The Medical Officer of Health recommends that:
\r\n\r\n
1. The Board of Health continue to recognize the drug toxicity epidemic as a public health crisis due to ongoing high levels of opioid toxicity deaths in Toronto.
\r\n\r\n
2. The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to explore opportunities to collaborate with researchers, City of Toronto divisions and other organizations, as appropriate, to assess the effects of changes in the mental health and substance use landscape, and identify potential service adaptations that promote public health and mitigate harms for affected individuals.
\r\n\r\n
3. The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to work with community partners, City divisions and others to explore and promote funding options, including federal emergency response funding, that support people who use drugs, the organizations that serve them, and other community-based responses.
\r\n\r\n
4. The Board of Health request the Province of Ontario to amend current regulations to permit unregulated health professionals to administer oxygen in appropriate settings to respond to overdoses, due to changes in the unregulated drug supply.
\r\n\r\n
5. The Board of Health request the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada to develop strategies for reducing harms associated with alcohol through evidence-based policies such as regulations on pricing, marketing, and availability, and for expanding treatment options.
","financialImpactWep":"There is no financial impact associated with the adoption of the recommendations in this report.
\r\n\r\n
If any funding that has financial impacts on Toronto Public Health's budget is identified, Toronto Public Health will request budget adjustments at the earliest opportunity.
\r\n\r\n
The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed the report and agrees with the information as presented in the Financial Impact Section.
","agendaItemSummary":"Our Health, Our City: A Mental Health, Substance Use, Harm Reduction and Treatment Strategy for Toronto (OHOC) advances a compassionate, equitable and evidence-based plan to improve mental health and wellbeing and to reduce substance use related harms across the city.
\r\n\r\n
The Strategy outlines strategic goals and recommended actions for government, health care leaders, schools, businesses, civil society and all Torontonians. This report provides updates on the current mental health and substance use landscape, and progress on the Strategy's goals in 2025 with a focus on current priorities identified by the Our Health, Our City: A Mental Health, Substance Use, Harm Reduction and Treatment Strategy for Toronto Implementation Panel. It also provides an update on the implementation of the City of Toronto's Downtown Homeless and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub.
\r\n\r\n
The recommendations in this report respond to input provided through work on the Our Health, Our City: A Mental Health, Substance Use, Harm Reduction and Treatment Strategy for Toronto Strategy in 2025 and identify areas for collaborative efforts to address Toronto's evolving mental health and substance use landscape.
","aiMeetingNumber":29,"aiOrderNumber":1,"dbPublishLabelCd":"BOARD","agendaCd":"HL","wards":"All","preMeetingEventInd":"N","staffReport":{"staffReportId":103221,"staffReportDate":1762491600000,"srOrigin":"the Medical Officer of Health"},"communicationTypeDesc":"Report","considerTypeDesc":"ACTION","itemStatusDesc":"Amended","publishTypeDesc":"Main","decisionBodyPublishLabel":"Board","speakerInterestedPersons":[],"committeeCommunications":{"1-READ":{"communicationId":199123,"mimeTypeId":106,"communicationDate":1763960400000,"communicationFrom":"Nicole Corrado","communicationTypeCd":"EMAIL","comPublicCd":"N","communicationDisplayOrder":1,"publishTypeCd":"NEW","agendaCd":"HL","termYear":2025,"communicationTypeDesc":"E-mail","publishTypeDesc":"New","webpostFileName":"communicationfile-199123.pdf"},"2-READ":{"communicationId":198176,"mimeTypeId":106,"communicationDate":1763960400000,"communicationFrom":"Gab Laurence, Harm Reduction Services at Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre","communicationTypeCd":"LETTER","comPublicCd":"Y","communicationDisplayOrder":2,"publishTypeCd":"NEW","agendaCd":"HL","termYear":2025,"communicationTypeDesc":"Letter","publishTypeDesc":"New","webpostFileName":"communicationfile-198176.pdf"}},"councilCommunications":{},"committeeAttachments":{"1-READ":{"backgroundAttachmentId":259911,"mimeTypeId":106,"fileTitle":"Report from the Medical Officer of Health on Our Health Our City: Annual Progress Report 2025","braPublicCd":"Y","fileName":"HL29.1 - Report - OHOC 2025 Annual Progress Report.pdf","bgrdAttachmentDisplayOrder":1,"backgroundAttachmentDate":1762491600000,"publishTypeCd":"MAIN","agendaCd":"HL","termYear":2025,"webpostFileName":"backgroundfile-259911.pdf"},"2-READ":{"backgroundAttachmentId":259912,"mimeTypeId":106,"fileTitle":"Attachment 1: Substance Use and Mental Health Data Updates","braPublicCd":"Y","fileName":"HL29.1 - OHOC Attachment 1 - Data updates.pdf","bgrdAttachmentDisplayOrder":2,"publishTypeCd":"MAIN","agendaCd":"HL","termYear":2025,"webpostFileName":"backgroundfile-259912.pdf"},"3-READ":{"backgroundAttachmentId":259913,"mimeTypeId":106,"fileTitle":"Attachment 2: 2025 Updates on Our Health, Our City: A Mental Health, Substance Use, Harm Reduction and Treatment Strategy for Toronto Strategic Goals","braPublicCd":"Y","fileName":"HL29.1 - OHOC Attachment 2 - Updates on Strategic Goals.pdf","bgrdAttachmentDisplayOrder":3,"publishTypeCd":"MAIN","agendaCd":"HL","termYear":2025,"webpostFileName":"backgroundfile-259913.pdf"},"4-READ":{"backgroundAttachmentId":259914,"mimeTypeId":106,"fileTitle":"Attachment 3: Additional Downtown Homelessness Addiction Recovery and Treatment Hub Updates","braPublicCd":"Y","fileName":"HL29.1 - OHOC Attachment 3 - HART Hub Updates.pdf","bgrdAttachmentDisplayOrder":4,"publishTypeCd":"MAIN","agendaCd":"HL","termYear":2025,"webpostFileName":"backgroundfile-259914.pdf"},"5-READ":{"backgroundAttachmentId":260347,"mimeTypeId":106,"fileTitle":"Presentation from the Associate Director, Strategy, Toronto Public Health on Our Health, Our City: Annual Progress Report 2025","braPublicCd":"Y","fileName":"HL29.1 - Presentation_OHOC_2025_ Nov.pdf","bgrdAttachmentDisplayOrder":5,"publishTypeCd":"MAIN","agendaCd":"HL","termYear":2025,"webpostFileName":"backgroundfile-260347.pdf"}},"councilAttachments":{},"committeeMotions":[],"councilMotions":[],"committeeRulings":[],"councilRulings":[],"committeeDeclaredInterests":[],"councilDeclaredInterests":[],"decisionTypeDesc":"Decision information not found","hasDecisonInformation":false,"consentItemStatusDesc":"Amended","preMeetingSpeakersList":[],"preMeetingInterestedPersons":[],"postMeetingSpeakersList":[],"postMeetingInterestedPersons":[]},{"agendaItemId":143750,"communicationTypeCd":"REPORT","urgent":"N","inCamera":"N","publishTypeCd":"MAIN","considerTypeCd":"ACTION","itemStatusCd":"ADOPTED","statutory":"N","agendaItemTitle":"Updated Mortality Trends for Residents of Toronto","referenceNumber":"2025.HL29.2","publishDecisionInd":"Y","publishMotionInd":"Y","publishVoteInd":"Y","publishRulingInd":"Y","recommendationWep":"The Medical Officer of Health recommends that:
\r\n\r\n
1. The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to share and engage with relevant community and health sector partners and City of Toronto divisions on the findings of this report to support decision-making and improve the health of Toronto residents.
","financialImpactWep":"There is no financial impact resulting from the adoption of the recommendation in this report.
","agendaItemSummary":"Mortality is a key indicator of population health, reflecting the ultimate impact of disease and other health-related factors. Monitoring mortality rates supports public health planning, prevention, and intervention efforts.
\r\n\r\n
Toronto Public Health (TPH) recently posted a summary of updated mortality trends for Toronto residents, including data from 2014 to 2023, from Vital Statistics death records. This summary highlights key mortality trends, including Toronto's overall ranking compared to other regions in Ontario, differences in mortality by socio-demographic characteristics, as well as patterns and causes of mortality over time. The findings reinforce the importance of ongoing mortality surveillance and improved socio-demographic data in death records, to target public health interventions to reduce preventable deaths and health inequities in Toronto.
\r\n\r\n
Toronto Public Health’s Strategic Plan 2024-2028 guides focused actions to reduce the leading causes of mortality in Toronto, including COVID-19 and accidental poisoning. Evidence-informed programming, advocacy and cross-sector collaboration support efforts to advance the strategic plan's priorities including strengthening health protection, disease prevention, and emergency preparedness; promote the conditions to support positive mental health and reduce the harms of substance use; and advocate to advance health equity. Toronto Public Health’s COVID-19 pandemic response and the City-wide Our Health, Our City: A Mental Health, Substance Use, Harm Reduction and Treatment Strategy exemplify adaptive, data-driven public health action.
\r\n\r\n
Toronto Public Health is committed to advocating and advancing health equity through assessing evidence, using population health assessment to identify and report on health inequities, and strengthening multi-sectoral partnerships.
","aiMeetingNumber":29,"aiOrderNumber":2,"dbPublishLabelCd":"BOARD","agendaCd":"HL","wards":"All","preMeetingEventInd":"N","staffReport":{"staffReportId":103223,"staffReportDate":1763528400000,"srOrigin":"the Medical Officer of Health"},"communicationTypeDesc":"Report","considerTypeDesc":"ACTION","itemStatusDesc":"Adopted","publishTypeDesc":"Main","decisionBodyPublishLabel":"Board","speakerInterestedPersons":[],"committeeCommunications":{"1-READ":{"communicationId":199124,"mimeTypeId":106,"communicationDate":1763960400000,"communicationFrom":"Nicole Corrado","communicationTypeCd":"EMAIL","comPublicCd":"N","communicationDisplayOrder":1,"publishTypeCd":"NEW","agendaCd":"HL","termYear":2025,"communicationTypeDesc":"E-mail","publishTypeDesc":"New","webpostFileName":"communicationfile-199124.pdf"},"2-READ":{"communicationId":198170,"mimeTypeId":106,"communicationDate":1763960400000,"communicationFrom":"Louise Hidinger, Clean Indoor Air Toronto","communicationTypeCd":"LETTER","comPublicCd":"Y","communicationDisplayOrder":2,"publishTypeCd":"NEW","agendaCd":"HL","termYear":2025,"communicationTypeDesc":"Letter","publishTypeDesc":"New","webpostFileName":"communicationfile-198170.pdf"},"3-READ":{"communicationId":198174,"mimeTypeId":106,"communicationDate":1763960400000,"communicationFrom":"Pia Berger","communicationTypeCd":"LETTER","comPublicCd":"N","communicationDisplayOrder":3,"publishTypeCd":"NEW","agendaCd":"HL","termYear":2025,"communicationTypeDesc":"Letter","publishTypeDesc":"New","webpostFileName":"communicationfile-198174.pdf"}},"councilCommunications":{},"committeeAttachments":{"1-READ":{"backgroundAttachmentId":260217,"mimeTypeId":106,"fileTitle":"Revised report from the Medical Officer of Health on Updated Mortality Trends for Residents of Toronto","braPublicCd":"Y","fileName":"HL29.2 - Revised Report- Mortality BOH Report Revised.pdf","bgrdAttachmentDisplayOrder":1,"backgroundAttachmentDate":1763528400000,"publishTypeCd":"MAIN","agendaCd":"HL","termYear":2025,"webpostFileName":"backgroundfile-260217.pdf"},"2-READ":{"backgroundAttachmentId":259936,"mimeTypeId":106,"fileTitle":"Report from the Medical Officer of Health on Updated Mortality Trends for Residents of Toronto","braPublicCd":"Y","fileName":"HL29.2 - Mortality BOH Report FINAL.pdf","bgrdAttachmentDisplayOrder":2,"backgroundAttachmentDate":1762491600000,"publishTypeCd":"MAIN","agendaCd":"HL","termYear":2025,"webpostFileName":"backgroundfile-259936.pdf"},"3-READ":{"backgroundAttachmentId":260359,"mimeTypeId":106,"fileTitle":"Presentation from the Associate Medical Officer of Health on Updated Mortality Trends for Residents of Toronto","braPublicCd":"Y","fileName":"HL29.2 - Presentation - Mortality BOH.pdf","bgrdAttachmentDisplayOrder":3,"publishTypeCd":"MAIN","agendaCd":"HL","termYear":2025,"webpostFileName":"backgroundfile-260359.pdf"}},"councilAttachments":{},"committeeMotions":[],"councilMotions":[],"committeeRulings":[],"councilRulings":[],"committeeDeclaredInterests":[],"councilDeclaredInterests":[],"decisionTypeDesc":"Decision information not found","hasDecisonInformation":false,"consentItemStatusDesc":"Adopted","preMeetingSpeakersList":[],"preMeetingInterestedPersons":[],"postMeetingSpeakersList":[],"postMeetingInterestedPersons":[]},{"agendaItemId":143760,"communicationTypeCd":"REPORT","urgent":"N","inCamera":"N","publishTypeCd":"MAIN","considerTypeCd":"ACTION","itemStatusCd":"AMENDED","statutory":"N","agendaItemTitle":"Toronto Urban Health Fund: Grant Program Review Findings and Next Steps","referenceNumber":"2025.HL29.3","publishDecisionInd":"Y","publishMotionInd":"Y","publishVoteInd":"Y","publishRulingInd":"Y","recommendationWep":"The Medical Officer of Health recommends that:
\r\n\r\n
1. The Board of Health endorse the interim approach, as outlined in this report, for the Toronto Urban Health Fund Grant Program for the 2026 and 2027 funding cycles while changes to the Toronto Urban Health Fund Grant Program are considered for the 2028 funding cycle.
\r\n\r\n
2. The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to report to the Board of Health in 2027 with proposed changes to the Toronto Urban Health Fund Grant Program for the 2028 funding cycle.
","financialImpactWep":"There are no financial impacts associated with this report.
\r\n\r\n
Any financial impacts of the interim approach on 2026 Budget to adapt or extend 2024 and 2025 approved projects for the 2026 and 2027 funding cycles will be reported back to the Board of Health in Q2 2026.
\r\n\r\n
The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed the report and agrees with the financial impact information as presented in the Financial Impact Section.
","agendaItemSummary":"The Toronto Urban Health Fund (TUHF) administers $4.2 million in funding to organizations: 1) A community grant program with a budget of $3.3 million, and 2) Purchase of service agreements with five organizations to deliver sexual health programs and services totalling $0.9 million.
\r\n\r\n
The Toronto Urban Health Fund grant program provides grant funding to grassroots and community-based organizations (CBOs) to deliver culturally appropriate, evidence-based HIV and substance use prevention programs and services to underserved groups.
\r\n\r\n
On July 4, 2023, the Board of Health directed the Medical Officer of Health to review the Toronto Urban Health Fund grant program and consult with stakeholders to ensure that recommendations are community- and data-informed. This report summarizes the findings from Toronto Public Health’s (TPH) review of the Toronto Urban Health Fund grant program.
\r\n\r\n
Implementing many of the findings from the program review will require additional consideration, planning and stakeholder consultation and require sufficient notice to impacted program stakeholders. Toronto Public Health will return to the Board of Health in 2027 with proposed changes to the Toronto Urban Health Fund grant program for the 2028 funding cycle.
\r\n\r\n
While Toronto Public Health prepares to implement the findings from the Program Review, Toronto Public Health is proposing an interim approach: 1) streamline the grants administration process for the 2026 and 2027 funding cycles, and 2) fund adaptations or extensions of currently funded one- and three-year projects that are responding to community needs and were approved by the Board of Health in 2024 and 2025. Toronto Public Health will recommend adapted or extended projects for 2026 and 2027 funding to the Board of Health in Q2, 2026.
","aiMeetingNumber":29,"aiOrderNumber":3,"dbPublishLabelCd":"BOARD","agendaCd":"HL","wards":"All","preMeetingEventInd":"N","staffReport":{"staffReportId":103188,"staffReportDate":1762491600000,"srOrigin":"the Medical Officer of Health"},"communicationTypeDesc":"Report","considerTypeDesc":"ACTION","itemStatusDesc":"Amended","publishTypeDesc":"Main","decisionBodyPublishLabel":"Board","speakerInterestedPersons":[],"committeeCommunications":{"1-READ":{"communicationId":199125,"mimeTypeId":106,"communicationDate":1763960400000,"communicationFrom":"Nicole Corrado","communicationTypeCd":"EMAIL","comPublicCd":"N","communicationDisplayOrder":1,"publishTypeCd":"NEW","agendaCd":"HL","termYear":2025,"communicationTypeDesc":"E-mail","publishTypeDesc":"New","webpostFileName":"communicationfile-199125.pdf"}},"councilCommunications":{},"committeeAttachments":{"1-READ":{"backgroundAttachmentId":259919,"mimeTypeId":106,"fileTitle":"Report from the Medical Officer of Health on Toronto Urban Health Fund: Grant Program Review Findings and Next Steps","braPublicCd":"Y","fileName":"HL29.3 - Report - TUHF Program_Oct 31_ REVISED Nov 14 25.pdf","bgrdAttachmentDisplayOrder":1,"backgroundAttachmentDate":1762491600000,"publishTypeCd":"MAIN","agendaCd":"HL","termYear":2025,"webpostFileName":"backgroundfile-259919.pdf"}},"councilAttachments":{},"committeeMotions":[],"councilMotions":[],"committeeRulings":[],"councilRulings":[],"committeeDeclaredInterests":[],"councilDeclaredInterests":[],"decisionTypeDesc":"Decision information not found","hasDecisonInformation":false,"consentItemStatusDesc":"Amended","preMeetingSpeakersList":[],"preMeetingInterestedPersons":[],"postMeetingSpeakersList":[],"postMeetingInterestedPersons":[]},{"agendaItemId":143720,"communicationTypeCd":"LETTER","urgent":"N","inCamera":"N","publishTypeCd":"MAIN","considerTypeCd":"ACTION","itemStatusCd":"RECEIVED","statutory":"N","agendaItemTitle":"Promoting and Delivering School Based Vision Testing in Selected Toronto High Needs Schools - by Councillor James Pasternak, seconded by Councillor Lily Cheng","referenceNumber":"2025.HL29.4","publishDecisionInd":"Y","publishMotionInd":"Y","publishVoteInd":"Y","publishRulingInd":"Y","recommendationWep":"","financialImpactWep":"","agendaItemSummary":"City Council on October 8 and 9, 2025, adopted Item MM33.22 and, in so doing, has requested the Board of Health to consider developing a road map to provide a pilot school-based mobile eye testing program on an opt in basis to school-age children to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to excel in the classroom by the first quarter of 2026.
","aiMeetingNumber":29,"aiOrderNumber":4,"dbPublishLabelCd":"BOARD","agendaCd":"HL","wards":"All","preMeetingEventInd":"N","staffReport":{"staffReportId":103178,"staffReportDate":1762405200000,"srOrigin":"the City Clerk"},"communicationTypeDesc":"Letter","considerTypeDesc":"ACTION","itemStatusDesc":"Received","publishTypeDesc":"Main","decisionBodyPublishLabel":"Board","speakerInterestedPersons":[],"committeeCommunications":{"1-READ":{"communicationId":199126,"mimeTypeId":106,"communicationDate":1763960400000,"communicationFrom":"Nicole Corrado","communicationTypeCd":"EMAIL","comPublicCd":"N","communicationDisplayOrder":1,"publishTypeCd":"NEW","agendaCd":"HL","termYear":2025,"communicationTypeDesc":"E-mail","publishTypeDesc":"New","webpostFileName":"communicationfile-199126.pdf"}},"councilCommunications":{},"committeeAttachments":{"1-READ":{"backgroundAttachmentId":259865,"mimeTypeId":106,"fileTitle":"Letter from the City Clerk on Promoting and Delivering School Based Vision Testing in Selected Toronto\r\nHigh Needs Schools - by Councillor James Pasternak, seconded by Councillor Lily Cheng","braPublicCd":"Y","fileName":"HLXX.XX - (MM33.22) Letter from CIty Council.pdf","bgrdAttachmentDisplayOrder":1,"backgroundAttachmentDate":1762405200000,"publishTypeCd":"MAIN","agendaCd":"HL","termYear":2025,"webpostFileName":"backgroundfile-259865.pdf"}},"councilAttachments":{},"committeeMotions":[],"councilMotions":[],"committeeRulings":[],"councilRulings":[],"committeeDeclaredInterests":[],"councilDeclaredInterests":[],"decisionTypeDesc":"Decision information not found","hasDecisonInformation":false,"consentItemStatusDesc":"Received","preMeetingSpeakersList":[],"preMeetingInterestedPersons":[],"postMeetingSpeakersList":[],"postMeetingInterestedPersons":[]}],"meeting":{"meetingId":25810,"decisionBodyId":2564,"email":"boh@toronto.ca","specialMeetingCd":"N","meetingNumber":29,"mtgStatusCd":"COMPLETE","officialChairMemberId":3822,"officialChairSalutationCd":"COUNCILR","currentProcessId":6,"minutesConfirmDate":1771822800000,"publishViceChairInd":"N","displayMinutesConfirmInd":"Y","mtgStatusDesc":"Complete","termYear":2025,"officialChairFirstName":"Chris","officialChairLastName":"Moise","officialChairSalutationDesc":"Councillor","tier":2,"agendaPublished":false,"decisionPublished":false,"minutesPublished":false,"showMap":false,"showBill":false,"agenda":{"agendaId":45510,"showStatusCd":"ON","agendaInstructionsWep":"\r\n
| \r\n Board of Health \r\n | \r\n||
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| \r\n
\r\n
This meeting of the Board of Health will be conducted with members participating in person and remotely.
\r\n\r\n
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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