May 2019 Board Meeting - Minutes

Meeting Document Type
Minutes

Board Members Present:

Tracey Bailey, Rino Bortolin, Fabio Costante, Dr. Deborah Kane, Judy Lund, Gary McNamara, Ed Sleiman, Larry Snively

Board Member Regrets:

Gary Kaschak, John Scott, Joe Bachetti

Administration Present:

Dr. Wajid Ahmed, Nicole Dupuis (4:25 pm), Lorie Gregg, Theresa Marentette, Kristy McBeth, Dan Sibley, Lee Anne Damphouse

WECHU Manager Present:

Eric Nadalin

QUORUM:  Confirmed


  1. Call to Order
    Board Chair, Gary McNamara, called the meeting to order at 4:04 p.m.
  2. Agenda Approval
    It was moved
    That the agenda be approved.
    CARRIED
  3. Announcement of Conflicts of Interest – None.
  4. Presentation: Topical Issues – Measles/Vaccines (Dr. W. Ahmed)
    Dr. W. Ahmed provided the Board with a presentation on vaccine preventable diseases.  Vaccines are made of small or dead weakened germs, helping the immune system protect itself against particular diseases.  Vaccines are the best way to keep children and adults protected from these diseases.

    Publically funded immunization programs cover residents of all ages for certain diseases, i.e. diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hib, pneumococcal, rota virus, meningococcal (both children and seniors), MMR, chickenpox, hepatitis B, HPV, seasonal influenza and shingles.  Primary care providers are able to administer these vaccines to eligible Ontario residents.

    The WECHU Immunization Program covers the following:
    • Provides vaccine distribution to area healthcare providers to administer publically funded vaccines
    • WECHU clinics for publically funded vaccines
    • Immunization record assessments for all childhood vaccines
    • School based clinics for HPV, Hepatitis B and Meningococcal disease
    • Influenza clinics

    There has been a growing number of people opposed to vaccinations, causing a resurgence of measles cases in 2019 across the world.  Confirmed cases of measles from January to March 2019:

    • Canada – 45 cases
    • USA – 839 cases
    • Europe – 3,789 cases

    Out of these 3,789 cases in Europe there were 72 deaths, a major concern for those who are not vaccinated.
    Reasons for resurgence are a distrust of government, fear of adverse events, religious or cultural priorities, personal beliefs, misinformation i.e. Wakefield study (this research paper has since been retracted) and non-medical exemptions, which is at a rate of 3.4% in our area.

  5. Approval of Minutes
    1. Regular Board Meeting: April 18, 2019
      R. Bortolin noted that he and Councillor F. Costante were late in attending the April 18, 2019 Board of Health meeting and asked that the minutes be amended to reflect this change.
      Moved by: Rino Bortolin
      Seconded by: Judy Lund
      That the minutes be approved accepted as amended.
      CARRIED
  6. Consent Agenda
    1. INFORMATION REPORTS
      The following information reports were presented to the Board.
      1. Q1 Financial Report
        With the upcoming changes in funding from the province, L. Gregg provided various scenarios of what the WECHU budget will look like over the next couple of years.  Our 75/25 split is now 70/30.  This 70/30 split applies to all of the funding pots which were 100% funded.  Going forward, everything will be cost-shared. With the regionalization of health units, there is concern once our funding split reaches 60/40, resulting in an increase in funding from municipalities.
        Changes seem to be occurring much quicker than is appropriate, jeopardizing the delivery of services with a reduced amount of dollars.  There will likely be consultation tables over the summer to provide feedback to the Ministry on the changes.
      2. Oral Health
        Brought to the Board for information.
      3. Vector Borne
        Brought to the Board for information.
      4. Measles Report
        Brought to the Board for information.
      5. Q1 Planning Update
        Brought to the Board for information.
      6. Q1 Strategic Plan
        Brought to the Board for information.
      7. Media Recap (Hand-out)
        Brought to the Board for information.

      Moved by: Judy Lund
      Seconded by: Dr. Debbie Kane
      That the Information Reports be received.
      CARRIED

    2. RECOMMENDATION/RESOLUTION REPORTS
      1. Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Dwelling
        T. Marentette introduced Eric Nadalin, WECHU Manager of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention. E. Nadalin noted that this Resolution had been passed in 2014 to restrict smoking of tobacco in all spaces of multi-unit dwellings, and was recently updated to include the legalization of cannabis, vaping products and electronic cigarettes. The restriction can only be enforced in common areas, i.e. public spaces, stairways, common rooms, hallways and elevators.  This restriction includes the medical use of marijuana.  Other cannabis products will be legal this fall which could minimize how cannabis users ingest the product.
        The following Recommendation/Resolution Report was brought forward to the Board for support and approval
        Moved by: Rino Bortolin
        Seconded by: Dr. Debbie Kane
        That the Recommendation/Resolution Report be supported and approved.
        CARRIED
  7. Business Arising – None  
  8. Board Correspondence – Circulated
  9. New Business – None
  10. Other Board of Health Resolutions/Letters – For Support/Information
    1. Windsor-Essex County Health Unit – For Information
      2019 Ontario Budget – Letter to Hon. Christine Elliott
    2. Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care – For Information
      Public Health Modernization – Letter from Chief MOH, Dr. David Williams
    3. Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit – For Support
      Alcohol Consumption – Letter to Hon. Christine Elliott

    Moved by: Ed Sleiman
    Seconded by: Rino Bortolin
    That the above correspondence be supported and/or received for information as noted.
    CARRIED

  11. Appendices
    1. Appendix A – 2019 Q1 Strategic Plan Progress Report
      The above report was reviewed in conjunction with Information Report 6.1.6.
  12. Committee of the Whole (CLOSED SESSION, in accordance with Section 239 of the Municipal Act)
    It was moved
    That the Board move into Committee of the Whole at 4:36 p.m.
    CARRIED
    It was moved
    That the Board move out of Committee of the Whole at 4:45 p.m.
    CARRIED
    It was moved
    That the Board move into Committee of the Whole at 4:55 p.m.
    CARRIED
    It was moved
    That the Board move out of Committee of the Whole at 5:01 p.m.
    CARRIED
  13. Next Meeting: At the Call of the Chair, or June 20, 2019 in Essex, Ontario
  14. Adjournment
    The meeting adjourned at 5:20 pm.

RECORDING SECRETARY:

SUBMITTED BY:

APPROVED BY: