Letters - by Year
OPHA seeks to be an independent voice for a broadly defined conception of Public Health. Through strategic collaborations with governments and partnerships with health units, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), addiction centres, academic institutions and community health centres, OPHA has succeeded in addressing and influencing the broader elements of health policy as well as a wide range of specific Public Health issues.
If you would like to contribute to an advocacy letter endorsed by OPHA, please log in to our Members' Lounge and refer to the Procedure for the Approval Process for OPHA Advocacy Correspondence 2007.
OPHA invites you to review the record of our correspondence on a wide variety of current issues, listed by year.
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001
2011
OPHA responds to recently released 2009 Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) Annual Report [PDF] (March 8, 2011)
EBR Registry Number 011 – 1191: Amendments to Ontario Regulation 455/09 to extend the date for Phase 1 toxic substance reduction plans by one year and address requirements to "toxic substance reduction planners”" [PDF] (January 31, 2011)
2010
OPHA congratulates the Ministry of Health on their report, Curbing Childhood Obesity: A Federal, Provincial and Territorial Framework for Action to Promote Healthy Weights. [PDF] (November 9, 2010)
OPHA supports implementing the comprehensive set of recommendations put forward in the report, Building on Our Gains, Taking Action Now: Ontario’s Tobacco Control Strategy for 2011 – 2016 [PDF] (October 28, 2010)
Amendment of Private Members Bill C-289 - including snow sport helmets into the Hazardous Product Act [PDF] (October 15, 2010)
- Download the Briefing Note on Snow Sport Helments
Letter re Protecting Ontario’s alcohol and public health policies in negotiations on the proposed Canada-EU treaty [PDF] (September 22, 2010)
OPHA offers input into the proposed legislative changes being recommended by The H1N1 Pandemic – How Ontario Fared report by Dr. Arlene King. [PDF] (September 13, 2010)
OPHA offers comments on the Review of Provincial Policy Statement, 2005 - EBR 010-9766 [PDF] (August 25, 2010); Accompanying Cover Letter [PDF]
Follow-up Letter to Premier McGuinty re Special Diet Allowance (SDA) program being replaced by Nutritional Supplement Program. [PDF] (August 23, 2010)
OPHA expresses grave concern on potential elimination of the mandatory Long Form Census [PDF] (July 2010)
Support letter for the continued improvement of the Great Lakes Indicators [PDF] (July 7, 2010)
Support letter encouraging the government to move forward on the Panorama project [PDF] (June 22, 2010)
OPHA comments on EBR 010-9349 supporting amendment to Regulation 455/09 - strong licencing for toxic reduction planners [PDF] Toxic Reduction Act (May 17, 2010)
Alcohol Retail Monopolies and Privatization of Retail Sales [PDF] Backgrounder on the privatization of the LCBO (May 14, 2010)
Support letter for the application of the Healthy Communities Stream to support a scaling up strategy for the Community Food Centre model. [PDF] (May 11, 2010)
Support Letter regarding the Ontario Health and Physical Education (H&PE) Curriculum for Grades 1-8. [PDF] (May 10, 2010)
Support letter to Department of Justice to bring in Random Breath Testing in drinking driving legislation. [PDF] (May 4, 2010)
SDOH WG Letter of Introduction to Minister Broten [PDF] Joint Working Group on the Social Determinants of Health. (April 12, 2010)
Letter to Minister of Health urging regulation of industry-generated trans fats. [PDF] OPHA Food Security Workgroup. (March 25, 2010)
Joint Letter with alPHa re social assistance and health as part of Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy: Breaking the Cycle [PDF] (March 23, 2010)
Factors to consider in the internal review of the cost of the Special Diet Allowance (SDA). [PDF] Letter to Premier McGuinty. (March 22, 2010)
OPHA supports OSNPPH urging revisions to the Nutrition Section in the Day Nurseries Act (DNA). [PDF] (March 22, 2010)
Supporting Letter re the continued, compulsory pasturization and raw milk ruling on Regina vs. Michael Schmidt [PDF] (March 22, 2010)
Support for one of the objectives of Health Canada's Think Tank on Discretionary Fortification in which OPHA participated. [PDF] OPHA Food Security Workgroup requested the federal government to bring Natural Health Products sold in the food format under the Food and Drug Regulation framework. Letter to Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq. (March 2, 2010)
Letter reaffirming OPHA's position against privatizing the LCBO [PDF] (January 29, 2010)
2009 
OPHA commends the Minister's Advisory Group on Mental Health for their consultation paper, Every Door is the Right Door (December 15, 2009)
Letter to Premier McGuinty re the findings of the 2009 Nutritious Food Basket (NFB) reports and the risks of poverty and food insecurity. [PDF] (November 18, 2009)
Supporting Letter re Ontario regulation made under the Toxic Reduction Act (EBR Registry 010-7792) [PDF] (October 28, 2009)
OPHA's Letter of Support for Food Share's Good Food Café, Good Food Café Cart, and Good Food Market Garden programs [PDF] (July 14, 2009)
Supporting Letter to Premier McGuinty re Smoke-Free Ontario Act and Strategy (SFOS) [PDF] (June 5, 2009)
Letter to Infant Feeding Survey Collaborative to support funding for the survey [PDF] (May 26, 2009)
Supporting Letter to Minister Caplan re Toronto Public Health’s Food Safety in Toronto and Foodborne Illnesses in Toronto reports [PDF] (May 15, 2009)
Letter to RNAO to support the development of a “Safe Sleep Practices for Infants” Best Practice Guideline [PDF] (April 22, 2009)
Letter to SOGC to support Joint Policy Statement on Normal Childbirth [PDF] (April 17, 2009)
Supporting Letter to Minister Prentice re the government's commitment to the reduction of global mercury pollution. [PDF] (March 9, 2009)
Letter of Support re Zero Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Levels for all drivers until they reach 22 years of age [PDF] (February 19, 2009)
Letter to SOGC in support of a National Strategy for Breastfeeding [PDF] (February 19, 2009)
OPHA encourages Federal government support for gun control Bill C-68 [PDF, 64kb] (February 13, 2009); sent to the Leaders of the Federal Parties.
2008
OPHA requests the Federal government to consider Keynesian strategies for economic stimulus [PDF] (December 23, 2008)
Supporting Letter re EBR 010-5080 implementation of the Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act, 2008 [PDF] (December 18, 2008)
Supporting Letter for Metrolinx's Draft Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Investment Strategy [PDF] (November 12, 2008)
Letter re Special Dietary Allowance Report [PDF] (October 14, 2008)
Creating Ontario’s Toxics Reductions Strategy – Discussion Paper [EBR 010-4374] [PDF] (October 11, 2008)
OPHA Responds to the consultation on proposed reforms to the Liquor Licence Act – Special Occasion Permits (SOPs) [PDF] (September 30, 2008)
OPHA's input re the Review of the Personal Health Information Protection Act 2004 [PDF] (August 25, 2008)
Letter about Discretionary Fortification [PDF] (July 24, 2008)
Letter supporting the revision of the Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program rates to reflect actual living costs [PDF] (July 22, 2008)
Letter welcoming Minister Kaplan to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care [PDF] (July 16, 2008)
Letter to Minister Tony Clement [PDF, 79kb], commenting on various aspects of the report submitted to Health Canada by Dr. Kellie Leitch, Reaching for the Top: A Report by the Advisor on Healthy Children and Youth [PDF] (June 18, 2008)
Letter to Premier McGuinty re Deliberations on Restricting Cell Phone Usage in Automobiles [PDF] (June 12, 2008)
Letter to Minister of Child and Youth Services re: poverty reduction initiative [PDF] (May 13, 2008)
Letter to Premier McGuinty re banning commercial advertising of food and beverages to children under the age of 13 [PDF] (April 9, 2008)
OPHA Submission to the Review of the Roots of Youth Violence [PDF, 86kb] (February 21, 2008)
Supporting Letter for EBR Posting 010-2248 — Ban on Cosmetic Use of Pesticides [PDF] (February 15, 2008)
2007
Letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty re: new dental health program [PDF] (December 21, 2007)
OPHA comments on the Classification Harmonization of Domestic Class Pesticides [PDF] (September 14, 2007)
OPHA Response "Reducing Alcohol-Related Harm in Canada: Toward a Culture of Moderation. Recommendations for a National Alcohol Strategy" [PDF] (August 20, 2007)
OPHA's support letter re proposed legislative reforms to alcohol- and drug-impaired driving [PDF] (June 20, 2007)
OPHA Submission to Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights (SSCHR) re: Physical punishment of children [PDF] (May 31, 2007)
Letter to Medical Officers of Health re: Diversity Competent Public Health Professionals Resolution [PDF] (May 18, 2007)
OPHA's submission re: Bill 171, Health Systems Improvement Act, 2007 [PDF] (April 24, 2007)
OPHA's response to the consultation on proposed reforms to the Liquor Licence Act [PDF] (March 21, 2007)
Letter to MPP Shelley Martel re: support and promotion of breastfeeding [PDF] (February 23, 2007)
OPHA's support for a Call to Action on Climate Change and Clean Air [PDF] (February 19, 2007)
Letter to Health Minister George Smitherman re: SARS Commission final report [PDF] (February 9, 2007)
Letter re: development of a regulation on source protection committees made under the Clean Water Act, 2006 [PDF] (January 26, 2007)
2007 Pre-Budget Submission [PDF], presented to the Honourable Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance (January 18, 2007)
- OPHA's submission re: Bill 171, Health Systems Improvement Act, 2007 [PDF] (January 18, 2007)
2006
Letter to Health Minister George Smitherman re: Health System Improvements Act [PDF] (December 29, 2006)
Healthy Schools Challenge to Engage the Creativity of Students: The Ontario Healthy Schools Coalition congratulates the Ministries of Health Promotion and Education on the new Healthy Schools Challenge [PDF], (December 15, 2006)
Letter to Boards of Health and Public Health Units re: amending the Off Road Vehicle Act [PDF], (December 13, 2006)
Letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty re: amending the Off Road Vehicle Act [PDF] (December 13, 2006)
Letter to Minister of Transportation Donna Cansfield re: amending the Highway Traffic Act [PDF], (December 13, 2006)
Letter to the College of Nurses of Ontario re: breastfeeding promotion [PDF] (December 12, 2006)
Letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty re: the sale and distribution of unpasteurized milk [PDF] (December 11, 2006)
Letter to U.S. Trade Representative and European Commissioner for Trade re: "plurilateral" GATS request on alcohol distribution services [PDF] (November 28, 2006)
Letter in support of Human Milk Bank Initiative [PDF] (November 16, 2006)
Letter to the Editor, Chatelaine magazine re: Breastfeeding Sucks [PDF] (November 16, 2006)
Letter to Canadian Paediatric Society re: breastfeeding and dehydration [PDF] (November 16, 2006)
Letter in response to Ontario Maternity Care Expert Panel's report [PDF] (November 10, 2006)
Letter to Minister of Energy Dwight Duncan on electricity supply [PDF] (September 25, 2006)
OPHA Submission letter to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Parliamentary Review [PDF] (September 17, 2006)
Letter to Ontario Ombudsman re low social assistance rates [PDF] (August 30, 2006)
School Buses, Air Pollution and Children's Health [PDF] (August 10, 2006)
OPHA commends Minister Watson on Ontario's Action Plan for Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) [PDF] (August 10, 2006)
Breastfeeding Support offered to Emergency Management Unit [PDF] (June 6, 2006)
OPHA urges Minister Smitherman to adopt the recommendations in the Capacity Review Committee's Report [PDF] (June 6, 2006)
OPHA opposes the government's proposal to open 20 additional Agency Stores [PDF] (June 2, 2006)
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OPHA joins with other professional organizations in endorsing the Capacity Review Committee Report's recommendations [PDF] (May 17, 2006)
Letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper re National Child Care Funding [PDF] (April 18, 2006)
OPHA supports the Sherbourne Health Centre’s proposal for an Ontario Rainbow Health Resource Centre [PDF] (March 22, 2006)
The OPHA Violence Prevention Workgroup requests that violence prevention be included within the scope of the MHPSG review [PDF], Letter to Minister Jim Watson (March 17, 2006)
Letter to Hospital for Sick Children re: Nestlé Sponsorship [PDF] (March 9, 2006)
OPHA Responds to Proposed Review of the Provincial Liquor Licence Act (LLA) [PDF] (February 23, 2006)
OPHA provides input on the proposed Clean Water Act, 2005I [PDF] (February 2, 2006)
2005
Healthy Weights, Healthy Lives support letter [PDF] (December 2, 2005)
School Bus Report: Minister Dion; Minister Broten [PDF]; Medical Officers of Health (November 30, 2005)
Coalition of health organizations encourages inclusion in future alcohol-related rules and regulations [PDF] (November 24, 2005)
Support for Student Nourishment Program Community Partners Program [PDF] (November 4, 2005)
OPHA supports the development of a provincial injury prevention strategy [PDF] (August 15, 2005)
Letter to the Editor: Fat is the new tobacco: Obesity fight top priority of new Ontario Minister [PDF] (July 15, 2005)
Interior Lead Dust Standards [PDF] (June 14, 2005)
Letter to Dr. Basrur re cuts to Child Health programs [PDF] (June 1, 2005)
OPHA responds to the Notice of Proposal for Regulation respecting the Local Air Quality Framework [PDF] (May 31, 2005)
Telehealth Ontario protocols for breastfeeding [PDF] (May 16, 2005)
Environmental Health Capacity [PDF] (May 13, 2005)
Children's Environmental Health [PDF] (May 12, 2005)
CPHA assesses Health Canada as a "business" [PDF] (op-ed piece submitted to the Globe and Mail, May 11, 2005)
OPHA commends Minister Smitherman on Healthy Weights, Healthy Lives [PDF] (May 6, 2005)
National Child Benefit Clawback [PDF] (May 5, 2005)
Letter to the Editor speaking against privatization (The Liberal, April 10, 2005)
Study finds children may be exposed to polluted air on school buses [PDF] Hanif Kassam, MD, Liana Nolan, MD, Kim Perrotta (feature article in OHPE Bulletin, March, 2005)
OPHA commends Dr. Basrur's support of Equal Access Standards being a part of the Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines (MHPSG) review [PDF] (March 14, 2005)
Accompanying Letter for Submission re Bill C-206: an act that would amend alcoholic beverage warning labels [PDF] see Submission document (February 25, 2005)
Plant Breeders’ Rights: Support for farmers to control their own seeds [PDF] (February 9, 2005)
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Privatization: Mortgaging public health for cash [PDF] (Letter to the Editor, The Toronto Star, January 21, 2005)
2004
Letter to Member of Provincial Parliament - Public health imperatives support rejection of LCBO privatization proposals [PDF], December 15, 2004
OPHA's Response to Saturday Night Magazine article “Hard to Swallow” by Philip Preville - privatization for cheaper booze, November 29, 2004
Local Air Quality Standards [PDF] (October 18, 2004)
Letter of Support: Canadian Child Care Federation [PDF] (September 10, 2004)
Designation of Streetcar Lanes for St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto [PDF] (September 24, 2004)
Ontario's Industry Emissions Reduction Plan [PDF] (August 24, 2004)
Letter to Minister Pettigrew re: National Breastfeeding Strategy [PDF] (August 10, 2004)
Draft Nutrition Recommendations for Canadians [PDF] (August 10, 2004)
Response to the Request for Public Comments Related to the Planning Reform Initiative [PDF] (July 28, 2004)
Letter to the Premier: First Ministers' Health Summit [PDF] (July 20, 2004)
- CPHA Fact Sheet referred to in letter: “What is Public Health?” produced by Canadian Public Health Association
Letter to Dr. Basrur in response to Operation Health Protection Report [PDF] (July 7, 2004)
School Meal Funding [PDF] - Children's Breakfast Programs (June 28, 2004)
Building Environmental Health Capacity Within Public Health [PDF] (June 25, 2004)
Choose a Cost Effective & Low Impact Future for Ontario's Electrical Sector [PDF] (June 4, 2004)
Egale Saddened By Ont. Decision To Kill Funding For Sex Reassignment Surgery [PDF] (press release, May 28, 2004)
Implementation of Toronto's Pesticide By-law [PDF] (May 14, 2004)
Letter to Minister Pettigrew re: Concerns regarding the Safety of and Informed Consent used in the TRIGR Study [PDF] (April 23, 2004)
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****CPCHE Response to the Canada Health Protection Act - A Proposal to Renew Federal Health Protection Legislation (March 31, 2004)
OPHA's Response to the Canada Health Protection Act - A Proposal to Renew Federal Health Protection Legislation [PDF] (March 29, 2004)
Letter to Minister of State (Public Health) re Alcohol and Illness [PDF] (March 25, 2004)
Ontario's Energy Future Should be Sustainable [PDF] (March 18, 2004)
National Framework for Petroleum Refinery Emission Reductions [PDF] (March 12, 2004)
Letter to Minister Smitherman re: Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program and Breastfeeding Supports [PDF], (March 10, 2004)
Ontario Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance letter to Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care [PDF] (February 9, 2004)
Ontario Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance letter to Minister of State (Public Health) [PDF] (February 9, 2004)
The potential sale of the LCBO [PDF] (February 4, 2004)
Energy Efficiency, Shared Savings Mechanisms & Public Health [PDF] (January 22, 2004)
Healthier Beverage Choices in Schools [PDF] (January 6, 2004)
2003
Healthier Food Choices in Schools [PDF] (November 26, 2003)
OPHA signed on to the following letter: Removal of the electricity rate cap for residential and small business consumers [PDF] (November 7, 2003)
Community Use of School Facilities [PDF] (November 6, 2003)
Welcome Letter to George Smitherman, Ontario's new Minister of Health and Long-Term Care [PDF] (October 23, 2003)
Phasing Out Coal Fired Power Plants [PDF] (October 15, 2003)
Reducing the Level of Sulphur in Canadian Off-Road Diesel Fuel [PDF] (September 19, 2003)
Public health issues involving alcohol in GATS and FTAA treaty negotiations [PDF] (September 3, 2003)
2003 Ministers of Health Meeting [PDF] (August 22, 2003)
Pan-Canadian Healthy Living Strategy [PDF] (July 29, 2003)
****Setting Canadian Standards for Sulphur in Heavy And Light Fuel Oils (July 18, 2003)
OPHA signed on to the following Open Letter on the establishment of a National Health Council [PDF] (May, 2003)
The Development of Canada's National Plan of Action for Children [PDF] (February 26, 2003)
2002 Progress Report on activities under the 1991 Canada-United States Air Quality Agreement [PDF] (February 25, 2003)
The Impact of International Trade Negotiations on Alcohol Controls [PDF] (February 20, 2003)
The Discussion Paper on Ontario's Clean Air Plan for Industry (CAPI) [PDF] (February 19, 2003)
National budget to support Canada's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol [PDF] (February 12, 2003)
The Expansion of the National Children's Agenda [PDF] (January 21, 2003)
2002
The Legal Alcohol Limit in the Criminal Code of Canada [PDF] (December 16, 2002)
OPHA supports the Romanow Report [PDF] (December 9, 2002)
The Proposed Safe Drinking Water Act [PDF] EBR Registry Number AA02E0002 (November 28, 2002)
Beyond Coal: Phase out coal-fired power plants [PDF] (op-ed, November 14, 2002)
Liquor Licence Act [PDF] (November 13, 2002)
Recommendations of the Canadian Advocates for Nutrition & Physical Activity Policy [PDF] (November 6, 2002)
Letter to Senator Kirby re: his Support of Public Health [PDF] (November 6, 2002)
Joint letter on the process of Five Mandatory Health Programs review [PDF] (October 28, 2002)
Funding for Local Boards of Health [PDF] (October 4, 2002)
The Kyoto Accord [PDF] (September 27, 2002)
Alternative Fuel Sources [PDF] (September 27, 2002)
Strategy for Safe Drinking Water: re Part 2 of the Walkerton Inquiry [PDF] (August 29, 2002)
Nestlé Sponsorship of the Canadian Institute of Child Health (CICH) [PDF] (August 7, 2002)
The Ontario Tobacco Strategy [PDF] (June 24, 2002)
The Community Care Act: Submission to the Romanow Commission by the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) [PDF] (May 8, 2002)
Report of the Walkerton Inquiry [PDF] (March 21, 2002)
Investing in disease prevention and health promotion [PDF] (March 4, 2002)
2001
Funding for Child-Care Programs [PDF] (December 11, 2001)
Ministry of Health Laboratory Services Branch Staff Layoffs [PDF] (November 30, 2001)
Termination of the Ontario Heart Health Program [PDF] (November 21, 2001)
Healthy Babies Healthy Children Funding [PDF] (November 21, 2001)