Item - 2026.HL33.1

The Board of Health:  

1. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to continue ongoing efforts to support Toronto Public Health nurses in their delivery of programs and services mandated by the Ontario Public Health Standards.

2. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to report to the Board of Health with an update on the Toronto Public Health nursing workforce in Q2 2027 and to include to include measurable indicators related to nursing recruitment, retention, vacancies, turnover, and staff engagement.

3. Requested the Medical Officer of Health include the following information in future staff retention updates:

a. Public Health Nurses to population ratio comparison;

b. analysis over last 10 years employed at beginning of comparison period and today;

c. number of Public Health Nurses in specialist roles;

d. population size of Toronto to Public Health Nurse ratio;

e. ratio of Public Health Nurse to population over time;

f. Public Health Nurse vacancies over time; and

g. number of Public Health Nurses over time.

4. Requested the Ontario Ministry of Health to increase support of Toronto Public Health with population and negotiated wage increases.

5. Directed that the confidential information contained in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (May 15, 2026) from the Medical Officer of Health remain confidential in its entirety, as it contains information about labour relations or employee negotiations.

Joanne Figliano-Scott, Director and Chief Nursing Officer, Community Health and Well-being and Myuran Palasandiran, Director Operations and Business Services gave a presentation on Toronto Public Health's Nursing Recruitment and Retention Strategy.

Nurses represent the largest regulated health professional workforce at Toronto Public Health. They work to advance the organization's mandate to improve the health and well-being of Torontonians and advance population health outcomes. Toronto Public Health employs Public Health Nurses (PHNs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) who are integral to the successful delivery of programs and services within communities across the city. In addition to designated nursing classifications, nurses are employed in a range of roles and positions throughout the division, working collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues across the organization to deliver a range of public health interventions.

This report provides an overview of the nursing workforce at Toronto Public Health, the current trends that inform workforce planning, as well as a summary of Toronto Public Health's Nursing Recruitment and Retention Strategy. Toronto Public Health continues to monitor and act on public health workforce trends, including nurse recruitment and retention, and remains focused on staff engagement efforts and nurturing a positive workplace culture.