Item - 2024.HL11.4

The Board of Health:

1. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to work in collaboration with the City Clerk and the Chair of the Board of Health to implement measures to address opportunities for improvement identified through the 2024 Board of Health self-evaluation.

2. Requested the Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the City Clerk, to give a presentation to the Board of Health on the Ontario Public Health Organizational Standards and the powers, restrictions, and responsibilities of members of the Board of Health in the first quarter of 2025. 

3. Requested the City Clerk and the Medical Officer of Health to offer one-on-one training on the Ontario Public Health Organizational Standards, the powers, restrictions, and responsibilities of members of the Board of Health, and the Board of Health procedural by-law and rules of procedure to any newly appointed Directors in the remainder of the 2022-2026 term. 

This report contains the results of the self-evaluation of Toronto's Board of Health (the "Board"), conducted in 2024.

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.

Overall, the Board's self-evaluation survey findings were positive, indicating that it has strong governance and understanding of roles and responsibilities, uses effective relationships and informed decision-making, and is responsive to the immediate and long-term public health needs of the community.

In addition to the positive findings, opportunities and next steps were identified, including encouraging collaboration between Board members, increasing knowledge of community partners, and exploring community engagement opportunities with community stakeholders.

Toronto Public Health ("TPH") will work with the City Clerk's Office and the Chair of the Board of Health to explore opportunities to address these findings over the course of the current and upcoming terms of the Board.