← Meeting record

Board of Health

2023-10-23 · 0 stories from 4 items

The full agenda, as filed

All 4 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.

HL7.1adopted
Planning for the 2023 to 2024 Respiratory Virus Season
This report provides an overview of Toronto Public Health's (TPH's) 2023-2024 respiratory virus season plan for monitoring, preventing, and responding to cases of infection in communities and outbreaks in institutions, and collaborating with the broader health system. An equity-focus was included in all planning. This season, epidemiological data suggests that Toronto will experience a high level of respiratory virus activity. Protective measures to reduce transmission of these viruses such as masking, hand washing, and physical distancing can continue to be used in a layered approach with vaccination, which remains the most effective protection against these agents. For the 2023-2024 fall and winter respiratory season, publicly-funded vaccines will be available to protect against COVID-19, influenza, and for select eligible people, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Toronto Public Health (TPH) is encouraging residents to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible. This report outlines monitoring updates that include the replacement of the COVID-19 Monitoring Dashboard with the enhanced Integrated Respiratory Disease Dashboard and the integration of influenza and COVID-19 indicators in TPH's Wastewater Dashboard. For prevention, TPH's vaccination campaign encompasses influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, which will be available through many settings throughout the city, and RSV vaccines, which will be available at select locations for eligible groups. The plan also contains a comprehensive 2023-2024 respiratory virus communications plan and an outbreak response component that supports readiness in hospitals, long-term care and retirement homes, and other congregate settings, such as shelters and group homes. Finally, TPH will collaborate with the broader health system to promote the effective and efficient use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) and antiviral treatments. To streamline collaboration, TPH has participated in several Ministry of Health tabletop exercises for fall planning.
The Board of Health: 1. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to monitor the impacts of the respiratory season on Toronto residents and report back to the Board of Health in January with a situational update, if necessary. 2. Requested the Ministry of Health to provide $5.1 million in annual funding for Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) hubs to prevent and mitigate the impacts of outbreaks, particularly in long-term care and retirement homes, and other congregate settings such as shelters and group homes.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Medical Officer of Health recommends that: 1. The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to monitor the impacts of the respiratory season on Toronto residents and report back to the Board of Health in January with a situational update, if necessary. 2. The Board of Health request the Ministry of Health to provide $5.1 million in annual funding for Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) hubs to prevent and mitigate the impacts of outbreaks, particularly in long-term care and retirement homes, and other congregate settings such as shelters and group homes.
HL7.2amended
Toronto Public Health 2024 Operating Budget Submission
At its meeting on October 4, 2023, the Board of Health - Budget Committee considered Item HU2.1, Toronto Public Health 2024 Operating Budget Submission.
The Board of Health recommends that the Budget Committee: 1. Request the Mayor to propose a 2024 Operating Budget to City Council for Toronto Public Health that is consistent with the budget approved by the Board of Health, set out as follows: a. a Toronto Public Health 2024 Operating Budget Submission of $280,596.8 thousand gross, $78,679.1 thousand net, and 1,898.0 positions, as summarized in Table 1, Overview of the TPH 2024 Operating Budget Submission, in the report (September 22, 2023) from the Medical Officer of Health, which includes the following incremental changes from the TPH 2023 Approved Operating Budget: i. a decrease of $2,382.9 thousand gross, $0 net and 7.0 positions for the Injectable Opioid Agonist Treatment Program; ii. a decrease of $3,570.7 thousand gross and $0 net for the 100 percent federally funded Toronto Voluntary Isolation Centre; iii. a decrease of $5,950.0 thousand gross and $0 net for the 100 percent provincial funded COVID-19 School-Focused Nurses Initiative; iv. a decrease of $49,122.9 thousand gross, $50,443.3 thousand net and 386.0 positions for the 100 percent provincially funded COVID-19 General Response; v. a decrease of $36,978.3 thousand gross and $36,978.3 thousand net for the 100 percent provincially funded COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign; vi. an increase in revenue of $1,351.0 thousand to accept additional funds from the provincial government to support the delivery of Ontario Public Health Standards programs and services; vii. an increase of $1,495.9 thousand gross and $1,495.9 thousand net for inflationary cost of food increases in the Student Nutrition Program; viii. an increase of $6,026.0 thousand gross and $6,026.0 thousand net for salaries and benefits; and ix. a decrease of $1,376.7 thousand gross, $79.6 thousand net and 16.0 positions for 2024 administrative and technical adjustments.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Board of Health - Budget Committee recommends that: 1. City Council approve the Toronto Public Health (TPH) 2024 Operating Budget Submission of $280,596.8 thousand gross, $78,679.1 thousand net, and 1,898.0 positions, as summarized in Table 1, Overview of the TPH 2024 Operating Budget Submission, in the report (September 22, 2023) from the Medical Officer of Health, which includes the following incremental changes from the TPH 2023 Approved Operating Budget: a. a decrease of $2,382.9 thousand gross, $0 net and 7.0 positions for the Injectable Opioid Agonist Treatment Program; b. a decrease of $3,570.7 thousand gross and $0 net for the 100 percent federally funded Toronto Voluntary Isolation Centre; c. a decrease of $5,950.0 thousand gross and $0 net for the 100 percent provincial funded COVID-19 School-Focused Nurses Initiative; d. a decrease of $49,122.9 thousand gross, $50,443.3 thousand net and 386.0 positions for the 100 percent provincially funded COVID-19 General Response; e. a decrease of $36,978.3 thousand gross and $36,978.3 thousand net for the 100 percent provincially funded COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign; f. an increase in revenue of $1,351.0 thousand to accept additional funds from the provincial government to support the delivery of Ontario Public Health Standards programs and services; g. an increase of $1,495.9 thousand gross and $1,495.9 thousand net for inflationary cost of food increases in the Student Nutrition Program; h. an increase of $6,026.0 thousand gross and $6,026.0 thousand net for salaries and benefits; and i. a decrease of $1,376.7 thousand gross, $79.6 thousand net and 16.0 positions for 2024 administrative and technical adjustments. 2. The Board of Health direct that this report be forwarded to the Budget Committee for consideration during the 2024 Budget process. 3. The Board of Health request the Province of Ontario to provide $300.0 thousand for the new vaccine distribution services. 4. The Board of Health request the Province of Ontario to: a. index current funding for Toronto Public Health's Supervised Injection Services to inflation starting in 2024; b. increase its investment by $3,450.0 thousand starting in 2024 to address the worsening opioid poisoning crisis in Toronto; and c. provide an additional $21,764.0 thousand to Toronto Public Health which would bring the cost-shared funding to 75 percent provincial and 25 percent municipal. 5. The Board of Health direct that this report be forwarded to the Ministry of Health.
HL7.3amended
Toronto Public Health 2024-2033 Capital Budget and Plan Submission
At its meeting on October 4, 2023, the Board of Health - Budget Committee considered Item HU2.2, Toronto Public Health 2024-2033 Capital Budget and Plan Submission.
The Board of Health recommends that the Budget Committee: 1. Request the Mayor to propose a 2024 Capital Budget to City Council for Toronto Public Health that is consistent with the budget approved by the Board of Health, set out as follows: a. a 2024 Recommended Capital Budget for Toronto Public Health with a total project cost of $7.583 million, including a 2024 cash flow of $5.824 million. 2. Request the Mayor to propose a 2025-2033 Capital Plan to City Council for Toronto Public Health that is consistent with the budget approved by the Board of Health, set out as follows: a. a 2025-2033 Capital Plan for Toronto Public Health totaling $16.189 million in project estimates, comprised of $2.331 million in 2025, $2.509 million in 2026, $3.557 million in 2027, $3.026 million in 2028, $1.408 million in 2029, $1.127 million in 2030, $1.361 million in 2031 and $0.870 million in 2032.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Board of Health - Budget Committee recommends that: 1. City Council approve a 2024 Recommended Capital Budget for Toronto Public Health with a total project cost of $7.583 million, including a 2024 cash flow of $5.824 million. 2. City Council approve the 2025-2033 Capital Plan for Toronto Public Health totaling $16.189 million in project estimates, comprised of $2.331 million in 2025, $2.509 million in 2026, $3.557 million in 2027, $3.026 million in 2028, $1.408 million in 2029, $1.127 million in 2030, $1.361 million in 2031 and $0.870 million in 2032. 3. The Board of Health direct that this report be forwarded to the Budget Committee for consideration during the 2024 Budget process.
HL7.4amended
Toronto Public Health Strategic Planning
The Medical Officer of Health will give a presentation on Toronto Public Health Strategic Planning.
The Board of Health: 1. Established a Board of Health - Strategic Plan Development Committee. 2. Approved the Terms of Reference as detailed in Attachment 1 to the motion by Councillor Chris Moise. 3. Appointed the following Board of Health Directors to the Board of Health - Strategic Plan Development Committee for a term of office ending upon the completion of the Committee's mandate or the end of the current City Council term, whichever comes first: Director Alejandra Bravo, as the Committee Chair Director Amber Morley Director Anu Sriskandarajah Director Abinaya Chandrabalan Director Charles Ozzoude 4. Directed the Board of Health - Strategic Plan Development Committee to meet at the call of the Chair.