Access is a City Priority
 As the new
City of Toronto emerges, Toronto City Council has identified community access and equity
as a priority issue and has established the Task Force on Community Access and
Equity. With a reputation as an advocate of access, Councillor Joe Mihevc
has been appointed chair of the 18-member Task Force.
Chair's Vision
 Councillor Mihevc sees the City of Toronto as a model of diversity with the
full and equal participation of all residents. Through frank discussions
with the community, he expects to provide a blueprint for Toronto that other
municipalities in North America will want to follow. His vision is simple: to ensure that
Toronto is accessible, equitable, responsive and accountable to everyone.
Making Toronto Accessible
The primary objective of the Task Force is to make Toronto's services and
facilities more accessible and equitable to the City's increasingly diverse population.
The Task Force also wants to strengthen community involvement and participation in every
day decision making.
Through a series of public consultations, the
Task Force will spend the next few months hearing directly from the people of Toronto to
better understand their unique needs and discover new ways to improve city services that
can meet those needs.
 Have Your Say
The ideas, needs, experiences and solutions of all citizens of Toronto are highly
valued and fundamental to making sure this vision of Toronto becomes a reality.
We want to know what you think, what you need, what can be
done to make access and service delivery better. Consequently the Task Force will be
seeking your input through community consultations:
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June 10
Women's Issues
12:30 - 4:30 pm
North York Civic Centre, Committee Room 2June 15
Lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgendered community Issues:
6:00 - 8:00 pm
519 Church St. Community Centre
June 17
Ethno-racial Issues
1:00 - 5:00 pm
Rm 30, Metro Hall
June 18
Immigration & Refugee Issues:
3:00 - 5:00 pm
Rm 303, Metro Hall
June 20
Ethno-racial Issues
10:30 am - 2:30 pm
Rm 303, Metro Hall
June 22
Ethno-racial Issues
9:30 - 12:00 noon
Room #2, North York Civic Centre
June 23
Ethno-racial Issues
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Rm M-31/32
Scarborough Civic Centre
Women's Issues
6:30 - 9:00 pm
Albion Public Library
1515 Albion Rd.
Immigration & Refugee Issues
6:00-8:00 pm
Rm 302, Metro Hall |
June 24
Ethno-racial Issues
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Rm 307, Metro HallJune 24
Disability Issues
7:00 - 9:00 pm - Variety
Village, 3701 Danforth Ave, Conference Room
June 25
Disability Issues
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Metro Hall, 27th Floor
Women's Issues
4:00 - 7:00 pm
Rm 303, Metro Hall
June 27
Disability Issues
10:30 - 12:30 noon
Metro Reference Library, 789Yonge St., Grnd Floor
June 29
Disability Issues
1:30 - 3:30pm
Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall, Mtg Rm 1 & 2
June 30
Women's Issues
6:30-9:00pm, Cttee Rm 2
Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Drive
July 6
Disability Issues
1:00 - 3:00pm
East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Ave., Council Chambers
July 6
Disability Issues
7:00 - 9:00 pm
North York Civic Centre, Cttee Rm 4 |
 Leaders for Change
As a result of a rigorous selection process, the Task Force has put together an
impressive panel of community leaders with a breadth of experience in social policy issues
and community development to bring about powerful change.
Councillor Joe Mihevc has appointed two dynamic co-chairs: Sylvia
Maracle, from the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres and a
well-known advocate of Aboriginal rights, and Gloria Fallick, community
activist and member of the YWCA Canada, National Board.
Four city councillors have been appointed to the Task Force
to ensure an effective voice on City Council: Pam McConnell, Elizabeth Brown,
Sherene Shaw and Peter LiPreti.
Other members have been selected for their knowledge of
community and group issues as well as the depth, scope and variety of experience:
Kahn Rahi - Consultant in human services
and race relations:
Dennis Fong - Manager, Human Resources for the Toronto Community Care
Access Centre:
Duberlis Ramos - Executive Director of the Hispanic Development Council:
Sonja Greckol - Consultant in service, pay and employment:
Karen Mock - National Director for the League for Human Rights of B'Nai
Brith Canada:
Kenneth Denis Richard - Executive Director of the Native Child and Family
Services of Toronto:
Shaheen Ali - Co-director in Across Boundaries: An Ethnoracial Mental
Health Centre:
Z. Jenny Ratansi-Rodriques - Senior Manager of Agency Services for United
Way of Greater Toronto:
Carole Riback - Program Co-ordinator of the Anne Johnston Health Station,
Barrier-free Health Program:
Charles Ng - Consultant of training programs in managing diversity, and:
Al Reeves - Board of Director of Nucleus Housing inc, a company providing
accessible housing with 24-attendant care to adults with physical disabilities.
Balancing Needs
 Our
community is large and diverse with many unique needs. Input from the public is essential
to understanding and responding to the needs of the communities we are trying to serve in
a balanced and fair way.
The task force is aware of the challenge of trying to
balance needs and improve service at the same time. The consultation process has been
designed to provide the opportunity for the public to express its' views and for task
force members to learn about the different and unique needs of each community and
individual.
Putting the Pieces Together
 Following
the consultation, a draft report will be produced based on public input identify issues,
suggesting options and solutions and making recommendations for implementing change.
This report will put all the pieces together and provide a
comprehensive strategy for ensuring that the recommendations can be implemented
effectively.
Keeping You Informed
The following documents are available:
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