Governance & Mandate The Board of Health is legally accountable to residents of the catchment area of the Northwestern Health Unit and to the provincial government under the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA) for effective and efficient management and delivery of Public Health programs and services.
The Board of Health is the governing body of the Northwestern Health Unit and is comprised of eight municipally appointed members, up to seven publicly appointed members, and may include additional appointees named by First Nation communities where the Board has agreed to provide Public Health services.
The HPPA is the principal enabling and operating statute for the Board of Health. The Board of Health, as defined by the HPPA, must provide or ensure Public Health programs and services as specified in the Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines, 1997.
It is also expected that the Board of Health will deliver additional programs and services in response to local needs, as acknowledged in Section 9 of the HPPA. They are also directed by federal, provincial and municipal legislation other than the HPPA.
The Board of Health and the provincial government assigns responsibility to administer these programs to the Medical Officer of Health in his/her capacity as the Chief Executive Officer of the Northwestern Health Unit.