Board of Health

Chung Confirmation of minutes of the meeting of April 20, 2026.

Chung BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Chair of the Board of Health Verbal Report, the Medical Officer of Health Verbal Report, and the reports titled: Ottawa Public Health’s Financial Stability, Verbal Report - Response to City of Ottawa Motion Re: Establishing a Wastewater-Based Early Warning System for Toxic Drug Supply Monitoring in Ottawa, and Response to Notice of Motion: Kanata Lakes Golf Course Redevelopment be received and considered; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the rules of procedure be suspended, in accordance with Section 33(1)(b) and (c) of the Board of Health Procedural By-law No. 2011-1, to permit the introduction and consideration of late items, including supporting documentation for the “Ottawa Public Health Financial Stability Report,” circulated after the agenda publication deadline.

Chung That the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit receive this verbal report for information.

Chung That the Ottawa Board of Health receive this report at its meeting of June 15, 2026, for information; and Direct Ottawa Public Health (OPH) staff to continue an ongoing expenditure review focused on identifying operational efficiencies and opportunities to reduce the projected cost–revenue gap, while maintaining legislated core public health requirements and approved service levels; Direct OPH staff to undertake a targeted service review to identify programs and services that may be considered for reduction or discontinuation should the cost–revenue gap persist and additional funding is not secured; Direct OPH staff to report back to the incoming Board of Health in early 2027 on: Results of the expenditure and service reviews; An updated financial outlook; and A range of strategic options for Board approval to support OPH’s long-term financial sustainability. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Health to send a letter to the Minster of Health, with copies to the Deputy Minister of Health and the Chief Medical Officer of Health, requesting that the Ministry: Review this report and increase OPH’s base funding consistent with the Ministry’s 75% funding commitment for cost-shared programs and services; and Establish an annual funding adjustment mechanism aligned with actual program cost growth and service demand pressures.

Chung WHEREAS Ottawa continues to experience a toxic drug crisis driven by an increasingly unpredictable and dangerous drug supply; AND WHEREAS timely and actionable data on emerging substances is critical to support effective public health and community safety responses; AND WHEREAS supervised consumption and treatment services sites have provided important drug checking services and real-time intelligence on the local drug supply; AND WHEREAS recent closures of supervised consumption and treatment services sites in Ottawa are expected to result in the loss of these drug checking services and reduce timely insight into substances circulating in the community; AND WHEREAS wastewater-based surveillance may provide population-level insight into trends in substance use and emerging risks; AND WHEREAS at its meeting of May 27, 2026, Ottawa City Council recommended that the Ottawa Board of Health explore the implementation of a wastewater-based drug surveillance and early warning system as part of Ottawa’s response to the toxic drug crisis; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Ottawa Board of Health direct Ottawa Public Health to explore the utility of drug wastewater surveillance for informing public health action, including: Engaging with relevant academic and clinical expertise in areas such as addiction, harm reduction, public health, and wastewater science to inform the design, evaluation and funding of a potential program; and Collaborating with the City’s Infrastructure and Wa

Chung That the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa receive this report for information regarding the updated public health risk assessment for the site located at 7000 Campeau Drive and adjacent residential area.

Chung BE IT RESOLVED THAT Confirmation By-law no. 2026-3, a by-law of the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit to confirm the proceedings of the Ottawa Board of Health at its meeting of June 15, 2026, be read and passed.