Decisions

The purpose of this report is to propose amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing, to license Personal Services Settings (PSS) businesses, as directed by the Board of Health at its meeting on June 7, 2011.

The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's Infection Prevention and Control in Personal Services Settings Protocol (2008), applies to “any facility offering services where there is a risk of exposure to blood, such as tattooing and body piercing; electrolysis; acupuncture; hairdressing and barber shops; and various aesthetic services”.  These services have been associated with the transmission of bloodborne infections such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C, as well as other infectious disease organisms such as Mycobacterium spp and Staphylococcus aureus. Given the increasing use of PSS by the public, effective infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices are essential in PSS to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Under the Ontario Public Health Standards, local public health units are required to inspect all known PSS annually and on complaint, educate PSS operators and staff, and ensure practices are in accordance with IPAC best practice guidelines as outlined by the Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee.  Toronto Public Health (TPH) is currently aware of and inspects a total of approximately 2,950 PSS. These premises are classified as critical or semi-critical based on the invasiveness of the service provided. Critical PSS use equipment that breaks the skin i.e. tattoo, body piercing, ear piercing, micropigmentation, and electrolysis. Semi-critical PSS use equipment that comes in contact with non-intact skin or mucous membranes but ordinarily does not penetrate them i.e. hair salons, barbershops, nail salons and aesthetics.

Implementation of the PSS program is challenging given that only hairdressing salons and barbershops currently require a licence to operate and there are no IPAC requirements tied to licensure.

This report summarizes the results of a stakeholder consultation including PSS operators, relevant health organizations, community colleges and the public, and proposes changes to Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing to require licensing of PSS businesses, compliance with health standards for IPAC and public disclosure of inspection results, with implementation phased in over two years.

This report has been written in consultation with the City Solicitor.

This report provides an update on the implementation of Toronto Public Health's (TPH) efforts to foster a prosperous, liveable and healthy city.

Toronto Public Health has worked with staff from a number of City Agencies, Boards and divisions to support the development of healthy public policy. Staff  have also engaged with various community partners. In the past year one particular area of focus has been the built environment and its impact on health. In partnership with City staff and community partners, TPH has highlighted opportunities to improve health, proposed policy approaches, and presented reports to the Board of Health.

Toronto Public Health will continue to engage with community partners and City Agencies, Boards and divisions to work towards the vision of a prosperous, liveable and healthy city as described in the 2011 report Healthy Toronto by Design.

Over the past decade there has been a resurgence of bed bugs throughout North America. Although bed bugs are not known to spread diseases to humans, the stress and anxiety of dealing with infestations may have a negative impact on people's mental health and well-being. Although bed bugs can affect any socio-economic group, the time-intensive and expensive control methods are such that low-income, elderly and other vulnerable populations require additional supports to combat infestations successfully.

Many City of Toronto divisions, agencies and boards have been involved in responding to bed bug issues and complaints, and in facilitating or ensuring effective control. Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS), Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA), Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and Toronto Public Health (TPH) have been at the forefront in the fight against bed bugs. Each has an important role to play, and multi-departmental coordination currently exists when mandates intersect.

This report outlines the City of Toronto's current approach to bed bugs across four key control mechanisms: (1) public awareness, education and prevention; (2) data collection and reporting; (3) direct supports to residents; and (4) enforcement. A number of enhancements to the City's bed bug control approach are currently underway with respect to each of these four mechanisms, including improved reporting and data collection in TPH, software functionality improvements in MLS, new knowledge base development in 311 Toronto, amended waste collection by-laws, and improved overall corporate oversight and governance.

This report provides an update to the Board of Health on the Toronto Public Health (TPH) Capital Budget Variance for the nine month period ended September 30, 2012.

TPH spent $3.312 million or 50.7 percent of the 2012 approved cash flow of $6.532 million as of September 30, 2012.

The year-end capital expenditure is projected to be $4.852 million or 74.3 percent of the final approved cash flow of $6.532 million.

This report provides an update to the Board of Health on Toronto Public Health’s (TPH's) Operating Budget Variance for the nine months ending on September 30, 2012.

Toronto Public Health’s approved operating budget was under spent by $1,409.7 thousand net or 4.6 percent for the nine-month period ending on September 30, 2012.

Toronto Public Health gross expenditures were below budget by $10,118.8 thousand or 6.0 percent, attributable to the under spending of $7,568.3 thousand in Salaries and Benefits and under spending of $2,550.5 thousand in non payroll including utility costs. Revenue was underachieved by $8,709.2 thousand or 6.3 percent mainly due to under spending across various provincially cost shared and fully funded programs. At year end, TPH expects to be under spent by $1,056.3 thousand net.

Toronto Public Health (TPH) receives 100 percent funding from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) to deliver the Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC) program.  In 2011, the Ministry initiated a review of the HBHC Protocol.  Completion of this review will result in a number of changes to the program, including the introduction of a new screening tool in 2013.  Additional on-going base funding is being provided to health units to support roll-out and completion of this new screening tool.  In October 2012, the Ministry informed TPH that new on-going base funding for three and one-half (3.5) new full time equivalent Public Health Nurse (PHN) positions will be provided to support implementation of this new tool. This report seeks approval for a budget adjustment to the TPH 2013 Operating Budget Request to reflect this new funding.

City Council on October 2, 3 and 4, 2012, approved its 2013 meeting schedule.  Council has also directed that the published schedule serve as notice for these meetings.

The City’s agencies and special purpose bodies are requested to:

a.         avoid scheduling meetings, whenever possible, that conflict with the approved schedule; and

b.         avoid scheduling public meetings, forums, public consultations and large scale meetings on days of cultural or religious significance as noted in the approved schedule.

The City Clerk’s Office updates the meeting schedule on the City’s website as meeting information is added or changed.

To access the most up to date schedule for Council and Committee meetings, please visit:  www.toronto.ca/council.