alPHa
Position
Public Health has an important mandate in key areas related to the use of alcohol and other drugs, including activities in chronic disease prevention, injury prevention, substance abuse prevention and harm reduction. Comprehensive strategies to address
the potential harms of substance use can only succeed through a combination of interventions: education, prevention, harm reduction, treatment and enforcement.
RESOLUTION A24-03: A Proposal for a Comprehensive Provincial Alcohol Strategy: Enhancing Public Health through Prevention, Education, Regulation and Treatment
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NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies write to the Provincial Government recommending that a comprehensive alcohol strategy be developed, in keeping with CMOH’s 2023 Annual Report
on an all-of society approach, to address substance use and harms, which includes the following actions: promote comprehensive public education campaigns, strengthen regulations on advertising, increase alcohol taxes, adopt a prevention
model, and improve access to addiction treatment and support services;
AND FURTHER that the alcohol strategy be formed and written with the support of a multidisciplinary panel of experts, including local public health and people with lived experience; Now therefore be it resolve that alPHa
write to the provincial government
AND FURTHER that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies petitions the federal government to either ban alcohol advertising like cannabis and tobacco, or in the absence of such a ban, update the CRTC code to include
alcohol restrictions on digital and social media.
AND FURTHER that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies recommend that health equity be foundational to the strategy;
AND FURTHER that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies recommends that in the development of a provincial strategy, the government implement a tax or pricing system that covers the growing deficit alcohol causes
each year;
AND FURTHER that the government limits the influence of the Alcohol Industry on the creation of alcohol policies and education campaigns, as they have a conflict of interest being that increased consumption of alcohol
provides increased industry sales and profit.
AND FURTHER that a copy be sent to the Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario.
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Developments on A24-03:
May 23, 2025
alPHa's response to the 2025 Ontario Budget includes this resolution in context of the planned reductions to alcohol prices.
November 7, 2024
alPHa conducted the Reducing Alcohol Harms in Ontario: Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health and Public Education Workshop, an interactive session with presenters from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction and public health leaders discussing strategies and opportunities to integrate Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health into local health promotion campaigns.
July 18, 2024
alPHa has sent a letter to the Minister of Health that introduces this resolution.
July 18, 2024
alPHa has sent a letter to the Minister of Canadian Heritage that introduces this resolution, highlighting the call on the federal government to tighten controls on alcohol advertising.
RESOLUTION A24-07: Creating a Provincial Strategy for Indigenous Opioid Epidemic Supports & Funding
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NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies support the petitioning of both the provincial and federal governments to invest and provide adequate and immediate funding, resources,
and supports to positively impact the ability of Indigenous communities to care for their populations and provide appropriate substance use supports, programs, and community-based solutions.
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Developments on A24-07:
July 18, 2024
alPHa has sent a letter to the Minister of Health to introduce this resolution, which builds upon A22-4 and A22-5 (see below), which are also aimed at addressing the ongoing opioid crisis. These are also included.
RESOLUTION A22-5: Indigenous Harm Reduction: A Wellness Journey
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THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies recognize the critical importance of working with Indigenous communities to better understand Indigenous harm reduction and adopt policies, practices and programs for harm reduction that are culturally safe and rooted in community-knowledge and needs;
AND FURTHER THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies advocate with Indigenous partners to the Minister of Health and other appropriate government bodies for additional funding to support Indigenous harm reduction including additional Indigenous Treatment and Healing Centres. |
Developments on A22-5:
July 18, 2024
alPHa has sent a letter to the Minister of Health introducing Resolution A24-7, which builds upon this one and A22-4 (see below), which are also aimed at addressing the ongoing opioid crisis. All three are included.
April 5, 2024
alPHa has addressed a response to the CMOH Annual Report to the Minister of Health, with this and five other related alPHa Resolutions attached.
March 28, 2024
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health’s 2023 Annual Report, Balancing Act: An All-of-Society Approach to Substance Use and Harms, was released. It is a call for an all-of-society approach to reduce substance use harms and touches upon themes contained in several alPHa Resolutions, including this one.
July 18, 2022
alPHa has sent a separate communication to the Minister of Health on this specific
resolution.
July 18, 2022
Letter sent to the Minister of Health from the alPHa President
that introduces this and the four other resolutions that were passed by our members at the 2022 Annual General Meeting.
RESOLUTION A22-4: Priorities for Provincial Action on the Drug/Opioid Poisoning Crisis in Ontario
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THAT alPHa endorse the nine priorities for a provincial multi-sector response;
AND FURTHER that the noted provincial priorities and areas of contribution by local public health agencies be communicated to the Premier, Minister of Health, Associate Minister of Mental Health & Addictions, Attorney General, Minister
of Municipal Affairs & Housing, Minister of Children, Community & Social Services, Chief Medical Officer of Health, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ontario Health and CEO of Public Health Ontario;
AND FURTHER that alPHa urge the above mentioned parties to collaborate on an effective, well-resourced and comprehensive multi-sectoral approach, which meaningfully involves and is centred around PWUDs from of all backgrounds, and is based
on the nine identified provincial priorities.
AND FURTHER that alPHa recommend the provincial government consider the potential role and appropriate timing of declaring the drug poisoning crisis in Ontario as an emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection act (R.S.O.
1990).
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Developments on A22-4:
December 17, 2024
alPHa has sent a letter to the Minister of Health regarding the decision to curtail supervised consumption sites, with reference to this resolution and to the Ontario Auditor General's findings on the review of the implementation and oversight of Ontario's opioid strategy.
July 18, 2024
alPHa has sent a letter to the Minister of Health introducing Resolution A24-7, which builds upon this one and A22-5 (see above), which are also aimed at addressing the ongoing opioid crisis. All three are included.
April 5, 2024
alPHa has addressed a response
to the CMOH Annual Report to the Minister of Health, with this and five other related alPHa Resolutions attached.
March 28, 2024
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health’s 2023 Annual Report, Balancing Act: An All-of-Society Approach to Substance Use and Harms, was released. It is a call for an all-of-society approach to reduce substance use harms and touches upon themes contained in several alPHa Resolutions, including this one.
February, 2023
Grey Bruce Health Unit was recently approved to lead a 2022-23 Locally Driven Collaborative Project (LDCP) entitled:
“Implementing an evidence-informed public health approach to health promotion around substance use and preventing substance-related harms among youth aged 15-24 in Ontario.”
The intent of the project is to provide an understanding of the current implementation of health promotion (primordial and primary) strategies across public health units and key stakeholders with specific focus on primordial prevention (SDOHs, ACES),
and primary prevention (e.g., school-based like Youth Mental Health and Addiction Champions (YMHAC) collaborative initiative in schools and family-centered programs like handle with care in collaboration with CMHA) and compare the current
real-life implementation of these strategies with the evidence-based strategies in the literature to assess the efficacy effectiveness gap . In addition, we will look at the risk and protective factors affecting opioid and illicit drug use among youth
aged 15-24 years of age.
The project is supported by the COMOH Drug/ Opioid Poisoning Crisis (DOPC) Working Group, which identified prevention as a priority for local and provincial action.
October 14, 2022
alPHa has sent a letter to the Minister that communicates our endorsement in principle
of the Drug Strategy Network of Ontario (DSNO) Solutions to End the Drug Poisoning Crisis in Ontario: Choosing a New Direction as it aligns with Resolution A22-4.
October 6, 2022
The COMOH Drug / Opioid Poisoning Crisis Working Group, upon request of the CMOH, has provided recommendations for revisions
to the Ontario Public Health Standards as they pertain to this crisis.
July 18, 2022
alPHa has sent a separate communication to the Minister of Health on this specific resolution.
July 18, 2022
Letter sent to the Minister of Health from the alPHa President
that introduces this and the four other resolutions that were passed by our members at the 2022 Annual General Meeting.
Developments on A21-2:
(Please see Developments on A22-4 above for more).
February 24, 2022
The COMOH Section strongly supported the implementation of a COMOH Opioids Working Group, which began meeting bi-weekly near the end of February 2022.
Committee Chair: Dr. Lisa Simon (AMOH, SMDHU)
Work Group Purpose: Enhance the public health and cross-sector response to the opioid crisis in our respective PHUs and across the province, through:
1. Collective action to influence provincial direction, through cross-sector collaboration and advocacy on priority issues from upstream to downstream
2. Knowledge exchange amongst PHUs and with partner agencies
3. Articulating shared understanding of PH roles and approaches, building from the OPHS
July 20, 2021
alPHa has sent a letter to the Minister of Health that introduces Resolution
A21-2.
June 8, 2021
Resolution passed by alPHa Membership.
Resolution A19-3, Public Health Approach to Drug Policy
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THAT the federal government be urged to decriminalize the possession of all drugs for personal use, and scale up prevention, harm reduction and treatment services; AND FURTHER that the federal government convene a task force,
comprised of people who use drugs, family members, and policy, research and program experts in the areas of public health, human rights, substance use, mental health, and criminal justice, to explore options for the legal regulation
of all drugs in Canada, based on a public health approach.
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Developments on A19-3:
April 5, 2024
alPHa has addressed a response
to the CMOH Annual Report to the Minister of Health, with this and five other related alPHa Resolutions attached.
March 28, 2024
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health’s 2023 Annual Report, Balancing Act: An All-of-Society Approach to Substance Use and Harms, was released. It is a call for an all-of-society approach to reduce substance use harms and touches upon themes contained in several alPHa Resolutions, including this one.
December 17, 2019
alPHa has sent a letter to the new federal Minister of Health congratulating her on her appointment and outlining how alPHa's work aligns with elements of her mandate. This resolution is attached.
July 24, 2019
alPHa has sent a letter to the Attorney
General of Canada that calls on the federal government to decriminalize the possession of all drugs for personal use and begin to refocus efforts on prevention, harm reduction and treatment services.
| RESOLUTION A19-7 - Considering the Evidence for Recalling Long-Acting Hydromorphone |
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THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) petition the federal Minister of Health and Health Canada to review the scientific literature and other available data regarding potential harms associated with
long-acting hydromorphone, particularly with respect to the risk it poses for the spread of infectious diseases among people who inject drugs; AND FURTHER that if evidence of serious or imminent risk to health is found,
that the federal Minister of Health and Health Canada consider recalling or restricting prescribing of long-acting hydromorphone;
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Developments on A19-7:
December 17, 2019
alPHa has sent a letter to the
new federal Minister of Health congratulating her on her appointment and outlining how alPHa's work aligns with elements of her mandate. This resolution is attached.
July 24, 2019
alPHa has sent a letter to the federal Minister of Health
that introduces the resolution calling for a review of evidence of the health risks of long-acting hydromorphone.
Resolution A13-4 - Gambling Expansion and Provincial Revenue
Generation
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THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies call for the Province of Ontario to refrain from expanding gambling availability as a way to generate additional revenues in Ontario; AND FURTHER that the Association of Local
Public Health Agencies partner with health units and other stakeholders to strengthen and develop strategies that prevent or mitigate gambling-related harm in Ontario, promote awareness of treatment options, and protect vulnerable
populations.
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Developments on A13-4:
July 16 2013
Letter written to the Minister of Finance introducing this Resolution. Please click here to read.
Resolution:
A12-4 - Alcohol Pricing and LCBO Revenue Generation
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THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) urgently request that the Premier of Ontario (Dalton McGuinty), the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care (Deb Matthews), the Office of the Attorney General (John Gerretsen),
the Minister of Finance (Dwight Duncan), and the Chief Medical Officer of Health (Arlene King), only consider revenue generation from increased pricing on alcohol, not fostering increased alcohol sales.
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Developments on A12-4
March 6, 2019
The alPHa President and Executive Director were invited to participate in an Alcohol Retail Expansion Roundtable hosted by the Ontario Ministry of Finance. Speaking notes are available here.
March 2015
alPHa has written two letters following reports that the Ontario Government is poised to announce changes to the province's alcohol retailing system that would allow the sale of beverage alcohol in supermarkets. The first was sent to the Minister of Finance on March 17, which outlined our concerns with the idea. The second
was to the Chair of the Premier's Advisory Council on Government Assets on March 24, which suggests that this proposal is not aligned with the Council's advice on the matter. alPHa Resolutions A12-4 and A08-4 were included.
April 2014
alPHa and COMOH have responded to the recent Government announcements that will allow VQA wines to be sold at Farmers' Markets and to allow LCBO Express stores within large grocery stores. COMOH's VQA input is here;
alPHa's LCBO letter is here, and COMOH's subsequent request to remove the Low Risk
Drinking Guidelines Performance Indicator from the Public Health Funding and Accountability Agreements is here.
August 15 2012
Response received from Premier to the July 30 Letter
July 30 2012
alPHa has written a letter to the Premier congratulating him for quickly reiterating that there would
be no major changes to the way beverage alcohol is sold in Ontario following this week’s call by the Ontario Convenience Stores to allow alcohol sales in corner and grocery stores.
July 24 2012
Response received from Premier to the July 5 letter
July 5 2012
Letter from the alPHa President introducing alPHa Resolution A12-4, which calls for limiting revenue increases from
the LCBO to pricing control and not expansion of access.
Resolution:
A12-6 - Energy Drink Regulations
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THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) urge Health Canada and the Province of Ontario to prohibit the advertising and sale of energy drinks to children and adolescents;require the addition of a warning label
to energy drink packaging; to prohibit the sale of all pre-mixed caffeinated-alcoholic beverages at Provincial Liquor Outlets or at a minimum a warning label to all pre-mixed caffeinated-alcoholic beverages packaging; prohibit
the sale of energy drinks at all locations where alcohol is sold and served
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Developments on #A12-6:
July 25 2012
Response received from the federal Minister of Health, which refers to changes to rules governing energy drinks that were
announced in October 2011. These changes came into effect at the beginning of 2013 and appear to satisfy the labeling request. It also points out that the other requests are not under federal jurisdiction.
July 11 2012
alPHa has written letters to three Ministers at the Federal and Provincial levels introducing alPHa Resolution
A12-6, which calls for stricter regulation of energy drinks.
Developments on #A11-1:
April 5, 2024
alPHa has addressed a response
to the CMOH Annual Report to the Minister of Health, with this and five other related alPHa Resolutions attached.
March 28, 2024
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health’s 2023 Annual Report, Balancing Act: An All-of-Society Approach to Substance Use and Harms, was released. It is a call for an all-of-society approach to reduce substance use harms and touches upon themes contained in several alPHa Resolutions, including this one.
March 6, 2019
The alPHa President and Executive Director were invited to participate in an Alcohol Retail Expansion Roundtable hosted by the Ontario Ministry of Finance. Speaking notes are available here.
January 31, 2019
A letter has been sent to the Minister of Finance from the alPHa President providing
feedback on the Province's plan to modernize the rules for the sale and consumption of alcohol in Ontario, reiterating our call for a Provincial Alcohol Strategy.
July 21 2017
alPHa has written to the Premier to request an update on your December 21 2016 announcement
of a comprehensive Provincial Alcohol Strategy.
May 4 2017
alPHa has written a letter to the Minister of Finance in response
to the 2017 Ontario Budget, which includes a reference to this resolution.
January 26 2016
alPHa has written a letter to the Premier responding to the December 2015 announcement that the Province will be developing a Provincial Alcohol Strategy.
September 21, 2015
A position statement entitled Why Ontario Needs a Provincial Alcohol Strategy has been released
by CAMH in conjunction with five other organizations including RNAO, OPHA, MADD.
August 29 2011
Response received from the Premier. Please click here to read.
August 17, 2011
alPHa has written to the Premier of Ontario urging action on this and two other 2011 alPHa Resolutions. Please click here to read.
August 17, 2011
alPHa has written to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care urging action on this and five other 2011 alPHa Resolutions Please click here to read.
Developments on #A08-2:
December 11 2008
Reply received from the Premier's Office - Please click here to read.
November 21, 2008
Letter written to the Premier of Ontario informing him of this and other alcohol-related resolutions passed in October 2008. Please click here to read.
Developments on #A08-3:
December 11 2008
Reply received from the Premier's Office - Please click here to read.
November 21, 2008
Letter written to the Premier of Ontario informing him of this and other alcohol-related resolutions passed in October 2008. Please click here to read.
Resolution: A08-7 - Promoting Safe Driving in Young Drivers
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THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies request the province that in the development of a comprehensive strategy for alcohol and other drugs, they include designated driver initiatives as one prevention measure with
specific focus on youth
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Developments on #A08-7:
Feb 18 2009
alPHa has forwarded this and two other resolutions to the Standing Committee on General Government as it considers changes to Ontario's traffic safety legislation under Bill 126, Road Safety Act 2008. Please click here to read
December 11 2008
Reply received from the Premier's Office - Please click here to read.
November 21, 2008
Letter written to the Premier of Ontario informing him of this and other alcohol-related resolutions passed in October 2008. Please click here to read.
Resolution: A07-6, Advocate for a Provincial Strategy to Address Substance Use
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THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies request that the provincial government develop a comprehensive provincial strategy for alcohol and other drugs based on the four components of prevention, harm reduction, treatment
and enforcement, in collaboration with the Ontario Health Education and Enforcement Partnership (HEP) initiative
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Developments on #A07-6:
October 31, 2007
Letter written to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care introducing this and several other resolutions passed at the 2007 alPHa AGM. Please click here to read.
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A15-5 - Provincial Availability of Naloxone
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NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies requests that the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care develop and implement a provincial Naloxone Strategy that would include and expand access to Naloxone to a minimum of:
-Not-for-profit agencies, Emergency Departments, Correctional Facilities, Paramedics/Emergency Medical Technicians, and organizations that service individuals at risk of opioid overdose,
-Individuals that prescribe to, support and/or care for individuals at risk of opioid overdose, and
-Any individual living in Ontario that is 16 years of age and older and dependent on opioids |
Reason for Closure:
September 29 2017
The alPHa Board has determined that policy actions taken have satisfied the intent of the Resolution even where the Operative Clause(s) have not been completely satisfied
The Minister of Health has announced that the Province is providing funding for every board of health in Ontario to hire more front-line workers, such as addiction outreach workers and nurses, to help municipalities expand supports for people impacted by opioid addiction and overdose, and further that more than 6,500 additional naloxone kits per month will be distributed in the community to those at risk of opioid overdose and their friends and family, through community organizations. The full press release is here.
CLOSED Resolution: A08-4 - Eliminate the Availability of Alcohol Except in Liquor Control Board Outlets (LCBO) (i.e. Increase Point of Sale Control)
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THAT that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) petition the Ontario government to maintain its monopoly on off-premise liquor sales through the Liquor Control Board of Ontario; AND FURTHER THAT alPHa petition
the Ontario government to retain oversight of beverage alcohol at Ontario wineries, microbreweries and the Beer Store through the provisions of the Liquor License Act;AND FURTHER
THAT alPHa petition the Ontario Government to fully consult with health experts, including but not limited to alPHa, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the Ontario Public Health Association before making any policy
changes to the availability of beverage alcohol.
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Developments on #A08-4:
June 10, 2018
The alPHa Board of Directors has closed this resolution, being of the opinion, based on indications from policy makers, that the satisfaction of the Operative Clause(s) is improbable.
March 2015
alPHa has written two letters following reports that the Ontario Government is poised to announce changes to the province's alcohol retailing system that would allow the sale of beverage alcohol in supermarkets. The first was sent
to the Minister of Finance on March 17, which outlined our concerns with the idea. The second was to the Chair of the Premier's Advisory Council on Government Assets on
March 24, which suggests that this proposal is not aligned with the Council's advice on the matter. alPHa Resolutions A12-4 and A08-4 were included.
December 11 2008
Reply received from the Premier's Office - Please click here to read.
November 21, 2008
Letter written to the Premier of Ontario informing him of this and other alcohol-related resolutions passed in October 2008. Please click here to read.
Reason for Closure
May 1 2009Bill 126 amendments to the Highway Traffic Act passed into law, including the enactment of a 0% BAC for all drivers under the age of 22. This portion of the HTA is expected to come into force on August 1, 2010.
Reason for Closure
May 1 2009
Bill 126 amendments to the Highway Traffic Act passed into law, including the enactment of an immediate 3-day suspension of the driver's license if BAC is measured at more than 0.05 mg/L.
| A01-16, Fetal Alcohol Effects/Syndrome Prevention |
THAT the Government of Canada is urged to require all containers of alcoholic beverages sold in Canada to carry the following visible and clearly printed label: Warning: Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause birth defects.
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Reason for Closure
February 1 2007
Resolution closed by alPHa's Board of Directors, following a recommendation by alPHa's Advocacy Committee that alPHa continue to advocate for other strategies that are aimed at reducing FAS incidence.
April 11, 2005
The federal Standing Committee on Health recommends in their report that Bill C-206, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warning labels regarding the consumption of alcohol), not proceed any further, based on conclusions that established,
targeted programs for FAS prevention were more effective, and that the significant cost of implementing labeling requirements would far outweigh their benefits and divert resources away from those programs.
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