October 19, 1999

To: Administration Committee

From: City of Toronto French Committee

Subject: Approval of the Members of the City of Toronto French Committee

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to request, from City Council, approval of the new members of the City of Toronto French Committee (Comité français de la ville de Toronto).

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There are no direct funding or financial applications related to this report.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) City Council approve the appointment of the following persons as members of the City of Toronto French Committee/Comité français de la ville de Toronto. The name of the sector or area of residence being represented is indicated in parentheses.

Luc Bouchard (former City of North York)

Alain Yves Diallo (culture, recreation and heritage)

Antonio Dos Ferros (ethno-cultural groups)

André Duclos (economy, charities and volunteering)

Maurice Jouenne (former City of Toronto)

Christine Larouche (women's groups)

Léona Légère (seniors' groups)

Manon Le Paven (community and social services, social housing, services for the handicapped)

Sophie Martel (former City of Etobicoke)

Jean-Claude Mbuyi (health)

Jean-Marie Mishinga-Mbula (former City of East York)

Line Montreuil (former City of Scarborough)

Francyne Perry (education and skills training);

(2) the term of office of the above Committee members be for a period of two years; and

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

Council Reference/Background/History:

At its meeting held on March 2, 3 and 4, 1999 City Council adopted Report No. 2 of the Corporate Services Committee which established the new City of Toronto French Committee. The clause was embodied in. The composition of the new Committee, as adopted, is as follows:

four municipal councillors designated by City Council with a mandate to be determined by rules set out by City Council

six citizen members of the Francophone community, chosen by area of residence, one for each of the former six municipalities of the former Metro Toronto (East York, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, Toronto and York)

nine members of Francophone non-profit community groups, one from each of the following sectors:

health

community and social services/social housing/services for the handicapped

culture, recreation and heritage

education and skills training

economy, charities and volunteering

ethno-cultural groups

women's groups

youth groups

seniors' groups

Comments:

Process for the selection of citizens by area of residence:

In August 1999 advertisements were published in French in the two main Toronto French newspapers and in the Toronto Star, inviting Toronto Francophones to attend an information session on September 13, 1999 at City Hall and where they would be invited to submit their name, if interested, to serve as community representatives from the municipalities of former Metro Toronto. The mandate of the French Committee, conditions of eligibility and selection process were outlined in the newspaper ads.

Process for the selection of community members by sectors:

In August 1999, letters were sent to 41 Francophone non-profit community groups known to the Committee and related to the nine sectors identified above. The letter invited each group to propose one member as a candidate to represent the sector the group is identified with. For example, the invitation to send a representative for the education and skills training sector was sent to seven groups. The selected representatives were also asked to attend an information session on September 13, 1999 at City Hall where they would be invited to submit their name, if interested, to serve as representatives of their sector. The mandate of the French Committee, conditions of eligibility and selection process were outlined in the letter.

Information Session

The information session, attended by about 40 community members, was held on September 13, 1999 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. The former Chair of the Committee provided information on the origins of the Committee, its achievements, its future role and mandate as well as the process for the selection of Committee members.

Final Selection

Former members of the Committee served as a Nominating Committee. They met on September 20, 1999 to examine the applications submitted at the information session. In the cases where there was only one application, by area of residence or by sector, the candidate was considered as the representative. Where there was more than one application, lots were drawn for the name of the representative. Representatives were selected for all sectors except the youth groups and from all areas of residence, but the former City of York. The Committee is taking steps to find representatives for these two positions. City Council will be advised of the results of this process.

First Meeting and Election of the Executive Council

On October 5, 1999 the proposed members of the Committee met at City Hall and selected the following persons to serve as Executive Council:

André Duclos, President

Manon Le Paven, Vice-President

Jean-Claude Mbuyi, Treasurer

It was also agreed to meet on the first Tuesday of each month.

Pauline Duquette-Newman

Committee Reporter for the French Committee

Telephone Number:

Fax Number:

E-mail address:

Attachments:

Copy of the advertisement published in the newspapers (in French)

Example of letter sent (in French) to Francophone organizations

List of names and addresses of Committee Members for administrative purposes