Position Statements

Health Officers Council endorses member resolutions on a wide variety of public health topics. The following database includes position statements based on approved resolutions dating back to 2017.

Title	Number	Date	Position Statement
Raising Minimum Legal Age of Sale for Tobacco and Vapour Products to 21 years	159-02	May 2024	The Minimum legal age of sale for commercial tobacco and vapour products in BC be set to 21 years.
Cold Weather Shelters	159-01	May 2024	1. The opening of cold weather shelters and warming spaces be standardized throughout the province based on the recommendations from the BC HEAT Committee’s cold weather response. 2. The Province to provide adequate funding for, and work with, local governments, to open cold weather shelters and warming spaces to meet the population needs across the province.
Federal regulation to reduce button battery injuries	158-02	October 2023	Health Officers Council supports federal regulation of button batteries and the consumer products that use them that will reduce likelihood of ingestion of button batteries. Action: Letter sent to The Honourable Minister of Health Mark Holland.
Alcohol	158-01	October 2023	1. Establish a provincial framework/strategy that clearly states the assumptions, principles, vision, goals and objectives that should guide alcohol policy and regulation in BC. 2. Adopt a goal of reducing per capita alcohol consumption in BC to reduce the health and social harm associated with alcohol. Enshrine this goal in legislation. For more information on this position, visit: https://www.healthofficerscouncil.net/positions-and-advocacy/publications/alcohol/ Action: Letter sent to The Honourable Premier David Eby, Honourable Ministers, and Dr. Bonnie Henry.
Gambling and Health 2.0	156-03	October 2022	1. Interjurisdictional marketing of gambling should be precluded and BC encouraged to take an aggressive position to limit exposure of BC residents to such marketing. 2. Expansion of resources is required to understand the impacts of gambling, including the impacts of marketing of gambling even when specific activities are not available to BC residents.
Pandemic Recovery and Undoing Alcohol Policy Changes with Potential to Negatively Impact Public Health	156-02	October 2022	BC alcohol policy changes made since the start of COVID-19 which increase access and availability of alcohol be reversed, in the interests of protecting public health.
BC develop and maintain a comprehensive coordinated approach to promotion and prevention as it relates to mental health and substance use	155-03	May 2022	BC develop and maintain a comprehensive coordinated approach to promotion of mental wellness and primordial and primary prevention of mental illness and problematic substance use.
Reducing temperature-related health impacts within home environments	155-02	May 2022	1. Government of British Columbia create legislation or regulation that supports strata residents in the “right to cool” by prohibiting stratas from enacting or maintaining by-laws disallowing lifesaving temperature controls, including portable air conditioners and window coverings that keep out heat. 2. Government of British Columbia amend the Residency Tenancy Act or Regulation in order to support tenants in the “right to cool”, by prohibiting landlords from disallowing lifesaving temperature controls, including portable air conditioners and window coverings that keep out heat. 3. Government of British Columbia should investigate additional amendments to the Residential Tenancy Act or Regulation, and the BC Building Code, that would reduce temperature-related morbidity and mortality, including minimum and maximum indoor temperatures acceptable in rental units to ensure undue risks to health and safety do not accrue to tenants; and standards for provision of air-conditioning in residential units and/or common areas of multi-unit dwellings.
Protection of Public Health Physicians and Staff from Threats of Violence and Acts of Intimidation	155-01	May 2022	1. Indicating threats of violence and acts of intimidation against public health officials and staff in the conduct of their work are unacceptable. 2. Encourage medical organizations to survey public health staff to determine the patterns of intimidation and acts of violence they have experienced during the pandemic. 3. Ask medical organizations and employers to develop response pathways, tools and organizational supports to respond to acts of intimidation or violence against public health staff.
Endorsement of increase in global equity regarding COVID vaccine distribution and administration	154-04	October 2021	COVID-19 immunization policy and programming should support global co-ordination, equitable access and universality.
Endorsement of recommendations from the In Plain Sight Report	154-03	October 2021	Endorse the recommendations in the In Plain Sight Report.
Residential wood burning, air quality impacts, and health	154-02	October 2021	1. Residential wood burning be recognized as a potential cause of health problems and exposure should be minimized when possible. 2. Support efforts of provincial and national NGO and ENGO organizations striving to reduce human exposure to residential sources of woodsmoke.
Delegating Federal Exemptions for Supervised Consumption Sites to Provinces and Territories	152-04	October 2020	The responsibility for SCS exemptions under the CDSA should be delegated by the federal government to provinces and territories.
Fostering the Exploration of Cannabis as a Harm Reduction Option for other Psychoactive Substances	152-02	October 2020	Support a spirit of tolerance and patience in engagement with community groups providing cannabis as a novel replacement for opioids and methamphetamine in managing symptoms of withdrawal; and encourage agencies like the BC Centre for Substance Use, academic institutions and health authorities to collaborate to help these community programs establish rigorous evaluation of the merits of this potential harm reduction application of cannabis.
Review of Legislation Governing the Delivery of Outdoor Nature Early Childhood Environments in British Columbia	152-01	October 2020	Outdoor nature based early childhood education settings provide benefit to some children and is deserving of further study; and the current Community Care and Assisted Living Act, Child Care Licensing Regulation raises a barrier to providing safe, quality and financially supported outdoor child education and care opportunities.
Endorsement of Declaration for Indigenous Women	151-04	October 2019	Endorse the Declaration for Indigenous Women resulting from the Indigenous Women’s Pre-Conference at Women Deliver 2019; and act by participating in the creation and promotion of the development of specific health indicators, by respectfully privileging the voices and experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis matriarchs and partners at regional and provincial levels, to measure and report on the health and wellbeing of First Nations, Inuit and Métis women, girls, and gender diverse people.
Universal Healthy School Food Program	151-03	October 2019	All children have access to healthy, culturally appropriate foods at school, in conjunction with food literacy programming; and support investment by governments in universal healthy school food programs in which all students in Canada get nutritious breakfast, lunch and snacks where needed.
All on Board Campaign endorsement	151-02	October 2019	HOC endorses the “All On Board” campaign as proposed by the Poverty Reduction Coalition.
Sewage in BC coastal waters	151-01	October 2019	Human sewage that is insufficiently treated to address significant microbial risks to public health should not be discharged into the ocean environment; and further study should occur to characterize and mitigate the significant microbial risks to public health caused by insufficiently treated human sewage in the ocean environment.
Health Impacts Assessment for TransMountain Pipeline Expansion	150-01	March 2019	Independent and comprehensive health impacts assessment of the Trans-mountain Pipeline Expansion project that includes cumulative impacts should be properly resourced and undertaken. Action: Letter submitted to the Honourable John Horgan, Premier, British Columbia
Reach of monitored drug consumption services	150-02	March 2019	Local governments should not create or maintain barriers to the establishment of proven and necessary substance use services and the provincial government should address the use of local zoning bylaws to subvert the Community Charter PH regulations
Access to PharmaNet data to prevent overdose deaths	150-03	March 2019	Medical Health Officers should be given access to identifiable PharmaNet data for those people at risk of overdose death residing in their health region
Opioid regulation to address fentanyl contamination of the street drug market	150-04	March 2019	Regulated health and safety oriented models for opioid sales to individuals to replace opioids from the contaminated opioids street market should be developed, evaluated and implemented
Physician notification following communicable disease exposures in the acute care setting	150-05	March 2019	Health authorities should provide comprehensive, readily available occupational health services that include all employees, physicians, health care trainees, and contracted health care staff within BC
Climate and Health	149-01	October 2018	A. Health Officers Council endorses the Call to Action on Climate and Health (https://www.globalclimateandhealthforum.org/call-to-action): 1. Meet and strengthen the commitments under the Paris Agreement 2. Transition away from the use of coal, oil and natural gas to clean, safe, and renewable energy. 3. Transition to zero-carbon transportation systems with an emphasis on active transportation. 4. Build local, healthy, and sustainable food and agricultural systems. 5. Invest in policies that support a just transition for workers and communities adversely impacted by the move to a low-carbon economy 6. Ensure that gender equality is central to climate action. 7. Raise the health sector voice in the call for climate action. 8. Incorporate climate solutions into all health care and public health systems. 9. Build resilient communities in the face of climate change. 10. Invest in climate and health. B. Health Officers Council supports expanding the Call to Action to ensure that Indigenous voices are central to climate action, following the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the principles outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action.
Smoke Free multi-unit housing in BC	149-02	October 2018	Multi-unit housing in BC should be smoke free
Whole Genome Sequencing at the BCCDC Public Health Laboratory	149-03	October 2018	The British Columbia Public Health Laboratory should have the necessary resources and infrastructure to conduct whole genome sequencing of pathogens to enable molecular epidemiology in support of public health professionals’ fulfillment of their mandate
Education of Health Professionals about Substance Use Disorders	148-01	March 2018	Substance use competencies and curricula should be developed and implemented to educate health professionals under the Health Professions Act about substance use disorders, where—as with other chronic health conditions—dedicated training strategies exist for all levels and disciplines of health care providers; across the province. Interdisciplinary education of health professionals across the province in the management of substance use disorders should be prioritized; BCs existing world-class interdisciplinary addiction medicine fellowship program should be rapidly expanded across the province to increase the number of providers who have addiction expertise, increase regional capacity, and improve patient quality of care.
Compensation for people with mental health and substance use lived experience (peers)	148-02	March 2018	People with lived experience including those with mental health and substance use problems and poverty must be fairly and appropriately compensated for their time and expenses when consulted or employed in relation to health services or research.
Motor Vehicle Act Reform	148-03	March 2018	The BC Motor Vehicle Act should be updated to account for changes in the transportation environment and to better ensure the protection of all road users and particularly vulnerable road users. As a component of updating the BC Motor Vehicle Act HOC supports recommendations of the Road Safety Law Reform Group in the 2016 position paper: Modernizing the BC Motor Vehicle Act.
Regulation of trampoline parks in BC	148-04	March 2018	Trampoline parks should be regulated by the province such that standards are developed for trampoline park equipment design, installation, maintenance, and operation and these standards should be implemented as a condition of operation. The public health community should continue to monitor the injury burden related to trampoline parks to evaluate the efficacy of these standards.
Harmonization of Legislation Governing the Delivery of Residential Care in British Columbia	147-01	October 2017	Legislation with respect to individuals receiving facility-based residential care services in and outside of acute care hospitals should be harmonized. Inequitable treatment of individuals receiving facility-based residential care services in British Columbia outside of acute care hospitals should be addressed.
Protecting the public from second-hand exposure to cannabis smoke and vapour	147-02	October 2017	Exposure to second-hand cannabis smoke and vaping poses an unacceptable risk to the health of the public. The province should develop legislation and regulations to restrict cannabis smoking and vaping in public spaces harmonized with existing restrictions on tobacco smoking and vaping. The province should enact legislation that is permissive of local governments to pass bylaws that are even more restrictive than those entertained by the province.
Public education program with dedicated provincial resources on the risks of cannabis consumption prior to legalization	147-03	October 2017	Federal funding is unlikely sufficient to adequately inform the public about the potential harms associated with cannabis consumption. In addition to the funding announced by the federal government, the province should commit to developing cannabis education programming with dedicated resources as part of their response to cannabis legalization that would address the information needs of both the general as well as vulnerable populations in our province.
Expansion of automated speed enforcement for reduction in serious motor vehicle injuries	147-04	October 2017	The province of British Columbia, in partnership with municipalities, should institute use of automated speed enforcement and expand use of other automated enforcement technologies, both on highways and local roads. The province should ensure usage of implementation strategies that will engender long-term public support for automated speed enforcement, including revenue transparency, community engagement, ample warning, and site auditing.
Opioid Epidemic	147-05	October 2017	HOC should be a co-signer of an ‘open letter’ to the Government of BC outlining the essentials of an Opioid Action Plan based on a strategic public health approach which includes: 1. Causal analysis; the epidemic the result of complex interacting factors: • Increased use of legal and illicit opioids because of poverty, homelessness, unemployment and other factors leading to despair and hopelessness, • Increased marketing and prescription of opioids • Inadequate resources for non-opioid pain relief, mental health and addictions services • Addition of fentanyl to illicit street drugs. 2. Principles: • Destigmatizing addiction • Safety for victims of addiction • Economic benefits of acting now. 3. Action steps: • Increase availability and use of naloxone • Increase supervised injection sites for users of street drugs • Increase availability of non-opioid pain care resources • Rapid development of opioid treatment centres providing: Substitution treatment for street heroin with prescribed Suboxone/methadone. For the small minority not responding well to substitution, maintenance treatment using prescribed heroin, hydromorphone or oral morphine. • Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) supports: (income, housing, food security, education, training, employment, etc.) • Integrated primary health care for co-morbidities: psychosocial supports, counselling, psychiatric and chronic pain treatment, hepatitis, HIV, chronic diseases, etc. • Eventual abstinence for some. 4. Coordinated strategies across all levels of government to address the SDOH with measurable goals, timelines and adequate budgets. 5. An evaluation plan linked to continuous quality improvement.

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