U/B-1
CITY OF VANCOUVER
M E M O R A N D U M
From: CITY CLERK'S OFFICE Date: APRIL 24, 1996
Refer File: 3254
To: VANCOUVER CITY COUNCIL
Subject: METROPOLITAN BOARD OF HEALTH
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The attached Administrative Report dated March 1, 1996, dealing with the Metropolitan
Board of Health (MBH), was withdrawn from the March 12, 1996 Council agenda at the
request of the Medical Health Officer. Subsequently, Mayor and Councillors received
the accompanying April 1, 1996 letter [U/B1(i)] advising that the MBH has voted to
end the MBH Agreement. The terms of the agreement require that Council pass a
resolution to withdraw from the MBH, and so inform its Chair by the end of June 1996.
In his Administrative Report, the General Manager of Community Services points out
Vancouver is contractually obligated to pay the 1996 Board Assessment of $3,759.50.
The Medical Health Officer advised that if the Board's affairs are wound down before
the end of 1996, a formula will be worked out to return appropriate percentages to
the various members.
CITY CLERK
NLargent:as
U/B-1
REPORT
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: March 1, 1996
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: General Manager of Community Services
SUBJECT: Metropolitan Board of Health
RECOMMENDATION
THAT City Council resolve to withdraw from the Metropolitan
Health Board, effective December 3, 1996, and that the
Chairman of the Metropolitan Health Board be served with a
copy of this resolution.
COUNCIL POLICY
As a result of the transfer of the Vancouver Health Department to
the Vancouver Health Board, Council no longer plays a major role
in establishing policy for public health services in the City of
Vancouver.
BACKGROUND
The Metropolitan Health Board is composed of representatives of
the Councils and School Boards of Vancouver, Burnaby and
Richmond, of the North Shore Union Board of Health, and of the
Ministry of Health. The Board was established to "exercise
coordination, advisory and consultative functions to the
Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond and North Shore Health Departments
in the metropolitan area." The Board may also "exercise
coordination, supervising and consultative functions, powers and
duties as the Minister of Health may prescribe in the
administration of health services." The City's representative on
the Board is Councillor Sullivan.
The City has contributed to the cost of running the Metropolitan
Board through the Vancouver Health Department budget. The 1996
Board Assessment for Vancouver is $3,759.50.
The City became a member of the Metropolitan Board of Health via
an agreement, dated July 2, 1965. This agreement states:
Any party may by resolution passed by its duly
constituted governing body withdraw from this agreement
at the end of any calendar year provided a copy of the
said resolution has been served upon the chairman of
the Metropolitan Board at least six (6) months before
the end of that year and therefore the withdrawing
party shall no longer be represented on said
Metropolitan Board of Health.
DISCUSSION
As the City transferred the Health Department to the Vancouver
Health Board on January 1, 1996, Council no longer has
responsibility for the provision of public health services.
Therefore, membership on the Metropolitan Health Board is neither
required nor desirable, and the City should serve notice of
withdrawal.
Unfortunately, the notice provisions in the Metropolitan Health
Board agreement commit the City to membership through the end of
1996 and commit the City to a cost assessment. This assessment
can no longer be covered in the Health Department budget, as the
City no longer controls the Health Department and the Vancouver
Health Board cannot pay dues for the City. The 1996 assessment
(which is a contractual obligation, not a grant) will, therefore,
be paid from General Government accounts. If Council approves
the recommendation in this report, there will be no 1997
assessment.
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