Actions Required Resulting from the Board Meeting

of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities

The Policy and Finance Committee recommends the adoption of the following Recommendation No. (2) embodied in the communication (Undated) from Councillor Olivia Chow, Downtown, viz:

"(2)that the City of Toronto reiterate its support for the federal firearms control legislation, and that this support be communicated to the Federal Justice Minister and the Solicitor General of Canada, and to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).

The Policy and Finance Committee reports, for the information of Council, having referred the following Recommendations Nos. (3) and (4) embodied in the communication (undated) from Councillor Olivia Chow, Downtown, to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services for consideration and report thereon to the Community Services Committee:

"(3)that staff complete the survey regarding the establishment of a Local Crime Prevention Council and explore federal funding sources in support of Council's work on safe community initiatives; and

(4)that various existing policies and initiatives on prostitution be collected and sent to the December board meeting of FCM for discussion.".

The Policy and Finance Committee submits the following communication (October 7, 1999) from the City Clerk:

Recommendation:

The Community Services Committee on October 7, 1999, recommended that the following recommendations contained in the attached communication (undated) from Councillor Olivia Chow, Child and Youth Advocate, be referred to the Policy and Finance Committee for consideration:

"(2)that the City of Toronto reiterate its support for the federal firearms control legislation, and that this support be communicated to the Federal Justice Minister and the Solicitor General of Canada, and to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM);

(3)that staff complete the survey regarding the establishment of a Local Crime Prevention Council and explore federal funding sources in support of Council's work on safe community initiatives; and

(4)that various existing policies and initiatives on prostitution be collected and sent to the December board meeting of FCM for discussion."

The Community Services Committee reports, for the information of the Policy and Finance Committee, having received Recommendation No. (1) contained in the attached communication from Councillor Chow.

Background:

The Community Services Committee had before it the following communications:

-(September 23, 1999) from the City Clerk advising of the actions of the Children and Youth Action Committee with respect to the National Children's Agenda; and

-(undated) from Councillor Olivia Chow, Child and Youth Advocate, reporting on the recent Board meeting of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the issues of concern to the City of Toronto.

(Communication (undated), addressed to the

Community Services Committee from

Councillor Olivia Chow, Child and Youth Advocate)

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the FCM Budget submission to the Federal government be received for information.

(2)the City of Toronto reiterate its support for the federal firearms control legislation, and that this support be communicated to the Federal Justice Minister and the Solicitor General of Canada, and to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).

(3)staff complete the survey regarding the establishment of Local Crime Prevention Council and explore federal funding sources in support of Council's work on safe community initiatives.

(4)various existing policies and initiatives on prostitution be collected and sent to the December board meeting of FCM for discussion.

Background:

Toronto Council provided significant leadership at the September Board meeting of the FCM, the following are issues of concern to the City of Toronto.

(I)Motions submitted from Toronto adopted:

FCM supported Toronto's motion urging the federal government to provide stiff and consecutive penalty and sentencing for all indictable offences under the Criminal Code of Canada for any individual who operates a motor vehicle for the purpose of evading a peace officer in the performance of his duties.

(II)Budget submission to the federal government:

The FCM board adopted a "Quality of Life Infrastructure Program Proposal" to the Finance Minister Paul Martin.

The focus of the program proposal includes:

Investment in water, waste energy and transportation systems to increase penetration of efficient and innovative technologies that improve health and protect the environment (this proposal is modelled under the very successful Better Building Partnership program and other environmental initiatives pioneered by the City of Toronto).

Investment in affordable housing to increase access to shelter for low-income households and reduce growing levels of homelessness in Canadian communities.

Investment in recreational facilities for children and youth, and increased support for the National Strategy on Community Safety and Crime Prevention and Canada's Drug Strategy.

(III)On Crime and Safety Issues:

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is doing a survey on the establishment of Local Crime Prevention Council. Attached please find a survey and the work plan initiated by FCM.

FCM has secured funding from HRDC to assist in crime reduction. Other municipalities have applied successfully for this funding. Since Toronto has a Community Safety Council, our participation on this FCM initiative would be helpful.

I raised the issue of escalating policing costs as a result of demonstrations and special events that is national in scope (such as Kosovo). Other large cities such as Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver and Ottawa also shared the same concern. This issue will be further discussed at a later date.

In December, there will be presentations on policy around prostitution and statistical and demographic trends in crime prevention.

In March, there will be a presentation on upcoming changes to CPIC (the national computer program tracking people with criminal records).

(IV)Children:

The FCM board supported the request to endorse the Headstart program, as suggested through the Fraser Mustard and Margaret McCain report commissioned by the Premier of Ontario. It also calls on the federal government to invest in children, including creating a comprehensive multi-year Early Childhood Development Program that is affordable and accessible to all children, and continued support for increased investment in the National Children Benefit.

There will be further discussions on what actions can be taken by cities in support of various children initiatives in future FCM Board meetings.

--------

(A copy of Bill C-440 - "Penalties Under the Criminal Code - Use of Motor Vehicle to Evade Police" and the attachments to the foregoing communication were forwarded to all Members of Council with the October 14, 1999, agenda of the Policy and Finance Committee and a copy thereof is also on file in the office of the City Clerk.)