Agenda

This meeting of the Board of Health will be conducted with members participating in person and remotely.

Directors of the Board and participating City Officials will be provided with the video conference details closer to the meeting date.

To provide comments or make a presentation to the Board of Health:

The public may submit written comments or register to speak to the Board on any item on the agenda.

Written comments may be submitted by writing to boh@toronto.ca.

To speak to the Board, please register by e-mail to boh@toronto.ca or by phone at 416-397-4592. Registered speakers will be provided with instructions on how to participate in the meeting.

Special Assistance for Members of the Public: City staff can arrange for special assistance with some advance notice. If you need special assistance, please call 416-397-4592, TTY 416-338-0889 or e-mail boh@toronto.ca.

Closed Meeting Requirements: If the Board of Health wants to meet in closed session (privately), a director of the Board must make a motion to do so and give the reason why the Board has to meet privately (City of Toronto Act, 2006).

Notice to People Writing or Making Presentations to the Board of Health: The City of Toronto Act, 2006 and the City of Toronto Municipal Code authorize the City of Toronto to collect any personal information in your communication or presentation to City Council or its Committees and Boards. The City collects this information to enable it to make informed decisions on the relevant issue(s). If you are submitting letters, faxes, e-mails, presentations or other communications to the City, you should be aware that your name and the fact that you communicated with the City will become part of the public record and will appear on the City's website. The City will also make your communication and any personal information in it - such as your postal address, telephone number or e-mail address - available to the public, unless you expressly request the City to remove it.

Many Committee, Board, and Advisory Body meetings are broadcast live over the internet for the public to view. If you speak at the meeting you will appear in the video broadcast. Video broadcasts are archived and continue to be publicly available.

If you want to learn more about why and how the City collects your information, write to the City Clerk's Office, City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto ON M5H 2N2 or call 416-397-4592.

toronto.ca/council

This agenda and any supplementary materials submitted to the City Clerk can be found online at toronto.ca/council. Visit the website for access to all agendas, reports, decisions, and minutes of City Council and its Committees and Boards.

Declarations of Interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act

Confirmation of Minutes - November 27, 2023

Speakers/Presentations - The speakers list will be posted online at 8:30 a.m. on January 15, 2024

Communications/Reports

Election of the Chair of the Board of Health under Part H, Section 22 of the Board of Health Procedures By-law, as amended, for a term of office starting January 15, 2024 and ending December 31, 2024, and until a successor is appointed.

Election of the Vice Chair of the Board of Health under Part H, Section 22 of the Board of Health Procedures By-law, as amended, for a term of office starting January 15, 2024 and ending December 31, 2024, and until a successor is appointed.

The Medical Officer of Health recommends that:

1. The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to report back to the Board of Health in 2024 on the establishment of an Indigenous Wellness Committee and co-developed action plan, and recommendations on options to resource the action plan, as requested by Indigenous service providers.

2. The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to arrange an Indigenous cultural safety training session for the Board in 2024 to build the Board's capacity to respectfully advance Indigenous health and reconciliation through its public health governance mandate.

3. The Board of Health request the Chair to call a Special Meeting of the Board of Health in 2024 for the training session referenced in Recommendation 2 above.

In May 2016, the Toronto Indigenous Health Advisory Circle (TIHAC) released the Toronto Indigenous Health Strategy, which included recommendations for multiple sectors and partners, including Toronto Public Health and the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network). The Strategy envisioned thriving and healthy Indigenous peoples and communities in Toronto and the transformation of programs and services in the healthcare system and within Toronto Public Health. The launch of the Toronto Indigenous Health Strategy influenced how Toronto Public Health works with Indigenous service providers and the Indigenous community across a range of public health programs.

Over the last several years, there have been numerous calls on federal, provincial, and municipal governments to address the historic trauma and impacts of colonization, such as the residential school system. This includes the use of legislation and government policy to oppress Indigenous cultures, languages, familial structures, and health outcomes. Various reports such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, its 2SLGBTQQIA+ Sub-Working Group, and the voices of Indigenous service providers and community members have raised many recommendations to improve the wellbeing of Indigenous peoples.

In April 2022, City Council adopted the City of Toronto’s (the City) first Reconciliation Action Plan focused on five themes over ten years: Restoring truth, righting relations and sharing power, addressing justice, making financial reparations, and activating the City of Toronto’s commitment to truth and reconciliation. Toronto Public Health has made specific commitments to advancing truth and reconciliation under the plan.

This report provides an update on actions Toronto Public Health is taking in relationships with Indigenous service providers and includes recommendations on opportunities to further advance health outcomes for Indigenous populations.

Toronto Public Health is committed to addressing Indigenous population health inequities and strengthening its programs and services to meet the health needs of the Indigenous population. Toronto Public Health’s commitment will build on City strategies and incorporate recommendations from Indigenous service providers and community members.

There is no financial impact associated with the adoption of the recommendations in this report.

The Associate Medical Officer of Health will give a presentation on Update on the 2023 to 2024 Respiratory Virus Season.

The Medical Officer of Health recommends that:

1. The Board of Health review the current directorship of the Board of Health - Budget Committee and the Board of Health - Performance Appraisal of the Medical Officer of Health Committee and appoint Board of Health directors for a term of office ending December 31, 2024, and until successors are appointed.

2. The Board of Health appoint a Board of Health director to the Association of Local Public Health Agencies' (alPHa) Board of Directors and Board of Health Section for a term of office ending December 31, 2024, and until a successor is appointed and pay expenses for attending alPHa's 2024 meetings and semi-annual meetings/conferences within Toronto Public Health's 2024 Approved Operating Budget.

3. The Board of Health encourage all Board of Health directors to attend the Association of Local Public Health Agencies' (alPHa) Board of Health Section meetings and semi-annual meetings/conferences in Toronto and pay expenses for attending alPHa's 2024 meetings and conferences in Toronto within Toronto Public Health's 2024 Approved Operating Budget.

This report outlines the need for appointments of Board of Health members to two Committees of the Board of Health and one external Board for 2024:

- the Board of Health - Budget Committee,

- the Board of Health - Performance Appraisal of the Medical Officer of Health Committee, and

- the Association of Local Public Health Agencies' (alPHa) Board of Directors and Board of Health Section.

There is no financial impact resulting from the adoption of the recommendations in this report.