Regional Councillor Report

Submitted by: Colleen Jordan, Regional Councillor Wards 3 & 4

Date: Apr. 11, 2011

Regional Council – April 6, 2011

Public Health

The 2009 Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario was provided to the Health Committee for information. The report provided an overview of public health in 2009. In Dr. King’s report she highlighted the achievement of the development of The Ontario Public Health Standards and Protocols as this moved Ontario towards a system that was more up to date, informed by best evidence and focused on the needs of Ontarians. This initiative was part of the public health action plan that was developed in the wake of the SARS experience.

Her report states that the average lifespan of Canadians has increased by more than 30 years since the 1900’s. Twenty five of those years are attributable to advances in public health, dealing with safer food, water, and milk, family planning, environmental policies to improve air and water quality, action on tobacco control, safer workplaces, motor vehicle safety, reduced deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke, immunization programs etc. etc.

The Her report calls for a shift in health care towards prevention and she cites a number of reports in support of this argument. Dr. King’s report builds on these and the Romanow Report that speaks to the need toof addressing the broader social determinants of health such as income distribution, education, housing, early childhood education, food insecurity, race, gender etc. TheDr. King”s report also speaks to the need toof addressing the issues of obesity and physical inactivity. Almost 60% of Ontario adults are overweight or obese and even more alarming is that 26% of Canadian children from two to seventeen are overweight or obese. In Ontario the direct and indirect costs of obesity are estimated at $1.6 billion.

The Peel Healthy Development Index was cited in theher report as an initiative that demonstrates the importance of considering health impacts in our everyday environment and engaging multiple sectors to mitigate these impacts. Recognizing that our automobile oriented development is associated with low levels of physical activity and high rates of obesity and chronic disease, Peel Ppublic Hhealth has developed initiatives to increase the health promoting potential of the built environment. They have developed a Healthy Development Index and an amendment has been approved in their Official Plan that public health impact studies may now be required. A detailed submission with recommendations for proposed changes to the Provincial Policy Statement with recommendations including the need for health assessments be part of the municipal development application process was submitted to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in Sept. 2010. Durham’s Medical Officer of Health is sharing this information and research with the Planning Commissioner and this should be the subject of future discussion.

Works

Compost Giveaway - May 14th

A compost giveaway will be held on Saturday, May 14^th, 8:00 a.m. until noon, at Ajax Downs, 50 Alexander Crossing, in Ajax. The compost was made from the organics collected through the Region’s curbside green bin and leaf and yard waste programs. The compost is provided free to residents, who must provide their own shovels and containers. Quantities are limited to three blue boxes of compost per vehicle. Green bins, blue boxes and backyard composters will also be available for purchase or exchange. Compost giveaways are being held in a number of municipalities as a way to thank residents for participating in the organics collection programs.