City of Toronto  
HomeContact UsHow Do I...?Advanced search
Living in TorontoDoing businessVisiting TorontoAccessing City Hall
 
Accessing City Hall
Mayor
Councillors
Meeting Schedules
   
   
  City of Toronto Council and Committees
  All Council and Committee documents are available from the City of Toronto Clerk's office. Please e-mail clerk@city.toronto.on.ca.
   

 

COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES COMMITTEE

Date of Meeting: Thursday, March 26, 1998 Enquiry: Rosalind Dyers
Time: 9:30 p.m. Interim Contact
Location: Committee Room A 395-8018
2nd Floor, Metro Hall
55 John Street
Toronto

 

 

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST PURSUANT TO

THE MUNICIPAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT.

 

 

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES.

 

 

DEPUTATIONS. LIST TO BE DISTRIBUTED AT MEETING

 

 

COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS.

 

1. 1998 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS.

 

(Non-deputation item, having regard that a special meeting of City Council in Committee of the Whole will be held on the following days to hear deputations from the public on the 1998 Operating and Capital Budgets:

 

- Tuesday, April 14, 1998, commencing at 2:00 p.m.; and

- Wednesday, April 15, 1998, commencing at 9:30a.m.)

 

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee will consider the 1998 Operating and Capital Budgets for the Departments and Board under its mandate.

 

1a. PRESSURES FACING CHILD CARE PROGRAMS

SERVING SUBSIDIZED CLIENTS.

 

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(March 11, 1998)

 

Responding to the requests of the Children=s Action Committee and the Budget Committee to report on the pressures being faced by child care programs serving subsidized clients and the priority areas in need of support; outlining recent changes in the traditional cost-sharing formula for child care, and highlighting the role resulting from user fees collected from subsidized clients in the overall funding of the system; and recommending that the report be received for information.

 

 

1b. CHILD CARE DEMAND RELATED TO THE ONTARIO WORKS PROGRAM.

 

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(March 12, 1998)

 

Responding to the request of the Budget Committee to provide additional information concerning the current levels of child care service in support of social assistance recipients, and to identify the future child care service demand related to the Ontario Works program; and recommending that the report be received for information.

 

 

1c. 1998 OPERATING BUDGET - CHILDREN=S SERVICES.

 

City Clerk

(March 9, 1998)

 

Advising that the Children=s Action Committee on March 6, 1998, recommended that the following principles be considered during the 1998 Operating Budget process:

 

(1) that there be expansion of child care subsidies to ensure that the 2,000 vacancies in the licensed child care system are filled;

 

(2) that adequate services are provided to children whose parents are participating in the Ontario Works program;

 

(3) that any savings in Public Health incurred as a result of amalgamation be redirected back into services for children;

 

(4) that there be sufficient resources available to ensure equitable access to services for children and youth across the City of Toronto;

 

(5) that the budget for the general grants programs be maintained at existing levels, and specifically that the funding of children's and youth programs be maintained at current levels; and

 

(6) that opportunities to explore creative, flexible and optimal use of resources to meet the needs of children and youth be facilitated.

 

 

1d. WORKPLAN AND BUDGET FOR THE CHILDREN'S ACTION COMMITTEE.

 

Children=s Advocate

(March 11, 1998)

 

Outlining the workplan and budget for the Children=s Action Committee; advising that the Children=s Action Committee is proposing a budget of $150,000.00 to support its activities; noting that this is included in the request for $500,000.00 under a Corporate expenditure account to cover the budget requirements for all the task forces related to Community and Neighbourhood Services; and recommending that:

 

(1) Council approve the workplan and budget for the Children=s Action Committee; and

 

(2) the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

 

(NOTE: Members of the Committee are respectfully requested to bring with them to the meeting their copies of the relevant Operating and Capital Budget books as no additional copies will be available. Information will be distributed as soon as it is available.)

 

 

2. CURRENT GAPS IN PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN.

 

City Clerk

(February 26, 1998)

 

Advising that the Board of Health on February 23, 1998, recommended that the report (February 11, 1998) from the Medical Officer of Health identifying current gaps in public health services for children and families across the City of Toronto be forwarded to the Children=s Action Committee and the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee for consideration, and to the Budget Committee with a request that the Medical Officer of Health report to that Committee with respect to the amount of funding required.

 

3. THE STATE OF THE CITY'S HEALTH: IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.

 

City Clerk

(February 26, 1998)

 

Advising that the Board of Health on February 23, 1998, had before it a report (February 19, 1998) from the Medical Officer of Health respecting the State of the City=s Health: Implications for Public Health which updates the view of health and health trends in Toronto and outlines key issues for Public Health programs and resource allocations; and that the Board recommended that the report be forwarded to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, the Budget Committee, and City Council for consideration during the budget process.

 

 

4. CRISIS IN YOUTH EMPLOYMENT.

 

City Clerk

(February 26, 1998)

 

Advising that the Toronto Community Council on February 18, 1998, had before it a communication (February 5, 1998) from Councillor Michael Walker, North Toronto, respecting the crisis in youth employment; and indicating that the Toronto Community Council referred the following recommendations to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee:

 

(i) that the ideas and concept expressed in the communication (February 5, 1998) from Councillor Walker be endorsed in principle;

 

(ii) that the urgency to the matter of youth unemployment and underemployment in Toronto be recognized; and

 

(iii) that the concept of commencing a dialogue with Mayor Lastman, Councillor Walker, Councillor Chow and other interested Councillors to discuss the idea of a summit meeting on jobs for youth be endorsed.

 

 

5. REPORT OF THE DEMENTIA TASK FORCE.

 

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(March 9, 1998)

 

Summarizing the findings and recommendations from the Dementia Task Force, which was comprised of staff from the Regional Municipalities of Durham, Halton, Hamilton-Wentworth, Niagara, Peel, and York, and the City of Toronto; providing facts related to dementia projections specific to the population of the City of Toronto; and recommending that:

 

(1) City Council support the recommendations detailed in the report of the Dementia Task Force, namely:

(a) that the Province formally recognize the current and future funding shortfall for long-term care service in the "seven regions," including long-term care facilities and community services, by immediately allocating additional resources for these areas of need;

 

(b) that the Minister of Health allocate financial resources for specific research into the prevention, cause, cure, and management of Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias; and

 

(c) that a copy of the report be sent to the Premier of Ontario, Minister of Health, Minister without Portfolio responsible for Seniors Issues, local MPPs, Opposition Leaders and Health Critics, District Health Council, Alzheimer Association, Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors, Health Services Restructuring Commission, Ontario Public Health Association, Association of Local Public Health Agencies, and Ontario Community Support Association;

 

(2) City Council advocate for the enhancement of funding and resources to provide care and service for individuals with dementia and their families within the City of Toronto which focus on supporting the individual in an environment that is as normalized as possible, and includes both facility and community options, and:

 

(a) support the Health Services Restructuring Commission's (HSRC) recommendation that an additional 5,207 new long-term care beds be added by 2003;

 

(b) support the HSRC's recommendation that an additional 4,181 new long-term care spaces in the community be added by 2003; and

 

(c) encourage the Ministry of Health's adoption of a resident classification system that captures the care and service needs of a population with dementia;

 

(3) future care and service delivery for those with dementia within the City of Toronto be planned and implemented with recognition of unique needs encountered as a result of the multicultural and linguistic diversity of the City's population;

 

(4) future financial investments by the Ministry of Health include dedicated enhanced funding for the provision of (short-term) respite services in both facilities and the community; and

 

(5) the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

5a. Mr. John Daly,

Legislative Co-ordinator,

Regional Municipality of Peel

(March 4, 1998)

 

Advising that the Council of the Regional Municipality of Peel on February 26, 1998, passed a motion in support of the recommendations contained in the report dated January 29, 1998, from the Dementia Task Force.

 

 

6. STATUS OF DEVOLUTION AND REFORM OF SOCIAL HOUSING PROGRAMS.

 

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(March 11, 1998)

 

Respecting the status of the current social housing reform process intended to occur prior to devolution, the delay in the Federal plans to devolve their social housing programs to the Province, and the impact of this delay on provincial plans to devolve the administration of social housing to municipalities; and recommending that:

 

(1) Council support efforts to reform social housing prior to devolution and request the Federal Government to co-operate with the Province, the municipal sector and the non-profit housing sector to reform social housing programs prior to devolution of administrative responsibilities to municipalities, so that all possible administrative complexity and duplication can be eliminated;

 

(2) as Toronto has been forced to accept the former provincial funding responsibility for social housing, the Province and the Federal Government be advised that the municipal management of a simplified and reformed set of programs is the only reasonable and acceptable outcome to the City, and, furthermore, that the establishment of a provincially controlled special purpose body to administer social housing programs is not acceptable to the City;

 

(3) the Provincial Government be requested to transfer ownership of the Metropolitan Toronto Housing Authority stock to the City;

 

(4) the City indicate to the Federal Government that it has no interest in administering the existing unilateral Federal non-profit and co-op units;

 

(5) these positions be communicated to the provincial Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Federal Minister Responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; and

 

(6) the appropriate City officials take the necessary steps to give effect thereto.

 

7. AMENDMENTS TO TERMINOLOGY OF

HOUSING COMPANY BY-LAWS Nos. A-4 AND A-9.

 

Corporate Secretary,

The Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company Limited

(February 6, 1998)

 

Advising that the Board of Directors of The Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company Limited on February 6, 1998, had before it a report (January 20, 1998) from the City Solicitor respecting amendments to terminology in By-laws Nos. A-4 and A-9; and recommending that:

 

(1) the draft amending by-law attached to the report be enacted as a by-law of the Housing Company;

 

(2) the amending by-law enacted pursuant to Recommendation No. (1) be forwarded to the Clerk of the City of Toronto for confirmation by the Council thereof; and

 

(3) the appropriate members of the Housing Company staff be authorized to take the necessary action to give effect to Recommendation No. (2).

 

 

8. ONTARIO WORKS IMPLEMENTATION: PHASE 1 UPDATE.

 

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(March 11, 1998)

 

Providing an update on the progress of Ontario Works implementation to date, the issues that have affected implementation, and steps the Social Services Division will take in 1998 to complete implementation; and recommending that:

 

(1) the Province be urged to change the current method for establishing participation targets by developing a formula for setting targets which focuses on program results, and which takes into account both the capacity of local communities to provide placements and the service needs of the local client population; and

 

(2) the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.@

 

9. GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT PREPARATION COURSES.

 

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(March 12, 1998)

 

Responding to the request of the Committee on February 12, 1998, to report on a communication from Dr. Dale Shuttleworth of The Training Renewal Foundation seeking funding through purchase of service under Ontario Works for the Foundation=s General Education Development (G.E.D.) preparation course; advising that the Social Services Division surveyed a range of G.E.D. preparation courses provided and summarizing the findings from such survey; outlining the Division=s position concerning the funding of G.E.D. through Ontario Works; and recommending that the report be received for information.

 

 

10. RESOURCES TO SUPPORT INTER-RELATED TASK FORCES.

 

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(March 9, 1998)

 

Outlining the resource requirements identified for the following task force initiatives under the Community and Neighbourhood Services area;

 

- the Homeless Strategy Task Force (The Council Strategy Committee for People Without Homes), chaired by Councillor Layton;

 

- the Homelessness Action Task Force, chaired by Dr. Anne Golden;

 

- the Children=s Action Committee, chaired by Councillor Chow, the Children=s Advocate;

 

- the Task Force to Develop a Strategy of Issues of Concern to the Elderly (Seniors= Task Force) chaired by Councillor Johnston; and

 

- the Youth Summit on Employment;

 

advising that in-kind resources, including staffing and supplies, are being provided by Community and Neighbourhood Services, Corporate Services, Urban Planning and Development and the Healthy City Office to support these initiatives, but that additional resource requirements cannot be absorbed within existing operating budgets; indicating that an allocation of $500,000.00 to be established within a Corporate expenditure account has been requested in support of these initiatives for the 1998 budget year; and recommending that the report be received for information.

 

11. AN EVICTION PREVENTION STRATEGY FOR THE CITY OF TORONTO.

 

Councillor Jack Layton,

Chair, Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons

(March 12, 1998)

 

Respecting the need to prevent further homelessness in the City of Toronto by, ultimately, reducing preventable evictions through research, analysis, public eduction and the co-ordinated efforts of legal clinics, social service agencies, municipal politicians and staff; and recommending that:

 

(1) the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services report back to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on a request for a purchase of service agreement with the Federation of Metro Tenants Associations (FMTA) to provide for the following services:

 

- co-ordination of CourtWatch program, including: training of volunteers, collection, analysis and report of all data;

- maintenance of web site;

- maintenance of telephone hot line;

- development of a Tenant Eviction Prevention Kit; and

- development of multi-media campaign;

 

(2) the City of Toronto allocate in-house printing and translation services for the Eviction Prevention Kit in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00;

 

(3) the City of Toronto adopt a policy that economic evictions from City-owned housing not be pursued except as a means of last resort;

 

(4) a joint meeting be convened between the Metropolitan Toronto Housing Authority (MTHA), the Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company Limited (MTHCL), Cityhome and members of the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons to review current practices for identifying early arrears cases and to develop best practices, policies and procedures for working with tenants to avoid arrears and economic evictions;

 

(5) Community and Neighbourhood Services Housing Division staff be requested to report to Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee with a recommendation for a uniform accessory units by-law across the City of Toronto;

 

(6) the Legal Department report back to the next Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee meeting on whether rooming houses of up to seven units could be classified as single family dwellings;

 

(7) Community Neighbourhood and Services Housing Division staff report back to the next meeting of Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on a rent bank pilot project to prevent evictions of women and children;

 

(8) the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee develop a strategy to bring forward the report dated October 7, 1997, adopted by Metropolitan Council on October 8, 1997, from the Commissioner of Community Services, headed AThe Homeless Crisis in Metro@; in particular, a report should be brought forward as soon as possible outlining an aggressive City of Toronto policy on use of vacant housing units (Ause it or lose it@);

 

(9) City Council write to Premier Mike Harris, the Honourable Charles Harnick, the Honourable Isabel Bassett, and the Honourable Janet Ecker urging that regulations to the Human Rights Code governing tenant selection be drafted so as to:

 

(a) prohibit any use of minimum income criteria in tenant selection, except where such criteria are used to determine the eligibility for subsidy;

 

(b) prohibit landlords from disqualifying young applicants or newcomers for the reason that they have no landlord reference or credit rating; and

 

(c) prohibit co-signor requirements except where the landlord has received negative information with respect to credit or previous tenancies; and further that;

 

(10) Mayor Mel Lastman, or his designate, meet with the Minister of Citizenship responsible for drafting of the regulations to communicate these concerns directly to the Minister (the full text of the motion passed at the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons is appended);

 

(11) the Mayor and Members of Council communicate its concerns about the impact of the Tenant Protection legislation on affordable rental housing stock in the City of Toronto, and urge the Provincial Government to:

 

(a) fund two additional Tenant Duty Counsel representatives in light of the fact that there will be three physically separate tribunal locations to hear evictions;

 

(b) change the tribunal member criteria to either allow tenants to be on the tribunal or disqualify landlords;

 

12. PROPOSAL FOR AFFORDABLE SHARED ACCOMMODATION.

 

Councillor Jack Layton,

Ad Hoc Committee on Shared Accommodation

(March 12, 1998)

 

Advising of the need to create pilot projects for affordable housing for singles in private bedrooms within shared apartments; indicating that this second stage housing would benefit those currently in the hostel system and those in danger of becoming homeless due to their inability to continue paying market rent; and recommending that:

 

(1) the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee adopt the proposal from the Ad Hoc Committee for Shared Accommodation;

 

(2) City of Toronto allocate staff time and outside consulting up to an amount of $10,000.00 to develop the specifications of the shared accommodation model;

 

(3) the City of Toronto direct a 96-unit pilot project as outlined in the proposal; there would be no subsidy, excepting a loan guarantee; the City of Toronto would guarantee the construction loan and mortgage up to a maximum of $2.5 million, this project would be developed by City staff and owned by the City after completion; and

 

(4) based on the nature of the above pilot project, the City of Toronto develop calls for proposals (to be evaluated by City staff and returned to Council for review):

 

(i) asking private developer/managers to develop proposals to identify the extent of subsidy required to provide the specified accommodation and building management;

 

(ii) asking agencies and private firms to develop proposals, which incorporate varying levels of accommodation, management and services.

 

(NOTE: A copy of the attachment referred to will be distributed to Members of Council as soon as it is available.)

 

13. RESPONSE TO THE JOINT REPORT OF THE CO-CHAIRS,

METRO TORONTO ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON

HOMELESS AND SOCIALLY ISOLATED PERSONS.

 

Mr. Richard Barnhorst,

Director, Health Policy Branch,

Ministry of Health

(January 27, 1998)

 

Responding to the recommendations contained in the joint report of the Co-Chairs, Metro Toronto Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons; attaching a copy of the Ministry=s response to the Chief Corner on the recommendations and issues identified as a result of the Coroner=s Inquest into the deaths of Eugene Upper, Mirsalah-Aldin Kompani and Irwin Anderson; outlining types of initiatives within the mental health area to serve the homeless population; and noting that the Ministry is continuing to develop strategies that will improve services for homeless people with serious mental illness.

 

 

14. HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF TORONTO.

 

Regional Clerk,

The Regional Municipality of Durham

(February 11, 1998)

 

Advising that on February 11, 1998, the Council of the Regional Municipality of Durham adopted the following recommendations of its Health and Social Services Committee in response to the resolution passed by the Metropolitan Council on October 8 and 9, 1997, regarding AHomeless Families in Metropolitan Toronto@:

 

A(a) That staff of the Social Services Department be directed to liaise with the City of Toronto to maintain an accurate estimate of alternative housing arrangements;

 

(b) that an estimate be provided of the number of individuals who may be transferred to the Region of Durham;

 

(c) that an estimate of the long term financial effects associated with emergency housing, the pooling of GTA Social Housing and Welfare costs be provided; and

 

(d) that the Region of Durham not endorse the following:

 

(i) asking the Province to insist that other municipalities pay the administrative costs incurred by Metro as a result of Metro staff having to make arrangements for emergency housing accommodation in these other municipalities;

 

(ii) requesting other GTA municipalities provide an estimation of the accommodation that may be available within their respective jurisdictions for homeless people; and

 

(iii) examining the feasibility of an office inside the immigration office at Pearson International Airport, in order to simplify the process of assisting people to settle within the Greater Toronto Area;

 

at this time.@

 

 

15. MUNICIPAL SUPPORT SERVICES TO SENIORS AND PEOPLE

WITH MOBILITY LIMITATIONS IN THE CITY OF TORONTO.

 

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(March 11, 1998)

 

Responding to the request of the Committee on January 15, 1998, to report on the cost of providing home support services to seniors and people with disabilities, including program areas such as snow removal and gardening; providing an overview of the support services the City of Toronto provides and/or funds to enable senior citizens and citizens with mobility limitations to continue to maintain residency within the community; and recommending that:

 

(1) this report be forwarded to the Task Force on Developing a Strategy for Issues Concerning the Elderly for consideration in the development of a seniors= strategy; and

 

(2) the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

 

 

16. QUOTATION FOR FOOD AND RELATED

SUPPLIES FOR CHILD CARE CENTRES.

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

(March 10, 1998)

 

Recommending that:

 

(1) the quotation submitted by Derry Foods Limited in the estimated amount of $1,200,000.00, including all charges and applicable taxes, for the supply and delivery of food and related supplies for Child Care Centres in 1998 be accepted being the lowest acceptable quotation received, with the option to extend the contract for two additional one year periods; and

 

(2) this report be forwarded to the next meeting of Council.

 

17. PROPOSAL FOR FOOD PRODUCTS FOR THE

HOMES FOR THE AGED AND HOSTELS.

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

(March 10, 1998)

 

Recommending that:

 

(1) the proposal submitted by Gordon Food Services in the estimated amount of $4,927,000.00, including all charges and taxes, for the supply and delivery of food products be accepted being the proposal meeting all requirements of Community and Neighbourhood Services - Homes for the Aged and Hostel Services, with the option to extend the contract for two additional one year periods; and

 

(2) this report be forwarded to the next meeting of Council.

 

18. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BUSINESS PLAN FOR THE

HUMMINGBIRD CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.

 

City Clerk

 

Report to be distributed as soon as it is available.

 

(NOTE: The Board of Directors of The Hummingbird Centre for the Performing Arts will be holding a special meeting on March 25, 1998, regarding the Implementation of the Business Plan for the Hummingbird Centre for The Performing Arts and will submit its recommendations thereon to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee for consideration at its meeting on March 26, 1998.)

 

19. PARKS AND RECREATION - FACILITY PLANNING INITIATIVES.

 

Interim Functional Lead, Parks and Recreation

(March 11, 1998)

 

Respecting the need to undertake two major planning studies for Parks and Recreation, the first a feasibility study for the development of three major Parks and Recreation facilities, and the second to undertake a facility rationalization study of existing facilities; advising that the immediate costs of these studies are identified in the 1998 Capital Works Program submission; noting that both studies will include a public consultation process with steering committees consisting of local Councillors and staff from Parks and Recreation and other departments; and recommending that the report be received for the information of Committee.

 

20. DEVELOPMENT OF UNIFORM POLICY -

LEASHED AND UNLEASHED DOGS IN CITY PARKS.

 

City Clerk

(February 2, 1998)

 

Advising that York Community Council on January 21, 1998, recommended to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee that the Medical Officer of Health be requested to report on the development of a City-wide uniform policy regarding leashed and unleashed dogs in City Parks.

 

 

21. REQUEST FOR RECREATION CENTRE IN CEDARVALE PARK, YORK.

 

Mr. Chaitanya K. Kalevar

(February 16, 1998)

 

Advising that he has a petition from over 1,000 residents in support of building a recreation centre in Cedarvale Park, behind the Arlington Middle School.

 

 

ANY OTHER MATTERS.

 

[Agenda index]

 

   
Please note that council and committee documents are provided electronically for information only and do not retain the exact structure of the original versions. For example, charts, images and tables may be difficult to read. As such, readers should verify information before acting on it. All council documents are available from the City Clerk's office. Please e-mail clerk@city.toronto.on.ca.

 

City maps | Get involved | Toronto links
© City of Toronto 1998-2001