February 2, 1999

To:Corporate Services Committee

From:Margaret Rodrigues

Commissioner of Corporate Services

Subject:City of Toronto French Committee

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to request approval from the Corporate Services Committee to transfer responsibilities for the Toronto French Committee from the Corporate Communications Division to the Access and Equity Centre.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the City of Toronto French Committee continue to function and that its responsibilities reside with the Access and Equity Centre of the Corporate Services Department;

(2)the City of Toronto French Committee's budget of $27,146 be transferred from the Corporate Grants Program to the Access and Equity Centre;

(3)staff from the Access and Equity Centre serve as key contact between the committee and the City of Toronto; and

(4)the committee be known as the City of Toronto French Committee/Comité français de la Ville de Toronto.

Council Reference:

On December 4, 1998, the Special Committee to Review the final Report of the Toronto Transition Team considered a communication from Councillor Mario Silva and a report from the French Committee of Toronto City Hall. The report and Councillor Silva's memorandum described the role that the French Committee played in the former City of Toronto and recommended that a similar committee, to be known as the City of Toronto French Committee/ Comité français de la Ville de Toronto, continue in the new City of Toronto. The Special Committee to Review the Final Report of the Toronto Transition Team requested the Chief Administrative Officer to report to the Corporate Services Committee on January 18, 1999, on an appropriate reporting structure and funding for the proposed City of Toronto French Committee. At the Corporate Services Committee on January 18, 1999 the Chief Administrative Officer referred this matter to the Commissioner of Corporate Services for a more detailed response to the Special Committee's request at the February meeting of the Corporate Services Committee.

Comments:

The French Committee of Toronto City Hall has existed since 1981. During that time the emphasis has been less on the promotion of French culture in Toronto and more on the provision of French language services. In 1998, funding for the existing French Committee of Toronto City Hall was provided from the Corporate Services Department's operating budget. An identical amount to the 1998 allocation has been included in the Department's preliminary operating estimates for 1999. The committee used this funding to finance its research, reports and meetings.

The proposed mandate of the reconstituted City of Toronto French Committee is to:

- promote the development and identity of Toronto's Francophone Community

- promote Francophone interests at Municipal Council

- encourage Francophone participation of different municipal committees

- work to increase the number and quality of French-Language services offered by the City

- facilitate the links between city Council, the Community Councils and Francophone taxpayers

- be fully integrated into the consultative and decision-making structure of the City

Staff in the Corporate Communications Division of the Corporate Services Department served as contact between the committee and the City of Toronto. As the activities of the City of Toronto French Committee are focused on the City's provision of French language rather than on communication activities, it is appropriate that the Access and Equity Centre of the Corporate Services Department serve as the key contact between the City of Toronto French Committee and the City of Toronto. The City of Toronto French Committee will report to council through the Corporate Services Committee

Contact Name:

Valerie Chavossy

Director, Corporate Communications Tel. 397-4149

Margaret Rodrigues

Commissioner

Corporate Services Department