December 11, 2019 – Board of Health Meeting Summary
Written by Communications, December 13, 2019
Recognition of PPH Staff
Dr. Salvaterra gave a presentation honouring three of Peterborough Public Health’s staff for their many years of dedicated service: Kerri Tojcic (25 years), Anne Gallant (25 years), and Tracey Stevens (30 years). The Board of Health shared their appreciation for the significant contributions of each longstanding staff member to local public health.
Curve Lake First Nation – Safe Drinking Water
Dr. Salvaterra provided an update that on November 22, 2019 Curve Lake First Nation Council issued a notice to their members advising that it will explore the possibility of bringing a class action claim against the federal government. The purpose of this claim would be to get an Order from the Court forcing the federal government to install a water treatment plant in Curve Lake. This issue will continue to be closely monitored by the Board of Health.
Off Road Vehicles
The Board of Health approved sending a letter to the Ministers of Transportation and Health expressing concern that Bill 107, the Getting Ontario Moving Act, 2019 will decrease road safety and increase the risk
of injury related to off road vehicle (ORV) use. Some county representatives declined to take a position on the matter.
Health in Official Plans: A Toolkit Project Update
Health Promoter Janet Dawson provided an overview of public health’s role regarding municipal Official Plans, the master document guiding municipal land use planning decisions. This work is mandated by the Ontario Public Health Standards, requiring all local public health agencies to provide comments on municipal Official Plans. It also requires public health agencies to collaborate with municipalities in addressing local impacts of climate change and reduce exposure to environmental health hazards in the community. In 2018, Peterborough Public Health (PPH) worked closely with both the City and County of Peterborough on their respective Official Plans. Official Plans cover a wide range of topics related to public health, and PPH used a model developed in British Columbia to focus its comments on healthy community design, healthy food systems, housing, transportation, natural environments, and health equity. Ultimately PPH developed a comprehensive toolkit for Health in Official Plans and submitted 11 recommendations to the County and 12 recommendations to the City for their consideration. The City of Peterborough did incorporate some of the recommendations into its Official Plan, such as the addition of policies for food stores that will ensure access to healthy food for all residents.
Update: Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program Implementation
The Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP) was officially launched by the Ministry of Health on November 20, 2019, as a new program to help meet the dental needs of low-income seniors in Ontario. In Peterborough City and County, the program is being delivered through the Community Dental Health Clinic at PPH in downtown Peterborough. Eligibility criteria can be found here. Services covered under the OSDCP include check-ups, repairing broken teeth and cavities, x-rays, removing teeth or abnormal tissue (oral surgery), endodontic services and periodontal services. Prosthodontic services, including dentures, will also be covered under the OSDCP, but the Community Dental Health Clinic is not initially providing these services. Similarly, partnerships will be developed in the future to provide those endodontic services and oral surgery services which cannot be provided in our clinic. Emergency dental services are also available to seniors who are not yet enrolled in the OSDCP, but individuals need to enroll in the program to receive additional services. It is anticipated that about 1,200 seniors may make use of the program in Peterborough City and County each year.
Next meeting:
The Board of Health meets next on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. in the Dr. J. K. Edwards Board Room, third floor, 185 King St., Peterborough, Ontario.
A list of Board of Health meeting dates and locations can be found here.