Children and Youth Advocate Annual Report 1998

and Campaign Against Child Poverty

The Community Services Committee recommends the adoption of the recommendations of the Children and Youth Action Committee embodied in the following communication (June2,1999) from the City Clerk:

Recommendations:

The Children and Youth Action Committee:

(1)recommended that Council adopt the following benchmarks proposed by Campaign 2000, the Campaign Against Child Poverty, and Citizens for Public Justice, contained in the report (May 25, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services:

(i)that the federal government commit itself to a five-year investment plan to address child poverty and promote the well-being of children with clear federal objectives and target;

(ii)that social investments in children by the federal government "grow" by at least 1percent of our national wealth over five years. It is estimated that to reach this target, annual investments in children would have to grow by an average of $2 billion a year for five years;

(iii)that children and families require a mix of income and service supports to address their needs and enhance their states of well-being. The key foundations should include:

(a)the development of a comprehensive child benefit system for low, modest, and middle income families; and

(b)the creation of national infrastructure funds to support provinces and municipalities in the development of public systems of early learning and care, and in the construction of urgently required affordable housing options; and

(iv)that the federal government make the healthy development of young children a first priority of the five-year plan and allocate $2 billion in the 2000 budget to establish the National Infrastructure Fund for Early Learning and Care;

(2)requested that these recommendations be referred to the provincial trustee organizations for their endorsement and support as soon as possible; for example, the Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA) be requested to add this item to their Annual General Meeting agenda in June, 1999); and

(3)requested that the appropriate City officials be authorized to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Background:

The Children and Youth Action Committee on May 28, 1999, had before it a communication (May19, 1999) from the City Clerk forwarding the action taken by the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on May 19, 1999, respecting the Children and Youth Advocate Annual Report 1998, submitted by Councillor Chow:

The Committee also had before it the following:

-report (May 25, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services respecting Proposed Benchmarks for Federal Investments in Children; and

-communication (May 28, 1999) from Ms. Jane Mercer, Metro Campaign 2000 and Campaign Against Child Poverty.

The Committee reports, for the information of the Community and Neighbourhoods Services Committee, having:

(1)requested the Children and Youth Advocate to:

(a)bring the above recommendations to national attention at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in June; and

(b)request Mayor Lastman to urge mayors across the country to adopt the four federal policy benchmarks set out in Recommendation No. (1) above, subject to the adoption of the benchmarks by City Council, and to develop civic actions that would promote federal investments in children beginning with the year 2000 federal budget;

(2)requested the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services, through the Youth Profile initiative currently underway, to provide information and statistics on the incidence of youth poverty in the City of Toronto, in order to develop strong recommendations to the Federal Government with respect to taking immediate action on the issue of youth poverty;

(3)requested that in conversations and covering letters/memos, representatives of the Children and Youth Action Committee deliver a clear message that child and youth poverty does not exist in isolation but rather is a result of parental/care giver poverty, and to really address child poverty all poverty must be eliminated;

(4)agreed, as in the previous year, to assist with the development and release of the annual Metro Campaign 2000 "Child Poverty in Toronto, 1999" initiative;

(5)requested that the City of Toronto website be hotlinked to www.child poverty.com and to www.campaign2000.ca; and

(6)endorsed and adopted the Children and Youth Advocate Annual Report 1998.

The Committee also reports, having referred the following recommendations to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services:

(1)that all City residents be provided with the opportunity to express their concerns about child poverty to the Federal Government by circulating "Let's Invest in Canada's Children" postcards and brochures; and by circulating the 1998 Metro Campaign 2000 report card through its internal distribution system to public libraries, community centres, recreation facilities and at municipal centres; and

(2)a countdown campaign be developed, with a visible clock in the Mayor's office and one at a public venue ticking down to November 24, 1999, with a media push for the countdown coinciding with the June meeting of the Federal Liberal Caucus. If a public event is organized during the week of November 24, 1999, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the House of Commons resolution and to conclude the countdown, the work be done collaboratively so other events complement one another.

The following members volunteered to participate in a meeting with Mayor Lastman to request that the Mayor agree to having a clock in his office in conjunction with the countdown campaign:

Councillor Sinclair;

Trustee Judi Codd;

Ms. Maria DeWit;

Ms. Diane Dyson; and

Ms. Miriam Bensimon; and

(3)the City of Toronto be requested to run selected advertisements in appropriate communication vehicles to broaden awareness of child wellness and child poverty.

In response to a request from the Chair for volunteers to assist in the Youth Profile, the following members indicated their willingness:

Mr. David Rew;

Ms. Marg Cox;

Ms. Jasmin Earle;

Mr. Peter Clutterbuck; and

Ms. Sue Hunter.

The Committee recommendations are noted above.

(Report dated May 25, 1999, addressed to the

Children's and Youth Action Committee from the

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services)

Purpose:

To inform the Children and Youth Action Committee of a joint request from Campaign 2000, the Campaign Against Child Poverty and Citizens for Public Justice for the City to endorse recommendations for federal government investments in children and for establishing benchmarks to measure those investments.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There are no financial implications for the City as the result of this report.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the Children and Youth Action Committee endorse the recommendations and benchmarks outlined in the joint communication from Campaign 2000, the Campaign Against Child Poverty, and Citizens for Public Justice;

(2)the Children and Youth Advocate bring these recommendations to national attention at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in June;

(3)this report be forwarded to City Council with a request for Council adoption of the benchmarks proposed by Campaign 2000, the Campaign Against Child Poverty, and Citizens for Public Justice;

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

Council Reference/Background/History:

At its May 19, 1999, meeting, the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee received a joint communication from Campaign 2000, Campaign Against Child Poverty and Citizens for Public Justice. The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee requested that staff report on this document to the May 28, 1999, Children and Youth Action Committee.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

Background:

Over the last several years the federal, provincial and territorial governments have initiated a new way of working together to address the well-being of children in Canada. The National Child Benefit, implemented in July 1998 is the first example of this new working relationship. The February 1999 Social Union framework agreement provides opportunities for a renewed federal role in developing national social programs in support of children. In addition, the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Council on Social Policy Renewal recently released a document for limited consultation about the development of a National Children's Agenda.

These initiatives have the potential to shape social policy for children and families into the new millennium. Municipalities have a key stake in shaping federal policy as an increasingly wide range of social services are funded and delivered at the municipal level of government. To date, there has been little or no consultation with municipalities or the public as the federal government develops new initiatives in support of children and families.

Campaign 2000, Campaign Against Child Poverty, and Citizens for Public Justice have identified a clear agenda for the federal government. They have established benchmarks that would allow the City of Toronto and the public to measure the federal government's record in meeting this agenda. They recommend that national investments in the well-being of children be the first mission of the federal government for the new millennium. They have called on the City of Toronto to build on its significant local commitments to children by advocating at the national level in support of their recommendations.

Recommendations for Federal Action:

(1)That the federal government commit itself to a five-year investment plan to address child poverty and promote the well-being of children with clear federal objectives and targets.

(2)That social investments in children by the federal government "grow" by at least 1 percent of our national wealth over five years. It is estimated that to reach this target, annual investments in children would have to grow by an average of $2 billion a year for five years.

(3)That children and families require a mix of income and service supports to address their needs and enhance their states of well-being. The key foundations should include:

(a)the development of a comprehensive child benefit system for low, modest, and middle income families; and

(b)the creation of national infrastructure funds to support provinces and municipalities in the development of public systems of early learning and care, and in the construction of urgently required affordable housing options.

(4)That the federal government make the healthy development of young children a first priority of the five year-plan and allocate $2 billion in the 2000 budget to establish the National Infrastructure Fund for Early Learning and Care.

Analysis:

The need for a strong federal role to ensure national standards and adequate funding for social programs has been a key theme in a number of municipal reports and in the work of social policy researchers for many years. These reports have often emphasized the limitations of the property tax base in addressing systemic issues like child poverty and have called on the federal government to provide a framework for income policies and social programs to ensure the economic and social well-being of all Canadians.

In 1996, when the federal government announced its plans to reduce federal transfer payments and replace the Canada Assistance Plan with the Canada Health and Social Transfer, the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto argued for a continued federal role in setting standards and ensuring adequate funding for income and social programs in Canada. In addition, the municipality urged the federal government to establish goals, objectives and indicators for measuring progress in meeting national objectives.

The need for a strong federal role has also been clearly articulated in the area of children's and family policy. A 1996 report by the Metro Task Force on Services to Young Children and Families, recommended that all levels of government develop social and tax policies which support families in their efforts to provide a nurturing environment for children. The Task Force also called for a renewed government commitment to ensure the availability of quality, accessible child care for all parents. In addition, the Task Force recommended an "early childhood education system that would build on the strengths of the child care and school systems and would ensure that children enter the primary grades ready to learn." This report was adopted by Council in January 1998 and forms the basis of the work of the Children and Youth Advocate and the Children and Youth Action Committee.

The Children and Youth Advocate has subsequently developed a Children's Charter which confirms the City's commitment to creating a social and economic environment in which all children can thrive. To guide the Children and Youth Action Committee in their monitoring and reporting of children's well-being, the following vision statement was adopted by City Council:

"Regardless of the socio-economic status of his/her family and community, every child has the right to childhood experiences which promote the chances of developing into a healthy well adjusted and productive adult."

Many of these local commitments, however, cannot be achieved without federal and provincial policies and funding to underpin local initiatives. The Children and Youth Advocate in her Annual Report has raised concern about the "growing tendency of senior levels of government to evade their responsibilities to children by reducing funding, by downloading programs, and by claiming that they are unable to act because of jurisdictional strictures."

The recommendations put forward by Campaign 2000, the Campaign Against Child Poverty, and Citizen's for Public Justice are timely in this regard. They contribute positively to the stated goals and objectives of the City of Toronto by reinforcing the critical role of the federal government in providing the policy and funding foundation for local initiatives. They reinforce the need for federal standards and federal funding commitments in support of children's well-being, identify a number of benchmarks by which federal investments may be evaluated, and support the development of a mix of income supports and services including child care, parenting programs, and a system of early learning and care.

The City of Toronto has an important opportunity to build on local commitments and take a municipal leadership role at the national level by endorsing the recommendations of Campaign 2000, the Campaign Against Child Poverty, and Citizen's for Public Justice. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities June convention provides an ideal venue to accomplish this goal.

Conclusions:

The recently signed Social Union framework agreement, along with the development of a National Children's Agenda provide important opportunities for the City to shape the development of new social policies for children and families. Campaign 2000, the Campaign Against Child Poverty, and Citizens for Public Justice have developed a set of recommendations which are consistent with the goals and objectives of the City of Toronto. They provide an opportunity for the City of Toronto to build on existing City commitments by advocating at the national level for policies in support of children and families. For this reason, it is recommended that the Children and Youth Action Committee and City Council adopt the benchmarks set out by Campaign 2000, Campaign Against Child Poverty and Citizen's for Public Justice, and that the Children and Youth Advocate bring the benchmarks forward to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in June.

Contact Name:

Karen Mann - 392-8384