Item - 2019.HU3.3

The Board of Health Budget Committee recommends to the Board of Health that:

1.  City Council increase the 2019 Operating Budget for Toronto Public Health by $2,111.0 thousand gross, $0 net, and 52 permanent positions to be used for pre-implementation and implementation costs associated with delivering the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program.

On April 11, 2019, the Government of Ontario announced a $90 million investment for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP), a new publicly-funded dental program for low-income Ontario seniors.

On June 7, 2019, Toronto Public Health (TPH) received a letter (see Appendix A) indicating that the City of Toronto will receive $15,543.3 thousand in additional base funding for 2019-2020 from the Ministry of Health (formerly the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care) (the Ministry) to implement the OSDCP.

On August 20, 2019, the Ministry provided the 2019 Public Health Funding and Accountability Agreement stating that the above funding would be prorated at $11,657.4 thousand for the period of April 1 to December 31, 2019. The Ministry has not provided full implementation details for the new program; however, they have expressed their desire to begin implementation in October 2019. The Ministry has also indicated that the OSDCP will be delivered by public health units, Community Health Centres (CHC), and Aboriginal Health Access Centres (AHAC), where public health units will be responsible for coordinating the delivery of the program with CHC and AHAC.

This staff report seeks City Council's approval to increase TPH's 2019 Operating Budget by $2,111.0 thousand for pre-implementation and implementation costs associated with delivering the program starting in October 2019.