Other Items Considered by the Committee

(a)Presentation by the Toronto District Health Council.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having received the following communication and presentation:

(April 20, 1998) from Mr. Lorne Zon, Executive Director, Toronto District Health Council (TDHC), requesting the opportunity to brief the Committee on the following issues:

-Mandate and accountability of the TDHC;

-Long Term Care Planning;

-Mental Health Services Planning;

-Hospital Restructuring;

-Homeless Task Force; and

-Community Services Inventory.

Mr. Lorne Zon appeared before the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee in connection with the foregoing matter.

(b)Responding to Client Inquiries, Issues and Complaints in Social Services.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having:

(1)received the following report from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and the communication from the Acting President, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 79;

(2)referred the OCAP document, entitled AWho=s Cheating Who?@ to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services with a request that she meet with officials from the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty to discuss ways in which the Department and OCAP can work together to address issues of concern with respect to the service delivery system; and report thereon to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee; and

(3)directed that the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be requested to provide the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee with an annual report on the Client Services and Information Unit, the number of calls received and resolution of these calls, the intervention strategies, and any systemic changes of delivery method as a result of theses inquiries:

(i)(April 30, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services describing how the Social Services Division responds to client inquiries, issues and problems related to the determination of eligibility or entitlements, including client complaints about service quality, staff conduct, and eligibility decisions, in working with the Division to address client issues; and recommending that the report be received for information; and

(ii)(May 20, 1998) from Mr. Denis Casey, Acting President, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 79, respecting the CUPE Local 79 members working on the front-lines as Social Services Caseworkers and the impact on these workers resulting from the introduction of the new Ontario Works program.

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

-Mr. John Clarke, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty; and submitted a copy of AWho=s Cheating Who? An Inquiry into the abuse of the poor by the welfare system conducted by the Ontario Coalition Against Proverty (OCAP)@; and

-Ms. Sue Collis, Ontario Coalition Against Proverty, on behalf of Mr. Roddy Gangoo.

(c)True Davidson Acres Home For the Aged - Three-Year Accreditation Award.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having received the following communication, and having expressed its congratulations to the staff, the Home Advisory Committee, and volunteers at True Davidson Acres:

(May 4, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that the Advisory Committee on Homes for the Aged on May 1, 1998, had before it a report from the General Manager, Homes for the Aged, indicating that the accreditation survey for True Davidson Acres by the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation was carried out from January 18-20, 1998, and that the Home received a three-year award.

(d)Purchase of Ontario Hydro Property - Maxwell Street.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism for a report thereon to the Corporate Services Committee following negotiations with Ontario Hydro.

(May 11, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that North York Community Council on May 6, 1998, concurred in a motion by Councillor Howard Moscoe, North York Spadina, respecting the purchase of Ontario Hydro property on Maxwell Street, and wherein it recommended that:

(1)staff of the Parks and Recreation Department, North York Civic Centre, be requested to contact Ontario Hydro immediately to indicate a desire to enter into discussions with respect to the purchase of the subject property;

(2)if negotiations proceed to a conclusion, a further report be submitted to Council through the appropriate Standing Committee seeking approval to expend funds; and

(3)the appropriate City officials take the necessary action to give effect thereto.