December 2009 - Our Voice in Action

Four Issues On Which OPHA Has Recently Raised Its Voice

1. Toxics Reduction Act Takes Effect in New Year

The regulations for the Toxics Reduction Act are now set to take effect January 1, 2010. These regulations require the tracking and quantifying of toxic substance use, creation, and release; require industries to develop plans to reduce toxic substances; and to make summaries of these plans available to the public and report progress in toxics reduction to the Ministry of the Environment. See news releases from the Ministry of the Environment.

2. OPHA Responds to Government's Mental Health Strategy

As identified in our August OPHA E-bulletin, the McGuinty government has released a discussion paper, Every Door is the Right Door, to help inform its Mental Health Strategy. OPHA has now responded to the consultation with its recommendations [PDF].

3. OPHA Member Sits on Panel on Water Quality

Our Environmental Health Workgroup has recently agreed to represent OPHA on two important initiatives. Marina Whelan will be representing OPHA on the Great Lakes Canadian Stakeholder Advisory Panel, being established to inform Canadian negotiators during the upcoming negotiation of amendments to the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA; the Agreement). Marian will also represent OPHA on the CPHA Advisory Council’s working group to assist in defining CPHA’s position on chrysotile asbestos which has significant health risks.

4. OPHA Member Joins Advisory Group on Dental Health

Karen Quigley-Hobbs has agreed to represent OPHA on the recently formed Dental Stakeholder Advisory Group related to the Low-Income Dental Program being rolled out by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as part of the Poverty Reduction Strategy. The advisory group will provide guidance regarding program development, dental model and program implementation, healthy promotion education resources, and program evaluation.

 

If you are a Member of OPHA and would like to get more directly involved in working on one of the many issues to which OPHA lends its voice, log into our Members' Lounge and click on the Get Involved link to read about the many ways you can get involved in issues of concern to you.