Minutes of the Meeting - 10/23/2025

Held on October 23, 2025 – Microsoft Teams (MS Teams)

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
• Paul Kelly, Rural Central South: Charlton & Dack, Chamberlain, Englehart, Evanturel, Gauthier, James, Larder Lake, McGarry, Matachewan
• Gary Fortin, Kapuskasing
• Marc Dupuis, Rural North: Fauquier-Strickland, Hornepayne, Hearst, Mattice, Val Cote, Moonbeam, Opasatika, Val Rita Harty
• Casey Owens, Kirkland Lake
• Peter Politis, Cochrane, Smooth Rock Falls
• Savion Nakogee, Rural Far North: Moosonee, James Bay and Hudson Bay region
• Cindy Marks-Campbell, Provincial Appointee
• Todd Steis, Provincial Appointee
• David Lowe, Provincial Appointee
• Tory Delaurier, Rural Central North: Iroquois Falls, Black River Matheson
• Suzanne Perras, Provincial Appointee
• Curtis Arthur, Provincial Appointee
• Rock Whissell, City of Timmins

Northeastern Staff Members:

• Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health/Chief Executive Officer
• Randy Winters, Director of Corporate and Protection Services
• Lori McCord, Executive Assistant

Regrets:

• Rosa Montico-Reimer, Director of Finance

1.1 CALL TO ORDER

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Boileau called the meeting to order at 4:31 pm.

1.2 APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOTION #48-R-2025

Moved by: Cindy Marks-Campbell
Seconded by: Carol Lowery

That the agenda for the Board of Health meeting on October 23, 2025, be approved.

CARRIED

1.3 DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND GENERAL NATURE

None declared.

2.0 PREVIOUS MINUTES

2.1 NEPH BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES – September 25, 2025

MOTION #49-R-2025

Moved by: David Lowe
Seconded by: Paul Kelly

That the Board of Health approve the minutes for the meeting dated September 25, 2025.

CARRIED

3.0  AGENDA ITEMS FOR INFORMATION, DISCUSSION, DECISION

3.1 Q3 Risk Assessment

Dr. Catton provided an overview of Risk Assessment Process and Management mitigation plan that identifies the high risks and is reported in the third quarter reporting to the Ministry.

In 2025, the high risks that will be reported to the Ministry are Human Resources, Political, Information Technology (I.T), Financial and the Merger. These risks were reviewed in terms of current concerns, future considerations, and mitigation strategies in place and ongoing.

MOTION #50-R-2025

Moved by: Jeff Laferriere
Seconded by: Curt Arthur

That the Board of Health approve the Risk Assessment and Management Report as presented.

CARRIED

3.2 Infrastructure Update

Dr. Catton provided an update of the Pine St. Timmins HVAC system, the work completed to date and measures taken to reduce impacts on client and patient services and costs incurred to date. The timeline for expected completion has been extended into November due to some equipment delays.

3.3 Financial Update

Dr. Catton provided an update of Ministry of Health settlements to date for both legacy Temiskaming Health Unit and legacy Porcupine Health Unit.

3.4 Northern Ontario Highway Safety

As discussed at the September 25th meeting of the Board of Health, highway safety in Northern Ontario has been a long-standing concern for the Board, the Management team, and has often been flagged at local, regional, and provincial levels during local emergency responses. In support of the work FONOM has initiated, a resolution along with a briefing report outlining issues, impacts to public health, evidence, and key recommended interventions for the improved development of Northern highways was brought forward. The Board passed the highway safety resolution confirming the agreed amendments. The final to be shared with the briefing note and FONOM’s document.

MOTION #51-R-2025

Moved by: Andrew Marks
Seconded by: Jeff Laferriere

Whereas highway safety is a critical public health issue in Northern Ontario, where long distances between communities, severe weather, heavy transport traffic, and wildlife hazards increase risks for residents, service providers, and emergency responders. Spanning more than 11,000 kilometres, Highways 11, 17, 101, and 144 serve as lifelines, connecting Northeastern communities to the rest of the province (2). These routes are vital links in the Trans-Canada Highway system, providing essential access to health care, education, employment, and basic services (1,2); and,

Whereas from 2018 to 2022, emergency department visits for motor vehicle collisions in the Northeastern Public Health (NEPH) region were consistently 1.6 to 2.0 times higher than the Ontario average, highlighting both the region’s elevated collision risk and its heavy reliance on these critical corridors (8); and,

Whereas the Northern region records the highest rate of large-truck collisions in Ontario - 94% higher than the next highest region and over three times higher than the lowest – as well as the highest fatality rate from motor vehicle collisions, 27.8% above the next highest region and 15.5 times higher than the lowest (7,8).; and, serious and fatal collisions along with prolonged road closures, hinder access to goods and essential services, delay emergency response and jeopardize the well-being and safety of Northern Ontarians, 

Whereas northern communities, including Indigenous and First Nation communities and Francophone populations (32.8% Francophone, 17.5% Indigenous), face significant barriers to health care that are intensified by highway closures, isolating residents from emergency care and essential services. These inequities are further exacerbated for First Nations and Indigenous peoples, rooted in historical trauma and reflected in ongoing disparities in access to care, essential services, and overall health outcomes (3,4,5). Unsafe and unreliable highways deepen these inequities, threaten community well-being, and widen gaps in overall health and quality of life; and, 

Whereas limited access to primary care and medical specialists further compounds the challenge. In 2022–2023, more than 170,000 Northern Health Travel Grants were issued to assist 66,000 residents with travel and accommodation for medical needs, demonstrating the region’s dependence on long-distance highway travel for essential health care (6); and,

Whereas each year, Northern Ontario roads experience increasing numbers of drivers and collisions, traveling on highways that are congested, outdated, and unsafe (1). Every day, more than 8,400 trucks transport over $200 million in goods across these same routes, which have limited passing lanes, inadequate shoulders, and numerous high-collision zones (10). Current highway designs lack sufficient median separation, safe passing lanes, and refuge zones, increasing the risk of head-on collisions and dangerous overtaking, especially under winter conditions; and, 

Whereas investing in safer Northern Ontario highways is a matter of health equity(10). Residents of Northern Ontario and First Nation communities deserve the same level of safety, accessibility and opportunity as those in southern regions, and the continued loss of life on unsafe roads is unacceptable (9, 10).

Whereas FONOM and Northern municipalities propose the 2+1 upgrade on Highways 11 and 17, including North Bay to Cochrane and Renfrew to Sudbury in Phase 1, and Cochrane to Nipigon, Thunder Bay to Kenora, and Sault Ste. Marie to Sudbury in Phase 2 recognizing this alternating passing lane design with a crash-rated median barrier is proven, safe and cost-effective fit for Northern Ontario, and reducing crashes by up to 55% (10); 

Now therefore be it resolved that the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit calls upon the Government of Ontario to prioritize highway safety and equity across Northern Ontario by: Committing to the full, phased implementation of the 2+1 highway model along Highways 11, 144 and 17 as a priority investment in safety and health equity Collaborating with northern Municipalities, First Nation communities and urban First Nation, Inuit and Metis partners to ensure infrastructure planning incorporates health, safety and equity considerations. Designating high-collision and high-risk zones for safety upgrades, with priority for sections that affect emergency response, health-care access, and the delivery of essential goods and services.

CARRIED

3.5 alPHa Fall Conference Attendance

Information around alPHa’s Fall Symposium was previously shared with Board members with a request to advise of their interest in attending.

MOTION #52-R-2025

Moved by: David Lowe
Seconded by: Rock Whissell

That the Board of Health approve Board Member Sue Perras to attend the alPHa Fall Symposium.

CARRIED

4.0 MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER REPORT

Dr. Catton 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. Catton for her report.

5.0 CLOSED SESSION

There were no items for discussion.

6.0 CORRESPONDENCE

The correspondence was received for information purposes. Board Member Marks highlighted the memorandum advising of the launch of NEPH’s new telephone system as well as the soft launch of NEPH’s official logo and branding. Dr. Catton advised that the official branding launch is planned to align with the health unit’s first anniversary in January 2026.

7.0 DATES OF NEXT MEETING

Next meeting of the Board of Health to be held on November 27, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.

8.0 ADJOURNMENT

MOTION #53-R-2025

Moved by: Andrew Marks
Seconded by: Cindy Marks-Campbell

That the next meeting of the Board of Health be held November 27, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. and that this meeting be adjourned at 5:16 p.m.

CARRIED