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March
5, 2003
1.
ROLL CALL
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Present
|
Representative
|
Phone
|
Network/
Organization
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|
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Sharon
Filger |
416-789-7441 |
Chairperson |
|
|
Ruth
Kottas |
416-746-7101 |
Wards
1 & 2 |
|
|
Cindy
McCarthy |
416-621-4822 |
Wards
3 & 4 |
|
|
Lisa
Tjernstrom |
416-394-7601 |
Wards
5 & 6 |
|
|
Lesley
Powell |
416-736-5959 |
Wards
7 & 8 |
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|
Robert
Gordon |
416-741-8499 |
Wards
9 & 10 |
|
|
Lori Pacitto |
416-653-9702 |
Wards
11 & 12 |
|
|
Virginia
Thomson |
416-767-2991 |
Wards
13 & 14 |
|
|
Lynn
Belanger |
416-481-8900 |
Wards
15 & 16 |
|
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Mary Pascale |
416-534-5773 |
Wards
17 & 18 |
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Agnes
Arsenault |
416-603-6062 |
Wards
19 & 20 |
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Deidre
Munroe |
416-440-0383 |
Wards
21 & 22 |
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Wilma
Morrison |
416-491-8336 |
Wards
23, 24 & 33 |
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Neena
Bandali |
416-429-5437 |
Wards
25, 26 & 34 |
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Debbie
Ciccone (for Debbie Wilson) |
416-415-2590 |
Wards
27 & 28 |
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Heather
Yeo |
416-466-8715 |
Wards
29 & 30 |
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Marg
Cox |
416-686-3390 |
Wards
31 & 32 |
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Kay-Ann
Harriott |
416-265-1491 |
Wards
35 & 36 |
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Irena
Stansfield |
416-439-0521 |
Wards
37 & 38 |
|
|
Frances
French |
416-497-0329 |
Wards
39 & 40 |
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Donna
Gilmore |
416-321-1570 |
Wards
41 & 42 |
|
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Kathy
Grexton |
416-287-0007 |
Wards
43 & 44 |
|
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Bernice
Cipparrone |
416-924-0545 |
Infant
Mental Health |
|
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Karen
Ward (for Belinda Netley) |
416-935-0200 |
Special
Needs Network |
|
|
Herb
Goldsmith |
905-831-7947 |
ADCO |
|
|
Jane
Mercer |
416-538-7630 |
Toronto
Coalition for Better Child Care |
|
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Jim
Tsatsos |
416-537-4154 |
Home
Child Care Association |
|
|
Daisy
Talob |
|
Association
of Family Resource Centres |
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Barb
Lampert (for Lloyd McKell) |
416-397-3516 |
Toronto
District School Board |
|
|
Nora
Donovan |
416-222-8282 |
Toronto
Catholic District School Board |
|
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Annie
Dell |
416-535-6955 |
School
District #58 |
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Sue
Hunter |
416-515-1100 |
Toronto
Child Abuse Centre |
|
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Amina
Bhaloo |
416-492-6848 |
Multi-Site
Service Provider |
|
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Carol
Smith |
416-269-4545 |
Multi-Site
Service Provider |
|
|
vacant |
|
Consumer
Representative |
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Maria
de Wit |
416-430-7400 |
Past
Chairperson |
|
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Marna
Ramsden |
416-392-8128 |
Children's
Services |
|
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Cheryl
MacDonald |
416-392-9399 |
Children's
Services |
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Michael
Bates |
416-325-0660 |
MCFCS
- Toronto Regional Office |
Roll
call was taken. There were not enough members present to achieve quorum.
The meeting held was for information purposes only.
2.
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
Due
to lack of quorum, the minutes of February 5th, 2003
were tabled until next meeting.
3.
CORRESPONDENCE
Sharon
Filger announced that there are two new representatives, Debbie
Wilson of Ward 27 and 28 and Agnes Arsenault of Ward 19 and 20.
4.
CITY
REPORT
4.1 2003 Budget
Petr Varmuza provided the City Report. He reported that the 2003
City budget was approved by Council on March 3rd,2003.
The approved 2003 operating budget for Children’s Services
is $299.450 million (gross); $62.442 million (net). Petr Varmuza
discussed the ongoing shortfall from the Province that resulted
in the loss of 1,616 child care spaces in 2002. He indicated that
$7.9 million over the 2002 approved level is needed from the Province
in order to avoid the loss of a further 500 spaces this year.The
following items from the CYAC Action Plan were approved by Council:
The City’s 20% share of $667,000 was committed for actual costs
in 2003. The Provincial 80% cost sharing contribution is required
to implement this year’s installment in the phased return to
the payment of actual costs. $500,000 of City money was approved
for health and safety including playground upgrades; the Action
Plan recommended a $1 million City share. Council agreed to fund
its 20% share for the 2,000 subsidized space expansion, conditional
upon Provincial cost sharing. The City contribution would be taken
from the Social Services Reserve.Council also approved $33,000 taken
from the savings realized from the York Before and After School
Program under utilization. The money is to be used for two After-School
Programs in Councillor Augimeri’s ward (Ward 9).
4.2 Toronto
Child Care Campaign
Cheryl MacDonald discussed the Toronto Child Care Campaign.
The first phase included the release of the report titled "Preserving
Child Care in Toronto: The Case for New Ontario Government Funding".
The next phase is the open letter to Premier Ernie Eves that highlights
the child care crisis in Toronto (see attached). It urges the Province
to invest $18.6 million to preserve and stabilize the system immediately.
Also, it urges the Province to sign on to the new federal deal for
child care, as announced in the recent federal budget. The letter
will be signed by community leaders such as June Callwood, Charles
Coffey, Margaret McCain, Frances Lankin, Martha Friendly, Dan Keating,
and David Pecaut from the Toronto City Summit Alliance. The ad will
appear in newspapers starting with the Toronto Star on March 7th,
2003. Sharon Filger recommended that the CCAC be a signatory to
the letter. Since there was no quorum, members present gave support
and requested that a call around be made to others.
Note: The call around was completed and CCAC appeared as a
signatory.
4.3 Brenda
Patterson reported on an inter-departmental group that has been
meeting on issues relating to impending war, stress faced by children
and issues of racism. There will be information available at upcoming
Network meetings.
4.4 An appendix to the Children's Services operating criteria
has been developed regarding the financial practices and requirements
for programs under contract with the City. This will also be useful
as a self-assessment tool. Brenda committed to do a survey of childcare
operators following the first year of implementation of the operating
criteria.
4.5 A reminder letter will be sent to operators about
the importance of completing attendance accurately.
5. TORONTO
CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
There was no
report at this time.
6.
TORONTO DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD REPORT
Barb
Lampert gave the TDSB report on behalf of Lloyd McKell and stated
that the elementary teachers are in a legal strike position and
currently involved in a work to rule action. At this time, there
is no impact on child care programs.
An ongoing early
identification checklist required by the Province will be used by
TDSB for children from Kindergarten through Grade 2, to assist in
identifying children with special needs.
7. NEW
BUSINESS
Jane
Mercer reported on the success of community advocacy efforts during
this year’s budget. Jane distributed information regarding
a key vote.
Jane Mercer also encouraged the child care community to join the
Ontario and Toronto Coalitions for Better Child Care in the International
Women’s Day March, on March 8th, 2003.
8. NEXT
MEETING:
Wednesday,
April 2nd, 2003
9:30
a.m.
Metro
Hall
Room 308/309
9. 2003
MEETING DATES:
March
5th Council Chamber, Metro Hall
April 2nd Room 308, Metro Hall
May 14th Council Chamber, Metro Hall
June 25th Room 308, Metro Hall
September 17th Room 308, Metro Hall
October 15th Room 308, Metro Hall
November 12th Council Chamber, Metro Hall
December 10th Council Chamber, Metro Hall
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