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THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK

 

 

 

REPORT NO. 2

OF THE REGIONAL

HEALTH AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

MEETING HELD ON MARCH 2, 2006

 

 

 

For Consideration by

The Council of The Regional Municipality of York

on March 23, 2006

 

 

 

Chair:               Regional Councillor J. Frustaglio

 

Members:         Regional Councillor J. Heath

                        Regional Councillor B. Hogg

                        Regional Councillor L.D. Jackson

                        Regional Councillor T. Van Bynen

                        Regional Chair B. Fisch, ex-officio

 

Staff Present:    D. Bladek-Willett, J. Davidson, K. Kurji, B. Meekin, J. Mitchell, S. Neill,

                        L. Russell, J. Simmons, S. Turner, M. Woolhead

 

The Health and Emergency Medical Services Committee began its meeting at 2:00 p.m. on March 2, 2006.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

[The following links open .pdf files of the Reports and Attachments]

 

1  2005 WEST NILE VIRUS CONTROL ACTIVITIES AND PROPOSED WEST NILE VIRUS CONTROL ACTIVITIES FOR 2006

 

2  SMOKE-FREE ONTARIO CAMPAIGN PROGRAMS

 

[see also Attachment 1]

 

3  UPDATE - COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS

 

The Health and Emergency Medical Services Committee advises Council of the following matters having been considered by Health and Emergency Medical Services Committee with the following action:

 

 

PRESENTATION

 

1. Helen Doyle, Manager of Environmental Health and Shelley Stalker, Manager of Epidemiology and Research, Health Services Department regarding 'Air Quality and Asthma'. Received with thanks.

 

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

[The following links open .pdf files of the Communications]

 

1. Dr. Karim Kurji to the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, dated February 16, 2006, regarding 'Marijuana Home Grown Operations'. Received.

 

2. Province of Ontario, Office of the Premier, news release February 21, 2006, regarding 'Premier McGuinty Commits $300 Million to Achieve True 50-50 Partnership for Land Ambulance Services by 2008'. Received.

 

 

OTHER BUSINESS

 

1. The following resolution regarding 'Smoke-Free Canada' was recommended for endorsement:

WHEREAS tobacco smoking is the number one preventable cause of premature death and illness in Canada, accounting for approximately 47,000 deaths in Canada each year;

 

AND WHEREAS the World Health Organization and Health Canada agree that second-hand smoke is carcinogenic to humans, causing more than 1,000 deaths per year in non-smokers in Canada;

 

AND WHEREAS the estimated annual costs of second-hand smoking in Canada is $1.1 billion, this representing health care costs for adults and children, and costs related to lost revenue due to premature deaths;

 

AND WHEREAS 15%  of Canadians are exposed to second-hand smoke in places other than their own home, 13% almost every day, 37% at least once a week;

AND WHEREAS on October 26, 2000 York Region Council enacted By-Law No. A-0285-2000-105, A By-Law to Regulate the Smoking of Tobacco in Public Places and Workplaces in the Regional Municipality of York;

 

AND WHEREAS the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which will prohibit smoking in all enclosed public places and enclosed workplaces in Ontario, will come into force on May 31, 2006;

 

AND WHEREAS, in Canada, all provinces and territories have some form of legislation that prohibits and/or restricts smoking in public places and workplaces, with the exception of Yukon Territory;

 

AND WHEREAS nine countries around the world (Ireland, Norway, New Zealand, Italy, Sweden, England, India, Uganda and Bhutan) have comprehensive smoke-free laws;

AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada may exercise its jurisdiction over environmental and workplace health issues; 

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Regional Municipality of York urge the federal Government of Canada to join other leading countries in the world and enact legislation to make all Public Places and Workplaces in Canada smoke-free;

 

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be distributed to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Minister of Health for Canada, all Members of Federal Parliament, the Premier of Ontario, all Members of Provincial Parliament in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, all provinces, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Regional Council at its meeting on March 23, 2006 amended the foregoing Item by replacing the final paragraph under section 1 with:

"AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be distributed to the Prime Minister and all Ministers of the Government of Canada, the Premier and all Ministers of the Government of Ontario, the Clerks of the Parliament of Canada and the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities."

2. Staff was requested to bring forward a resolution for Committee's consideration to address the issue of First Nations' jurisdictions being exempt from the Provincial Smoke-Free Ontario Act.

 

3. Staff was requested to bring forward a report regarding the issue of labelling for pesticide products.

 

 

The Health and Emergency Medical Services Committee adjourned at 3:21 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

March 2, 2006                                                                                     J. Frustaglio

Newmarket, Ontario                                                                            Chair

 

(Report No. 2 of the Health and Emergency Medical Services Committee was adopted, as amended, by Regional Council at its meeting held on March 23, 2006.)

 

S. Neill

(905) 830-4444 x 1305