The 2010 Ontario Budget was announced today, and included is a provision to create an independent Board of Public Health in the City of Ottawa.
Last June, MPP Yasir Naqvi introduced a Private Member’s Bill to amend the City of Ottawa Act, 1999 and establish an independent board of health for the City of Ottawa.
Naqvi’s proposed Bill 194 would have made the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit an independent body under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. The idea for this Bill came in response to an Ottawa City Council motion passed on October 22, 2008 that directed the City Solicitor to prepare an application to the province for special legislation amending the City of Ottawa Act to authorize the City to implement an independent Board of Health governance model.
Recognizing the benefit of independent governance of public health in Ottawa, Naqvi championed the idea and convinced his colleagues to adopt Bill 194 as a government bill.
QUOTES
“I am proud to see our government support an independent Board of Public Health in Ottawa. We are giving Ottawa City Council what they asked for – an opportunity to make sound public health decisions based on fact and science, free from political persuasion.”
-Yasir Naqvi, MPP Ottawa Centre
“The Board of Health provides oversight and leadership to the professional staff of the Health Department. It is critically important that it has the time and expertise to focus on public health matters. I want to commend the vision shown by provincial and municipal elected leaders in their commitment to improve the governance model."
- Dr. Isra Levy, Medical Officer of Health for the City of Ottawa
"A board of health for Ottawa that will now include members with population health expertise is a big step in the right direction. I welcome this important change."
- Jack McCarthy, Executive Director of the Somerset West Community Health Centre
I am pleased that this bill is supporting Ottawa City Council's direction in establishing an independent board of health. The residents of Ottawa will certainly benefit from increased attention paid to this essential service, and I appreciate Mr. Naqvi's support in moving this forward.”
- Simone Thibault, Executive Director of the Centretown Community Health Centre