Other Items Considered by the Committee

(a)Response to the Provincial Operational Review of Toronto's Implementation of Ontario Works and Child Care Fee Subsidy Program.

The Community Services Committee reports having:

(A)recommended to the Policy and Finance Committee, and Council:

(1)the adoption of the report dated September 22, 1999, from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services, subject to amending Recommendation No. (1) to provide that the following Recommendation No. 47, headed "Directly Provided Child Care: Creating an Arm's Length Agency", contained in the KPMG report on Ontario Works, not be supported until a further review of such recommendation has been undertaken by the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and a report submitted thereon to the Community Services Committee:

"Recommendation No. 47

The City of Toronto should renew efforts to make its directly operated child care service an arm's length agency of the City. If the City is successful in establishing this new arrangement, it should avail itself of the opportunity to invite centres of excellence involved in the treatment of children at risk to participate in the governance and programme development of directly operated child care services. Should the Province devolve the licensing of child care to municipalities, it should not do so with the City of Toronto until the City has taken steps to eliminate the potential for conflict of interest in its provision of child care, by the means above or otherwise.";

(2)the City of Toronto seek provincial cost-shared funding to pay actual costs of licensed child care centres and additional child care providers; and

(3)in the event that the provincial cost-shared funding is not forthcoming, the City of Toronto continue to pay its share of the actual costs, and that the necessary funding be included in the year 2000 Operating Budget; and

(B)requested the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee to:

(1)provide the Community Services Committee with a comprehensive report concerning all pressures facing child care services in Toronto, and that such report include:

(a)the capital funding crisis;

(b)impact of school closures; and

(c)implementation of Ontario Works and the Learning, Earning and Parenting Program;

(2)explore the feasibility of providing subsidies to fill the 2000 vacant child care spaces, and sending the bill to the Province; and

(3)do everything possible to find replacement child care locations when school closures occur:

(i)(September 22, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services providing an update on the Provincial Operational Review of Toronto's implementation of Ontario Works and Child Care Fee Subsidy Programs and the Final Report prepared by the consulting firm KPMG, on behalf of the Ministry of Community and Social Services; and recommending that:

(1)City Council support in principle the recommendations contained in the consultant's Final Report that will contribute to the improvement of the Ontario Works program, and the child care required to support it, in Toronto;

(2)based on Provincial endorsement of the directions contained in the Operational Review, and Provincial cost-sharing commitments, the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services provide City Council, in future reports:

(i)with further details about those recommendations that have funding or service delivery implications for the City; and

(ii)with an implementation plan, developed in conjunction with Provincial officials, outlining steps that will be taken to implement those recommendations requiring joint City and Provincial action;

(3)with respect to Social Services, the Department evaluate and report back on the recommendations from the Operational Review which may be implemented immediately by the City within the current provincial legislation and the existing Council policies;

(4)with respect to child care, the Department evaluate and report back on the recommendations from the Operational Review which may be implemented immediately by the City within the current provincial legislation and the existing Council policies; and

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

(ii)(undated) Synopsis of the KPMG review of Ontario Works submitted by Councillor Olivia Chow.

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The following persons appeared before the Community Services Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

-Mr. Andy Mitchell, Community Social Planning Council of Toronto;

-Ms. Jane Mercer, Toronto Coalition for Better Child Care, and submitted a brief in regard thereto; and

-Ms. Anne Dubas, President, and Mr. Tim Maguire, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 79, and submitted a brief in regard thereto.

(b)Lifting of Barring Policies in Hostels.

The Community Services Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services for a report thereon to the next meeting of the Community Services Committee, to be held on November 4, 1999; and further directed that this matter be considered as the first item of business on the agenda and those interested in appearing before the Committee be advised accordingly:

(September 23, 1999) from Councillor Jack Layton, Co-Chair, Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons, advising that the Advisory Committee on September 22, 1999, recommended that the Shelter, Housing and Support Division of Community and Neighbourhood Services institute a policy directing emergency shelters in Toronto to lift all barring practices except in cases involving physical violence.

(c)Dental Care for Homeless People.

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

(September 23, 1999) from Councillor Jack Layton, Co-Chair, Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons, advising that the Advisory Committee on September 22, 1999, recommended that the City of Toronto develop a program to provide for the dental needs of people who are homeless; and that this program provide assistance for the range of dental care needs required, not limited to emergency care.

(d)Update on the Emergency Shelter System.

The Community Services Committee reports having received the following presentation:

Overhead slide presentation by Mr. John Jagt, Director of Hostel Services, providing an update on the emergency shelter system.

(e)Mandate and Budget Allocation for the Mayor's Homeless Initiative Reserve Fund.

The Community Services Committee reports having recommended to the Policy and Finance Committee the adoption of the following report (September 23, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services, subject to amending the mandate to provide that City-initiated initiatives also be eligible for funding from the Mayor's Homeless Initiative Reserve Fund:

(September 23, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services proposing a mandate and budget allocation for the Mayor's Homeless Initiative Reserve Fund; and recommending that:

(1)(a)the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer be authorized to create a Mayor's Homeless Initiative Reserve Fund, in accordance with Recommendation No. 16 in the approved 1999 Operating Budget for the Shelter, Housing and Support Program;

(b)Council approve an initial amount of up to $5 million to be transferred to the Mayor's Homeless Initiative Reserve Fund in 1999, from the 1999 provincial Housing Download savings within the Shelter, Housing and Support Division's 1999 Operating Budget, contingent on the realization of such savings; and

(c)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services report to Council for approval of any further transfers into the Mayor's Homeless Initiative Reserve Fund that the Commissioner deems necessary;

(2)the following mandate be approved for the Mayor's Homeless Initiative Reserve Fund:

(i)to help stabilize the housing of homeless people or those in identified high-risk groups, by providing one-time capital support to suitable projects that have short timeframes to completion;

(ii)to combine with federal capital funding, in the event that federal housing or homelessness capital funding announced within the timeframe of fiscal 1999/2000 requires a City contribution;

(iii)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services report to Council on all expenditures from the Mayor's Homeless Initiative Reserve Fund on a regular periodic basis; and

(iv)such funding to be administered by the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, in accordance with the Process for Project Development and Funding Approval set out in this report, including Council approval being required for each specific allocation from the fund in excess of $25,000.00;

(3)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer report back at the appropriate time with updated information on 1999 underspending in the Provincial Housing Download; and

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

(f)Status Report on the Proposed Add-A-Suite Incentive Program.

The Community Services Committee reports having received the following report:

(September 22, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services providing an update on the proposed Add-a-Suite Incentive Program; noting that the delayed timeline in regard to possible Federal contributions and the OMB hearing leads to the conclusion that the Add-a-Suite program be deferred at this time; and recommending that the report be received.

(g)Kipling Acres - Accreditation Award.

The Community Services Committee reports having received the following communication, and having extended its congratulations to the staff and volunteers at Kipling Acres:

(September 17, 1999) from the City Clerk advising that the Advisory Committee on Homes for the Aged on September 17, 1999, had before it a report (August 25, 1999) from the General Manager, Homes for the Aged, advising that the accreditation survey for Kipling Acres by the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation was carried out from June 15-18, 1999; attaching a copy of the survey report; and recommending that:

(1)this report be forwarded to the Community Services Committee for its information; and

(2)congratulations be extended to the staff and volunteers at Kipling Acres acknowledging their significant achievement;

and that the Advisory Committee directed that the aforementioned report be forwarded to the Community Services Committee for information.

(h)Lakeshore Lodge - Accreditation Award.

The Community Services Committee reports having received the following communication, and having extended its congratulations to the staff and volunteers at Lakeshore Lodge:

(September 17, 1999) from the City Clerk advising that the Advisory Committee on Homes for the Aged on September 17, 1999, had before it a report (August 27, 1999) from the General Manager, Homes for the Aged, advising that the accreditation survey for Lakeshore Lodge by the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation was carried out from June 20-22, 1999; attaching a copy of the survey report; and recommending that:

(1)this report be forwarded to the Community Services Committee for its information; and

(2)congratulations be extended to the staff and volunteers at Lakeshore Lodge acknowledging their significant achievement;

and that the Advisory Committee directed that the aforementioned report be forwarded to the Community Services Committee for information.

(i)Toronto Ambulance Services to the Greater Toronto Airport Authority Property.

The Community Services Committee reports having deferred consideration of the following report and motions until the meeting of the Community Services Committee to be held on December 1, 1999, in order to allow time for further negotiation with the Regional Municipality of Peel:

Motion by Councillor Gardner

"That Recommendation No. (1) be amended by deleting the date 'June 30, 2000', and inserting in lieu thereof the date and words 'January 1, 2001, or prior to that date.'; and

Motion by Councillor Walker

"That the following options Nos. (3) and (4) be adopted:

'(3)Council direct the General Manager, Toronto Ambulance, through the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services, to obtain full funding for the services described in option No. (2) from the Regional Municipality of Peel or the Greater Toronto Airport Authority, or both, notwithstanding the parties' original positions on the issue. Failing this, the Commissioner report back to Council for further instructions.

(4)Council advise the Regional Municipality of Peel that Toronto Ambulance will discontinue the provision of routine day-to-day emergency and non-emergency services to the GTAA effective June 30, 2000. This long-lead notice will permit the Region of Peel and the Ministry of Health to develop an appropriate plan for integrating the GTAA lands into its plans for service to the balance of the Region.'":

(September 22, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and General Manager, Toronto Ambulance, recommending that:

(1)City Council advise the Regional Municipality of Peel that Toronto Ambulance will discontinue the provision of routine day-to-day emergency and non-emergency services to the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) effective June 30, 2000, while maintaining Toronto Ambulance's lead role in disaster and mass casualty services on the GTAA site; and

(2)the appropriate City officials be given the authority to give effect thereto.

(j)Toronto Ambulance Marine EMS Rescue Program.

The Community Services Committee reports having received the following joint report:

(September 22, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and General Manager, Toronto Ambulance, providing an update on the Toronto Ambulance Marine EMS Rescue Program pilot project which was established in co-operation with the Toronto Police Service Marine Unit; and recommending that the report be received for information.

(k)Acquisition of Replacement Ambulances.

The Community Services Committee reports having received the following joint report:

(September 22, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and General Manager, Toronto Ambulance, advising that a response has been received from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care responding to a recommendation contained in Clause No. 3 of Report No. 2 of the Community Services Committee, headed "Acquisition of Replacement Ambulances", adopted, as amended, by City Council on July 27, 28, 29 and 30, 1999, with respect to exploring alternative fuel other than diesel fuel; noting that the Ministry will work with Toronto Ambulance in examining the potential application of non-diesel engines for ambulance vehicles in future, but that the replacement ambulances for the 1999 budget year will be diesel powered; and recommending that the report be received for information.

(l)Continuing Evaluation of the Ambulance Act of Ontario - Response to Outstanding Items.

The Community Services Committee reports having received the following report:

(August 31, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services providing an update with respect to Minute No. 1.2 of the Emergency and Protective Services Committee from January 12, 1999, on the possibility of billing hospitals for the administration of the paperwork provided by Toronto Ambulance and the new Ambulance Act of Ontario and its Regulations as they relate to the issue of co-payments; advising that correspondence has been received from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care reaffirming that currently the legislation restricts the charging of fees for ambulance service to hospitals that either send or receive a patient by ambulance in the form of a co-payment of $45.00 charged to the patient by the hospital; indicating that there is no Provincial initiative currently underway to make changes to either the Ambulance or the Health Insurance Act relating to land ambulance payment or fees; and recommending that the report be received for information.

(m)Toronto Fire Services - 1998 Annual Report.

The Community Services Committee reports having received the following joint report:

(September 23, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and the Fire Chief submitting, for information, the Toronto Fire Services 1998 Annual Report.

(n)Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP) Program.

The Community Services Committee reports having recommended to the Policy and Finance Committee:

(1)the adoption of the following report (September 30, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services respecting the Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP) Program; and

(2)that the provincial Ministry of Community and Social Services be advised that the City of Toronto will not implement the LEAP Program until such time as an adequate response has been received from the Province of Ontario through discussions of the KPMG recommendations on the implementation of Ontario Works, and the impact on child care services:

(September 30, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services respecting the Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP) Program, a mandatory Provincial program that will be delivered by municipalities under the Employment Supports (ES) component of Ontario Works; and recommending that:

(1)City Council endorse the proposed direction for delivering LEAP in Toronto;

(2)funds for LEAP be included in the year 2000 budget requests of Toronto Social Services and Children's Services in the amounts of $1.89 million gross/$378,000.00 net and $4.00 million gross/$800,000.00 net respectively; and

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