In December 1999, Toronto City Council approved the final report and action plan of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity. One of the 97 recommendations included the establishment of a city-wide advisory committee on Aboriginal Affairs. If you would like to know how the committees were formed, visit our terms of reference page.
The committee is chaired by Councillor Paula Fletcher. The committee can have up to 18 members. For information about the Aboriginal Affairs Community Advisory Committee, please call the coordinator at the bottom of this page.
In October, 2001 we had a presentation from Community and Neighbourhood Services on the Social Development Strategy. The role the Aboriginal community did or did not play in the development of the strategy was raised.
The committee had presentation in November, 2001 from Economic Development, Culture and Tourism regarding Urban Aboriginal Economic Development. We were asked to consider a report from this department regarding the continuation of the competitive bid process in a fair, open and accessible manner.
We had a presentation from Councillor McConnell following her attendance at the United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.
In the Fall of 2001, we established a workplan that covers the following areas:
1. Urban Aboriginal Agenda
This has not been formalized by the committee. We have discussed some areas that we feel need to be addressed by the committee such as housing, employment. This is a task to continue in 2002. At the June 2002 meeting of the committee, we will be meeting with various members of the community to hear from them what items should be on an urban Aboriginal agenda.
2. Best Practices
A report was produced for the committee which gave information on what is happening in other municipalities with a large Aboriginal populations, such as Winnipeg and Edmonton. The committee has made a commitment to establish an Aboriginal office. To ensure an effective office, we will use input from the community and look at these best practices.
3. Examination of Legislative Documents
The members wanted to look at documents at all levels of government, which may have an impact on Aboriginal people and in particular urban Aboriginal people. This activity will continue into 2002. The committee is familiarizing itself with the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.
4. Strategy for Aboriginal Homelessness
Recommendations from the Aboriginal Homelessness Steering Committee have not yet been finalized. The Steering Committee consists of Aboriginal community members. This committee was formed as a result of the Mayors Taskforce on Homelessness and has a two year mandate. Their mandate will end on December 31, 2001.Our role in this process will be clarified when we have an opportunity to discuss these recommendations with the Steering committee.
5. Communication Strategy
The first step in the communication strategy was to organize a meeting of the committee at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto on Jan. 23, 2002. This meeting asked for comments from members of the community on issues concerning the Aboriginal population (see Urban Aboriginal Agenda). This was the beginning of the committee's strategy to ensure the Aboriginal community is included in City initiatives. Some of the other ideas they have considered are information in Aboriginal newsletters, newspapers and Web sites.
6. Aboriginal Office
The committee has decided to see what space is available at City Hall and are discussing the role of this office and want to have something in place soon.
Issues facing committee
- Quorum - how do we retain our committee members and keep them interested.
- Increasing membership of the committee.
- Raising the profile of the committee.
Items for the Draft Action Plan
- Ensuring inclusion of the Aboriginal community with an effective communication strategy.
- Aboriginal homelessness.
- Finding monetary and human resources to carry out the recommendations of the Plan of Action.
- Ensuring viable performance measures are included, to ensure successful implementation.
The committee participates in National Aboriginal Day and Louis Riel Day.
Meetings
For information about the meeting schedules and agendas, call the Committee Administrator at 416-392-7033.
Mae Maracle, from the Office of Equity, Diversity and Human Rights unit at City Hall, is the coordinator of the Aboriginal Affairs Community Advisory Committee. Contact her if you have any questions.
Phone: 416-392-5583
e-mail: mmaracle@toronto.ca
Fax: 416-696-4174
Mail: Office of Equity, Diversity and Human Rights
City Manager's Office
Toronto City Hall
100 Queen Street West
11th floor, East Tower
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
