Minutes Confirmed on February 12, 2024

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

The Board of Health:

1. Elected Director Chris Moise as Chair of the Board of Health for a term of office starting January 15, 2024 and ending December 31, 2024, and until a successor is appointed.

There was one nomination. The Board Secretary declared Director Chris Moise the Chair of the Board of Health.

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.

The Board of Health:

1. Elected Director Alejandra Bravo as Vice Chair of the Board of Health for a term of office starting January 15, 2024 and ending December 31, 2024 and until a successor is appointed.

There was one nomination. The Chair declared Director Alejandra Bravo the Vice Chair of the Board of Health.

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 Board of Health:

1. Requested 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. Requested 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. Requested the Chair to call a Special Meeting of the Board of Health in 2024 for the training session referenced in Part 2 above.

The Deputy Medical Officer of Health, the Senior Policy and Strategic Issues Advisor, Toronto Public Health, and the Associate Director, Toronto Public Health gave a presentation on Actions to Advance Indigenous Health.

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.

The Board of Health:

1. Received the presentation (January 15, 2024) from the Associate Medical Officer of Health for information.

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

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

The Board of Health:

1. Appointed the following Board of Health directors to the Board of Health – Budget Committee for a term of office ending on December 31, 2024, and until successors are appointed:

Director Chris Moise

Director Gord Perks

Director Alejandra Bravo

Director Ramanjeet Singh

Director Anu Sriskandarajah
Director Suman Roy

2. Appointed the following Board of Health directors to the Board of Health – Performance Appraisal of the Medical Officer of Health Committee for a term of office ending on December 31, 2024 and until successors are appointed:

Director Chris Moise

Director Abinaya Chandrabalan

Director Stephanie Zhou

Director Ausma Malik

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

4. Encouraged 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.

Announcements

The Chair acknowledged that the Board of Health was meeting on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The Board also acknowledged that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.

The Chair also acknowledged that today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work and live on this land. As public health professionals, and members of the Board of Health, we recognize the historical and present-day traumas inflicted upon Indigenous peoples. We stand with communities and families as they mourn the loss of loved ones who were sent to residential schools and never returned. We also acknowledge our complicity in ongoing colonial violence. We commit to supporting the efforts of Indigenous groups toward reconciliation and action-oriented practices, including the equitable use of resources. We strive to learn Indigenous histories and collaborate with communities and families so we can create safe spaces that honour Indigenous cultures and ensure that Indigenous perspectives are present in our work and practices.

The Chair further acknowledged that not all people came to these lands as migrants and settlers and specifically acknowledged those who came here involuntarily, particularly those brought to these lands as a result of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery.  In support of the City of Toronto's ongoing efforts to confront anti-Black racism, the Chair paid tribute to those ancestors of African, Caribbean, and Black origin and descent.

Where the Directors of the Board of Health listed in the attendance for this meeting participated remotely, they were counted for quorum as permitted by Section 189(4.2) of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, and the Board's Procedures, as amended.