19 Mar 2008
March 19, 2008
New board appointments
The board of health has officially welcomed two new members to its numbers. Tay Township Mayor Scott Warnock is standing in for Simcoe County Warden Tony Guergis for the balance of 2008. Warnock brings
extensive communication skills following a career in radio. The province has also approved the appointment of Gail Mullen, who fills the seat vacated after provincial appointee Karen Burgess resigned. Mullen is a past CEO of Barrie Public Library and is currently a partner in Mullen Fluid Power, a distributor of hydraulic and pneumatic equipment. She was looking for community service projects when she came across the vacancy on the board of health.
Household dust subject of national study
A Health Canada study into the chemical content of household dust has included 53 homes in Barrie in its research. The four-year study will be collecting house dust samples from about 1,000 homes in 13 cities across Canada. The intent of the study is to compile a database of background concentrations of chemicals in Canadian homes. Health Canada is conducting the study out of concern that household dust may be an important “exposure pathway” to chemicals, especially for young children.
The study will be testing for a wide range of metals, including lead and other organic chemicals. Associate medical officer of health Dr. Jim Pfaff said the health unit is indirectly involved to help residents understand the findings of the research.
“At the end of the process, we’re here as a resource for people who may have concerns or questions,” Pfaff said.
Small water works program set to start
A transfer of responsibility for small drinking water systems from the Ministry of the Environment to boards of health and a new regulation under the Health Protection and Promotion Act will be coming into play this summer.
The regulation will apply to facilities like non-municipal water supplies used by restaurants, hotels and resorts, airports, some industrial facilities and community halls, arenas and libraries. Previously introduced standards were widely seen as too expensive and geared to large systems rather than small ones. The new regulation will see public health inspectors conduct risk assessments of the facilities and base requirements for sampling or treatment using parameters established by the province.
It’s estimated there are 1,440 such small water systems in Simcoe and Muskoka. It will take about two years to conduct the full initial risk assessments of them all.
After that, inspectors will conduct regular inspections and follow-ups with the systems’ operators.
Funding for the two-year assessment period will be provided 100 per cent by the province.
Next Meeting
The next board meeting will be held on April 16 in the Gravenhurst office, 5 Pineridge Gate, at 9:30 a.m.
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