November 2023 Board of Health Meeting - Minutes

1. Quorum – Confirmed
2. Land Acknowledgement - Read by Board Chair, F. Costante
3. Declaration of Conflict of Interest – 1 Conflict Declared
   
   Introduction:  New Board of Health Member, Provincial Appointee Mark Awuku   
   Board Chair, F. Costante, introduced and welcomed the WECHU’s newly appointed provincial member, Mark Awuku, to the Board of Health effective November 9, 2023 for a term of 3 years. M. Awuku noted that he was happy to be appointed, and looked forward to serving in the capacity of a Provincial Appointee to the Board of Health.

1. Information Reports (for approval)
   1. Q3 2023 Organizational Risk Report
   2. Q3 2023 Annual Service Plan and Accompanying Report
   3. Q3 Strategic Plan and Accompanying Report
   4. Q3 Board of Health Feedback Survey Results
   5. Seasonal Program SummaryReport - Summer 2023
   6. Ontario Nutritious Food Basket and Food Insecurity
   7. Monthly SafePoint Site Operations Updates
      1. September 2023
      2. October 2023
   8. Communications Reports:
      1. September 2023
      2. October 2023
         
         F. Costante noted that numbers at SafePoint continue to rise. F. Francis asked if those accessing services at SafePoint are expected to increase during the winter months. E. Nadalin said that inclement weather may draw more individuals indoors but attendance at the site is typically to access services.
         
         Motion:       That the above information be approved.
         CARRIED
2. Correspondence
   1. Lisa Gretzky, MPP Lisa Gretzky, MPP, Windsor-West - Letter to Hon. Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health – SafePoint, Consumption and Treatment Services Site advocacy for provincial funding – for information
   2. Public Health Sudbury & Districts – Letter to Hon. Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Premier and Ministry of Finance, Hon. Jenna Sudds, Ministry of Families, Children and Social Development, Hon. Lawrence MacAuley, Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos, Ministry of Public Services and Procurement – Support for a Funded Healthy School Food Program in Budget 2024 (Federal) – for information (WECHU sent a similar letter to these Ministries in September 2023)
   3. Middlesex-London Health Unit – Letter to Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Chair Fabio Costante and CEO Dr. Ken Blanchette in response to WECHU’s Letter on September 21, 2023 to Hon. Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Minister and Ministry of Finance, Hon. Jenna Sudds, Ministry of Families, Children and Social Development, Hon. Lawrence McAuley, Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos, Ministry of Public Services and Procurement – Support for a Funded Healthy School Food Program in Budget 2024 (Federal) – for information
   4. Public Health Sudbury & Districts – Letter to Hon. Doug Ford, Premier, Hon. Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and Hon. Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions - Public Health Strengthening and Chronic Disease Prevention– for support
      
      Motion:    That items 4.2.1, 4.2.2 and 4.2.3 be received for information, and that the Board support Public Health Sudbury & Districts Letter to advocate for appropriate investments in health promotion and chronic disease prevention and that the Chief Medical Officer of Health ensure proactive local engagement in the sector-driven review of the Ontario Public Health Standards.
      CARRIED

1. 2024 Risk Registry (K. McBeth) (for information and approval)
   K. McBeth presented to the Board the 2024 Risk Management Plan. She introduced Marc Frey, WECHU Manager of Planning & Strategic Initiatives, and Ken Hudak, WECHU Performance Improvement and Quality Coordinator and the work they perform in our Planning and  Strategic Initiatives Department on risk assessments.
   
   The WECHU Risk Management procedures are governed by the Risk Management Policy and Procedures and align with the WECHU Risk Registry. Each risk is managed by an individual who is accountable, owns and controls the risk. An annual risk registry is provided to the Board of Health for approval, as part of its governance structure. The Risk Registry monitors 22 risks across 12 categories, and there are 3 levels of risk; low, medium and high.
   
   The high residual risks to bereported to the Ministry of Health for 2024 are related to:
   - Financial
   - People/Human Resources
   - Privacy
   - Security
   - Technology
   
   High risks increased last year from 7 to 10, but our risks will never be zero. Cyber Security is one example where as an organization we can try to be prepared but the environment is ever changing.
   
   K. McBeth brought forward the Resolution – WECHU Risk Registry Update for Board approval.
   
   Motion: That the Board of Health approve the Risk Assessment outlined in the 2024 WECHU Risk Registry
   CARRIED

1. 2024 Budget (K. Blanchette)
   K. Blanchette noted that the Ministry of Health funding for public health units has become more restrictive. The Ministry announcement in August of a 1% increase in our public health funding for the next 3 years is not sustainable and, although Covid work continues with outbreaks, immunizations and case and contact management, we were advised not to expect additional Covid funding.
   
   We are proposing and bring forward a Resolution to the Board of Health to approve a 2024 Budget of $24,957,466 with an increase to the obligated municipalities of $92,061 to continue our public health programming with some limitations.
   
   Motion: That the Windsor-Essex County Board of Health approve the 2024 Mandatory Program Budget with total expenditures of $24,957,466 and offset revenue of $539,404, and
   
   Further that the Windsor-Essex County Board of Health approve the 2024 Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program, funded at a rate of 100% with total budget expenditures of $3,115,425. CARRIED, unanimously
2. SafePoint (K. Blanchette/E. Nadalin)
   K. Blanchette said that SafePoint has experienced exponential growth between May and October of this year with 859 visits from 182 unique clients.  The WECHU is currently funding operations at SafePoint, and although we have been successful in securing some High Priority Community Funding we continue to look at other funding options.
   
   With the recent announcement that the provincial government has placed all pending Safe Consumption Site applications on hold until they have completed a critical incident review, we are recommending that the Board of Health pause operations at SafePoint effective January 1, 2024.
   
   F. Francis commended the Board and Staff who went above and beyond to ensure the opening of SafePoint. There has been a steady increase in the number of visits and the tragedy that has occurred in another jurisdiction could not be foreseen. That being said, we move forward in a responsible way, continue to keep and record all of the relevant data and provide such data to the Ministry and other agencies who wish to obtain it.  We are hoping that the province will complete their incident review in a timely manner and can assist in providing provincial funding to sustain operations.
   
   F. Francis said he would be prepared to move forward with a motion barring any new information from the province and that the Board revisit this item in July 2024, assuming no other information comes prior to that date, and that any and all committees with respect to SafePoint’s operations mirror that pause.
   
   F. Costante said that knowing what we know now, we can never regret the decision to open SafePoint. Individuals have received referrals to programs and services, relationships have been built with local businesses and the data will speak for itself. This has been a model that has worked with much success, but funding is at the discretion of the ministry. We did what we could to assist individuals in a drug crisis and this is a contentious matter in our community. F. Costante agrees that we put in place a pause due to ministry funding being out of our control, and we continue to advocate and work with the ministry for a response and timeline for funding to resume operation of the site.
   
   Motion:    That the Windsor-Essex County Board of Health temporarily pause the operations at SafePoint, effective January 1, 2024, and any and all committees with respect to SafePoint mirror the same pause, until such time as the provincial Ministry of Health provides funding for its operations;
   
   Further that communication take place to community partners and current clients of SafePoint to notify them of the pause in operations;
   
   Further that advocacy take place to the Ministry of Health to reiterate the importance of a timeline for their review for the need of a funded site in the City of Windsor;
   
   Further that the WECHU seek to conduct additional safety assessments of the site to be prepared to respond quickly and adjust planned operations to the results of the provincial critical incident review;
   
   Further that the Board of Health revisit this item in July 2024. CARRIED, unanimously
    

1. CEO Report (K. Blanchette) (for information)     
   K. Blanchette noted that there were no further updates.
2. CEO Quarterly Report (July 2023 – September 2023) (K. Blanchette)
   K. Blanchette advised that there was nothing unusual to report.
3. Windsor and Essex County Schools and Public Health – Strategic Partnership Agreement (2023- 2024) (English, French)(K. Blanchette/K. McBeth)
   
   K. Blanchette said the purpose of this Partnership Agreement is to establish the terms and conditions under which the Board(s) of Education and the WECHU will meet and function, to collaboratively support the well-being of Windsor and Essex County students. The commitment of this partnership formalizes the collective actions to support the children and youth of Windsor Essex County through the creation of healthy school environments.
   
   This partnership was developed through K. McBeth’s leadership, and a Declaration of Commitment to this Agreement has been signed by the WECHU and all the Directors of Education in Windsor-Essex, in both English and French institutions. Each respective School Board will be posting this Partnership Agreement in their schools. F. Costante commended this partnership and A. Marignani was pleased to see the continued focus on schools and education.

Adjournment     
Motion:               That the meeting be adjourned.     
CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m.