Impact of Education Funding Changes - Children=s Services

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee recommends the adoption of the recommendations of the Children=s Action Committee contained in the communication dated May 19, 1998, from the City Clerk, subject to amending Recommendation No. (2) to read as follows:

A(2)that Council request the Provincial Minister of Education and the Minister of Community and Social Services to re-examine the education funding formula and the complete withdrawal of child care capital dollars in light of the negative impacts on children=s services.@;

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports, for the information of Council, having referred a communication and brief from the Toronto District School Board to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism with a request that they:

(a)obtain from the Toronto District School Board the following information:

(i)the number of leases and permits for child care centres, recreational and community uses;

(ii)the actual and projected enrolment (or change in class size) in each school that may result in eviction of child care centres and/or other community uses;

(iii)the actual cost to serve these child care centres and/or other community uses; and

(iv)the amount of space used versus the space funded under the new funding formula; and

(b)report jointly thereon to the June 18, 1998, meeting of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, such report to include:

(i)the impact on non-profit groups using school facilities;

(ii)the anticipated increase in fees for recreation programs operating in the schools; and

(iii)a response from the Ministry of Community and Social Services indicating whether it would be willing to provide its share of the existing funding formula should the City of Toronto=s costs increase for the subsidized school-based child care spaces.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee submits the following communication (May 19, 1998) from the City Clerk:

Recommendations:

The Children=s Action Committee on May 8, 1998, recommended to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, and Council:

(1)that Council request the Toronto School Boards to place a moratorium on evictions of child care centres and family resource centres until the completion of the policy review processes by the School Boards; and

(2)that Council request the Minister of Education to re-examine the funding formula in light of the negative impacts on children=s services.

The Children=s Action Committee reports, for the information of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, having:

(a)requested staff to report on the costs facing child care centres who are being evicted by schools as a result of the new education funding formula; and

(b)requested that a letter of congratulations be sent to Mr. Fraser Mustard on his appointment as Co-Chair of the Study of Early Learning and to offer him assistance in the preparation of his report.

Background:

The Children=s Action Committee had before it a communication (May 5, 1998) from Mr. Michael R. Garrett, Chief Administrative Officer, addressed to Members of Council, regarding the 1998 Provincial Budget and News Release (May 5, 1998) from the Ministry of Finance.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports, for the information of Council, also having had before it during consideration of the foregoing matter a communication (April 6, 1998) from Mr. John Davies, Director - Executive Council, Toronto District School Board, requesting the opportunity to appear before the Committee to discuss a number of issues resulting from the Provincial restructuring of education finance which have created considerable pressure on the ability of school boards to deliver services to the community.

Ms. Gail Nyberg, Chair, and Mr. John Davies, Director - Executive Council, Toronto District School Board, appeared before the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee in connection with the foregoing matter, and submitted a brief in regard thereto.

Councillor Cho, at the meeting of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on May 21, 1998, declared his interest in the foregoing matter, in that he is a teacher on leave of absence from the Toronto District School Board.

(A copy of the communication and News Release referred to in the foregoing communication from the City Clerk was forwarded to all Members of Council, and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk.)