Board of Health Meeting for Northeastern Public Health

Held on April 3, 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Curtis Arthur, Provincial Appointee
  • Cathy Dwyer, 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
  • Rachelle Cote, Executive Assistant

Regrets:

  • Tory Delaurier, Rural Central North: Iroquois Falls, Black River Matheson
  • Gary Fortin, Kapuskasing 

1.0 CALL TO ORDER

CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 4:03 pm.

1.2 APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOTION #20-R-2025

Moved by: David Lowe
Seconded by: Marc Dupuis

That the agenda for the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit meeting of April 3, 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 - FEBRUARY 27, 2025

MOTION #21-R-2025

Moved by: Paul Kelly
Seconded by: Casey Owens

That the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit approve the minutes for the meeting dated February 27, 2025.

CARRIED

3.0 AGENDA ITEMS FOR INFORMATION, DISCUSSION, DECISION

3.1 FINANCE COMMITTEE

3.1.1  Meeting Report

Finance Committee Chair A. Marks provided a brief verbal update. A Finance Committee was held on March 12, 2025. Elections were held for the 2025 Finance Committee Chair and Vice-Chair. Andrew Marks is Finance Chair and Curt Arthur is the Vice-Chair. The Finance Committee met again on March 31, 2025, to review and discuss a detailed presentation of the 2025 cost shared budget and per capita rate. The Finance Committee recommends approval by the Board of Health. Finance Chair Marks advised the Board that the 2025 meeting schedule for the Finance Committee was approved.

3.1.2  Finance Committee Minutes – March 12, 2025

The Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit received the Finance Committee Minutes – March 12th for information purposes.

3.1.3  Terms of Reference

The Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit received the Terms of Reference for the Finance Committee for approval.

MOTION #22-R-2025

Moved by: Paul Kelly
Seconded by: Andrew Marks

That the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit approve the Finance Committee Terms of Reference.

CARRIED

3.1.4  2025 COST-SHARED PUBLIC HEALTH BUDGET

Dr. Catton and R. Montico-Reimer presented the 2025 Cost-Shared budget, with discussion and opportunities for questions. It was reiterated this was the minimum budget required to maintain current staff complement and current level of programs and services. The merger is for strengthening public health, not cost savings. The merger is fully funded by the Province, and has been an opportunity to mitigate other costs to municipalities.

MOTION #23-R-2025

Moved by: Sue Perras
Seconded by: Cindy Marks Campbell

That the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit approves the 2025 cost-shared budget for Northeastern Health Unit in the amount of $6,696,177.96; and, 

That the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit approves the per capita rate at $55.87 for legacy PHU and $65.56 for legacy THU and the levy increase to be paid by the municipalities; and,

That the remaining shortfall up to $567,909.87 be drawn from reserves.

CARRIED

RECORDED VOTE

The recorded vote was as follows:

BOARD MEMBER FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
Curt Arthur x    
Michelle Boileau x    
Andrew Marks x    
Cindy Campbell x    
Casey Owens x    
Cathy Dwyer x    
Marc Dupuis x    
Savion Nakogee x    
Rock Whissell x    
Carol Lowery x    
Paul Kelly x    
Jeff Laferriere   x  
Sue Perras x    
Peter Politis x    
Todd Steis x    
Mark Wilson   x  

 

3.2 BOARD MEMBER ATTENDANCE TO WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES

3.2.1  ALPHA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (June 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. A maximum of three Board member attendees will be approved at the May 8th meeting of the Board of Health.

3.2.2  ALPHA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr. Catton provided an overview of the alPHa Board of Directors. There is a representative for the Board of Health section from every region across the province. All Boards in the Northeastern region have been asked for interest in representation. The two year term position with elections to be held on May 6th. An expression of interest was received by Sue Perras, who provided the Board a summary of her experience and her strong advocacy of public health.

MOTION #24-R-2025

Moved by: David Lowe
Seconded by: Todd Steis

That the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit approve the nomination of Sue Perras as a candidate for election to the alPHa Board of Directors for the following Board of Health Section Executive seats from the Northeast: and,

Furthermore that the Board of Health authorize the MOH/CEO to forward a copy of this resolution to alpha. Finance Committee Terms of Reference.

CARRIED

3.3 BOARD ATTENDANCE REPORT

A quarterly report of the Board attendance was shared with the Board for information purposes.

4.0 MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER REPORT

Dr. Catton presented an update on the finance/corporate services and recent highlights of key services and programs. Dr. Catton shared that staff are participating in San’yas, an online Indigenous cultural mindfulness course which is highly recommended for all Board members as part of their orientation. The enclosed presentation summarizes the main points shared for information purposes.

5.0 NEPH MERGER TRANSITION REPORT

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

6.0 CORRESPONDENCE

The correspondence was received for information purposes.

7.0 CLOSED SESSION

N/A.

8.0 RISING AND REPORTING OF CLOSED SESSION

N/A.

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 May 8, 2025. The Board agreed to proceed per the timelines noted above.

10 ADJOURNMENT

MOTION #25-R-2025

Moved by: Andrew Marks
Seconded by: Paul Kelly

THAT the meeting of the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit adjourn at 7:06 pm and that the next meeting be held on May 8, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.

CARRIED