1. Board Meetings
  2. November 2022 Board of Health Meeting

November 2022 Board of Health Meeting

Meeting Documents

Meeting held via video: https://youtu.be/34y5kioi6GY

  1. Call to Order
  2. Agenda Approval
  3. Announcement of Conflict of Interest
  4. Medical Officer of Health Update (Dr. S. Nesathurai)
  5. Approval of Minutes
    1. Regular Board Meeting:  October 20, 2022
  6. Business Arising
    1. Board of Health By-Laws and Policies – For approval
      1. Public Attendance and Delegations at Board of Health Meeting
      2. Delegation of Duties
      3. Performance of MOH and CEO
      4. By-Law No. 1 – Governance
      5. By-Law No. 2 – Finance
      6. By-Law No. 3 – Human Resources
      7. By-Law No. 4 – Management of Real Property
  7. Consent Agenda
    1. INFORMATION REPORTS
      1. Q3 Report (L. Gregg)
      2. Windsor-Essex County Living Wage Program (E. Nadalin)
      3. Communications Report (October 2022) (E. Nadalin)
    2. CORRESPONDENCE - None
  8. RESOLUTIONS/RECOMMENDATION REPORTS - None
  9. New Business - None
  10. Committee of the Whole (Closed Session in accordance with Section 239 of the Municipal Act) 
  11. Next Meeting: At the Call of the Chair, Via Video
  12. Adjournment
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PREPARED BY:

Epidemiology & Evaluation and Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention

DATE:

Novemeber 10, 2022

SUBJECT:

Windsor and Essex County Living Wage Program

BACKGROUND

Income inequality has been recognized as one of the most significant social determinants contributing to poor population health outcomes. As such, many communities across Ontario, nationally, and internationally have implemented living wage programs to raise awareness, encourage adoption, and advance healthy public policy. A living wage is the minimum amount a person must earn to afford to live and participate in a specific community. In a general sense, it uses a calculation for family living expenses, relative to income from employment or government sources, and deductions from things like Employment Insurance (EI), Canada Pension Plan (CPP) premiums, and Federal/Provincial taxes. A living wage is not the same as the minimum wage, which is the lowest rate an employer can legally pay for work performed.

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) has led the Windsor and Essex County Living Wage program since 2017 and has since certified 35 living wage employers, which are employers that pay their direct staff (full-time and part-time) the living wage in a given year. Certified living wage employers maintain their status for a period of two years and must reapply to be re-certified for another two-year cycle. Certified living wage employers proudly display the “Certified Living Wage” window decal to encourage other businesses to follow suit and often use that as a selling point in recruiting and retaining staff. The overarching goal of this program is to raise awareness about the minimum salary a person would need to earn to have a greater chance of having a basic standard of living in Windsor and Essex County. The program encourages local employers to be a part of the solution and also works to advance policies, partnerships, and practices that promote health and well-being for the community.

For the first time, the Ontario Living Wage Network embarked on developing a first full coverage of the province in living wage rates in 2022. The resulting 10 wage rates reflect “Economic Regions” that can include multiple jurisdictions. Windsor and Essex County are part of the Southwest Economic Region, which includes the Sarnia-Lambton and Chatham-Kent regions. Local data is still sourced from individual communities to develop this shared calculation.

Each year the living wage calculation is updated and shared with the community. The living wage calculation report is intended to provide an overview of the Living Wage, how it is calculated, and the assumptions that are made in the calculations. The 2022 Living Wage calculated for the Southwest Economic Region is $18.15/hour for full and part-time employees. This represents a 9.3% per hour increase over the 2021 Living Wage. Table 1 highlights the local living wage rates compared to the minimum wage rates from 2018 to 2022. Historically, local living wage rates have been higher than the provincial minimum wage rate as the living wage takes into account the actual cost of living in a particular community by considering the cost of food, clothing, shelter, childcare, transportation, medical expenses, recreation, and expenses associated with breaks from work. Worth noting is that, the minimum wage often is too low to lift someone working full-time above the poverty line and the living wage aims to address this.

Table 1: Living Wage compared to Minimum Wage over time.
  2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Living Wage in WEC $14.81 $15.15 $15.52 $16.60 $18.15
Minimum Wage $14.00 $14.00 $14.25 $14.35 $15.50
Difference -$0.81 -$1.15 -$1.27 -$2.25 -$2.65

CURRENT INITATIVE

In order to reach more local employers, enhance promotional capacity, and provide consistency for employers who operate in multiple regions of the province, the WECHU has partnered with the Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN). In this partnership, the OLWN will be responsible for the certification of local living wage employers at a provincial level, while providing them consistent support in developing and promoting their living wage policies. The WECHU will continue to provide the annual local calculation to OLWN to ensure the local costs are reflected on an annual basis.

Beginning in 2023, the new process for certification will be as follows:

  1. Expression of Interest. Local employers will complete the initial contact form through the OLWN. The manager of the OLWN employer program will contact the employer to discuss certification details and answer questions. 
  2. Application Review and License Agreement. OLWN review the details of the application and contact the employer to address any questions and determine the level of recognition. The employer will then sign the license agreement and pay the employer certification fee.
  3. Certificate Presentation. Once a year, through the local Healthy Workplace Awards ceremony, certified living wage employers will be recognized and provided with their Living Wage certificate.
  4. Recognition. OLWN will publicly recognize the organization or business through social media, events, and publications. The business or organization will be listed in the OLWN employer directory and map.
  5. Periodic Review. Each year on the anniversary of the certification, the employers will be sent a renewal survey and invoice for the annual employer certification fee. When the living wage calculation is updated in our community, the OLWN will contact the employers to let them know the new rate. Employers have six months to make adjustments once the new rate has been announced.

 

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PREPARED BY:

Communications Department

DATE:

November 10, 2022

SUBJECT:

September 15 – October 14, 2022 Communications Update

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE:

Provide regular marketing and communication updates to the Board of Health.

SOURCE Sep 15 – Oct 14 Aug 15 – Sep 14 DIFFERENCE
News Releases, Media Advisories and Statements, or Notices Issued 2 13 -11
Media Requests Received 20 40 -20
Wechu.org pageviews 148,144 169,974 -21,830
YouTube Channel Subscribers 1,737 1,735 +2
Email Subscribers 7,719 7,759 -40
Emails Distributed 11 16 -5
Facebook Fans 18,888 18,869 +19
Facebook Posts 73 89 -16
Twitter Followers 8,754 8,737 +17
Twitter Posts 68 84 -16
Instagram Followers 1,485 1,474 +11
Instagram Posts 32 45 -13
LinkedIn Followers 1,227 1,202 +25
LinkedIn Posts 35 34 +1
Media Exposure 144 313 -169

Data Notes can be provided upon request

Media Exposure Overview Graph

September 15 - October 14 2022 Media Exposure overview chart

Website Overview Graph

September 15 - October 14 2022 Website Overview

DISCUSSION

Sept 15 – Oct 14 Notable Project thumbnail - Legacy for Children Parenting Program

A series of ads was created to promote the Legacy for Children Parenting Program, administered by the Healthy Families Department.

The campaign ran for 13 days, and over this timeframe, the ad had a total reach of 5,068 people with 14,888 total impressions.

Sept 15 – Oct 14 Notable Project thumbnail - Strategic Plan

The Communications department also updated The WECHU’s Strategic Plan which involved redesigning the files, creating web images, and making it accessible via wechu.org.

The 2022-2025 Strategic Plan was approved at the September Board of Health meeting, and was available online on September 15, 2022.

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Board Members Present:

Gary McNamara, Joe Bachetti, Tracey Bailey, Rino Bortolin, Aldo DiCarlo, Gary Kaschak, Judy Lund

Board Member Regrets:

Fabio Costante, Robert Maich, Ed Sleiman

Administration Present:

Dr. Ken Blanchette, Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, Lorie Gregg, Kristy McBeth, Eric Nadalin, Dan Sibley, Lee Anne Damphouse

Administration Regrets:              

Dr. Felicia Lawal, CNO

QUORUM: Confirmed

 

  1. Call to Order

    Board Chair, G. McNamara, called the Regular meeting to order at 3:34 p.m. 

  2. Agenda Approval
    Motion: That the agenda be approved.
    CARRIED
  3. Announcement of Conflict of interest – None
  4. Topical Update (Dr. S. Nesathurai)

    Cancer
    Dr. Nesathurai shared his thoughts on cancer, noting that every family and every community has been touched somehow by this disease.  In individuals in their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, approximately 30% pass away from some sort of cancer, the most common being lung, colon, pancreatic and prostate.  There are approximately 1,200 deaths in Windsor-Essex each year, smoking being the leading cause of illness.  The WECHU has smoking cessation classes available with an average of 40-50 individuals in each class.  Currently, 1 in 5 people in Windsor-Essex smoke. 

    Cervical Cancer
    One tool that we have in medicine and at the health unit is vaccination.  We have been advocating the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for youth, which prevents certain types of cancer and can ultimately save lives.  Screening for cervical cancer is typically every 3 years.

    Breast Cancer
    The most important tool for early detection of Breast Cancer is screening, and our goal as public health leaders is to focus on prevention. 

    Lifestyle can also play a role in our health and we all have the responsibility to take care of ourselves through regular physical checkups, screening and vaccinations. 

    Motion: That the information be received.
    CARRIED

  5. Approval of Minutes
    1. Regular Board Meeting:  October 20, 2022
      Motion: That the minutes be approved. 
      CARRIED

      K. Blanchette mentioned that commencing January 2023, Board of Health meetings will likely be held in-person. This is particularly important with new Board members.  

      Motion: That commencing January 2023, Board of Health meetings will be held in person. 
      CARRIED

  6. Business Arising

    1. Board of Health By-Laws and Policies (For Approval) (L. Gregg)
      The following Board of Health By-laws and Policies presented today to the Board of Health are for final approval. 

      1. Public Attendance and Delegations at Board of Health Meetings
        Brought to the November Board of Health meeting for final approval. 

      2. Delegation of Duties
        Brought to the November Board of Health meeting for final approval.
      3. Performance of Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer
        Brought to the November Board of Health meeting for final approval.
      4. By-Law No. 1 – Governance
        Brought to the November Board of Health meeting for final approval.
      5. By-Law No. 2 – Finance
        Brought to the November Board of Health meeting for final approval.
      6. By-Law No. 3 – Human Resources
        Brought to the November Board of Health meeting for final approval.
      7. By-Law No. 4 – Management of Real Property
        Brought to the November Board of Health meeting for final approval.

        J. Lund asked if these By-laws were prepared under the Ontario Non-Profit Corporations Act. L. Gregg will confirm with legal that these requirements were satisfied.

        L. Gregg noted that our previous By-laws contained various legislation and policies imbedded into them.  These policies were extracted and brought forward. We found our By-law to be somewhat onerous and modeled our updated By-laws after other Ontario health units, and feel they are much more succinct. 

        G. McNamara believes a yearly review of the By-laws is a good opportunity to keep up to date with current legislation and that these four By-laws should be part of our strategic outlook going forward.  L. Gregg noted we will be striking a Governance Committee as previously discussed. G. McNamara noted that this is particularly important with a new contingent of board members to understand the duties and role of Board of Health member and moves to add an Audit and By-Law Committee to the Windsor-Essex County Board of Health list of Board committees.  The Board of Health will revisit Board Committees in the new year. 

        Motion: That the By-laws and Policies 6.1.1 to 6.1.7 presented to the Board be approved, and that Board Committees be revisited in the new year.

        CARRIED

  7. Consent Agenda
    1. INFORMATION REPORTS

      1. Q3 Report (L. Gregg)
        L. Gregg advised that the Q3 Report was submitted to the Ministry on October 31, 2022, and provided a brief update on Mandatory Program Funding, COVID-19 General Funding and One-Time Funding requests.  This report has been brought to the Board for information.

      2. Windsor-Essex County Living Wage Program (E. Nadalin) 
        E. Nadalin said that the Living Wage Program aims to provide what a Living Wage is and encourages local employers to become Living Wage certified.  The health unit took over this program in 2017, and we have partnered with the Living Wage network to advance this program using provincial channels.  Living Wage in Windsor-Essex is $18.15, and the current Minimum Wage is $15.50. This report has been brought to the Board for information.

      3. Communications Report (October 2022) (E. Nadalin)
        E. Nadalin noted a recent joint media release with WECHU and a number of local partners encouraging people to stay up to date with vaccinations.  This is particularly important with hospitals operating over capacity.  This report has been brought to the Board for information.

        Motion: That the information be received.  
        CARRIED

    2. CORRESPONDENCE - None
  8. Resolutions/Recommendation Reports - None

  9. New Business - None

  10. ​​​Committee of the Whole (CLOSED SESSION, in accordance with Section 239 of the Municipal Act)

    The Board moved into Committee of the Whole at 4:31 pm
    The Board moved out of Committee of the Whole at 5:05 pm

  11. Next Meeting: At the Call of the Chair
  12. Adjournment

    Chair, G. McNamara, wanted to take the opportunity on behalf of the Board to thank Rino Bortolin and Aldo DiCarlo for their role on the Board of Health.  He thanked R. Bortolin for his support and his work with the Consumption and Treatment Services Site, and improvements to the downtown core was done with professionalism.  His work with the Board has been exemplary.  

    R. Bortolin reiterated the work he has been able to do with the health unit, and how COVID changed the face of public health in this region.  Prior to COVID, many members of the public did not know the role of public health in their communities.  Health unit staff lead us through the pandemic and made us proud to be a part of this organization.  

    Chair, G. McNamara, thanked Aldo DiCarlo for stepping in as a Board of Health member and thanked him for his support, advice and professionalism and becoming a part of the organization when it was needed. 

    A. DiCarlo mentioned the continued hard work by health unit staff, and how important public health is in the community.  It took a pandemic to demonstrate that.  A. DiCarlo said it has been a privilege to serve on the Board of Health.

    K. Blanchette thanked the Board for their work with public health over the last 4 years, and hopes to see many return for another term. 

    Motion:  That the meeting be adjourned. 
    CARRIED
    The meeting adjourned at 5:10 pm.

RECORDING SECRETARY: L. Damphouse

SUBMITTED BY: K. Blanchette

APPROVED BY: WECHU Board of Health, January 19, 2023

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