Other Items Considered by the Committee

(a)Children and Youth Action Committee's Summit on Child Poverty.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Chair of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee with a request that he discuss the issue of child poverty with the Toronto Members of the Federal Liberal Caucus:

(i)(December 2, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that the Children and Youth Action Committee on November 23, 1998, received a verbal report on the Committee's summit on child poverty and had before it a number of communications in regard thereto; and further that the Children and Youth Action Committee recommended that City Council, in response to the Federal Minister of Finance's statements in the Toronto Star on November 20, 1998, stating child poverty is "a national disgrace", invite the Minister to work with the Children and Youth Action Committee to alleviate the disgrace of child poverty, and that the letter be copied to the Ontario Liberal caucus.

(ii)report, entitled "Child Poverty in Toronto 1998," prepared by Metro Campaign 2000.

(b)Suggested Amendments to the Spending Priorities Included in the 1999 Children's Services Budget.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having concurred in the recommendations of the Children and Youth Action Committee embodied in the following communication from the City Clerk; and having directed that such communication be referred to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services for submission to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, and Budget Committee, with the Department's 1999 Operating Budget:

(December 2, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that the Children and Youth Action Committee on November 23, 1998, had before it a report (October 21, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services respecting suggested amendments to the spending priorities included in the 1999 Children's Services budget; and that the Committee:

(1)acknowledged the additional financial pressures outlined in the report (October21,1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services, addressed to the Children and Youth Action Committee, and requested the Budget Committee to consider these pressures in the context of the Children's Services Division Budget;

(2)reminded the Budget Committee of the draft Toronto Children's Charter released on November 20, 1998; and

(3)requested that the article in the Toronto Star on November 4, 1998, by Mr.DavidCrane be forwarded to the Budget Committee highlighting Mr.AdamSmith's quote on "necessaries" as it relates to the well-being of children.

(c)Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having received the following communication:

(December 15, 1998) from the Secretary, Board of Health, advising that the Board of Health on December 8, 1998, had before it a report (November25, 1998) from the Medical Officer of Health respecting the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program; and that the Board received the aforementioned report and directed that a copy thereof be forwarded to the Children and Youth Action Committee and the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee for information.

(d)Healthy Parenting Program.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having received the following communication:

(December 16, 1998) from the Secretary, Board of Health, advising that the Board of Health on December 8, 1998, had before it a report (November26, 1998) from the Medical Officer of Health respecting the Healthy Parenting Program; and that the Board received the aforementioned report and directed that a copy thereof be forwarded to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee for information.

(e)Cummer Lodge - Accreditation Award.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having:

(1)received the following communication;

(2)extended its congratulations to the staff, volunteers and the Cummer Lodge Home Advisory Committee; and

(3)directed that the General Manager, Homes for the Aged, be requested to report to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on the actions taken with respect to the three recommendations contained in the Accreditation Survey:

(December 18, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that the Advisory Committee on Homes for the Aged on December 18, 1998, had before it a report (December 9, 1998) from the General Manager, Homes for the Aged, indicating that the accreditation survey of Cummer Lodge by the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation was carried out from October25-28,1998; and that the Advisory Committee:

(1)directed that the report be forwarded to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee for information;

(2)extended its congratulations to all staff, volunteers and the Home Advisory Committee at Cummer Lodge; and

(3)suggested that future reports from the General Manager acknowledge the contribution of volunteers in the body of such reports.

(f)Consulting Agreement with Doctors Hospital - Operation of the Planned Long Term Care Centre.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having:

(1)received the following report; and

(2)directed that the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services, and appropriate staff of the Homes for the Aged Division, be requested to:

(a)establish a Community and Neighbourhood Liaison Committee; and report to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on proposed terms of reference for such a Committee; and

(b)develop a plan to consult with the community and neighbours in the vicinity of Doctors Hospital:

(December 4, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services advising that, in May 1998, senior staff of the Doctors Hospital approached staff of the City's Homes for the Aged Division to explore the possibility of the two organizations working together to develop and support a proposal in response to the Ministry of Health's Request for Proposals for the construction of long term care beds in Toronto; that the bid by Doctors Hospital was successful and they were awarded 200 beds; indicating that staff of the two organizations will now begin detailed planning, including revisions to the draft budget, to support the operation of these beds; noting that, once the facility is opened in the year2000, staff of the Homes for the Aged Division will provide the types of support outlined in the report; that there will be no net cost to the Homes for the Aged Division in providing this consulting service in that the requisite resources to provide the service will be fully funded by the fee paid by the Doctors Hospital; and recommending that the report be received for information.

(g)The Review of the Use of Motels for Homeless Families.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having received the following report:

(January 4, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services providing a progress report on the review of the use of motels for homeless families; indicating that the work of the steering committee and its review to date has identified a number of areas which require attention, including the concentration of homeless families accommodated along Kingston Road, the impact of high student turnover on local schools, the number of newcomer families at-risk of homelessness, and the appropriateness of motel standards and practices; noting that an options paper will be reviewed by the steering committee at the end of January, and a final report is expected to be submitted to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee in the Spring of 1999; and recommending that the report be received for information.

(h)Introduction of Private Sector Placements in Ontario Works.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having received the following report:

(December 31, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services advising of the provincial Minister of Community and Social Services' proposal to expand Ontario Works by introducing subsidized on-the-job training placements in the private sector; indicating that City staff will be working with provincial officials to obtain additional information with respect to this new program feature; and recommending that the report be received for information.

(i)Update on Current Availability of Hostel Beds Within the Shelter System.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having received the following verbal update; and having directed that the Chair of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, on behalf of its members, be requested to write a letter expressing appreciation to the hostels and agencies protecting so many vulnerable people during the current severe weather conditions:

The General Manager, Shelter, Housing and Support Services Division, provided a verbal update on the current availability of hostel beds within the shelter system; and noted that, due to the winter storm conditions, Moss Park Armoury would be opened as a warming centre during the emergency.