Board of Health Meeting for Northeastern Public Health

Held on May 8, 2025 – Microsoft Teams (MS Teams)

Municipal Members:

  • Michelle Boileau, City of Timmins
  • Andrew Marks, City of Timmins
  • Rock Whissell, City of Timmins
  • Mark Wilson, Temiskaming Shores
  • Carol Lowery, Rural South: Armstrong, Brethour, Casey, Cobalt, Coleman, Harley, Harris, Hilliard, Hudson, Kerns, Latchford, Temagami, Thornloe
  • Paul Kelly, Rural Central South: Charlton & Dack, Chamberlain, Englehart, Evanturel, Gauthier, James, Larder Lake, McGarry, Matachewan
  • Casey Owens, Kirkland Lake
  • Tory Delaurier, Rural Central North: Iroquois Falls, Black River Matheson
  • Peter Politis, Cochrane, Smooth Rock Falls
  • Savion Nakogee, Rural Far North: Moosonee, James Bay and Hudson Bay region
  • Curtis Arthur, Provincial Appointee
  • David Lowe, Provincial Appointee
  • Cindy Marks-Campbell, Provincial Appointee
  • Suzanne Perras, Provincial Appointee 
  • Todd Steis, Provincial Appointee

Northeastern Staff Members:

  • Dr. Lianne Catton, Acting Medical Officer of Health/Chief Executive Officer           
  • Rosa Montico-Reimer, Director of Finance
  • Randy Winters, Director of Corporate and Protection Services
  • Lori McCord, Executive Assistant

Regrets:

  • Marc Dupuis, Rural North: Fauquier-Strickland, Hornepayne, Hearst, Mattice Val Cote, Moonbeam, Opasatika, Val Rita Harty
  • Cathy Dwyer, Provincial Appointee
  • Gary Fortin, Kapuskasing (MS Teams in Timmins)
  • Jeff Laferriere, Temiskaming Shores
  • Rachelle Cote, Executive Assistant

1.0 CALL TO ORDER

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Boileau called the meeting to order at 4:05 pm.

1.2 APPROVAL OF AGENDA

That the agenda for the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit meeting of May 8, 2025, be approved.

MOTION #30-R-2025

Moved by: Andrew Marks
Seconded by: Tory Delaurier

CARRIED

1.3 DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND GENERAL NATURE

None declared.

2.0 PREVIOUS MINUTES

2.1 NEPH BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES - APRIL 3, 2025

MOTION #31-R-2025

Moved by: Carol Lowery
Seconded by: Mark Wilson

That the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit approve the minutes for the meeting dated April 3, 2025.

CARRIED

3.0 AGENDA ITEMS FOR INFORMATION, DISCUSSION, DECISION

3.1 BOARD MEMBER ATTENDANCE TO WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES

3.1.1  ALPHA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (Jun 18-20, 2025)

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 Sue Perras is now a member of the alPHa Board, Chair Boileau is travelling for additional meetings, and merger support for Board training this year, four Board members will go to alPHa.

MOTION #32-R-2025

Moved by: Peter Politis
Seconded by: Paul Kelly

That the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit approve Board Members David Lowe, Andrew Marks, Sue Perras, Chair Michelle Boileau to attend the alPHa Annual General Meeting.

CARRIED

3.2 FINANCE COMMITTEE

3.2.1  MEETING REPORT

Finance Committee Chair A. Marks provided a brief verbal update. A Finance Committee was held at 3:00 p.m. on May 8, 2025. Detailed presentations of the 2024 Audit were received from auditors for both Legacy THU (Steven Acland, CPA.CA from Kemp Elliott & Blair, LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants) and Legacy PHU (Derek D’Angelo, CPA, CA, LPA KPMG).

Finance Chair A. Marks referenced NEPH Bylaw No. 2 Section 6 Appointment of the Auditor as well as the 2021 Municipal Act and its application for the year 2024. In accordance with the act, if the board is a local board of more than one municipality, the auditor shall also be the auditor of the municipality which is responsible for the largest share of the operating costs. Finance Chair Marks advised as a result of the merger 2025, there will be one auditor, and one process for 2025. Minutes from the March 31st Finance Committee were reviewed and approved. The next meeting of the Finance Committee will be held September 11, 2025.

3.2.2  THU FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES – SEPTEMBER 24, 2024

The Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit received the THU Finance Committee Minutes – September 24, 2024 for information purposes.

3.2.3  PHU FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES – NOVEMBER 7, 2024

The Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit received the PHU Finance Committee Minutes – November 7, 2024 for information purposes.

3.3 APPOINTMENT OF THE AUDITORS FOR 2024

The Finance Committee received presentations from Kemp Elliot and KPMG, outlining the scope and strategy of the 2024 audit process for Legacy THU and Legacy PHU respectively. Audit findings will be reported to the Finance Committee and then presented to the Board. The Finance Committee has appointed Kemp Elliot, Auditors for Legacy THU for the year 2024 and KPMG Auditors for Legacy PHU for the year 2024 and recommends the Board approve them.

MOTION #33-R-2025

Moved by: Andrew Marks
Seconded by: Rock Whissell

That the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit appoint Kemp Elliot the auditors for the Board of Health for the Timiskaming Health Unit for the year 2024; and,

That the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit appoint KPMG, LLP the auditors for the Board of Health for the Porcupine Health Unit for the year 2024.

CARRIED

4.0 CLOSED SESSION

The Board of Health went into a closed session at 4:14 pm.

MOTION #34-R-2025

Moved by: Curt Arthur
Seconded by: Mark Wilson

THAT the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit moves to a closed session as outlined in the Ontario Municipal Act (j) trade secret to consider the branding – NEPH logo.

CARRIED

5.0 RISING AND REPORTING OF CLOSED SESSION

The Board of Health rose from the closed session at 4:29 pm.

MOTION #35-R-2025

Moved by: Tory Delaurier
Seconded by: Sue Perras

THAT the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit rise with report.

THAT the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit approve the NEPH logo as presented.

CARRIED

6.0 MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER REPORT

Dr. Catton presented an update on the organization and shared recent highlights of services and programs. The enclosed presentation summarizes the main points shared for information purposes.

7.0 NEPH MERGER TRANSITION REPORT

Dr. Catton provided an update on the merger transition. The enclosed presentation summarizes the main points shared for information purposes.

8.0 CORRESPONDENCE

The correspondence was received for information purposes.

9.0 DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS

The Finance Committee will meet on September 11, 2025, and the next meeting of the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit on June 12, 2025. The Board agreed to proceed per the timelines noted above.

10 ADJOURNMENT

MOTION #36-R-2025

Moved by: Andrew Marks Seconded by: Cindy Campbell

THAT the meeting of the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit adjourns at 5:07 pm and that the next meeting be held on June 12, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.

CARRIED