Item - 2014.HL32.2

Tracking Status

  • City Council adopted this item on July 8, 2014 without amendments and without debate.
  • This item was considered by Board of Health on June 30, 2014 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on July 8, 2014.

HL32.2 - Strategies to Prevent Heat-Related Illness and Deaths from Extreme Heat Emergencies

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted on Consent
Wards:
All

City Council Decision

City Council on July 8, 9, 10 and 11, 2014, adopted the following:

 

1.         City Council request the City Manager, in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health, to work through The Emergency Management Program Committee (TEMPC) and the Emergency Management Working Group to ensure that heat emergency preparedness and management includes measures to identify vulnerable populations and to provide outreach and heat relief through:

 

a.         a review of heat related risks as part of annual risk assessment;

 

b.         updating Operational Support Functions as required; and

 

c.         updating the Emergency Plan as required.

Background Information (Board)

(June 13, 2014) Report from the Medical Officer of Health on Strategies to Prevent Heat-Related Illness and Deaths from Extreme Heat Emergencies
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-70709.pdf

Communications (Board)

(June 30, 2014) Submission from Franz Hartmann, Executive Director, Toronto Environmental Alliance (HL.New.HL32.2.1)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/hl/comm/communicationfile-48439.pdf
(June 30, 2014) Submission from Scott Leon (HL.New.HL32.2.2)

HL32.2 - Strategies to Prevent Heat-Related Illness and Deaths from Extreme Heat Emergencies

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Amended
Wards:
All

Board Recommendations

The Board of Health recommends that:

 

1.         City Council request the City Manager, in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health, to work through The Emergency Management Program Committee (TEMPC) and the Emergency Management Working Group to ensure that heat emergency preparedness and management includes measures to identify vulnerable populations and to provide outreach and heat relief through:

 

a.         a review of heat related risks as part of annual risk assessment;

 

b.         updating Operational Support Functions as required; and

 

c.         updating the Emergency Plan as required.

Decision Advice and Other Information

The Board of Health:

 

1.         Requested the Medical Officer of Health to engage with Toronto area Local Health Integrated Networks (Central West, Mississauga/Halton, Toronto Central, Central and Central East) to:

 

a.         ensure that all hospitals and other health service providers have adequate plans to respond to a heat emergency; and

 

b.         encourage all health service providers to ensure that vulnerability assessments for all clients consider if they will be affected by extreme heat.

 

2.         Requested the Medical Officer of Health to collaborate with the Chief Corporate Officer and the Director of the Environment and Energy Division to:

 

a.         ensure that extreme heat events are considered in the Resilient City divisional risk assessments related to extreme weather, including power outages, and that measures are developed to prevent adverse health impacts; and

 

b.         develop and implement an engagement strategy with key stakeholders from the private sector and community services sector to improve resiliency.

 

3.         In order to reduce heat-related illnesses and deaths, requested the Medical Officer of Health to work with the appropriate city officials to fast track implementing the following actions:

 

a.         expand the urban tree canopy, increase green infrastructure, and expand pedestrian and bike networks to reduce the urban heat island effect;

 

b.         increase energy conservation measures, incentivize developing renewable power generation in all buildings to support building a resilient distributed energy system to reduce the impact of brown-outs and black-outs.

 

4.         Requested the Medical Officer of Health to develop and implement a comprehensive health-focused "extreme heat prevention and preparation" public education campaign that focuses on preventative actions Torontonians can take to reduce extreme heat illnesses and deaths. The public education campaign should include:

 

a.         outreach and engagement of vulnerable populations in multi-residential buildings;

 

b.         community forums and partnership engagement with NGOs and community groups; and

 

c.         education activities that target the general public using media, social media, and the public education system.

 

5.         Requested the Medical Officer of Health to work with the Province of Ontario to:

 

a.         develop coordinated and harmonized provincial extreme heat and cold alert systems and response plans;

 

b.         provide appropriate resources required to maximize prevention of, and preparation for public health emergencies that will come from heat-related illnesses and deaths due to severe heat caused by climate change.

 

6.         Forwarded the report (June 13, 2014) from the Medical Officer of Health to Toronto Community Housing with the request that they develop a strategy for protecting vulnerable residents in extreme heat, especially the elderly.

 

7.         Forwarded the report (June 13, 2014) from the Medical Officer of Health to the Canadian Red Cross, Ontario Medical Association, Faith and the Common Good, Social Planning Toronto and Street Health.

Origin

(June 13, 2014) Report from the Medical Officer of Health

Summary

Due to the changing climate, Toronto can expect a fivefold increase in three-day heat waves and an increased likelihood of a heat emergency with high mortality such as has occurred in large cities in other developed countries.  Climate models suggest that by 2049, the annual average temperature will have increased by 4.4 degrees celsius and there will be more than triple the amount of days (approximately 60) with temperatures that exceed 30 degrees celsius compared to historical conditions (2000 to 2009).  As heat episodes increase, so will the health impacts.

 

Currently, Toronto Public Health administers the Heat Alert and Response Program to prevent heat related deaths and illness during usual summertime conditions.  However, the program was not designed to address heat emergencies when heat conditions are more severe and last longer, and which may lead to high mortality.  In that case, the Medical Officer of Health can request the Toronto Office of Emergency Management activate the City of Toronto’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and if necessary, scale up the response through the City's Emergency Plan.  To date, the City's Emergency Plan has never been activated for a heat event.

 

This report outlines strategies to strengthen Toronto's preparedness for heat emergencies, strengthen the healthcare sector's preparedness for heat emergencies, build Toronto's resiliency and develop policies that increase access to cool spaces for heat-vulnerable populations.

Background Information

(June 13, 2014) Report from the Medical Officer of Health on Strategies to Prevent Heat-Related Illness and Deaths from Extreme Heat Emergencies
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-70709.pdf

Communications

(June 30, 2014) Submission from Franz Hartmann, Executive Director, Toronto Environmental Alliance (HL.New.HL32.2.1)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/hl/comm/communicationfile-48439.pdf
(June 30, 2014) Submission from Scott Leon (HL.New.HL32.2.2)

Speakers

Scott Leon
Franz Hartmann, Executive Director, Toronto Environmental Alliance

Motions

1 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Gord Perks (Carried)

That:

 

1.         In order to reduce heat-related illnesses and deaths, request the Medical Officer of Health to work with the appropriate city officials to fast track implementing the following actions:

 

a.         expand the urban tree canopy, increase green infrastructure, and expand pedestrian and bike networks to reduce the urban heat island effect;

 

b.         increase energy conservation measures, incentivize developing renewable power generation in all buildings to support building a resilient distributed energy system to reduce the impact of brown-outs and black-outs.

 

2.         Request the Medical Officer of Health to develop and implement a comprehensive health-focused "extreme heat prevention and preparation" public education campaign that focuses on preventative actions Torontonians can take to reduce extreme heat illnesses and deaths.  The public education campaign should include:

 

a.         outreach and engagement of vulnerable populations in multi-residential buildings;

 

b.         community forums and partnership engagement with NGOs and community groups;

 

c.         education activities that target the general public using media, social media, and the public education system.

 

3.         Request the Medical Officer of Health to work with the Province of Ontario to:

 

a.         develop coordinated and harmonized provincial extreme heat and cold alert systems and response plans;

 

b.         provide appropriate resources required to maximize prevention of, and preparation for public health emergencies that will come from heat-related illnesses and deaths due to severe heat caused by climate change.


2 - Motion to Amend Item moved by Councillor Sarah Doucette (Carried)
That Recommendation 3a of the report (June 13, 2014) from the Medical Officer of Health be amended by adding "including power outages" after "extreme weather".

3 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Raymond Cho (Carried)

That the Board of Health forward the report (June 13, 2014) from the Medical Officer of Health to Toronto Community Housing with the request that they develop a strategy for protecting vulnerable residents in extreme heat, especially the elderly.


4 - Motion to Adopt Item as Amended moved by Councillor Sarah Doucette (Carried)
Source: Toronto City Clerk at www.toronto.ca/council