August 31, 1999

To:Policy and Finance Committee

From:Commissioner, Community and Neighbourhood Services

Subject:Update on Workers' Information and Action Centre of Toronto

Purpose:

This report is requesting authorization for continued funding of the Workers' Information and Action Centre of Toronto(WIACT) to December 31, 1999 in order to complete a review of WIACT requested by City Council.

Financial Implications:

Should the recommendation contained in this report be adopted by Council, there will be no increase to the City's 1999 budget. There are sufficient funds in the Social Services Division's 1999 budget to provide for the additional $91,666.00 required to continue WIACT's operations until December 31, 1999.

Recommendations:

"It is recommended that:

(1) the Workers' Information and Action Centre of Toronto continue until December 31, 1999, and that the required $91,666.00 be allocated from the approved 1999 budget of the Social Services Division; and

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

Background:

The former City of Toronto approved the establishment of the Workers' Information and Action Centre of Toronto (WIACT) in 1990. The Centre offers a variety of direct services to low income individuals experiencing workplace problems and issues. The Centre also performs a public education, advocacy and community outreach function related to employment issues facing this target group, as well as undertaking research and policy work focussing on labour market adjustment issues.

As part of the 1999 budget process, underpinned by an emphasis on maintaining core City functions in a fiscally constrained environment, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) recommended that WIACT be discontinued. At the April, 1999 Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee meeting, there were a large number of deputations in response to this budget recommendation. It was agreed that before any final decision on WIACT was made, the Commissioner would undertake an investigation of WIACT's functions and responsibilities. During the review, staff were directed to consult with WIACT's advisory committee and a group of four Councillors selected to participate in the process.

Ultimately, City Council (Strategic Planning and Priorities Committee, Report No. 8, Clause No.18) recommended that "The City funding of Workers' Information and Action Centre of Toronto(WIACT) continue until September, 1999, and that the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services make all efforts with the Federation of Labour and WIACT to attempt to obtain Provincial/Federal funding and that a report be submitted to City Council in September; and the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be requested to review this unit (WIACT) as to where it should be located."

Discussion:

Consistent with Council's direction, Community and Neighbourhood Services, with support from the CAO's office, initiated a review of WIACT in May 1999 and subsequently completed a "draft"Council report.

In preparing this report, Community and Neighbourhood Services examined the role and mandate of WIACT. In its review a number of options were considered, including:

1. establishing WIACT, with its existing functions and services, in the community as a not for profit agency funded by the three levels of government;

2. locating WIACT, with reduced functions, appropriately within the City's structure; and

3. eliminating City funding for WIACT, as a result of determining that there are existing similar services already provided in the community.

The review itself encompassed three distinct activities. First, based on an inventory of the Centre's specific functions and services, organizations and agencies providing similar services or performing similar functions were identified. Second, meetings were held with potential funders from senior levels of government to seek alternative funding sources. Wherever possible, WIACT Advisory Committee members and senior staff participated in the discussions. Finally, discussions were held between the Commissioners of Community and Neighbourhood Services and Economic Development and Culture regarding the location of certain functions of WIACT within the latter Department.

The report's findings and recommendations were reviewed at a joint meeting of Councillors Miller and Ashton, staff from Community and Neighbourhood Services(C&NS), Economic Development and Culture(ED&C), and WIACT's Advisory Committee, held on July 29, 1999. The report, in general, recommended that the Unit as whole, with its current functions, did not meet the City's core responsibilities. However, the report suggested that the Unit's research and policy capacity would complement Economic Development and Culture Department's mandate and should be added to the Department's existing research capacity. WIACT's other functions-information, referral and education-should be considered, with equal funding from other senior level governments, as a service to be provided by eligible community agencies or organizations.

At this meeting, the report was received by WIACT's Advisory Committee and Councillors Ashton and Miller who recommended that additional time was necessary for all stakeholders to fully analyse the "draft" Council report's contents and provide recommendations to the report.

As a result, further discussions have been scheduled with staff from C&NS and ED&C, members of the Advisory Committee, and other interested community representatives to review the "draft" Council report. A final report is scheduled for November, 1999 Community Services Committee meeting and subsequently for Council's consideration. This process will allow for any final community stakeholders input.

Conclusion:

In accordance with Council direction, a "draft" Council report has been discussed with Councillors Miller and Ashton, members of WIACT's Advisory Committee and staff from C&NS and ED&C. At the meeting with the above noted individuals, it was agreed that additional time was necessary to review contents of the "draft" Council report with community stakeholders and to allow for their input to a final report.

Based on these developments, and the extended time frame for the completion of the review, continued funding beyond the initial scheduled date of September, 1999, to the end of December, 1999, is necessary. The additional funding of $91,666.00 for this period will come from existing Social Services Division's 1999 budget.

Contact Names:

Heather MacVicar, General Manager

392-8952

General Manager, Social Services Division

Commissioner, Community and Neighbourhood Services