Equity-focused Health Impact Assessment as a Tool to Support Local Decision-making within Sudbury & District Municipalities (Motion #37-12)

Moved by Berthiaume, Noland. Approve on June 21, 2012, by the Sudbury & District Board of Health.

Motion

WHEREAS the Sudbury & District Board of Health has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to improve the social and economic conditions that impact health and reduce health inequities; and

WHEREAS local municipalities play a vital role in the development and implementation of programs and policies that support equitable opportunities for health across our communities; and

WHEREAS the Ontario Public Health Standards (2008) require that boards of health work with municipalities to support healthy public policies; and

WHEREAS Equity-focused Health Impact Assessment is based on a holistic model, which assumes that the health of community residents is closely tied to the conditions in which they live, work, learn and play; and

WHEREAS the guiding principles of Equity-focused Health Impact Assessment – democracy; equity; sustainability; and ethics – are consistent with public health values and Sudbury & District Health Unit strategic priorities; and

WHEREAS Equity-focused Health Impact Assessment is a recognized, demonstrated and evidence-informed approach to identifying: 1) potential health impacts of proposed policies and practices; 2) existing and potential health inequities within communities; and 3) recommendations to maximize the positive health impacts of proposed policies and practices;

WHEREAS the value of Equity-focused Health Impact Assessment has been endorsed and demonstrated by multiple jurisdictions and municipalities, including the City of Greater Sudbury;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Sudbury & District Board of Health encourage local municipalities to consider adopting Equity-focused Health Impact Assessment as a tool to support local decision-making; and

FURTHER THAT the Sudbury & District Board of Health direct staff to continue their efforts to promote and support the adoption of Equity-focused Health Impact Assessment among Sudbury & District municipalities and across community sectors; and

FURTHER THAT a copy of this motion be forwarded to all Sudbury & District Municipalities and District Social Services Administration Boards; the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM); the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO); Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health; Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Health Promotion and Public Health Divisions; Public Health Ontario; the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Branch; the Canadian Public Health Association; the Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA); the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa), and all Ontario Boards of Health.

This item was last modified on June 12, 2015