PREPARED BY: Planning and Strategic Initiatives

DATE: 2026-11-12

In 2018, the Ontario Ministry of Health (MOH) introduced a new Annual Service Plan (ASP) that Health Units are required to submit each year. To ensure a single, integrated approach to planning, the Planning and Strategic Initiatives (PSI) department worked with the Information Technology (IT) department to align our planning system with the provincial requirements. 

With the support of the PSI department, all internal and external facing departments develop and submit their annual intervention work plans based on the requirements listed in the Ontario Public Health Standards, which are then reviewed and approved by the Leadership Team. These plans are then integrated in the WECHU’s Annual Service Plan and progress is evaluated quarterly.

DISCUSSION

Q3 Progress Update

• There were 157 active Intervention Work Plans (IWP) evaluated. 138 IWPs were on target, 10 were completed, 4 with a variance, 4 deferred, and 0 work plans cancelled.

Provincial Standards

The WECHU continues to align its planning tools with the most recent drafts of the 2026 Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS), with releases in September 2025 and July 2026.  The ministry anticipates January 1, 2027, as the effective date of the updated OPHS.

The planning cycle for the 2027 Annual Service Plan continues with Intervention Work Plans currently being reviewed at the departmental level.