COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE

AGENDA

Date of Meeting: Thursday, February 10, 2000 Enquiry: Rosalind Dyers

Time: 9:30 a.m. Committee Administrator

Location: Committee Room 1 392-8018

City Hall

100 Queen Street West

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST PURSUANT TO

THE MUNICIPAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT.

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES.

DEPUTATIONS. List to be Distributed at Meeting

COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS.

1. INTEGRATED FIRE AND POLICE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM.

Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and

City Solicitor

(January 19, 2000)

Responding to the request of the Budget Committee in December 1998 to report to the Emergency and Protective Services Committee on protective measures that can be employed though contractual arrangements with Motorola Canada Ltd. and suppliers to ensure competitive pricing for spare parts, maintenance and future system upgrades and enhancements for the integrated Fire-Police voice radio communications system; and recommending that this report be received for information.

2. TIERED EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services

Fire Chief and

General Manager, Toronto Ambulance

(January 11, 2000)

Providing an overview of the purpose of the emergency response system employed by the three emergency services within the City of Toronto; and recommending that:

(1) City Council endorse the principle of Tiered Response as a "best practice" in the provision and delivery of emergency services within the City of Toronto;

(2) the Sunnybrook Base Hospital in conjunction with Toronto Ambulance and the Toronto Fire Services undertake to review the medical requirements associated with multi-agency responses to medical emergencies; and

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

3. AMBULANCE SERVICES - 1999 QUALITY ASSURANCE REPORT.

Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services

(January 25, 2000)

Submitting, for information, the 1999 Quality Assurance Report, which was based on statistical data compiled on the quality assurance initiatives processed and directed through the Quality Service Review Unit, Toronto Ambulance.

4. GREATER TORONTO SERVICES BOARD RECOMMENDATION

AND AMBULANCE DISPATCH OPTIONS.

Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services

(January 25, 2000)

Advising that the Greater Toronto Services Board Best Practices Committee on January 21, 2000, discussed issues pertaining to the co-ordination of ambulance dispatch services and systems within the Greater Toronto Area; outlining the recommendation arising from such meeting; and recommending that this report be received for information.

5. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM

AND PATIENT SATISFACTION SURVEY.

Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services

(January 25, 2000)

Providing, for information, a summary of the results of a comprehensive emergency medical services system and patient satisfaction survey conducted for Toronto Ambulance by North Star Research; and recommending that this report be received for information.

6. REQUEST FOR A REPORT ON THE FEASIBILITY

OF IMPLEMENTING A FULL ADVANCED

LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR TORONTO AMBULANCE.

Councillor Brad Duguid,

Chair, Community Services Committee

(February 1, 2000)

Submitting, for information, a copy of his Amendment in Council for its meeting on February 1, 2000, respecting emergency room admitting volumes and the re-routing of patients in critical condition, and wherein it recommended that:

(1) the Council of the City of Toronto support and endorse the position taken by Toronto Ambulance with regard to taking critical patients to the closest hospital regardless of their emergency department status; and

(2) staff report to the Community Services Committee on the efforts to implement a full advanced life support system whereby every ambulance would be staffed with a Level III paramedic and advise as to the viability of accelerating the training program to implement this level of service; and

(3) if a Coronor's Inquest is conducted relating to the January 14, 2000, incident, staff report to the Community Services Committee on all recommendations arising out of such an Inquest.

7. "YOUNG VOICES FROM THE STREET" -

TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY PUBLICATION.

City Librarian

(December 23, 1999)

Providing background information on the Toronto Public Library publication "Young Voices from the Street," which reports on the number of street youth that took advantage of the "Reaching Out with Young Voices" program, as requested by the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on December 3, 1998; outlining future developments for the project; noting that the project "Reaching Out with Young Voices" and resulting publication "Young Voices from the Street" has been nominated for the Minister's Award for Innovation, which is awarded by the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation; and recommending that the report be received for information.

(DEFERRED FROM THE LAST MEETING.)

8. FRIENDS OF SHOPPING BAG LADIES - REVIEW FINDINGS.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(January 26, 2000)

Providing the findings of the Friends of Shopping Bag Ladies review; and recommending that:

(1) Friends of Shopping Bag Ladies immediately redirect all men who are not vulnerable clients (as defined in this report) to other drop-in programs;

(2) the Shelter Housing and Support Division facilitate a process between Friends of Shopping Bag Ladies, the Central Neighbourhood House, Street Survivors Program and Regent Park Community Health Centre to jointly develop and implement an alternative service response to meet the multiple needs of vulnerable men currently accessing Friends of Shopping Bag Ladies;

(3) Friends of Shopping Bag Ladies immediately develop and implement a community relations strategy with the local community, including the resident associations;

(4) Friends of Shopping Bag Ladies implement a communications plan to inform other service providers of the agency's mandate to ensure that appropriate referrals can be made;

(5) this report be forwarded to the Shelter Housing and Support Division for consideration as part of the service planning review process, and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care; and

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

9. TORONTO REPORT CARD ON HOMELESSNESS 2000.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(January 25, 2000)

Respecting the findings and recommendations of the Toronto first annual report card on homelessness; and recommending that:

(1) Council adopt the recommendations of the Toronto Report Card on Homelessness 2000, specifically that the City of Toronto:

(a) forward this report card to the Federal and Provincial Governments, municipalities in the GTA and community stakeholders, including non-profit funders and service providers;

(b) urge the Federal Government to:

(i) implement the recommendations of the FCM Quality of Life Infrastructure Budget Proposal related to housing;

(ii) provide additional support for new affordable rental housing development in the upcoming federal budget; and

(iii) expedite the process to make federal lands available for affordable housing development;

(c) urge the Provincial Government to:

(i) increase the shelter component of social assistance to reflect local market conditions as recommended by the Mayor's Homelessness Action Task Force;

(ii) create a new shelter allowance program for the working poor as recommended by the Mayor's Homelessness Action Task Force;

(iii) create 5,000 new supportive housing units in Toronto over the next five years and 9,000 new units in the rest of the Province, as recommended by the Mayor's Homelessness Action Task Force;

(iv) ensure that definitions of special need and eligibility for supportive housing are broad enough to include "hard-to-house" homeless people;

(v) appoint a senior representative from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to work with the Homeless Health Strategy Reference Group;

(vi) provide quarterly data on the disposition of all applications for eviction through the Rental Housing Tribunal; and

(vii) make provincial land available for affordable housing development as per its commitment in March 1999;

(2) the Mayor, the Chair of the Community Services Committee, and the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons work with the Federal and Provincial Governments to establish a high-level, tripartite committee to ensure effective, timely implementation of homeless and housing initiatives;

(3) the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services convene a meeting with the Provincial and Federal Governments and key community stakeholders to establish a collective commitment to reduce homelessness with established benchmarks to measure progress;

(4) the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services work with the Federal and Provincial Governments to establish an agreement or protocol that sets out how federal homeless and housing funding will be used in Toronto;

(5) the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services continue to implement its strategy, with clear timelines, to maintain a maximum 90 percent occupancy rate in the emergency shelter system as established by City Council in June 1999;

(6) the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services:

(a) consult with key community stakeholders on an appropriate approach to undertake a "census" to determine the number of homeless people living on the street;

(b) provide further information on the impacts of homelessness on vulnerable groups, including lone parents, youth, seniors and minorities;

(c) provide further information on the impacts of government policy and program decisions on homelessness with a specific emphasis on the Tenant Protection Act;

(d) report back to the Community Services Committee by June 2000 on the progress of Recommendation No. 6 (a), (b) and (c);

(7) Toronto Public Health continue to work with the homeless population and community agencies to address the health needs of homeless and under-housed people; this includes ensuring that:

(a) all homeless people with active TB receive Directly Observed Therapy;

(b) the deaths of homeless people continue to be tracked;

(c) the incidence of reportable infectious disease among the homeless and under-housed population is systematically tracked as a key indicator of health in this population;

(d) the Homeless Health Reference Group works to develop an infirmary for homeless and under-housed people who no longer need primary hospital care;

(e) the Homeless Health Reference Group develops a discharge strategy for homeless people who are leaving institutions; and

(f) the Homeless Health Reference Group works with key stakeholders to establish additional harm reduction facilities for homeless people with substance addictions; and

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

10. PROVINCIAL HOMELESSNESS INITIATIVES FUNDING

FOR EVA'S PHOENIX.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(January 28, 2000)

Recommending that:

(1) the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be authorized to contract with the Ministry of Community and Social Services in order to receive an additional allocation of $250,000.00 through the Provincial Homelessness Initiatives Fund;

(2) Council authorize a grant of $250,000.00 to Eva's Place for Eva's Phoenix, using the additional provincial contribution;

(3) the report be forwarded to the Policy and Finance Committee for consideration, and to the Budget Advisory Committee secretary for the budget process pending file, in accordance with the Financial Control Protocols adopted by Council; and

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

11. NEW PROVINCIAL RENT SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(January 27, 2000)

Respecting the new provincial rent supplement program announced by the Province in January; suggesting a response to the identified issues that arise; noting that there are no financial implications in 2000-2003, but that the program potentially creates pressure on the City to pick up the costs in three to five years unless the Province provides further funding; and recommending that:

(1) Council strongly urge the Province that in regard to the New Rent Supplement Program:

(a) no rent supplement commitments be made that exposes the City to future unknown costs;

(b) no rent supplement contracts be signed by the Metropolitan Toronto Housing Authority without the concurrence of City of Toronto;

(c) provincial funding be guaranteed (at no municipal cost) such that whenever a landlord's rent supplement contract is not renewed, tenants in the units affected continue to receive supplements until they either choose to move or no longer need subsidy;

(2) Council strongly urge the Province to make no further provincial housing program announcements without the concurrence of the municipal sector; and

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

12. FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

AND DEVELOPMENT AND CARE PILOT PROJECT.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(January 25, 2000)

Respecting the feasibility study for pilot projects in Early Childhood Education, Development and Care; and recommending that:

(1) Council approve that the Community and Neighbourhood Services Department enter into a partnership with the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board and the Atkinson Charitable Foundation in order to implement a feasibility study for a pilot project in Early Childhood Education, Development and Care and, in particular, to receive and manage contributions from the partners;

(2) funding of the City's $20,000.00 contribution be considered as part of the $150,000.00 request for the Children and Youth Action Committee in the Approved Task Forces budget in the Non-Program Expenditures budget through the 2000 budget process;

(3) this report be forwarded to the Policy and Finance Committee for consideration, and the Budget Advisory Committee secretary for budget process pending file in accordance with the Financial Control Protocols adopted by Council;

(4) the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services report to Council in the spring of 2000 on the results of the feasibility study including the possible financial implications of proceeding with the pilot project; and

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

13. ACCREDITATION REPORT - FUDGER HOUSE HOME FOR THE AGED.

City Clerk

(January 21, 2000)

Advising that the Advisory Committee on Homes for the Aged on January 21, 2000, adopted a report (January 5, 2000) from the General Manager, Homes for the Aged, respecting the accreditation survey for Fudger House by the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation which was carried out from October 17-19, 1999, and wherein it recommended that:

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

(2) congratulations be extended to the staff and volunteers at Fudger House acknowledging their significant achievement.

14. CHANGES TO MEMBERSHIP - CHILDREN AND YOUTH

ACTION COMMITTEE.

City Clerk

(January 27, 2000)

Advising that the Children and Youth Action Committee on January 17, 2000, recommended that:

(1) Trustee Elizabeth Boyd be appointed to the Children and Youth Action Committee as the representative for the Toronto Catholic District School Board to replace Trustee Rose Andrachuk; and

(2) Trustee Barbara Poplawski be appointed as the alternate member for the Toronto Catholic District School Board to replace Ms. Nora Donovan.

15. CHILDREN'S ADVOCATE'S AWARD FOR BEST PRACTICES.

City Clerk

(January 27, 2000)

Advising that the Children and Youth Action Committee on January 17, 2000, reports, for information, that the Children's Advocate's Award for Best Practices, in an amount of $5,000.00, was shared jointly by the following two winners:

- Trinity Bellwoods Children's Group's CARE Program; and

- Jessie's Centre for Teenagers' Food for Two and Feed Me Too program.

16. PROVINCIAL RESPONSE TO TORONTO'S REQUEST FOR

FUNDING FOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH

COUNSELLORS' IN LOCAL SCHOOLS.

The Honourable John Baird,

Minister of Community and Social Services

(December 20, 1999)

Responding to the City's communication of September 17, 1999, concerning the impact of homelessness on children in Toronto and the City's request for funding for children's mental health counsellors in local schools; advising that the Ministry is pleased to provide funding to Earlscourt Child and Family Centre, which delivers a school liaison program to children of women residing in shelters, but is not in a position to enhance funding for School Liaison Programs; and noting that Ministry staff in the Toronto Regional Office will continue to work with the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services, and her staff to foster creative, flexible services to those most in need in Toronto.

17. REQUEST TO NOMINATE STAFF MEMBERS TO

THE TORONTO DISTRICT HEALTH COUNCIL.

Ms. Ilsa Blidner,

Chair, Toronto District Health Council

(January 12, 2000)

Advising that the Toronto District Health Council has a number of vacancies to fill; and requesting that the City of Toronto give consideration to providing eight nominees for four Council positions with the following representation:

- a member of the City of Toronto Council;

- a member of the Board of Health;

- two staff members with knowledge of the health, social, and human services issues facing the City of Toronto;

and indicating the current Toronto Municipal membership who have Orders-in-Council, or have been nominated.

(NOTE: The Community Services Committee is responsible for recommending the staff appointments only. It is, therefore, recommended that two additional staff be nominated, other than Shirley Hoy and Eric Gam who were nominated by City Council on March 4, 5 and 6, 1998, but have not received order-in-council.)

18. COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE -

OUTSTANDING ITEMS.

City Clerk

(January 28, 2000)

Submitting, for information, the list of outstanding items for the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee and Community Services Committee as of December 1999.

ANY OTHER MATTERS.