Item - 2023.HL6.2

The Board of Health recommends that:

1. City Council increase revenues by $995,325 in the Toronto Public Health 2023 Operating Budget for funds to be received from the Ministry of Health in 2023.

2. City Council increase the Toronto Public Health 2023 Capital Budget by $589,000 for funds from the Ministry of Health for renovations to the dental clinic at 160 Borough Drive as part of the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program.

The Board of Health:

1. Requested the Province of Ontario to provide sufficient and sustainable funding for Toronto Public Health to meet Toronto’s population health needs, taking into account such things like inflationary pressures and the demands resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, including its impact on other public health issues (e.g. routine immunization catch-up, mental health), so as to support a healthier population and reduce the need to draw on costly and scarce health care resources.

2. Wrote to Health Canada to request that they provide permanent funding, adjusted for inflation, for the Injectable Opioid Agonist Treatment program ($2.5 million beginning in 2024-2025) recognizing its effectiveness as an important treatment option during the current drug toxicity crisis.

3. Wrote to Health Canada and the Provincial Government to request that they provide sufficient and ongoing funding, adjusted for inflation, for the Toronto Drug Checking Service.
 

4. Reiterated City Council’s requests in Item 2023.HL4.2 given the continued high demand for student nutrition programs amid the ongoing affordability crisis:

a. City Council request the Government of Canada to provide details on progress toward their 2022 Federal Budget commitment "to develop a National School Food Policy and to explore how more Canadian children can receive nutritious food at school" and inquire about whether the Government of Canada will consider increasing the Canada Child Benefit for lowest income families to prevent growing child food insecurity.

b. City Council request the Province of Ontario and Federal Government to fully fund Breakfast and Lunch Programs universally available in all publicly funded schools in the City of Toronto.

The Director, Finance and Administration, Toronto Public Health gave a presentation on Toronto Public Health Backgrounder for 2024 Budget Preparation.

At its meeting on July 25, 2023, the Board of Health - Budget Committee considered Item HU1.1, Toronto Public Health Backgrounder for 2024 Budget Preparation.