​Special advisors to Ontario's top doctor, offer update regarding Grey Bruce Public Health

Jim Pine and Dr. Eileen de Villa, special advisors to De. Kieran Moore, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, have provided a third update with respect to Grey Bruce Public Health.

Moore temporarily assumed the powers of the board of health Aug. 14, under Section 77.1 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act to support operations.

The special advisors met Nov. 27 with the counties of Grey and Bruce to discuss a range of governance issues, including the skills matrix to support a newly-reconstituted board of health. This discussion resulted in agreement from both counties on a final version of the skills matrix. This outcome was shared with governance partners at a meeting Nov. 28.

A skills matrix is a framework used to identify and map the skills and key attributes of board members and is widely recognized as a good governance tool for understanding strengths and identifying needs. The matrix endorsed by Moore identifies 16 unique skills that members would collectively bring to a reconstituted board. No one member is expected to possess all of these skills, but a board where all 16 are present is strengthened. The skills matrix is a critical first step toward developing a comprehensive action plan to address findings from the independent assessment conducted under Section 82 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act.

"We express our sincere gratitude to Grey County warden Andrea Matrosovs and Bruce County warden Luke Charbonneau, their councils, and their senior administrative staff for their hard work," stated the advisors. "We also thank members of the furloughed board for their thoughtful input."

Dec. 19, they shared that Moore, exercising powers of the board, has accepted the action plan developed in consultation with governance partners, and they look forward to sharing this with the public in the new year.

During this interim period, they have been actively supporting Moore in exercising the powers of the board.

Recent decisions include:
 

• Banking arrangements: Approval of a further five-year term with public health’s existing banking provider, RBC, along with a revised policy to assess the arrangement after three years.
• Collective agreement: Approval of the OPSEU/SEFPO Local 276 memorandum of settlement for a three-year collective agreement. Details will be posted on public health’s website.

Over the past several weeks, the special advisors have been supporting the senior leadership team at public health to begin work on a strategic planning process and review of enterprise risk management. The dedicated professionals working at public health continue to deliver essential public health services with professionalism, compassion, and care.