Item - 2021.HL32.5

The Board of Health:

1.  Received the report (November 22, 2021) from the Medical Officer of Health for information.

The Minister of Health publishes the Ontario Public Health Standards: Requirements for Programs, Services and Accountability (OPHS) as per Section 7 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act. The Standards identify the minimum expectations for public health programs and services to be delivered by Ontario's 34 boards of health. Boards of health are accountable for implementing the Standards, including the requirement to have a self-evaluation process of its governance practices and outcomes.

This report contains the results of the self-evaluation of Toronto's Board of Health (BOH), conducted in October and November 2021. Overall, the BOH self-evaluation survey results were positive, including:

- Verifying that there is strong governance on the BOH and that members understand their roles and responsibilities;

- Highlighting effective relationships and informed decision-making, including in the current virtual meeting environment; and

- Identifying that the BOH is responsive to the immediate and long-term public health needs of the community.

 
In addition to the positive results, some opportunities and next steps were identified, including:

- Strengthening representation and participation in the BOH by members of communities most impacted by health inequities;

- Taking steps to improve board members' comfort in raising issues;

- Exploring and clarifying measures of success; and

- Increasing public participation in virtual Board of Health meetings.
 

At present, Toronto Public Health (TPH) remains focused on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the majority of staff redeployed for this purpose. As capacity and resourcing permit, TPH will work with the City Clerk's Office and the Chair of the BOH to explore opportunities to address feedback provided through the 2021 BOH self-evaluation over the course of the current and upcoming terms of the BOH.