Agenda

The Medical Officer of Health recommends that:

1.         The Board of Health recommend that City Council plan for the most health-supporting use of the airport lands upon expiry of the current Tripartite Agreement, consistent with the vision for the Central Waterfront in the City's Official Plan.

2.         The Board of Health recommend to City Council that while the Tripartite Agreement remains in effect, any change to operations and associated transportation infrastructure should ensure that existing health impacts are reduced.

3.         The Board of Health recommend that City Council endorse the mitigation measures applicable to current airport operations, as set out in the report from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, for consideration by Executive Committee on December 5, 2013.

There are no financial implications arising from the adoption of this report.

The Medical Officer of Health recommends that:

1.         The Board of Health forward this report to the Chief Planner and Executive Director of City Planning for consideration in the Five-Year Official Plan Review.

The City of Toronto is undertaking a five-year review of its Official Plan (OP). This report provides comments on proposed amendments to OP policies on employment lands which were adopted by the Planning and Growth Management Committee at its meeting on November 21, 2013; and an update on Toronto Public Health's (TPH) ongoing efforts to enhance health and health equity principles in the OP.

Proposed changes to OP policies for employment lands will support healthy transportation options to work (transit, walking and cycling) that promote physical activity and decrease traffic-related air pollution. Walkable access to nutritious food stores, other retail, services and amenities are key features of a healthy neighbourhood. New policies proposed for OP amendment will require that redevelopment in residential and mixed-use areas consider options for walking to shopping and other services. TPH is collaborating with City Planning on the implementation of the Residential Apartment Commercial zoning designation which will help improve conditions in disadvantaged Apartment Neighbourhoods.

TPH supports policies that promote city-wide access to affordable daycare and works to ensure children and others are protected from potential environmental health hazards at such facilities.  If adopted, proposed revisions to OP policies will prevent the siting of sensitive land uses such as workplace daycares, schools and places of worship in employment areas, uses which were previously permitted. TPH will continue to dialogue with City Planning on addressing issues arising from sensitive land uses in employment areas. 

There are no financial impacts arising from the adoption of this report.

The Medical Officer of Health recommends that:

1.         The Board of Health commend the provincial government for making a commitment to introduce menu labelling legislation this winter that would require chain restaurants to post calories and other nutrition information on the menu/menu board, and for engaging key stakeholders in consultations, including public health, on the design, implementation, and enforcement of this legislation.

2.         The Board of Health endorse the Medical Officer of Health's recommendations in relation to the design, implementation, enforcement, and evaluation of the proposed provincial menu labelling legislation contained in his submission to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care (Attachment 1).

3         The Board of Health forward this report to the Ontario Public Health Association, the Association of Local Public Health Agencies, the Ontario Society of Nutrition Professionals in Public Health, the Ontario Medical Association and the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario.

On October 9th, 2013, the Provincial Minister of Health and Long-Term Care announced that the provincial government will be introducing menu labelling legislation this winter that would require chain restaurants to post calories and other nutrition information on the menu/menu board of large chain restaurants. The provincial government is designing the legislation in consultation with diverse sectors, including public health, and engaging local public health agencies in discussions of implementation as they will be expected to enforce the legislation.

Toronto Public Health (TPH) was represented at the consultations through provincial organizations such as the Ontario Public Health Association among others. The Medical Officer of Health (MOH) has also provided the Minister directly with a submission clearly outlining the Board of Health's position that legislation should mandate the posting of sodium values alongside calories on the menu/menu board and the Board's recommendations on how this information should be provided by chain restaurants with ten or more locations nationwide.

To maximize the impact of this legislation, the MOH has also recommended province-wide public education on how to use menu labelling. As Ontario is the first jurisdiction in Canada to require menu labelling, the MOH also recommends the provincial government support evaluation of the implementation and impact of this legislation. 

The MOH recommends that the Board of Health commend the Government of Ontario and the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care for taking provincial leadership on this issue, and endorse the additional recommendations to the provincial government found in Attachment 1. 

In light of the provincial government's commitment to legislate menu labelling, TPH is delaying further work to develop a municipal menu labelling bylaw for Toronto and will continue to seek out opportunities for engagement with the provincial government on implementation and enforcement and other issues that have implications for local public health agencies.

This report has no financial implications.

The Medical Officer of Health recommends that:

1.         City Council approve a one-time Toronto Public Health 2014 Operating Budget Request of $232,335 gross and $0 net funded 100 percent by the Public Health Agency of Canada; and,

2.         Board of Health forward this report to the Budget Committee for consideration.

Funding of $311,760 has been approved by PHAC for work on healthy food access initiatives to be completed by TPH in collaboration with its community, institutional and private sector partners between November 2013 and March 31, 2015. A one-time adjustment of $29,300 gross and $0 net has been made to the 2013 TPH Operating Budget; one-time budget adjustments of $232,335 gross and $0 net in 2014 and $50,125 in 2015 are required to complete the allocation of funding to the completion of the project. No adjustments to TPH complement are required. The TPH 2014 Staff Recommended Operating Budget has been adjusted to reflect this new initiative.

The Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer have reviewed this report and agree with the financial impact information.

This report recommends members for the 2014 Toronto Urban Health Fund Review Panel, for appointment by the Board of Health. 

There are no financial implications from this report.

City Council on November 13, 14, 15 and 18, 2013 adopted Item PE23.1, and in so doing, directed that a copy of this Item be forwarded to the Board of Health for information.

City Council on November 13, 14, 15 and 18, 2013 considered Parks and Environment Committee Item PE23.1 on Toronto’s Agricultural Program.  In adopting this Item as amended, City Council has, among other things, forwarded a copy to the Board of Health for information.

On November 18, 2013, Bill 131 - Youth Smoking Prevention Act -  was introduced in the provincial legislature.  The proposed Act, which passed first reading, would make the following amendments to the Smoke Free Ontario Act (SFOA):

• increase fines for those who sell tobacco to youth;
• prohibit the sale of flavoured tobacco products; and
• provide local Tobacco Enforcement Officers the authority to test for waterpipe tobacco use in indoor public places.
• prohibit tobacco sales on post-secondary education campuses and specified provincial government properties;
• prohibit smoking on playgrounds, sports fields, restaurant and bar patios, hospital grounds and select provincial government-owned properties.