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Task Force on Community Access and Equity |
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The Task Force on Community Access and Equity has not completed its mandate but is no longer active. The following information is provided for archival purposes.
The Task Force on Community Access and Equity was absorbed by the Roundtable on Access, Equity and Human Rights.
THE CITY OF TORONTO
Clerk's Department
Minutes
Thursday, September 24, 1998.
The Task Force on Community Access and Equity met on Thursday, September 24, 1998, in Committee Room 309, 3rd Floor, Metro Hall, 55 John Street, Toronto, commencing at 9:45 a.m.
Members Present:
Sylvia Maracle, Chair
Councillor Joe Mihevc, Co-Chair
Councillor Pam McConnell
Shaheen Ali
Dennis Fong
Sonja Greckol
Karen Mock
Charles Ng
Khan Rahi
Duberlis Ramos
Jenny Ratansi-Rodrigues
Al Reeves
Carole Riback
Kenn Richard
Also Present:
- Rita Davies, Executive Director, Toronto Arts Council
Confirmation of Minutes.
On motion by Duberlis Ramos, the minutes of the meeting of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity held on July 16, 1998 were confirmed.
- Toronto Arts Council - Paper on Cultural Diversity -
1992 Report Titled "Cultural Equity".
The Task Force had before it a communication (June 15, 1998), forwarding a paper (June 4, 1998) titled "The Arts, Diversity, and the Civil Society", regarding the work that the Toronto Arts Council has done in the area of cultural diversity and a copy of the Toronto Arts Council's report (June 1992) titled "Cultural Equity"; commenting that the consultation schedule does not appear to have a session specifically focussed on cultural equity; and recommending that the Task Force seriously consider providing an opportunity for the cultural community to speak on the issue.
Rita Davies, Executive Director, Toronto Arts Council made a presentation to the Task Force in connection with the foregoing matter.
On motion by Charles Ng, the Task Force:
- received the aforementioned communication and submission; and
- forwarded a copy of the aforementioned material from the Toronto Arts Council to the Writing Team of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity, for its consideration when preparing the final report for Council.
(Sent to: Rita Davies, Executive Director, Toronto Arts Council; Writing Team, Task Force on Community Access and Equity - Co-Chairs Councillor Mihevc and Gloria Fallick, Councillor McConnell, Shaheen Ali, Dennis Fong, Sonja Greckol, Khan Rahi, Jenny Ratansi-Rodrigues; c. Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre - September 29, 1998)
- Communications and Consultation Plan for Phase II.
The Task Force had before it the following reports:
- (September 14, 1998) from the Communications Sub-Committee of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity reporting on the first phase of consultations held by the Task Force, outlining a draft schedule for the second phase of consultations and recommending that:
- focus group meetings be held locally throughout the City of Toronto, specifically in locations other than those in the first phase;
- day and evening meetings be identified in the schedule so as to accommodate as many residents as possible;
- there be wide-spread publicity in all newspapers (both ethnic/community and mainstream). If the Task Force were to plan ahead, most of the publicity could be obtained through such mediums as radio, TV and print public service announcements; this should be given serious consideration if we are going to reach out to people who did not either know of the first round of consultations or heard about them too late to participate;
- accessible accommodation needs must be fully met and be consistent amongst all consultation meetings, for example: day care, sign language, interpretation, translation, attendant services and wheel chair access should be built into the consultation;
- the Task Force consider exploring other ways of consulting such as telephone response lines, the website, questionnaires, attendance at community councils and organization board meetings;
- all who attended the first phase of consultations be invited to the second round;
- specific communication tools be provided to the facilitators at each of the focus meetings that effectively explain the recommendations; these could be in the form of overheads, braille, diskette, large print, audio cassette and video with up close caption, be made available on request and be used in a consistent manner in order to provide effective feedback and consistency; and
- the necessary arrangements be made for pre-registration at all locations;
- (September 24, 1998) from T-Jay Upper, Manager, Corporate Communications; Winnie Li, Communication Consultant; and Juanita Skinner, Communications Officer; outlining a communications work plan as a follow-up to the initial communications strategy of April 16, 1998; advising that the goal is to facilitate the successful completion of the Task Force's mandate to develop an action plan on access and equity for the new City; detailing eight levels of communication elements; and attaching a proposed budget and advertising schedule.
The following staff persons made a presentation to the Task Force in connection with the foregoing matter:
- Mr. Ron Rock, Scarborough Race Relations Committee; and
- Winnie Lee, Communications Consultant, Corporate Communications, City of Toronto.
On motion by Khan Rahi, the Task Force:
- adopted the Communications Work Plan for Phase II of the public consultations; and
- requested Access and Equity staff to pursue additional resources in order to fund each session outlined in the communications work plan for Phase II of the consultations.
On motion by Carole Riback, the Task Force requested the Access and Equity staff to include in the wide-spread publicity:
- publications for people with disabilities;
- faith community newspapers; and
- the public service announcement section of newspapers and radio broadcasts.
(Sent to: Chief Administrative Officer; Executive Director of Human Resources; Chair and Members, Task Force on Community Access and Equity; Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; c. Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre; Ron Rock, Scarborough Race Relations Committee; T-Jay Upper, Manager, Corporate Communications, City of Toronto; Winnie Li, Communications Consultant; Juanita Skinner, Communications Officer - September 29, 1998)
- Access and Equity Action Plan Formats.
The Task Force had before it a joint report (September 10, 1998) from the Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Director of Human Resources headed "Access and Equity Planning Documents", responding to the request from the Task Force at its meeting of April 27, 1998; forwarding information on the access and equity planning strategies used by the former municipalities within Toronto; and recommending that the report be received as information and the attachments be used by the Task Force in developing recommendations to City Council on the format and function of access and equity planning documents for use by City departments and special purpose bodies.
On motion by Councillor Mihevc, the Task Force:
- adopted the aforementioned joint report from the Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Director of Human Resources; and
- referred the information on the access and equity planning strategies used by the former municipalities within Toronto, to the Writing Team of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity, for its consideration when preparing the final report for City Council.
(Sent to: Chief Administrative Officer; Executive Director of Human Resources; Writing Team, Task Force on Community Access and Equity - Co-Chairs Councillor Mihevc and Gloria Fallick, Councillor McConnell, Shaheen Ali, Dennis Fong, Sonja Greckol, Khan Rahi, Jenny Ratansi-Rodrigues; c. Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre - September 29, 1998)
- Procedures on Hate Activities for Council.
On motion by Al Reeves, the Task Force requested that a report regarding procedures on hate activities for Council, be submitted for consideration at the next meeting of the Task Force to be held on October 22, 1998.
(Sent to: Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre - September 28, 1998)
- Research on Aboriginal/Municipal Structures.
The Task Force had before it a joint report (September 10, 1998) from the Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Director of Human Resources, headed "Municipal Government and Aboriginal Communities: A Survey of Canadian Urban Centres", in response to the Task Force's request of July 16, 1998 for information on the current practices of cities in Canada and any other location that has a large Aboriginal population, respecting initiatives pertaining to Aboriginal people; a review of initiatives in other Canadian urban centres; and forwarding a document (September 1998) titled "Aboriginal-Municipal Relations - A Survey of Selected Experiences in Canadian Urban Centres"; and recommending that the report be received for information.
On motion by Kenn Richard, the Task Force:
- adopted the aforementioned joint report; and
- referred the aforementioned joint report and accompanying document to the Writing Team of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity, for its consideration when preparing the final report for City Council.
(Sent to: Chief Administrative Officer; Executive Director of Human Resources; Writing Team, Task Force on Community Access and Equity - Co-Chairs Councillor Mihevc and Gloria Fallick, Councillor McConnell, Shaheen Ali, Dennis Fong, Sonja Greckol, Khan Rahi, Jenny Ratansi-Rodrigues; c. Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre - September 29, 1998)
- Submission on "Ontarians With Disabilities Act".
The Task Force had before it a communication (July 17, 1998) from David Lepofsky, Co-Chair, Ontarians With Disabilities Act Committee headed "ODA Public Consultation Kit", requesting that written submissions regarding the enactment of the Ontarians With Disabilities Act be sent to the Ontario Minister of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation by the September 4, 1998 deadline; advising that the Ontarians With Disabilities Act Committee is contacting other disability organizations in the community to work together to find ways of participating in the consultation process that the Ministry is organizing; and forwarding the ODA Committee's Analysis of the Discussion Paper, draft letters to the Minister of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation; and a list of regional contacts for the Ontarians With Disabilities Act Committee.
The Task Force also had before it a communication (September 3, 1998) from Councillor Mihevc forwarding a submission (September 3, 1998) to The Honourable Isabel Bassett, Minister of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation, in response to the Ministry's discussion paper titled "Preventing and Removing Barriers for Ontarians With Disabilities" respecting the Ontarians With Disabilities Act.
On motion by Councillor Mihevc, the Task Force:
- recommended to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee and Council that the Task Force's position respecting the Ontarians With Disabilities Act, as embodied in the submission dated September 3, 1998 to The Honourable Isabel Bassett, Minister of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation, be endorsed; and
- referred the aforementioned communications and submission to the Writing Team of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity, for its consideration when preparing the final report for City Council.
(Sent to: Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee; David Lepofsky, Co-Chair, Ontarians With Disabilities Act Committee; Writing Team, Task Force on Community Access and Equity - Co-Chairs Councillor Mihevc and Gloria Fallick; Councillor McConnell, Shaheen Ali, Dennis Fong, Sonja Greckol, Khan Rahi, Jenny Ratansi-Rodrigues; c. Chief Administrative Officer; Executive Director of Human Resources; Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre; Ceta Ramkhalawansingh, Human Resources - September 29, 1998)
- Consultations with Toronto Transit Commission,
Police and Civic Unions.
The Task Force had before it the following communications:
- (August 5, 1998) from Councillor Mihevc, Chair, Task Force on Community Access and Equity on behalf of the Task Force's Departmental Consultation Group, forwarding notes (July 13, 1998) from consultations with the Toronto Transit Commission and notes (July 15, 1998) from consultations with the Toronto Police Services Board, as part of the process of consulting with the City of Toronto's Agencies, Boards and Commissions;
- (June 11, 1998) from Councillor Mihevc, Chair, Task Force on Community Access and Equity, Khan Rahi, Dennis Fong, and Co-Chair Gloria Fallick, forwarding notes from consultations with Civic Unions Local 59 ONA; Local 79; CUPE 1996; North York Fire Fighters; Toronto Fire Fighters; East York Firefighters; Carpenters, Electrical Workers, Building Trades Council; and York ONA Local 15;
- (July 22, 1998) from Denis Casey, Acting President, Local 79 Canadian Union of Public Employees expressing thanks for the invitation to participate in the consultation for the Task Force on July 11, 1998 and the opportunity to discuss the development of an access and equity plan for the City of Toronto; expressing concern that City Council's 1998 operating budget includes the loss of 2,600 jobs over the next two years and the absence of an open and public debate as departments develop downsizing plans to meet budget reductions; expressing concern regarding the City's growing inability to accommodate its employees with disabilities; the possible tendency to require inflated and unnecessary credentials for the new positions created as Departments are restructured; advising that the former City of Toronto required reorganization reports to include an evaluation of the effect of the proposed changes on employment equity, which would be a useful practice for the new City to adopt, as it would help to ensure that employment equity considerations are taken into account in every Departmental reorganization; and that Local 79 encourages the City to work with its unions in a manner that will allow for meaningful consultation and joint decision-making; and
The Task Force also had before it the following report (September 23, 1998) from Councillor McConnell forwarding an update on the poverty consultations; advising that requests have been made for other members of the Task Force to attend the consultations; that consultations will take place throughout the last two weeks in October into the beginning of November and recommending that the consultations with low income people proceed as outlined in the report and that the information received throughout the consultations be integrated into the Final Report of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity.
On motion by Karen Mock, the Task Force:
- received the aforementioned communications for information;
- referred the aforementioned communications to the Writing Team of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity, for its consideration when preparing the final report for Council; and
- adopted the aforementioned report from Councillor McConnell.
(Sent to: Denis Casey, Acting President, Local 79 Canadian Union of Public Employees; Writing Team, Task Force on Community Access and Equity - Co-Chairs Councillor Mihevc and Gloria Fallick, Councillor McConnell, Shaheen Ali, Dennis Fong, Sonja Greckol, Khan Rahi, Jenny Ratansi-Rodrigues; c: Chief Administrative Officer; Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre - September 29, 1998)
- Community Social Planning Council of Toronto -
Consultation on Community Access and Equity.
The Task Force had before it a communication (July 17, 1998), headed "Community Consultation on Community Access and Equity", outlining the key goals of the Community Social Planning Council of Toronto; and recommending to the Task Force that its recommendations to Toronto City Council include a defined leadership role for Council on equity, access and anti-racism in Toronto; a mechanism to perform equity audits of all City functions; a mechanism to ensure barrier-free access to participation by Toronto residents in the City's decision-making processes; a budget for equity and access work by the City; a minimum commitment of funding available for support to community-based organizations working for equity, access and anti-racism in the City; and the incorporation of the adopted recommendations into the City's Official Plan and Social Development Strategy.
On motion by Shaheen Ali, the Task Force:
- received the aforementioned communication for information; and
- referred the aforementioned communication to the Writing Team of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity for its consideration when preparing the final report for Council.
(Sent to: Karen Liberman, Community Social Planning Council of Toronto; Writing Team, Task Force on Community Access and Equity - Co-Chairs Councillor Mihevc and Gloria Fallick, Councillor McConnell, Shaheen Ali, Dennis Fong, Sonja Greckol, Khan Rahi, Jenny Ratansi-Rodrigues; c. Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre; Chief Administrative Officer; Executive Director of Human Resources - September 29, 1998)
- The Canadian Hearing Society - Toronto Region Office -
Response to The Consultation Guide on Community Access and Equity.
The Task Force had before a communication (August 7, 1998) forwarding a brief (August 1998) titled "Reply to the Toronto Task Force on Community Access and Equity Consultation Guide" to assist the Task Force on Community Access and Equity with its recommendations on how access and equity issues should be addressed by the new City of Toronto and advising that the Canadian Hearing Society supports the Task Force's Consultation Guide which is working to ensure that public consultation, departments, standing committees and programs/services are accessible to persons with disabilities.
On motion by Dennis Fong, the Task Force:
- received the aforementioned communication and brief for information; and
- referred the aforementioned communication and brief to the Writing Team of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity, for its consideration when preparing the final report for Council.
(Sent to: Louise Goldhar, Regional Director, The Canadian Hearing Society; Writing Team, Task Force on Community Access and Equity - Co-Chairs Councillor Mihevc and Gloria Fallick, Councillor McConnell, Shaheen Ali, Dennis Fong, Sonja Greckol, Khan Rahi, Jenny Ratansi-Rodrigues; c. Chief Administrative Officer; Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre - September 29, 1998)
- Diversity in Appointments to City of Toronto
Agencies, Boards and Commissions.
The Task Force had before it a communication (July 29, 1998) from the City Clerk, advising that the Nominating Committee on July 28, 1998 considered a joint communication (June 18, 1998) from the Co-Chairs of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity, headed "Diversity in Appointments to City of Toronto Agencies, Boards and Commissions"; and in doing so referred the aforementioned joint communication to the Director of Employment Services with a request that the Director consult with the appropriate officials, including the Manager of Access and Equity, and submit a report to the Nominating Committee on a proposed policy and procedures aimed at ensuring diversity in the City's citizen appointment process.
On motion by Sonja Greckol, the Task Force:
- received the aforementioned communication; and
- referred the aforementioned communication and accompanying material to the Writing Team of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity for its consideration when preparing the final report for Council.
(Sent to: Writing Team, Task Force on Community Access and Equity - Co-Chairs Councillor Mihevc and Gloria Fallick, Councillor McConnell, Shaheen Ali, Dennis Fong, Sonja Greckol, Khan Rahi, Jenny Ratansi-Rodrigues; c. Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre; Chief Administrative Officer; Executive Director of Human Resources; City Solicitor; Director of Employment Services; Director of Corporate Access and Privacy; Director of Corporate Policy and Planning; Councillor Kelly, Chair of the Nominating Committee - September 29, 1998)
- Status of Special Committees and Task Forces.
The Task Force had before it a communication (July 24, 1998) from the Interim Secretary, Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, headed "Status of Special Committees and Task Forces", addressed to the Task Force on Agencies, Boards and Commissions, advising that on July 24, 1998, the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, in part, recommended to Council in Clause 23 of Report No. 15 of the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, that the recommendations contained in the report (July 21, 1998) from Mayor Lastman be amended to provide that the Task Forces on Community Access and Equity, Agencies, Boards and Commissions and the Environment immediately recommend to Council through the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee.
On motion by Councillor Mihevc, the Task Force on Community Access and Equity recommended to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee and Council that the Task Force on Community Access and Equity report to Council through the Special Committee to Review the Final Report of the Toronto Transition Team, considering that the Task Force on Community Access and Equity is a transitional Task Force.
(Sent to: Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee; Mayor Mel Lastman; c. Chief Administrative Officer; Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre - September 29, 1998)
- Lakeside Area Neighbourhoods Association.
The Task Force had before it the following:
- communication (July 28, 1998) from Margaret Blair, Lakeside Area Neighbourhoods Association addressed to Councillor McConnell, Ward 25, expressing concern that there is no separate committee representing the interests of low income people, namely the poor, that consistently suffer discrimination and lack of access and equity; and advising that the poor, those with lower incomes, should have separate representation on the Task Force on Community Access and Equity; and
- report (September 23, 1998) from Councillor McConnell, providing an update on the poverty consultations; advising that requests have been made for other members of the Task Force to attend the consultations; advising that consultations will take place throughout the last two weeks in October into the beginning of November and recommending that the consultations with low income people proceed as outlined in the report and that the information received throughout the consultations be integrated into the final report of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity.
On motion by Karen Mock, the Task Force:
- received the aforementioned communication for information;
- adopted the aforementioned report from Councillor McConnell; and
- requested that the appropriate Access and Equity staff advise the Lakeside Area Neighbourhoods Association of the details relating to the "Poverty Consultations", once times, dates and locations have been finalized.
(Sent to: Margaret Blair, Lakeside Area Neighbourhoods Association; Councillor McConnell, Ward 25 - Don River; c. Chief Administrative Officer; Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre - September 29, 1998)
- Ontario Human Rights Commission.
The Task Force had before it a communication (July 14, 1998), expressing thanks for the information regarding the consultations on access and equity issues and suggesting that the Task Force include in its review, the issue of access to urban public transportation for persons with disabilities.
On motion by Councillor Mihevc, the Task Force:
- received the aforementioned communication for information; and
- invited Keith C. Norton, Chief Commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Commission, to attend a future meeting of the Task Force to express his views regarding the Task Force's Interim Report, once it has been completed.
(Sent to: Keith C. Norton, Chief Commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Commission; c. Chief Administrative Officer; Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre - September 28, 1998)
- Society for the Aid of Sri Lankan Minorities.
The Task Force had before it a communication (July 9, 1998) from Naga Ramalingam, on behalf of the Society for the Aid of Sri Lankan Minorities, expressing concern that there are barriers to accessing services and obvious ethno-racial inequity faced by ethno-racial communities, those who are marginalized and those who are new immigrants without English language skills; advising that it is important that all recommendations are intimated to all levels of government and bureaucrats; that implementation task forces should be set up with grass-root level participation; and that the inclusiveness and diversity of Community Councils needs attention.
On motion by Al Reeves, the Task Force received the aforementioned communication for information.
(Sent to: Naga Ramalingam, Society for the Aid of Sri Lankan Minorities; c. Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre - September 28, 1998)
- Impact of the City's Downsizing and Restructuring on Employment
Equity Designated Groups and Full-time Access and Equity Staff.
The Task Force had before it a communication (August 10, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that City Council on July 29, 30 and 31, 1998, in adopting, as amended, Clause No. 8 of Report No. 11 of the Corporate Services Committee, headed "Impact of the City's Downsizing and Restructuring on Employment Equity Designated Groups and Full-Time Access and Equity Staff", requested Departments to develop a downsizing plan with specific access and equity goals to be reported to the Corporate Services Committee, and adopted the joint report (July 27, 1998) from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and the Executive Director of Human Resources.
Alison Anderson, Director, Employment Services Department, appeared before the Task Force in connection with the foregoing matter.
On motion by Councillor Mihevc, the Task Force:
- received the aforementioned communication and accompanying material for information; and
- recommended to the Corporate Services Committee that an Acting Lead or Manager for the Access and Equity Department be hired, until such time as the Task Force's report has been considered by Council.
(Sent to: Corporate Services Committee; Chief Administrative Officer; Executive Director, Human Resources; c. Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre - September 29, 1998)
- Equal Opportunity - Anti-discrimination
Policy Requirements for Suppliers.
The Task Force had before it a communication (August 10, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that City Council on July 29, 30 and 31, 1998, in adopting, as amended, Clause No. 6 of Report No. 11 of The Corporate Services Committee, headed "Equal Opportunity - Anti-Discrimination Policy Requirements for Suppliers", requested that the use of the former City of Toronto Non-Discrimination Policy Declaration Form which provides protection on the basis of race, creed, colour, national origin, political or religious affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family relationship and disability, be continued and expanded to include all other former municipalities, and all Agencies, Boards, Commissions and Special Purpose Bodies, in the purchasing process for goods and services,
On motion by Kenn Richard, the Task Force:
- received the aforementioned communication and accompanying material for information; and
- referred the aforementioned communication and accompanying material to the Writing Team of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity, for its consideration when preparing the final report for Council.
(Sent to: Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre; Writing Team, Task Force on Community Access and Equity - Co-Chairs Councillor Mihevc and Gloria Fallick, Councillor McConnell, Shaheen Ali, Dennis Fong, Sonja Greckol, Khan Rahi, Jenny Ratansi-Rodrigues; c. Chief Administrative Officer - September 29, 1998)
- Scarborough Network of Immigrant Serving Organizations.
The Task Force had before it a communication (August 6, 1998), requesting an opportunity to make a deputation at the October 22, 1998 meeting of the Task Force and present an outline of their concerns regarding the consultation process and the opportunity for residents and service providers to hear the proposals of the Task Force and comment on them before they are presented to Council.
On motion by Shaheen Ali, the Task Force:
- received the aforementioned communication; and
- invited Richard DeGaetano, Scarborough Network of Immigrant Serving Organizations, to address the Task Force at its next meeting to be held on Thursday, October 22, 1998.
(Sent to: Richard DeGaetano, Scarborough Network of Immigrant Serving Organizations; c. Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre - September 29, 1998)
- Toronto Transit Commission - Diversity of The Board
of Commissioners and Senior Management Levels.
The Task Force had before it a communication (September 4, 1998) from Vincent Rodo, General Secretary, Toronto Transit Commission forwarding a memorandum dated August 19, 1998, from David L. Gunn, Chief General Manager, headed "Letter from Morley S. Wolfe, Q.C., Chair, North York Committee on Community, Race and Ethnic Relations (June 5, 1998), regarding Diversity of the Board of Commissioners and Senior Management Levels"; considered by the Toronto Transit Commission, at its meeting on August 19, 1998; advising that the Commission received the aforementioned memorandum and requested that a copy be forwarded to the Task Force for review and comment.
On motion by Carole Riback, the Task Force requested that the appropriate Access and Equity staff, together with Task Force Members Carole Riback and Al Reeves, jointly prepare an appropriate response from the Task Force Co-Chairs to the Toronto Transit Commission, regarding the issues of diversity as they relate to employment equity.
(Sent to: Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre; c. Chief Administrative Officer; Task Force Members: Carole Riback, Al Reeves - September 29, 1998)
- Constance E. Hamilton Award - Women's Studies Scholarship
at the University of Toronto.
The Task Force had before it the following:
- communication (July 9, 1998) from the Women Members of City Council, addressed to the Corporate Services Committee, headed "Constance E. Hamilton Award - 20th Anniversary - 1999", recommending to the Corporate Services Committee that City Council approve the 20th anniversary program for the Constance E. Hamilton Award and the continuation of this award to recognize Person's Day; that the Commissioner, Corporate Services make the arrangements for the Constance E. Hamilton Award and that joint advertising take place with the Access Award and the William Hubbard Race Relations Award; and that this report be forwarded to the Task Force for information;
- joint report (August 11, 1998), from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and the Executive Director of Human Resources addressed to the Corporate Services Committee, headed "Undergraduate Recipient - 1998-99 City of Toronto Women's Studies Scholarship at the University of Toronto"; advising of the results of the Scholarship application process and recommending that City Council endorse the selection of the undergraduate recipient of the 1998 - 1999 City of Toronto Women's Studies Scholarship; and
- joint report (August 11, 1998) from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and the Executive Director of Human Resources, headed "Undergraduate Recipient - 1998-99 City of Toronto Women's Studies Scholarship at the University of Toronto", addressed to the Corporate Services Committee advising of the results of the Scholarship application process and recommending that City Council endorse the selection of Bonnie Hunter as the undergraduate recipient of 1998 - 1999 City of Toronto Women's Studies Scholarship at the University of Toronto; and that the appropriate City officials be authorized to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.
On motion by Karen Mock, the Task Force:
- received the aforementioned communication for information;
- endorsed the continuation of the Constance E. Hamilton Award to recognize Person's Day; and the City of Toronto Women's Studies Scholarship; and
- requested the appropriate Access and Equity Staff to prepare a list of awards for the Writing Team of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity for its consideration and inclusion in the final report for Council.
(Sent to: Writing Team, Task Force on Community Access and Equity - Co-Chairs Councillor Mihevc and Gloria Fallick, Councillor McConnell, Shaheen Ali, Dennis Fong, Sonja Greckol, Khan Rahi, Jenny Ratansi-Rodrigues; Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre - September 29, 1998)
- Confidential - Draft Report of the
Task Force on Community Access and Equity.
The Task Force recessed at 11:20 a.m. and reconvened at 11:30 a.m. in-camera to consider the following confidential matter.
Members Present:
Sylvia Maracle, Chair
Councillor Joe Mihevc, Co-Chair
Councillor Pam McConnell
Shaheen Ali
Dennis Fong
Sonja Greckol
Karen Mock
Charles Ng
Khan Rahi
Duberlis Ramos
Jenny Ratansi-Rodrigues
Al Reeves
Carole Riback
Kenn Richard
The Task Force had before it a copy of Draft 3 of the Confidential Report (September 14, 1998) of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity addressing the ways in which the new City can continue to support principles of access and equity and ensure that the voices of its diverse communities are involved in all aspects of City life, particularly municipal services, programs and decision making.
On motion by Councillor Mihevc, the Task Force agreed that the Writing Team of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity and any other interested Task Force Members would meet to further review the draft confidential report on Monday, September 28, 1998 at 5:00 p.m. in a Committee Room, to be reserved by Charles Smith at Metro Hall.
- Access and Equity in City Grants.
The Task Force had before it the following communications:
- (July 27, 1998) from the City Clerk, advising in part, that the Municipal Grants Review Committee on July 27, 1998 referred the report (July 20, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services, headed "Municipal Grants Policy - Development Update", to the Task Force for comment thereon to the Municipal Grants Review Committee;
- (September 9, 1998) from the Task Force Sub-Committee on Grants responding to the request from the Task Force at its meeting of July 16, 1998 for a report identifying inequities within the existing grants system; outlining a position for the Task Force to take on the restructuring of the City's grants programs; suggesting that representatives of the Task Force's Sub-Committee on Grants appear before the Municipal Grants Review Committee to present the Task Force's views; and embodying the following recommendations to be submitted to the Municipal Grants Review Committee for its meeting on September 28,1998;
- that the City of Toronto:
- ensure the implementation of an accessible grants system which is clear, consistent and accountable to the community;
- require all funded agencies to be evaluated to ensure these agencies are consistent in their approach on access and equity; and involve the community in this process;
- ensure that the City's grants programs can assist agencies they fund in organizational change and community development activities which are required to enable older and newer organizations to perform effectively;
- adopt anti-racist, access and equity criteria to provide standards for all agencies receiving funding;
- require its grants programs to:
- monitor and audit funded agencies to ensure proper performance by funded agencies, particularly on access and equity implementation;
- to reallocate funding as required to address both geographic and community concerns so that all parts of the new City are involved in the grants system;
- develop a strategy to ensure equitable distribution of grants funding; and
- develop consistency in the language of access and equity so that grants staff are consistent in their communication on expectations and requirements with funded agencies and the broader community; and to achieve this, adopt the glossary of terms such as the one included in the handbook "Hate: Communities Can Respond", as standard terms and definitions in the access and equity field;
- increase the "Access and Equity" grants program funding and change the name to "Anti-Racism, Access and Equity"; if no additional funds are provided, change the name to "Anti-Racism and Anti-Hate"; and subsequently revise the eligibility criteria;
- ensure that ethno-specific and other equity seeking agencies are included in the discussion on grants distribution and that such agencies receive the funding, organizational and community development support they require to be effective; and
- consider effective means of supporting the development of ethno-specific and other equity-seeking umbrella organizations, i.e., the Portuguese Interagency Network, Council of Agencies Serving South Asians, Hispanic Development Council, and Coalition of Visible Minority Women;
b. the Municipal Grants Review Committee provide information to the Task Force on Community Access and Equity on its recommendations regarding the restructuring of the City's grants programs; and
c. the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto;
- (September 21, 1998) to the Municipal Grants Review Committee from the Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Director of Economic Development, recommending that the Municipal Grants Review Committee provide direction regarding the following options to:
- maintain the status quo i.e. maintain the Access and Equity Grants Program budget at its current level of $307,000.00 as well as current eligibility criteria; or
- expand the eligibility criteria without increased funding; or
- increase the budget by $1,193,000 to a sum total of $1.5 million, to provide for funded service enhancement to include equity-seeking advocacy groups across the new City; and
- provide inter-grant funding transfers based on City grants program mandates; and
- a Policy Statement (undated), headed "City of Toronto Grants Policy - Anti-Racism, Access and Equity Policy and Guidelines applicable to City of Toronto Grants Programs."
The Task Force recommended to the Municipal Grants Review Committee that:
- the recommendations embodied in the report (September 9, 1998) from the Task Force Sub-Committee on Grants, headed "Submission to City of Toronto Municipal Grants Review Committee", be adopted; and
- increased grant funding be provided through the Anti-Racism, Access and Equity Grants Program to assist community groups advocating access and equity, anti-racism, and anti-hate, that have not previously received any grant funding and in particular, those community groups advocating equal rights for women, people with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
(Sent to: Municipal Grants Review Committee; Chief Administrative Officer; Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; Municipal Grants Review Committee; c. Charles Smith, Access and Equity Centre - September 28, 1998)
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Future Task Force Meetings.
On motion by Councillor Mihevc, the Task Force approved the following revised schedule of meetings:
October 22
November 5
November 19
December 3 |
9:30 a.m.
5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
9:30 a.m. |
The Task Force on Community Access and Equity adjourned its meeting at 12:45 p.m.
[Original signed by the chair.]
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