Corporation of the City of Cambridge
Special Council Meeting
Addendum

Meeting #:
Date:
-
Location:
Virtual Meeting

COVID-19

Due to COVID-19 and recommendations by Waterloo Region Public Health to exercise social distancing, members of the public are invited to submit written comments or requests to delegate via telephone related to items on the agenda.

 

The public wishing to speak at Council may complete an online Delegation Request form no later than 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting for Special Council Meetings occurring at 5:00 p.m. and no later than 12:00 p.m. the day before the meeting for Special Council –Statutory Public Meetings occurring at 10:00 a.m.

 

All written delegation submissions will form part of the public record.

4.
Presentations
  

5.
Delegations and Consideration of Related Reports
  

6.
Consent Agenda
  

7.
Consideration of Reports
  

9.
Notice of Motion
 

9.1
Councillor Reid - Naloxone kits in City Facilities
 

Whereas Canada is among the top prescribers of opioids in the world, and Ontario has the highest opioid-dispensing rates in the country with nearly two million Ontarians receiving an opioid in 2014 and 2015. This totals approximately nine million dispenses, putting roughly 15 per cent of Ontarians on prescription opioids; and

Whereas the Region of Waterloo and City of Cambridge continue to be in a state of crisis seeing rises in suspected opioid overdoses; and

Whereas in Waterloo Region, paramedics said they responded to 39 overdoses from June 27 to July 3, 2021, with 11 of those calls on July 2. As of June 4, the region had reported 49 suspected opioid-related deaths; and

Whereas the pandemic may also be playing a big role in increased opioid overdoses and deaths. A national report in October 2020 found the overall health of Canadians deteriorated during the first eight months of the pandemic and showed more people turned to drugs, alcohol, tobacco and screen time rather than physical exercise to cope with the stress; and

Whereas in an effort to prevent overdose deaths, there is a need for increased awareness, education and training to utilize naloxone kits to assist in preventing overdoses and deaths in our community; and

Whereas Naloxone is proven effective at reversing potentially fatal overdoses and many municipalities have begun to include these kits in public facilities as an emergency option in a community with a significant opioid abuse problem; and

Whereas the City of Cambridge can join the leadership we are seeing in other Ontario Municipalities and implement the supply of Naloxone kits in all publicly accessible, city-owned buildings that currently have defibrillators, including arenas and community centres; and

Therefore, be it resolved that Council direct staff to report back by the end of 2021 with an implementation plan to have two Naloxone kits available in all publicly accessible, city owned facilities that currently have defibrillators in them;

And that staff include in the implementation plan an analysis on the costs associated with providing training to use the kits, an awareness campaign for the facilities that will have the kits and a procedure that addresses how to maintain kits within a City Facilities; and

That correspondence be sent to the Region of Waterloo, Association of Municipalities of Ontario and to the Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario and the Hon. Christine Elliot, Minister of Health outlining a request that the Provincial government mandate Naloxone kits in all public institutions across Ontario.

9.2
Councillor Reid - Request for correspondence to the Province, re: Protests at Ontario Hospitals
 

Whereas we continue to see a rise in protesters gathering outside of Ontario hospitals against vaccine mandates and other COVID-19-related public health measures; and

Whereas the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario and Ontario Medical Association have issued joint statements "strongly condemning" the planned disruptions and calling for designated safe zones around health-care facilities to protect staff and patients; and

Whereas health care workers have been caring for COVID-19 patients for 18 months despite risks to themselves and their families, these employees have been working around the clock on our front lines trying to keep our communities safe; and

Whereas everyone has the right to protest, however this is targeted harassment and is undermining the vital work of our health care here in Ontario and should be condemned ; and

Therefore be it resolved that the City of Cambridge Council send correspondence to the Ontario the legislature and Hon. Doug Ford, Premier requesting that measures be put in place to end the harassment and intimidation and establish safety zones around hospitals;

And that this correspondence be forwarded to the Hon. Doug Ford, Premier, the Hon. Christine Elliot, Minister of Health, the Association of Ontario Municipalities and the municipalities of the Region of Waterloo.

12.
Closed Session
 

THAT in accordance with Section s.239 (2) (d) of the Municipal Act, 2001, Council convene in Closed Session to consider the following subject matter:

(d) Labour relations or employee negotiations (verbal update)

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