Minutes of the Meeting - 04/23/2026

Board of Health Meeting for Northeastern Public Health

Held on April 23, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. – Microsoft Teams

1.0 Roll Call

Municipal Members:

• Michelle Boileau – City of Timmins
• Mark Wilson – Temiskaming Shores
• Andrew Marks – City of Timmins
• Jeff Laferriere – Temiskaming Shores
• Carol Lowery – Rural South: Armstrong, Brethour, Casey, Cobalt, Coleman, Harley, Harris, Hilliard, Hudson, Kerns, Latchford, Temagami, Thornloe
• Gary Fortin – Kapuskasing
• Marc Dupuis – Rural North: Fauquier-Strickland, Hornepayne, Hearst, Mattice-Val Côté, Moonbeam, Opasatika, Val Rita-Harty
• Curtis Arthur – Provincial Appointee
• Todd Steis – Provincial Appointee
• Tory Delaurier – Rural Central North: Iroquois Falls, Black River Matheson (arrived 4:03 p.m.)
• Rock Whissell – City of Timmins
• Cindy Campbell – Provincial Appointee
• Casey Owens – Kirkland Lake
• David Lowe – Provincial Appointee
• Suzanne Perras – Provincial Appointee

NEPH Executive:

• Dr. Ian Gemmill – Acting Medical Officer of Health
• Rosa Montico-Reimer – Interim Chief Executive Officer & Director of Finance
• Randy Winters – Director of Corporate Services

Recorder:

• Lori McCord – Executive Assistant

Regrets:

• Savion Nakogee – Rural Far North: Moosonee, James Bay and Hudson Bay region
• Peter Politis – Cochrane, Smooth Rock Falls
• Paul Kelly – Rural Central South: Charlton & Dack, Chamberlain, Englehart, Evanturel, Gauthier, James, Larder Lake, McGarry, Matachewan

1.1 Call to Order

Chair Boileau called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m.

1.2 Approval of Agenda

1.3 Declaration of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature

None declared.

2.0 Closed Session

N/A

3.0 Previous Minutes

3.1 NEPH Board of Health Minutes – March 26, 2026

4.0 Agenda Items for Information, Discussion, Decision

4.1 Board of Health Executive Report

For information purposes Chair Boileau advised that the Board Executive met on April 16th, to receive a recruitment update. The Executive continues to be apprised of any items of concern and provides support to the Interim CEO during this transitional time.

4.1.1 Board of Health Executive Recruitment Update

Randy Winters provided an overview of the recruitment efforts to date and challenges experienced to date. The Executive search firm continues to identify any potential candidates and have engaged public health leaders at Public Health Ontario. There has been expression of interest, however one individual’s interest is limited to a remote or hybrid model for the first year with eventual relocation as well as a second individual who has previously worked as a MOH in northern Canada and is interested in the role of MOH and not the MOH/CEO role. The Board Executive will continue to receive updates from the search firm and will report their findings to the Board.

4.2 Board Member Attendance to Workshops/Conferences

4.2.1 alPHa Annual General Meeting (June 8-10, 2026)

Information around the upcoming alPHa Annual General meeting was previously shared with the Board. Board members were encouraged to advise the Board Secretary of their interest. Acknowledging that Sue Perras is now a member of the alPHa Board, two Board members will go to alPHa.

4.3 Algoma Public Health – Support for Vaccine Transitioning into Ontario’s Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule

At the March 26th meeting of the Board of Health correspondence from the Board of Health for the District of Algoma Health Unit was introduced calling upon the Ontario Ministry of Health to amend the publicly funded immunization schedule to incorporate the DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib vaccine. Dr. Gemmill advised the Board that further exploration of the vaccine with a report provided at the April Board meeting. In response Dr. Gemmill shared a memorandum outlining the pros and cons including effectiveness of vaccine, risks, and neutral considerations.

5.0 ACTING MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH

Dr. Gemmill provided an update on the organization and shared recent highlights of services and programs. The enclosed presentation summarizes the main points shared for information purposes. Chair Boileau thanked Dr. Gemmill for his report.

6.0 Chief Executive Officer Report

Rosa Montico-Reimer, Interim CEO and Director of Finance provided an update on the organization and shared recent I.T. and finance highlights. The enclosed presentation summarizes the main points shared for information purposes. Chair Boileau thanked Ms. Montico-Reimer for her report.

7.0 Director of Corporate Services Report

Randy Winters, Director of Corporate Services provided an update on the organization and shared recent corporate. and human resources highlights including a staffing summary. The enclosed presentation summarizes the main points shared for information purposes. Chair Boileau thanked Mr. Winters for his report.

8.0 Correspondence

The correspondence was received for information purposes.

9.0 Date of Next Meeting

Next meeting of the Board of Health to be held on May 28, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.

10.0 Adjournment