THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF NIAGARA

PUBLIC HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

MINUTES

PHSSC 3-2024

Tuesday, March 05, 2024

1:00 P.m. - 3:00 P.m.

Council Chamber - In Person and Electronic Meeting

Niagara Region Headquarters, Campbell West

1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, ON

Committee:

• Bateman, 
• Bradley (Regional Chair), 
• Chiocchio (Committee Co-Chair), 
• Craitor, 
• Diodati, 
• Insinna, 
• Ip, 
• Kaiser, 
• Morocco (Committee Co-Chair), 
• Rigby, 
• Seaborn, 
• Siscoe, 
• and Witteveen 

Absent/Regrets:

• Easton, 
• Foster, 
• Jordan, 
• Sorrento, 
• and Whalen 

Staff:

• C. Banach, Director, Housing Services, 
• A. Basic, Legislative Assistant, 
• D. Carnegie, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, 
• C. Cousins, Director, Homelessness and Community Engagement, 
• R. Ferron, Chief/Director, Emergency Medical Services, 
• A. Jugley, Commissioner, Community Services, 
• Dr. A. Kasmani, Medical Officer of Health, 
• S. Kearns, Public Health Chief of Staff, 
• A.-M. Norio, Regional Clerk, 
• J. Spratt, Legislative Coordinator, 
• R. Tripp, Chief Administrative Officer, 
• D. Vanecko, Director, Clinical Services (Acting), 
• and L. Watson, Director, Social Assistance and Employment Opportunities 

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

Committee Co-Chair Chiocchio called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.

2.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT

Councillor Witteveen read the Land Acknowledgement Statement.

3.

DISCLOSURES OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest. 

4.

PRESENTATIONS

4.1

Community Health Status Assessment

Community Health Status Assessment

Amanda Kirkwood, Manager, Public Health Surveillance and Evaluation & Rachel Skellet, Manager, Planning Evaluation CQI, provided information respecting Community Health Status Assessment. Topics of the presentation included:

• Background Information
• Summary of Results
• Observed Changes in Wellbeing

5.

DELEGATIONS

There were no delegations.

6.

ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION

6.1

PHD 2-2024

Public Health 2024 Annual Service Plan and Budget Submission.

Diane Vanecko, Director/ Chief Nursing Officer, Organizational & Foundational Standards, provided information respecting the Public Health 2024 Annual Service Plan and Budget Submission. Topics of the presentation included:

• Purpose of the Request
• Accountability Framework
• Annual Service Plan 2024
• 2024 ASP and Budget Submission
• Community Needs and Priorities
• Key Partners
• Programs and Interventions
• Food Safety Program Description, Objectives and Interventions

• Moved by Councillor Seaborn
  Seconded by Councillor Siscoe

  That Report PHD 2-2024, dated March 5, 2024, respecting Public Health 2024 Annual Service Plan and Budget Submission, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendations BE APPROVED:

  1. That the Board of Health (BOH) APPROVE the Public Health 2024 Annual Service Plan and Budget Submission (ASP) to the Ministry of Health for a total gross budget of $41,266,266.
  
  
  
  Carried

6.2

COM 8-2024

Homelessness Prevention Plan Investment Plan 2024-25

• Moved by Councillor Witteveen
  Seconded by Councillor Rigby

  That Report COM 8-2024, dated March 5, 2024, respecting Homelessness Prevention Plan Investment Plan 2024-25, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendations BE APPROVED:

  1. That the Ministry mandated Homelessness Prevention Plan (HPP) investment plan for the 2024-25 funding allotment BE APPROVED.
  
  
  
  Carried

6.3

COM 9 -2024

CSWB 911 Action Table: Findings and Recommendations

• Moved by Councillor Ip
  Seconded by Councillor Witteveen

  That Report COM 9-2024, dated March 5, 2024, respecting CSWB 911 Action Table: Findings and Recommendations, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendations BE APPROVED:

  1. That Regional Council REQUEST the Province of Ontario to support investment in:

  a) A “civilian-led” or alternate / mental health-only response to mental health and addiction crisis calls;

  b) Providing enhanced and sustainable funding to close the gaps in local mental health and addiction treatment services, as identified in the Niagara Needs-Based Planning Project; and

  c) Adequate and sustainable funding for core community mental health and addiction services to support the full continuum of treatment and crisis services;

        2. That Report COM 9-2024 BE CIRCULATED to Ontario Health for consideration; and

        3. That Report COM 9-2024 BE FORWARDED to the Community Safety and Well-Being Advisory Committee.

        4. That Report COM 9-2024 BE CIRCULATED to Niagara Regional Police Services Board for consideration of endorsement; and

        5. That Canadian Mental Health Association, Niagara Branch, along with the partners they deem appropriate, BE REQUESTED to  make a presentation to Public Health and Social Services Committee about an alternative crisis-response model.

  
  
  
  Carried

7.

CONSENT ITEMS FOR INFORMATION

• Moved by Councillor Bateman
  Seconded by Councillor Insinna

  ​That the following items BE RECEIVED for information:

  COM-C 2-2024

  Accreditation Report

  PHD-C 1-2024

  Data Update on Council’s Declared States of Emergency

  
  
  
  Carried

8.

OTHER BUSINESS

There were no items of Other Business.

9.

NEXT MEETING

​The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Regional Headquarters.

10.

ADJOURNMENT

​There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:19 p.m.