Minutes Confirmed on July 7, 2025

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

The Board of Health:

1.  Requested the Ministry of Health to develop a comprehensive provincial strategy to increase vaccine confidence and vaccination rates for measles including:

a. actions to understand the reasons for vaccine hesitancy, especially from parents and caregivers, and sharing these findings with public health units to inform vaccine planning; and

b. actions to address vaccine-related malinformation, disinformation and misinformation.

2.  Requested the Ministry of Health to securely consolidate electronic vaccine medical records with public health records, to streamline efforts to prevent the spread of viruses, including measles and allow for:

a. improved case and contact management;

b. enhanced enforcement of Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act; and

c. better record management.

The Associate Medical Officers of Health gave a presentation on the Toronto Public Health response to the Ontario Measles Outbreak.

The Associate Medical Officers of Health will give a presentation on Toronto Public Health response to the Ontario Measles Outbreak.

The Board of Health recommends that:

1. City Council approve the creation of the Downtown Homelessness Addiction Recovery and Treatment (HART) Hub.

2. City Council authorize the Medical Officer of Health to enter into agreements and other arrangements, on an ongoing basis, with other entities, including City divisions, hospitals, health care organizations, physicians and other health care providers, and community organizations for the purpose of delivering programs and services through the Downtown Homelessness Addiction Recovery and Treatment (HART) Hub in Toronto that are fully funded by the Government of Ontario and within the approved Toronto Public Health budget, in accordance with applicable program and funding guidelines, on such terms and conditions that are satisfactory to the Medical Officer of Health and in a form approved by the City Solicitor.

3. City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Community and Emergency Services to convene an outreach and case management coordination table comprising of relevant City divisions and agencies to streamline pathways into programs and services and monitor outcomes.

The Board of Health:

1. Directed the Medical Officer of Health to report back to the Board of Health in the fourth quarter of 2025 with a status update on the implementation of the Downtown Homelessness Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub, including work to finalize indicators for reporting on the performance of its programs and services.

In 2024, the City of Toronto, in collaboration with health care and community partners, applied to the Ministry of Health to establish the Downtown Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub. The Downtown Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub aims to improve the health of Toronto residents by facilitating access to health care services for people who use drugs, including improved access to treatment and recovery services, and integrated pathways to wraparound supports such as mental health care and housing.

On January 2, 2025, the Ministry of Health confirmed that the City of Toronto had been approved ‘in principle’ to implement a Downtown Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub. This report provides an overview of plans to establish the City of Toronto’s Downtown Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub and seeks authority for the Medical Officer of Health to enter into agreements with external parties to implement the Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub.

This report also provides an overview of the client case management, aggregate reporting, and outreach coordination plan for the Downtown Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub as directed by the Board of Health on April 1, 2025.

The Board of Health:

1. Authorized the Acting Medical Officer of Health to allocate $645.4 thousand in 2025 for seven (7) one-year projects.

2. Authorized the Acting Medical Officer of Health to allocate $1,679.2 thousand to fifteen (15) three-year projects to implement year three services in 2025 as recommended by the 2023 Toronto Urban Health Fund (TUHF) Review Panels and as outlined in Table 3 and Attachment 2 to the report (May 16, 2025) from the Acting Medical Officer of Health..

3. Authorized the Acting Medical Officer of Health to execute Grant Agreements with the applicants identified in Attachment 2 to the report (May 16, 2025) from the Acting Medical Officer of Health.

4. Directed the Medical Officer of Health to consider including intimate partner violence, youth vaping, and youth consumption of energy drinks as priority areas for the Toronto Urban Health Fund as part of the review of the program that is expected at the Board of Health in Q4 2025.

The Board of Health recessed its public meeting to meet in closed session to consider the item as it relates to information explicitly supplied in confidence to the Board by Canada, a province or territory or a Crown agency of any of them.

The Toronto Urban Health Fund (TUHF) provides grants to community-based HIV prevention and substance use initiatives. This report outlines the Toronto Urban Health Fund’s program criteria and priorities, application review process, and 2025 grant recommendations for Board of Health approval.

The 2025 Toronto Urban Health Fund Review Panel recommends granting $645.4 thousand for seven (7) one-year projects and $1,679.2 thousand for fifteen (15) three-year projects that were approved in 2023. The grants total $2,324.6 thousand for the twenty-two (22) projects and are to be used between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.  The 2025 recommended projects for Toronto Urban Health Fund grant funding focus on HIV prevention through sexual transmission, harm reduction, and child and youth resiliency.

The Board of Health:

1. Directed the Medical Officer of Health to report to the Board of Health in the third quarter of 2025 with the City of Toronto AI guidelines which are currently being developed by the Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer, and if needed, supplement them with Toronto Public Health specific procedures and guidance as informed by alPHa, Province of Ontario, and Health Canada best practices.

2. Requested the Medical Officer of Heath to work with the Chief Technology Officer and the Chief Information Security Officer to ensure that any City of Toronto artificial intelligence policy is responsive to the unique needs of Toronto Public Health, such as the protection of Personal Health Information, and to report to the Board of Health with a copy of the Artificial Intelligence policy when it has been finalized.

City Council on April 23 and 24, 2025, adopted Item GG20.14 as amended and, in so doing, has:

1. Directed the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture and the Chief Technology Officer to establish the annual Mayor’s Data and Artificial Intelligence Innovation Challenge to recognize, celebrate, and inspire non-City individuals and organizations as well as City divisions, agencies and corporations that leverage data and AI to showcase research, projects, or solutions that address opportunities to foster civic engagement and public service delivery in Toronto.

2. Requested the boards of City Agencies and Corporations to participate in the Mayor’s Data and Artificial Intelligence Innovation Challenge.

The Board of Health:

1. Requested the Medical Officer of Health review the feasibility of creating an independent website for Toronto Public Health, separate from the City of Toronto’s corporate website, and report back to the September Board of Health through the 2026 budget process.

As the largest public health unit in the country, Toronto Public Health should be a leader in all areas, including health communication. Currently, Toronto Public Health communicates with residents through a number of digital and print channels, but does not have a website independent from the City of Toronto’s corporate website whereas other large public health units in Ontario, such as Ottawa Public Health, already utilize independent websites.

I believe that to eff ectively communicate with the public about how they can protect their health – a key objective in the Toronto Public Health Strategic Plan – Toronto Public Health should consider developing their own website. This would help residents better navigate public health resources and learn about Toronto Public Health initiatives.

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 Chair also acknowledged that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.

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.

The Chair wished everyone a Happy Pride Month and acknowledged that while celebrating the diversity vibrancy, and accomplishments of the 2SLGBTQ community, this month is also an opportunity to highlight the work ahead to foster greater inclusivity.

The Chair also acknowledged that June is National Indigenous History Month and it is an opportunity to learn about the unique cultures, traditions, and experiences of First Nations and Metis people.

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.