EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Health Protection and Promotion Act. The Bill enacts new section 77.0.1 which provides that cost-shared public health unit programs and services shall be funded at least 75 per cent by the Province of Ontario and no more than 25 per cent by municipalities. The Bill also enacts new section 95.1 which requires the Minister of Health to establish a Pandemic Preparedness Review Committee composed of public health and pandemic preparedness experts that will review the Province’s pandemic response plan every five years and report its findings to the Minister. The Minister shall inform the Legislative Assembly of the Review Committee’s findings and make recommendations for the Government of Ontario to implement.

Bill 34 2022

An Act to amend the Health Protection and Promotion Act with respect to pandemic preparedness

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1 The Health Protection and Promotion Act is amended by adding the following sections:

Public health unit funding

77.0.1  (1)  Cost-shared public health unit programs and services shall be funded in accordance with the following requirements:

   1.  Municipal funding of public health units shall not exceed 25 per cent of the total funding.

   2.  The Province of Ontario shall provide the remaining funding, to a minimum of 75 per cent.

Appropriation required

(2)  Subsection (1) does not apply unless money has been appropriated by the Legislature for the purpose of that subsection.

.     .     .     .     .

Pandemic Preparedness Review Committee

95.1  (1)  The Minister of Health shall establish a Pandemic Preparedness Review Committee.

Composition

(2)  The Pandemic Preparedness Review Committee shall be composed of members of the following groups appointed by the Minister:

   1.  Public health experts.

   2.  Pandemic preparedness experts.

   3.  Community leaders from equity-seeking groups.

Functions

(3)  The Pandemic Preparedness Review Committee shall review Ontario’s pandemic response plan every five years and consider changes that should be made to the plan,

  (a)  based on developments in local public health practice;

  (b)  based on developments in medical science and technology; and

  (c)  in the interests of equity.

Reports

(4)  The Pandemic Preparedness Review Committee shall report its findings to the Minister of Health five years after the day on which this section comes into force, and every five years thereafter.

Implementation of recommendations

(5)  On or before the day that is 90 days after each day the Pandemic Preparedness Review Committee reports its findings to the Minister under subsection (4), the Minister shall inform the Legislative Assembly of the Review Committee’s findings and make recommendations for the Government of Ontario to implement.

Remuneration and expenses

(6)  The Lieutenant Governor in Council may determine the remuneration and expenses of any person appointed under subsection (2).

Appropriation required

(7)  Subsection (6) does not apply unless money has been appropriated by the Legislature for the purpose of that subsection.

Commencement

2 This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

3 The short title of this Act is the Pandemic Preparedness Act, 2022.