Meeting of the Board of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit
Held on September 9 2021, Timmins Office, Online via Microsoft Teams (MS Teams)
Present:
- Sue Perras, Town of Smooth Rock Falls
- Denis Clement, Town of Cochrane, Town of Moosonee
- Marc Dupuis, Township of Mattice Val-Cote, Opasatika and Val-Rita-Harty
- Marc Ringuette, Town of Hearst
- Sebastien Lessard, Town of Kapuskasing,Townships of Moonbeam, Fauquier and Stickland
- John Curley, City of Timmins
- Kristin Murray, City of Timmins
- Rock Whissell, City of Timmins
- Cleo Charlebois, Township of Black River-Matheson
- Drago Stefanic, Vice-Chair, Township of Hornepayne
Staff:
- Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health (MOH)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Recorder:
- Lori McCord, Executive Assistant to the MOH/CEO, Secretary to the Board of Health
Attending by Invitation:
- Mary-Lou Pollon, Manager Corporate Services
Regrets:
- Mickey Auger, City of Timmins
- Pat Britton, Town of Iroquois Falls
1. Call to Order
Sue Perras, Board of Health Chair, called the Board of Health meeting to order at 4:03 p.m.
2. Approval of Agenda
The amended agenda for the September 9, 2021 Board of Health meeting was reviewed. The following motion was read:
MOVED BY: Marc Dupuis
SECONDED BY: John Curley
Board of Health Resolution #BOH-2021-09-50
Be It Resolved that the Board of Health Agenda, dated September 9, 2021, be approved as amended.
Carried
3. Conflict of Interest Declaration
There were no conflicts of interest declared.
4. Approval of Previous Minutes
The minutes from the Board of Health meeting held on June 16, 2021 were reviewed and the following motion was read:
MOVED BY: Cleo Charlebois
SECONDED BY: Rock Whissell
Board of Health Resolution #BOH-2021-09-51
Be It Resolved, that the minutes from the Board of Health meeting held on June 16, 2021, be approved.
Carried
5. Business Arising from Minutes
There were no items under Business Arising.
6. Report of the Medical Officer of Health/Chief Executive Officer
The Report of the Medical Officer of Health for September 9, 2021 was presented by Dr. Catton to the Board of Health for information purposes. Sue Perras thanked Dr. Catton for an informative report to the Board of Health. The following motion was read:
MOVED BY: Rock Whissell
SECONDED BY: Cleo Charlebois
Board of Health Resolution #BOH-2021-09-52
Be It Resolved, that the Board of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit accept the MOH/CEO report for September 9, 2021.
Carried
7. Correspondence
Correspondence was received for information purposes. Review of the correspondence received from the Ministry of Health - Office of Chief Medical Officer of Health to Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health, Porcupine Health Unit dated June 24, 2021 occurred. Sue Perras advised the Board, that Dr. Williams supported and encouraged the application of any and all public health measures necessary under the Step One of the Roadmap to Reopen and to use local authorities and powers available.
Review of correspondence dated June 17, 2021 from Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, correspondence dated June 24th, 2021 from the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit and correspondence dated June 29th, 2021 from Public Health Sudbury and District, expressing a similar tone of required funding to support public health.
8. New Business
8.1 Amended Dates and Times for the 2021 meetings of the Finance Committee for the Porcupine Health Unit and the Board of Health
Sue Perras brought forward schedule conflicts for most of the Porcupine Health Unit Board of Health Members and Finance Committee Members. A request was made to amend the meeting dates of September and October. The amended schedule below will be circulated to Members. The following motion was read:
MOVED BY: John Curley
SECONDED BY: Rock Whissell
Board of Health Resolution #BOH-2021-09-53
|
Date |
Meeting |
Time |
|
Wednesday April 28, 2021 |
Finance Committee |
4:00 p.m. |
|
Thursday June 3, 2021 |
Finance Committee |
4:00 p.m. |
|
Thursday September 30, 2021 |
Finance Committee |
4:00 p.m. |
|
Thursday September 23, 2021 |
Finance Committee |
4:00 p.m. |
|
Thursday November 4, 2021 |
Finance Committee |
4:00 p.m. |
|
Date |
Meeting |
Time |
|
Thursday April 29, 2021 |
Board of Health |
4:00 p.m. |
|
Thursday April 29, 2021 |
Board of Health |
4:00 p.m. |
|
Thursday May 27, 2021 |
Board of Health |
4:00 p.m. |
|
Wednesday June 16, 2021 |
Board of Health |
4:00 p.m. |
|
Thursday September 9, 2021 |
Board of Health |
4:00 p.m. |
|
Thursday October 21, 2021 |
Board of Health |
4:00 p.m. |
|
Wednesday October 20, 2021 |
Board of Health |
4:00 p.m. |
|
Thursday December 2, 2021 |
Board of Health |
4:00 p.m. |
Be It Resolved, that the Board of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit approve the 2021 Board of Health and Finance Committee schedule of meeting dates as circulated.
Carried
8.2 Opioid Crisis Update – Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health/Chief Executive Officer
Opioid Crisis Update was presented by Dr. Catton to the Board of Health for information purposes. Sue Perras thanked Dr. Catton for an informative report to the Board of Health. The following motion was read:
MOVED BY: Marc Ringuette
SECONDED BY: Kristin Murray
Board of Health Resolution #BOH-2021-09-54
Be It Resolved, that the Board of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit accept the Opioid Crisis Update as presented and acknowledges the important work being done locally and regionally by the PHU in addressing the opioid crisis.
8.3 COVID-19 Recovery and Public Health Funding for 2022
Dr. Catton provided a summary of the increased capacity required for the ongoing response to COVID-19. With the pandemic entering it’s fourth wave, there is a critical need for confirmed funding into 2022 to support the continued increased demands of the response, as well as to address the backlog of public health work as well as the critical steps of recovery. The following motion was read:
MOVED BY: John Curley
SECONDED BY: Sebastien Lessard
Board of Health Resolution #BOH-2021-09-55
Whereas, the COVID-19 pandemic, which started in early 2020, has further stretched public health funding and capacities, and affected the health and well-being of the public, and more specifically, public health clients and staff; and,
Whereas, the COVID-19 pandemic response has required significant additional staff and hours and will continue throughout the fall, while recovery and gradual return to other critical public health work is required and will continue into 2022, also requiring additional staff and funding; and,
Whereas, the Ministry has recognized this substantial need, and provided mitigation funding for the extraordinary expenses of the COVID-19 response, in 2020 and 2021; and,
Whereas, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for greater resources and expertise in Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC), with the PHU leading this critical work for the region, funded by the Ministry until March 2022; and,
Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Board of Health requests that ongoing COVID-19 extraordinary expense funding continue for 2022, to ensure the additional capacity required for both the ongoing pandemic response as well as recovery required to respond to the growing public health needs and backlog of public health programs and services across the region; and,
Furthermore Be It Resolved, that the Board of Health request the IPAC Hub model be transitioned to an ongoing public health program with permanent funding to ensure the continuation of this critical work to protect residents in long-term care and other congregate settings from infectious diseases; and,
Furthermore Be It Resolved, that the Board of Health instructs the Medical Officer of Health and Board Chair to write a letter to the Minister of Health detailing the financial and organizational pressures on public health, highlighted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response, and the immense work ahead with recovery of public health work; outlining the urgency for establishing the funding levels for 2022 to assist public health planning.
Carried
9.0 In Camera
9.1 Personnel Matter
The Board of Health Members moved to In-Camera for personnel matters. The following motion was read:
MOVED BY: Drago Stefanic
SECONDED BY: Kristin Murray
Board of Health Resolution #BOH-2021-09-56
Be It Resolved, that the Board of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit approve the proposals reviewed in camera.
Carried
10.0 Date of Next Meeting and Adjournment
The following motion was read:
MOVED BY: Marc Dupuis
SECONDED BY: John Curley
Board of Health Resolution #BOH-2021-09-57
Whereas, the next meeting of the Board of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit be held October 20, 2021 at 4:00 p.m., and that this meeting adjourns.
Approved by: Board of Health, October 20, 2021
Original Signed by: Sue Perras, Chair, Board of Health