, school board fundraising, and corporate donations. Additional funding and support from the federal and provincial governments is needed to ensure sustainable programs. The City's continued commitment to invest in student nutrition programs demonstrates its leadership among Canadian cities. This report outlines recommendations for the 2022 Student Nutrition Program service subsidy allocations, which includes a Council approved 2.5 percent cost of food inflationary increase of $403,446 from 2021 base approved budget. The proposed combined allocations to the Angel Foundation for Learning (AFL) and the Toronto Foundation for Student Success (TFSS) total $16,811,303, which includes $173,135 held in reserve for appeals/late applications.
The Board of Health recommends that : 1. City Council authorize the Medical Officer of Health to enter into agreements and other suitable arrangements, on behalf of the City of Toronto, for the transfer of funds to the Angel Foundation for Learning ($4,492,696) and the Toronto Foundation for Student Success ($12,318,607) for the purpose of administering the 2022 approved municipal funding (totalling $16,811,303) to eligible student nutrition programs across the City of Toronto on terms satisfactory to the Medical Officer of Health and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor. 2. City Council reiterate its request to the Provincial Government to increase its grant funding investment proportionally to match the increased City of Toronto investment. 3. City Council reiterate its request to the Federal Government to provide core funding for a national school food program.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Medical Officer of Health recommends that: 1. City Council authorize the Medical Officer of Health to enter into agreements and other suitable arrangements, on behalf of the City of Toronto, for the transfer of funds to the Angel Foundation for Learning ($4,492,696) and the Toronto Foundation for Student Success ($12,318,607) for the purpose of administering the 2022 approved municipal funding (totalling $16,811,303) to eligible student nutrition programs across the City of Toronto on terms satisfactory to the Medical Officer of Health and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor. 2. The Board of Health and City Council reiterate their requests to the Provincial Government to increase its grant funding investment proportionally to match the increased City of Toronto investment. 3. The Board of Health and City Council reiterate their requests to the Federal Government to provide core funding for a national school food program. 4. The Board of Health forward this report to the Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, the Federal Minister of Health, the Ontario Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, the Ontario Minister of Health, the Ontario Minister of Education, the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, le Conseil scolaire Viamonde, le Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir, the Toronto Foundation for Student Success, the Angel Foundation for Learning, the Daily Bread Food Bank, and the United Way.