TOWNSHIP OF ESQUIMALT MEMORANDUM
MEETING DATE: April 20, 2026
TO: Committee of the Whole
FROM: Barbara Desjardins, Mayor; Andrea Boardman, Councillor
SUBJECT: Community Health Needs Assessment and Health Care Playbook Discussion, Staff Report No. DEV-25-055
INFORMATION:
Purpose:
Staff Report No. DEV-25-055 presented at the January 19, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting, outlined an option for the Committee to review the recommendations contained in the 2019-2025 Esquimalt's Health Journey and the Community Healthcare System Support Playbook (Attachment 4), identify the actions they wished to advance, and recommend these to Council, with staff subsequently preparing an impact assessment of the proposed actions for Council's future consideration.
At the same meeting, Council further directed staff "to provide administrative support for the creation of a select committee to support improving Esquimalt primary care, co-chaired by Mayor Desjardins and Councillor Boardman, with the scope of work and composition to come back for Council consideration."
The co-chairs have completed a comprehensive analysis of Recommendations 1-33, identifying priority areas, redundancies, and jurisdictional considerations based on the Health Journey Study, the 2019 and 2026 Needs Assessments, and the Community Healthcare System Support Playbook.
Before establishing a Select Committee, the Committee of the Whole is asked to review this assessment and determine whether such a body would add strategic value at this stage. A Select Committee may be beneficial if Council wishes to create a formal mechanism for sustained oversight, interagency engagement, or ongoing policy development related to primary care.
Background:
1. Community Health Context
The 2019-2025 Esquimalt Health Journey Study and Community Health Needs Assessment highlight major system gaps:
* A shortage of family physicians resulting in 4,000-7,000 unattached residents seeking care in Esquimalt.
* Increasing ...
Click here for full text