July 2010 - Constituent Society and Partnership Corner

Association of Supervisors of Public Health Inspectors (Ontario)

by Shawn Zentner, Constituent Society Representative, OPHA Board of Directors

The Association of Supervisors of Public Health Inspectors (Ontario) [ASPHIO] has recently gone through two major internal changes.

The first was a constitutional revision to reflect the changing landscape of public health and supervisors of public health inspectors. Changes were made to the Constitution to reflect that many public health inspectors go on to supervisory positions outside of public health units. The Constitution has been changed to recognize this, and this will, in turn, broaden the membership of ASPHIO. The membership was also expanded by including provisions allowing for retirees to become members. In addition, new rules were put in place to guide further constitutional reform and revision.

The second change had the ASPHIO executive officially transferred from Central West health units to representatives from the South West region. The new ASPHIO executive team is made up of:

  • President: Chris Munn, Grey Bruce Health Unit;
  • Vice President: Donna Taylor, Perth District Health Unit;
  • Secretary: Andrew Barton, Grey Bruce Health Unit;
  • Projects Coordinator: Chad Ikert, County of Lambton Community Health Services Department.

Another strong focus of ASPHIO in recent months has been ensuring a quality workforce. In addressing this important issue ASPHIO has supported the development of the Continuing Professional Competencies Project initiated by the National Branch of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors. This project outlines standards of practice and discipline specific competencies for public health inspectors.

ASPHIO has also enlisted the help of Ryerson University to conduct a review of the practicum placement of Public Health Inspectors in Ontario. The review, just completed, highlighted some of the challenges faced when the practicum placements serve both as a training ground for new students and also as a supply of summer staff for resource-short health units.

ASPHIO continues to lobby for important issues such as mandatory food handler certification and the ban on the sale of unpasteurized milk. ASPHIO has also established important linkages with the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (OAHPP) and has recently had OAHPP staff present to the membership on a number of emerging issues such as wind turbines.

We are sure the new ASPHIO executive will continue to move the Association forward as we evolve with the ever-changing public health landscape.