Purpose:

As directed by Toronto Council at its meeting of January 8, 1998, this report outlines the proposed Terms of Reference for this task force. The proposed Terms of Reference are the result of consultations with citizen members of municipal committees on Access and Equity, interested community groups, and staff.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Support for the Task Force will be provided by a staff team assembled from various program areas dealing with access and equity issues within the City. Secretariat support will be provided by the City Clerk. Further, each department will be requested to identify a staff liaison person to the Task Force to ensure that there is a comprehensive response from all departments and special purpose bodies.

Financial support in the amount of $20,000.00 is required to enable the Task Force to conduct community meetings and consultations, circulate required notices and cover expenses of community members, regarding participation and attendance at Task Force meetings (e.g., attendant care, interpreting, transportation).

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) the proposed Terms of Reference and proposed budget be adopted;

(2) the proposed budget come from the City contingency fund and be allocated to the City Council budget for Task Forces administered by the City Clerk;

(3) (a) the existing municipal committees on Access and Equity be continued and be authorized to fill vacancies using the Task Force selection criteria; and

(b) staff support and resources be provided to ensure continued input from these committees pending the final recommendations of the Task Force;

(4) the programs and policies on Access and Equity of the former municipalities continue to be in effect until Council formally decides otherwise;

(5) each Department be required, and each Special Purpose Body be requested, to assign a senior liaison person for the Task Force; and

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

Proposed Terms of Reference:

The City of Toronto is recognized internationally for its ability to embrace and nurture the diverse communities that thrive within it. This phenomenon is the result of changes in immigration, as well as the long working relationship between the diverse communities and local governments and institutions. This relationship fosters a spirit of mutuality, trust and respect among the various ethno racial communities, people with disabilities, women, Aboriginal peoples, lesbians and gays, immigrants/refugees. Members of the communities and local government have worked to ensure that the structures and services are accessible and equitable so that everyone may thrive economically, socially within a sustainable environment.

The work of the Task Force includes identifying issues which require attention, such as: racism, all other forms of discrimination, employment and pay equity; as well as developing and recommending new structures and an Action Plan built on:

(i) consultation with the people who live and work in the City of Toronto, City Councillors, City departments and Special Purpose Bodies;

(ii) research on best practices in Toronto and other jurisdictions;

(iii) development of partnerships between the City of Toronto, other levels of government, business and labour, community organizations, and residents;

(iv) development of a "root cause approach" which considers the origins rather than the symptoms of the problems being addressed, i.e., systemic issues and responses;

(v) linkages with other departments and Task Forces established by the City Council.

(1) Name:

The name of this Task Force is ACity of Toronto Task Force on Community Access and Equity@.

(2) Duration:

The Task Force is intended to be of limited duration and will present a final report to Toronto City Council in January 1999. The Task Force will meet on a monthly basis between April and December, 1998. Additional meetings may be scheduled at the call of the Chair. From January to March 1999, the Task Force will wind down its work as the new structures are put in place.

(3) Mandate:

As identified by the Toronto Transition Team and adopted by Toronto City Council, the mandate of the Task Force is to develop a comprehensive and coordinated plan of action that will recommend:

Aways or structures to ensure the voices of the City's diverse communities continue to be heard; and strategies on issues of concern to racial minorities, people with disabilities, women, Aboriginal peoples, lesbians and gays, ethno-cultural groups, immigrants/refugees.@

Access and equity programs within the new City should continue to address the barriers to full participation experienced by all equality seeking groups, including those concerned with: race, ethnicity, class, disability, education, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion/faith.

The Task Force's report will include recommendations for measurable outcomes regarding the implementation of access and equity principles into the political and administrative structures, programs, and services of the City of Toronto. The report will also address issues of future community advocacy and mobilization.

In addition to a final report, interim reports will be submitted by the Task Force to the Special Committee to Review the Toronto Transition Team Report, or other appropriate committees, to advise on the progress of the Task Force and to address significant issues requiring Council's attention, e.g., Federal and Provincial policies on immigration, refugees, equity in education and training, pay equity, employment equity, race relations, literacy, and the ongoing work of the access and equity policies and programs established by the former municipalities.

(4) Task Force Process:

At all levels of this process, stakeholder input is necessary to ensure a commitment to the outcomes and, therefore, implementation of recommendations.

It is anticipated that the Task Force will operate with three sub-committees:

(i) Community Consultations;

(ii) Departmental Consultations; and

(iii) Political Consultations with Members of Council.

These sub-committees will be chaired by one of the Task Force members.

The Task Force may also strike work groups based on stakeholder issues (e.g., Status of Women, Anti-Racism, Accessibility for People with Disabilities, Aboriginal peoples, Literacy, Employment Equity). It is further anticipated that these work groups will conduct the necessary work and report on their findings, with recommendations, to the Task Force. The Task Force may invite other community members to join these stakeholder work groups, based on selection criteria for Task Force Membership.

At its first meeting, the Task Force will: review the Terms of Reference; set a schedule of meeting dates, including location; and, orient members as to the role of the Task Force and the City=s organization.

All meetings of the Task Force will be held at accessible locations. All documents will be made available in alternative formats, and other supports such as attendant care, childcare and interpreting will be provided as required.

(A) Goals and Objectives:

The primary focus of the Task Force's work is to undertake a consultative process as a way of expanding upon the general directions recommended by the Toronto Transition Team. The Task Force will identify the necessary policies, structural functions, program priorities and evaluation processes by which the new City of Toronto can:

(i) strengthen civic society, and in particular empower those members of the community who face barriers to full participation in the life of the community;

(ii) take a more effective role in addressing the barriers faced by women, people of colour, Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, lesbians and gays, immigrants/refugees, different religious/faith communities;

(iii) strengthen community involvement and public participation in the decision-making processes of the municipality, particularly for equity seeking communities;

(iv) continue the City=s proactive role in linking and partnering with other institutions and agencies, as well as with the community, in engaging in initiatives in support of access and equity;

(v) ensure that the contributions, interests and needs of all sectors of Toronto's diverse population are reflected in the City's mission, operation and service delivery;

(vi) continue the City=s leadership in the community as a model employer with a workforce that reflects the diversity of its residents and follows fair and equitable employment practices.

To achieve these objectives, the Task Force will need to consider a number of strategic directions that impact on:

(1) community and institutional partnerships;

(2) mechanisms for City Council monitoring and advocacy; and

(3) administrative responsibilities and accountability.

(B) Vision:

Following its orientation, where Task Force members will improve their understanding of each other and of the Task Force mandate, the members will participate in a visioning session. The visioning session will guide the development of both short and long term "outcome" indicators.

(C) Information Gathering:

In order to inform the work of the Task Force, a number of reports will be required. The Action Plan will need to address short-term transition and harmonization issues as well as identify long-term responsibilities. The Task Force will review:

(D) Analysis:

The Task Force will review all materials, submissions, and the results of consultation to determine the range of solutions, policies and practices that are possible. The Task Force will draft recommendations which include: mechanisms for community and institutional partnerships, including funding partnerships; Aperformance indicators@ and mechanisms for review; and resource implications, i.e, human, organizational, financial (July/August, 1998).

(E) Draft Report:

A draft report will be circulated in September for consultation which will occur between September and November 1998. The final report will follow the principles of clear language.

(5) Membership:

The Task Force will be composed of no more than eighteen (18) members, drawn from City Councillors and representatives of stakeholder groups. This will include up to five (5) members of City Council with the balance drawn from the following stakeholder groups:

(a) individuals with special competencies in the general area of access and equity;

(b) community and advocacy organizations dealing with access and equity issues; and

(c) municipal committees dealing with access and equity issues.

The Task Force will strive to represent the diversity of the community as well as geographic considerations. Effort will be made to involve youth. Municipal employees will not be eligible for membership; however, the City=s bargaining agents will be consulted on matters that impact their membership.

(6) Chair and Co-chairs:

The Task Force will be chaired by Councillor Joe Mihevc who will designate two community representatives as Co-chairs. These Co-chairs will be selected based on the criteria included in the Terms of Reference and must be individuals with demonstrated political and community experience in the access and equity field.

(7) Membership Selection:

After the selection of two community Co-chairs, the remaining community representatives will be selected through a public call. All community members will be selected by the Chair and Co-chairs. The selection process will be based on clearly understood and equitable criteria and members will be selected on the basis of the following:

(1) experience working in a task force or similar setting;

(2) leadership in the community on Access and Equity issues;

(3) history of public service such as volunteer work;

(4) proven ability to consult within and across their sector;

(5) demonstrated commitment, knowledge and understanding of access and equity issues;

(6) availability and willingness to attend meetings;

(7) skills in listening, analysis, learning; and

(8) ability to work in a team setting, including an interest and capacity to work through consensus.

(8) Staffing and Resources:

The Task Force will be staffed by administrative and professional individuals with the capacity to: gather, synthesize and analyse background information; write background papers, and assist in the writing of the draft and final reports; and, facilitate a community consultation process.

A group of core staff will work as a team to support the Task Force. The staff will be drawn from the municipal committees and departments dealing with access and equity. The City Clerk will provide secretariat support.

Other staff will resource the Task Force as necessary to conduct research, develop and implement communications and outreach strategies, and develop policies and background reports. In addition, it is anticipated that representatives from each department and from the City's special purpose bodies will be involved to ensure development of a comprehensive access and equity Action Plan.

The Task Force will require $20,000.00 to do its work. This will cover:

(1) meeting costs (mailing, etc.);

(2) community consultation and other communications costs, including translation and interpretation, sign language and accommodation costs for those requiring adaptive devices or other supports;

(3) preparation of public documents, including the Final Report; and

(4) direct expenses for community members (e.g., parking, transit, child care).

(9) Consultation Process:

During the course of consultations regarding these Terms of Reference, concern was expressed regarding the continuation of the work of the former municipal committees. A recommendation was made to request Council authorize the continuation of existing committees and provide staff support and resources while the Task Force is doing its work and pending the final recommendations of the Task Force.

(a) Community Consultation.

Individuals and community organizations will be consulted through a variety of mechanisms. Formal consultation meetings will occur at two points in the process:.

(b) Departmental Consultation:

(c) Political Consultation:

The Chair of the Task Force will obtain input from members of Council through addressing and seeking the advice of each of the Standing Committees, Community Councils and special meetings of Councillors. The dialogue is intended to ensure that City Council's decision-making structures will accommodate the diverse needs of all members of the community.

Conclusions:

City Council has established this Task Force to develop recommendations on the best ways to support communities concerned about access and equity, and to integrate the principles of access and equity into the fabric of the City=s roles as policy maker, advocate, provider and regulator of services, contractor and employer.

In addition to its final report, the Task Force may submit interim reports and reports on urgent community issues to the Special Committee for consideration and for Council=s attention.