Other Items Considered by the Committee

(a)Update on the Purchase of Employment Training Programs for Social Assistance Clients under the Ontario Works Program.

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

(May 5, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services providing an update on the Purchase of Employment Training Programs for Social Assistance clients under the Ontario Works Program; outlining the current status of the Skill Development Option of the Program; identifying key operational issues and actions the Social Services Division is taking to further enhance the availability and effectiveness of purchased training programs; and recommending that the report be received for information.

(b)Toronto Youth Job Corps and Youth Outreach Toronto.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having recommended to the Budget Committee, and Council, the adoption of the following report:

(May 5, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services respecting the Toronto Youth Job Corps and Youth Outreach Toronto; and recommending that:

(1)City Council authorize the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services to enter into a funding agreement with HRDC for expansion of Toronto Youth Job Corps for the period April 1, 1999 to March 31, 2000, the total cost of the agreement not to exceed $1,256,370.00 gross, and the City of Toronto's contribution to the program not to exceed the approved 1999 Operating Budget for Job Corps of $156,370.00;

(2)the Commissioner identify and contract with an appropriate non-profit organization to deliver the program in the Jane Finch area;

(3)the Community and Neighbourhood Services Department be authorized to budget for the $74,000.00 net impact for the year 2000 budget;

(4)Toronto Youth Job Corps and Youth Outreach Toronto program management and administration be immediately transferred from the Social Services Division to the Social Development Division; and

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

(Councillor Prue, at the meeting of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on May 19, 1999, declared his interest in the aforementioned report, in that his wife is an employee of Human Resources Development Canada and is involved in determining grants that may be awarded to various groups, including the City of Toronto.)

(c)Report and Recommendations of the Police Working Group, A Sub-Committee of the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services for a report thereon to the Community Services Committee:

(May 5, 1999) from the City Clerk advising that the Council Strategy Committee for People Without Homes on October19,1998, endorsed the recommendations contained in the report dated September1998 from the Police Working Group, a Sub-Committee of the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons; and submits such report for consideration by the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee.

(d)Review of the "Early Years Study".

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having received the following report; and having further directed that the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be requested to report to the Community Services Committee on:

(a)the number of high quality parenting programs available, and how such programs could be nurtured; and

(b)the availability of provincial funding (referred to in the recent provincial budget) for cost-sharing of pilot parenting programs:

(May 4, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services providing a review of the findings of the Early Years Study, prepared by Dr. Fraser Mustard and Ms.MargaretMcCain; outlining the initial response of the Provincial Government to the Study; and recommending that the report be received for information.

(e)Human Rights Tribunal Ruling - Income Testing.

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

(May 5, 1999) from the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Housing Company Inc., advising, for information, that the Board of Directors of the Toronto Housing Company Inc. on April 19, 1999, received a report (April 9, 1999) from the Chief Executive Officer respecting a decision by the Board of Inquiry on December 22, 1998, under the Ontario Human Rights Code with regard to income testing, and the implications for private and social housing.

(f)Request for Appointments to an Advisory Committee of the Workers Information and Action Centre of Toronto.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having requested the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and Councillors Ashton, Brown, Korwin-Kuczynski and Miller to provide assistance to the review of the Workers Information and Action Committee of Toronto (WIACT) (but not join the Advisory Committee), particularly with respect to its future, reporting structure, and seeking funding from other levels of government, and to report thereon to the Community Services Committee:

(May 6, 1999) from Ms. Trish Stovel, Workers Information and Action Centre of Toronto, requesting that City Councillors be appointed to serve on an Advisory Committee while the review of the Workers Information and Action Centre of Toronto is taking place; and listing those Councillors interested.

(g)Accomplishments of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee.

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

(May 13, 1999) from Councillor Korwin-Kuczynski, Chair, highlighting the significant accomplishments of the Committee over the past eighteen months.

(h)Children and Youth Advocate Annual Report 1998.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having:

(1)referred the Children and Youth Advocate Annual Report 1998 to:

(a)the Children and Youth Action Committee for comment;

(b)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services with a request that she report thereon to the Community Services Committee with an action plan;

(2)referred to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services the communication from Campaign 2000 for comment and report thereon to the Children and Youth Action Committee, in order that a City position and possible action on child poverty could be available for presentation to the Annual General Meeting of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities on June4, 1999; and

(3)directed that its appreciation be extended to the following for their contribution and support towards the first Children and Youth Advocate Annual Report:

(a)staff from the Community and Neighbourhood Services Department, Public Health Department, Parks and Recreation Division of the Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department, Library Services and the Healthy City Office; and

(b)the members of the Children and Youth Action Committee:

(i)Children and Youth Advocate Annual Report 1998, submitted by CouncillorOliviaChow; and

(ii)(May 18, 1999) from Ms. Laurel Rothman, Coordinator, Campaign 2000, Ms.JuneCallwood, Executive Member, Campaign Against Child Poverty, and Mr.Harry Kits, Executive Director, Citizens for Public Justice.

(i)Process for the Handling of Confidential Reports.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee during consideration of a confidential report from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services respecting the Client Identification and Benefits System Update, reports having directed that the Chief Administrative Officer, City Solicitor, and City Clerk be requested to report to the Administration Committee on a fail safe system to prevent confidential reports distributed to Members of Council and senior staff from being leaked to the press, such report to include any actions that could be taken against any individual found to have released such information.

(j)Recognition of Volunteers Associated with Homeless Programs.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having:

(1)recognized the following agencies and individuals that went above and beyond the call of duty to respond to the City's call for help to operate servicesfor homeless people during the past six months; and CouncillorChrisKorwinKuczynski, Chair, presented a framed certificate of appreciation to:

-Captain David MacDonald and Sgt. Bowdin Cherniawski, representing the Department of National Defence;

-Mrs. Evadne Wilkinson, Grant African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Sister Susan Morin representing the Out of the Cold Program (unable to attend meeting);

-Ms. Donna Endicott and Mr. Wael Ibrahim, representing The Canadian Red Cross Society, Metropolitan Toronto Region;

-Ms. Sioban Kennedy and Mr. Bob Braithwaite, representing the St. John Ambulance, Toronto Branch;

-Mr. Steve Steele from Bill & Son Towing, representing Project Shelter;

-Mr. Dennis Brooks, Forensic Support Services;

-Ms. Sue Goodfellow, representing Eva's Place;

-Ms. Louise Couto, representing the Society of St. Vincent de Paul; and

-Colonel Kerr and Mr. Jeff Noel, The Salvation Amy; and

(2)expressed appreciation to staff of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Department for their co-ordination of the aforementioned services.