Decisions

The Board of Health:

1. Elected Councillor Chris Moise as Chair of the Board of Health for a term of office starting February 23, 2026 and ending November 16, 2026 and until a successor is appointed.

There was one director nominated. The following directors nominated Councillor Chris Moise for Chair of the Board of Health:

Councillor Alejandra Bravo

Abinaya Chandrabalan

Councillor Anthony Perruzza

The Board Secretary declared Councillor 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 February 23, 2026 and ending November 16, 2026, and until a successor is appointed.

The Board of Health:

1. Elected Abinaya Chandrabalan as Vice Chair of the Board of Health for a term of office starting February 23, 2026 and ending November 16, 2026 and until a successor is appointed.

There was one director nominated. The following directors nominated Abinaya Chandrabalan for Vice Chair of the Board of Health:

Councillor Chris Moise

Stephanie Zhao

The Chair declared Abinaya Chandrabalan 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 February 23, 2026 and ending November 16, 2026, and until a successor is appointed.

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 November 16, 2026, and until successors are appointed:

Councillor Chris Moise

Charles Ozzoude

Ramanjeet Singh

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 November 16, 2026, and until successors are appointed:

Councillor Chris Moise

Councillor Michael Thompson

Stephanie Zhou

Abinaya Chandrabalan

3. Appointed the following 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 November 16, 2026, and until a successor is appointed and pay expenses for attending alPHa's 2026 meetings and semi-annual meetings/conferences within Toronto Public Health's 2026 Approved Operating Budget:

Charles Ozzoude

4. Encouraged all Board of Health directors to attend the Association of Local Public Health Agencies' (alPHa) Board of Health Section meeting and semi-annual meetings/conferences in Toronto and pay expenses for attending alPHa's 2026 meetings and conferences in Toronto within Toronto Public Health's 2026 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 2026:

- The Board of Health - Budget Committee;

- The Board of Health - Performance Appraisal of the Medical Officer of Health; and

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

The Board of Health:

1.  Directed the Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the City Clerk, the City Solicitor, and the Board of Health, to review the Board of Health Procedures By-law and report back to the Board of Health in Q3 2026 with the outcomes of this work. 

The Ontario Public Health Organizational Standards: Requirements for Programs, Services and Accountability requires that local Boards of Health review and revise their by-laws, policies, and procedures regularly. The Board of Health Procedures By-law was reviewed most recently in 2021, with the adoption of a new Procedures by-law in May 2023. 

This report recommends that the Board of Health Procedures By-law review begin in the spring of 2026 with a final report back in Q3 2026.  As part of this review, staff will engage directors of the Board of Health for their insights and feedback.

The Board of Health:

1. Requested the Ontario Ministry of Health and Ontario Health to establish and implement a province-wide, trauma-informed standard for improving the accuracy and consistency of collecting Intimate Partner Violence data in hospital settings within the existing mandatory emergency department reporting system (NACRS).

2. Requested Statistics Canada conduct ongoing population prevalence surveys of intimate partner violence to support local public health agencies to assess local trends and the impact of interventions.

This report responds to direction from the Board of Health to review the feasibility of adding an Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) indicator to the Population Health Status Indicators (PHSI) dashboard.

Intimate Partner Violence is a significant societal issue that has direct and ongoing impacts on victims, survivors, and families, and on overall community safety in Toronto. Intimate Partner Violence data that is accessible and publicly shared to understand its impacts can inform prevention efforts and support evidence-based decision making.

Toronto Public Health (TPH) reports on a series of Population Health Status Indicators to support its mission to reduce health inequities, improve population health and to meet the requirements of the Ontario Public Health Standards. Population Health Status Indicators summarize data used to measure health outcomes and behaviours at a population level.

In fall 2025, the Toronto Police Service released an interactive and publicly accessible dashboard with Intimate Partner Violence and family violence data. The Toronto Police Service's Intimate Partner and Family Violence dashboard visualizes trends and distributions across time and geography.

Canada-wide research indicates that the majority of people who had experienced Intimate Partner Violence did not report it to the police[1], which means that police-reported data underestimate the true prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence. Toronto Public Health reviewed other possible data sets and found the data limited and unsuitable for the Population Health Status Indicators dashboard. The newly launched Toronto Police Service dashboard provides the best available Toronto-specific Intimate Partner Violence data available at this time.

The Population Health Status Indicators dashboard is not intended to replicate data already available through other City of Toronto resources. To support immediate and seamless access to the Toronto Police Service dashboard, the Population Health Status Indicators dashboard’s injury section includes a reference and direct link to the Toronto Police Service's Intimate Partner and Family Violence dashboard.

[1] Conroy, S. 2021. Family violence in Canada: A statistical profile, 2019. Juristat. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 85-002-X.

The Board of Health recommends that:

1. City Council appoint the physician in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (February 6, 2026) from the Medical Officer of Health to the position of Associate Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto Health Unit effective immediately, or on the date the appointment is approved by the Ontario Minister of Health, whichever is later.

2. City Council forward its decision to the Ontario Minister of Health for approval of the Associate Medical Officer of Health appointment in Recommendation 1 above.

3. City Council authorize the appropriate City Officials to take the necessary action to give effect to City Council's decision, including the introduction in City Council of the necessary bills to appoint the physician in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (February 6, 2026) from the Medical Officer of Health as an Associate Medical Officer of Health under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.7.

4. City Council authorize the public release of Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (February 6, 2026) from the Medical Officer of Health once adopted by City Council.

This report recommends the appointment of an Associate Medical Officer of Health (AMOH) for the City of Toronto Health Unit and updates the Status of Associate Medical Officer of Health appointment By-laws.

Under the City of Toronto Act 2006, City Council has the authority to appoint the Medical Officer of Health and Associate Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto Health Unit. These appointments are subject to approval by the Ontario Minister of Health. Physicians require Associate Medical Officer of Health designation in order to have medico-legal signing authority under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.

The Board of Health received the Item for information.

There are currently two vacancies on the Board of Health. Lindsay Kretschmer submitted her resignation on November 26, 2025. Suman Roy’s seat became vacant effective November 25, 2025 for missing three consecutive meetings without being excused in accordance with Section 49 (8) of the Ontario Health Protection and Promotion Act, and Section 204 (c) of the City of Toronto Act. We would like to thank Lindsay and Suman for their contributions to the board.

Staff from the Public Appointments Secretariat in the City Clerk's Office are leading a process to recruit applicants and help bring nominated candidates to City Council for consideration.

Additionally, Ida Li Preti has advised us that she is on leave of absence from the Board of Health until such time as the Minister of Education lifts the supervision of the Toronto Catholic District School Board.

The Board of Health received the Item for information.

City Council on November 12 and 13, 2025, adopted Item AU10.3 and, in so doing, has requested the heads of City Divisions, Agencies and Corporations to review the issues and recommendations included in the report (October 22, 2025) from the Audit Committee and consider the relevance to their respective organizations for implementation.

The Board of Health received the Item for information.

City Council on November 12 and 13, 2025, adopted Item IE25.1 as amended and, in so doing, has requested the City’s Agencies and Corporations to review the report of the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry and the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, dated October 15, 2025, titled "10-Year Circular Economy Road Map," including all attachments, along with City Council's directions, and adopt similar actions where possible.

The Board of Health:

1. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to work with the Executive Director, Environment Climate and Forestry to improve access to the Air Conditioning Assistance Program for cooling devices, including improving knowledge of the program with community partners and eligible individuals across Toronto to support access to the program.

2. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to review existing indoor air quality and ventilation guidance including information from Health Canada.

3. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to review roles and responsibilities for partners involved in indoor air quality, including Ministry of Education, School Boards and Health Canada.

4. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to engage with relevant stakeholders and community partners.

5. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to report back to the Board of Health in Q3 2026 with the outcomes of this work.

Over the past few years, Toronto has experienced a spike in extreme heat events and smoke from wildfires, causing our city's residents to become increasingly concerned about the impact of indoor air quality (IAQ) and on health outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic also focused attention on indoor air quality with regard to preventing the spread of airborne diseases.

At the Board of Health, we have increasingly heard deputations from concerned residents seeking reassurance that Toronto Public Health is aware of indoor air quality best practices and is actively taking steps to ensure that this aspect of public health is being managed and regulated as best as possible.

As Chair of the Board of Health I am now adding my voice to theirs, and I invite you to join me in formally requesting a comprehensive review of existing indoor air quality guidance and responsibilities by our Medical Officer of Health in order to provide greater clarity around our Board's role, capabilities, and best practices for taking action on indoor air quality.