The Medical Officer of Health recommends that:
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1. The Board of Health request the Ministry of Health to:
a. Improve access for local public health units, including Toronto Public Health, to sociodemographic data to monitor and address disparities in cancer risk factors, screening rates and treatment outcomes.
b. Work across the health care system to expand hepatitis B vaccination coverage, sterile needle distribution to reduce transmission of hepatitis C, testing of hepatitis B and C for greater detection, and treatment to decrease the transmission of these infectious diseases linked to cancer.
c. Strengthen and expand the Smoke Free Ontario Act and related regulations to ensure the regulations and enforcement mechanisms for tobacco use, retail and promotions are also applied to vapour products, newer and emerging nicotine products like nicotine pouches, and waterpipe and hookah smoking.
d. Strengthen and expand the Smoke Free Ontario Act and related regulations to reduce tobacco and vapour product retail density and proximity to schools.
e. Monitor the health impacts of recent alcohol policy amendments related to use, sales, and promotion including expanded retail availability, retail density, pricing, and marketing, and adjust policy accordingly to advance the overall health of the population.
f. Develop and implement a comprehensive cancer prevention awareness and education campaign in Ontario to increase action to reduce modifiable cancer risks; for example, promote the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health to reduce cancer risk factors associated with alcohol consumption.
Funding for the Toronto Public Health initiatives outlined in this report are included in the 2024 base Operating Budget of Toronto Public Health.
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The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has been advised of the financial impacts associated with the initiatives to be considered along with other priorities in future budget processes.
Cancer is a large group of diseases where some of the body’s cells grow and divide uncontrollably, spreading into surrounding tissues. There are more than 200 types of cancer. Cancer is a leading cause of death in Ontario and Toronto. In Toronto, the most common types of new cancer cases diagnosed each year are breast cancer (among females) and prostate cancer (among males). The highest annual rate of mortality by type of cancer is lung cancer, followed by colorectal cancer. The causes of cancer vary. Some cancers can be prevented, and the risk of others can be lowered.
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Every day, Toronto Public Health works to protect and promote population health in our city by implementing interventions and policies that advance healthier environments and behaviours. Toronto Public Health applies a population health approach to cancer prevention that focuses on improving community health through broad, systemic initiatives. Key interventions include vaccinating to prevent infectious diseases associated with cancer risk; promoting healthy eating and physical activity; reducing harms associated with substance use including tobacco and alcohol; and advancing healthy social, natural, and built environments that support healthy behaviours. Toronto Public Health also works with community partners to promote and disseminate evidence-informed resources and communications to strengthen collective action on cancer prevention and promotion of protective behaviours. This approach is designed to address and mitigate risk factors at a community level to reduce incidence of cancer.
In parallel, health care focuses on the individual through cancer screening and clinical care. Cancer screening aims to detect cancer early in individuals who may not yet have symptoms and clinical care provides personalized treatment for those diagnosed with cancer. Social determinants of health are linked to prevalence of cancer risk factors and delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment, which worsen prognosis. Together public health and health care work to reduce the incidence and impacts of cancer.
The Medical Officer of Health recommends that:
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1. The Board of Health request the Ministry of Health to confirm ongoing sufficient funding support for Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) hubs to prevent and mitigate the impacts of outbreaks, particularly in long-term care and retirement homes, and other congregate settings such as shelters and group homes.
2. The Board of Health request the Ministry of Health to provide $5.2 million in funding to Toronto Public Health over 24 months to enable Toronto Public Health to promote and support the delivery of the RSV vaccine effectively and equitably.
3. The Board of Health request the Ministry of Health to support local efforts for timely and representative wastewater surveillance for the presence of key respiratory pathogens (such as SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and influenza).
Toronto Public Health will request budget adjustment later based on the Ministry of Health's decision on the request of $5.2 million funding to Toronto Public Health over 24 months to promote and support the delivery of the RSV vaccine.
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Funding to support IPAC hubs from the Ministry of Health does not go through Toronto Public Health. There are no financial impacts associated with the recommendations that request the Ministry of Health to confirm ongoing sufficient funding support for IPAC hubs and request the Ministry of Health to support local efforts for timely and representative wastewater surveillance for the presence of key respiratory pathogens, in current and future years.
The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has been advised of the financial impacts associated with these programs to be considered along with other priorities in future budget processes.
This report provides an overview of Toronto Public Health's (TPH) 2024-2025 respiratory virus season plan for preventing and monitoring cases of respiratory infection in the community and responding to outbreaks in institutions such as long-term care homes and hospitals. There are some updates to this year's plan highlighting where TPH has returned to routine response activities coming out of the pandemic. TPH continues to embed an equity-focused approach throughout its planning and programs.
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As is usually seen each year, there is an anticipated increase in the spread of respiratory viruses and illness in the fall and winter season. Recommended protective measures to reduce transmission of these viruses such as masking, hand washing, and staying home when sick can be used in a layered approach. These can be combined with vaccination, which remains the best way to protect yourself from vaccine-preventable viruses.
For the 2024-2025 respiratory illness season, publicly-funded vaccines will be available to protect against COVID-19, influenza (flu), and for select eligible people, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). New this fall, an infant RSV vaccine is publicly-funded to protect vulnerable young children from this illness. An updated COVID-19 vaccine will be available as well. TPH encourages eligible residents to get vaccinated as soon as the vaccines are available and in keeping with the latest guidance provided by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
TPH is also monitoring and responding to an increase in pertussis (whooping cough) and pneumococcal infections, highlighting the increased importance for population preventative measures such as hand washing, masking, vaccination, and staying home when sick. TPH has initiated communication to the public and health care providers alerting them to this increase and to remind them of the importance of vaccination.
The Medical Officer of Health recommends that:
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1.The Board of Health authorize the Medical Officer of Health to enter into agreements totaling $240,000 with Indigenous-led organizations in 2025 for the Toronto Urban Health Fund Indigenous funding stream.
Funding of $240 thousand to enter into agreements with Indigenous-led organizations in 2025 for the Toronto Urban Health Fund Indigenous funding stream will be included in the base of Toronto Public Health's 2025 Operating Budget Submission.
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The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has been advised of the financial impacts associated with this program to be considered along with other priorities in future budget processes.
The Toronto Urban Health Fund (TUHF) provides funding opportunities for not-for-profit community-based organizations in Toronto to address HIV prevention and substance use through one-year and three-year projects. The TUHF includes a dedicated Indigenous funding stream for Indigenous-led initiatives, launched in 2019. In May 2024, the Board of Health directed the Medical Officer of Health to evaluate and reset the TUHF Indigenous funding stream, in keeping with Toronto Public Health commitments to truth and reconciliation with Indigenous communities.
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This report provides an update and makes recommendations for an interim process for the 2025 one-year cycle of the TUHF Indigenous funding stream. In doing so, unallocated 2024 and 2025 TUHF Indigenous funding stream funds will be able to reach the Indigenous community in the short-term, while Toronto Public Health continues its direction to evaluate and reset the funding stream. This interim approach considers feedback received from Indigenous service providers regarding barriers to applying for TUHF funds in the current parameters of the TUHF Indigenous funding stream. Toronto Public Health is in the early stages of initiating this work, which will be done in collaboration with Indigenous service providers, with the aim to launch before the end of 2024.
| \r\n Board of Health \r\n | \r\n||
| \r\n Councillor Chris Moise, Chair \r\nCouncillor Alejandra Bravo, Vice Chair \r\nAbinaya Chandrabalan \r\nLindsay Kretschmer \r\n | \r\n\r\n Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik \r\nCouncillor Amber Morley \r\nCharles Ozzoude \r\nCouncillor Gord Perks \r\nSuman Roy \r\n | \r\n\r\n Ramanjeet Singh \r\nTrustee Anu Sriskandarajah \r\nCouncillor Michael Thompson \r\nStephanie Zhou \r\n | \r\n
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This meeting of the Board of Health will be conducted with members participating in person and remotely.
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Directors of the Board and participating City Officials will be provided with the video conference details closer to the meeting date.
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To provide comments or make a presentation to the Board of Health:
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The public may submit written comments or register to speak to the Board on any item on the agenda.
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Written comments may be submitted by writing to boh@toronto.ca.
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