PHSSC

WHEREAS the Provincial Government has announced restructuring local public health agencies from 35 public health units to 10 new Regional Public Health Entities, governed by autonomous boards of health; WHEREAS the Province expects to reduce provincial spending on local public health by $200 million by 2021-22 from a current provincial budget for local public health of approximately $750 million; WHEREAS the Province is adjusting the cost-sharing formula with municipalities for local public health; Public Health and Social Services Committee Open Session Minutes PHSSC 07-2019 July 9, 2019 Page 3 WHEREAS municipalities such as Niagara, Hamilton, and most others have been contributing more than their 25% share under Provincial policy for many years in order to ensure community needs are met based on the Ontario Public Health Standards, as set out by the provincial government; WHEREAS the announcements do not contain sufficient detail to be able to fully understand the costs and implications of the proposed restructuring; WHEREAS the scale of the proposed changes to the governance, organization and funding of local public health is unprecedented in Ontario; WHEREAS the role of municipal councils is not clear in the proposed restructuring; WHEREAS local public health agencies that are part of local government such as Niagara already achieve significant administrative efficiencies through the economies of scale from being part of much larger organizations than the future Public He

That Report PHD 12-2019, dated July 9, 2019, respecting Approval of 2018 Public Health Audits, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendations BE APPROVED: 1. That the draft audited schedule of revenues and expenses and annual reconciliation return for the Public Health General Programs (attached in Appendix 1 and 2 of Report PHD 12-2019), BE APPROVED; 2. That staff BE DIRECTED to co-ordinate with the auditor to finalize the statements as presented; and 3. That this report BE FORWARDED to the Region’s Audit Committee for information

That Report PHD 13-2019, dated July 9, 2019, respecting Increasing Capacity for Mental Health Services using External Funding, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendations BE APPROVED: 1. That Regional Council APPROVE creation of two new full time permanent positions in Mental Health, funded using newly approved LHIN funding; and 2. That staff BE DIRECTED to continue to advocate for additional funding for mental health, consistent with the Mental Health & Well-Being objective of Council’s new Strategic Plan.

That Report PHD 11-2019, dated July 9, 2019, respecting Sole Source EMS Interdev Software Program Agreement and Hardware Purchase, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendation BE APPROVED: 1. That Council AUTHORIZE staff to proceed with the purchase of Panasonic CF33 laptops and a support and service contract from Interdev as a sole source in accordance with section 18 (a) item (i) of Procurement By-law No. 02-2016, as amended on February 28, 2019, which permits sole source procurement if “compatibility of a Purchase with existing equipment, product standards, facilities or service is paramount consideration.”

That Report COM 29-2019, dated July 9, 2019, respecting Procurement of Homelessness Services for Period of April 1, 2020 – March 31, 2023, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendations BE APPROVED: 1. That the Negotiated Request for Proposal (NRFP) process BE INITIATED in Q3 2019 and that staff BE AUTHORIZED to enter into negotiations with the selected proponents based on the multiple NRFP processes, and award in Q1 2020 based on confirmation of funding; and 2. That the evaluation scoring matrix (Appendix A of Report COM 29- 2019), to be used to score NRFP submissions from potential proponents, BE APPROVED.

That Report COM 31-2019, dated July 9, 2019, respecting Budget Adjustment – Children’s Services, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendation BE APPROVED: 1. That an adjustment to the previously adopted 2019 Regional Municipality of Niagara (Niagara Region) operating budget in the amount of $2,293,053, to be fully funded through the Ministry of Education (MEDU) grants, BE APPROVED.

That Report NRH 8-2019 respecting Canada-Ontario Community Housing (COCHI) & Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI), BE RECEIVED and the following recommendations BE APPROVED: 1. That Niagara Regional Council APPROVE the Program and Delivery Fiscal Plan (PDFP) for Year 1-3 under the COCHI and OPHI and APPROVE the transfer payment agreement; 2. That the Regional Chair BE DIRECTED to demand that the Provincial Government of Ontario provide additional funding for affordable housing programs in Niagara, reinstating the previous funding levels; and 3. That Regional Council CONSIDER providing financial compensation for the Provincial funding shortfall to Niagara Regional Housing.

That the following items BE RECEIVED for information: PHD-C 03-2019 Port Colborne Quarry PHD-C 04-2019 Mental Health Beds at Niagara Health St. Catharines Site COM 28-2019 ProKids Program - Providing Recreational/Cultural Opportunities for Children/Youth 2018 Year End Report COM 30-2019 School Based Child Care Capital Projects

That Confidential Report COM 36-2019, dated July 9, 2019, respecting A Matter respecting A Position, Plan, Procedure, Criteria or Instruction to be Applied to Any Negotiations