Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health Resolution

04.jan.07
Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health

Below, please find the unanimous Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health Resolution, passed in December and sent to the Premier today, supporting the continuation of the prohibition on the sale and distribution of unpasteurized milk.
1/2/2007 
Hon. Dalton McGuinty 
Premier of Ontario 
Legislative Bldg 
Rm 281
Queen's Park
Toronto, ON M7A 1A1 
Honourable Premier, 
Re. COMOH Resolution - Pasteurization of Milk 
On behalf of alPHa’s Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health (COMOH), I am writing today to introduce the attached COMOH Resolution calling for continuing the prohibition of the sale of unpasteurized milk, unanimously carried at its December 1 2006 meeting. 
Just prior to the passage of this Resolution, you personally made your stance clear that this was a public health matter not open for debate. Since this resolution was passed, a motion in the Ontario Legislature to examine issues around the distribution of raw milk (including consideration of weakening the current prohibition) was defeated. Ontario’s Medical Officers of Health are grateful that you stood up for the public’s health on this issue, and relieved that a clear majority of our elected Provincial representatives did the same. 
We believe that it is extremely important to maintain the prescribed safeguards that have been proven beyond any doubt to protect the health of all Ontarians. Pasteurization is one of the most significant developments in the history of preventing food-borne disease - an especially important one considering the near-universal consumption of milk and its nutritional benefits. 
We hope that this debate has been put to rest, but given recent events, COMOH wishes to make its stance very clear. 
Yours sincerely, 
Graham L. Pollett, MD, MHSc, FRCPC
Chair, Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health
Copy: Hon. George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long Term Care
Hon. Jim Watson, Minister of Health Promotion 
Hon. Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs Hon. David Ramsay, Minister of Natural Resources 
Hon. Mary Anne Chambers, Minister of Children and Youth Services 
Mr. Ken Gorman, President, Association of Supervisors of Public Health Inspectors (Ontario) 
Mr. Adam Grant, President, Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (Ontario Branch) 
Dr. Garry Aslanyan, President, Ontario Public Health Association 
Chairs, all Ontario Boards of Health
COUNCIL OF ONTARIO MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH (COMOH) RESOLUTION
Prohibition on the Sale and Distribution of Raw Milk
December 1, 2006 
WHEREAS Foodborne disease is an important burden of illness in Ontario, as was clearly documented by the Honourable Mr. Justice Roland Haines in his review of Ontario’s meat inspection system; and 
WHEREAS there is a wide variety of laws, regulations, policies, standard and guidelines in place to protect Ontario’s food supply; and 
WHEREAS the public sale and distribution of unpasteurized milk in Ontario is currently prohibited; and 
WHEREAS the consumption of unpasteurized milk can cause human infectious disease; 
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health support the Government of Ontario to continue to prohibit the public sale and distribution of unpasteurized milk in Ontario; and 
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Premier of Ontario, Ministries of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, Natural Resources, Children and Youth Services, Health and Long Term Care and Health Promotion, Association of Supervisors of Public Health Inspectors (Ontario), Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (Ontario), Ontario Public Health Association, and all Ontario Boards of Health are so advised. 
MOVED: Dr. Hazel Lynn
SECONDED: Dr. Cathy Whiting 
MOTION CARRIED