Other Items Considered by the Committee

(a)1999-2003 Capital Works Program - Community and Neighbourhood Services.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having recommended to the Budget Committee:

(1)the adoption of the following 1999-2003 Capital Works Programs:

Community and Neighbourhood Services Department:

-Homes for the Aged;

-Shelter Housing and Support;

-Social Services; and

Library Services;

(2)the adoption of the joint report dated November 26, 1998, from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer recommending that the Site Redevelopment Project be approved as part of the 1999-2003Capital Works Program of the Homes for the Aged Division, with 1999 cash flow in the amount of $2.0 million; and

(3)that, should the design of the St. Jamestown Recreation Centre be approved for inclusion in the Economic Development 1999 Capital Works Program by City Council during the Capital budget process, $150,000.00 also be included in the Library Services 1999 Capital Works Program for the design of the St.Jamestown Public Library.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee had before it the following 1999-2003Capital Works Programs and communications:

(i)Community and Neighbourhood Services Department:

-Homes for the Aged;

-Shelter Housing and Support;

-Social Services; and

Library Services;

(ii)(November 9, 1998) from the Chief Administrative Officer respecting the 1999-2003 Capital Works Program; providing an overview of the Capital Budget process; and summarizing the various issues and challenges currently faced by the City;

(iii)(November 11, 1998) from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer proposing a preliminary capital financing plan for the 1999-2003 Capital Works Program; and

(iv)(November 26, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer respecting the Homes for the Aged 1999-2003Capital Works Program; and recommending that the Site Redevelopment Project be approved as part of the 1999-2003 Capital Works program of the Homes for the Aged Division, with 1999 cash flow in the amount of $2.0million.

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Councillor Pam McConnell, Don River, appeared before the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee in connection with the Library Services 1999-2003 Capital Works Program and the inclusion of the design of the St.Jamestown Public Library in the 1999 Program.

(b)National Child Benefit Supplement Reinvestment Plan.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having:

(1)recommended to the Budget Committee:

(a)the adoption of the report dated November 18, 1998, of the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services, subject to amending Recommendation No. (2) to read as follows:

"(2)if the Province disallows the City of Toronto's strategy and the requested legal opinion prevents the City from granting money directly back to families on social assistance, the City develop a combined strategy whereby:

(i)the reinvestment of Municipal social assistance savings resulting from the implementation of the National Child Benefit Supplement would go directly to all families on social assistance through a shelter fund that requires the least intrusive administrative measures;

(ii)child care alternatives and service supports for children of low income families, including those families making the transition from Ontario Works into sustainable employment, be provided; and

(iii)any other enhanced reinvestment strategies, such as school nutrition programs, continue to be considered; and

(b)that City Council request the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to seek endorsement from its entire membership of the Region of York's resolution, and to pressure the Provincial Government to change its policy with regard to the National Child Benefit Supplement; and

(2)requested the City Solicitor to provide a legal opinion on the City's proposed strategy with respect to the National Child Benefit Supplement, in order to determine whether the City is able to develop its own child income program:

(i)(November 18, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services responding to the request of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee to explore alternative options for the reinvestment of Municipal social assistance savings resulting from the implementation of the National Child Benefit Supplement (N.C.B.S.) in Toronto; and outlining recommendations in regard thereto;

(ii)(November 4, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that the Children and Youth Action Committee on October 26, 1998, considered the report dated October 22, 1998, of the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services regarding the proposed reinvestment strategy for Municipal Savings resulting from the implementation of the National Child Benefit, and recommended to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee that City Council remind the Federal Government of the commitment to end child poverty in the year 2000;

(iii)(December 2, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that the Children and Youth Action Committee on November 23, 1998, recommended that the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee find a way of keeping the National Child Benefit Savings in the pockets of social assistance recipients with children and further requested that this money not be clawed back from the families;

(iv)(December 2, 1998) from Ms. Anne Dubas, President, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 79, urging the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee to endorse the Region of York's resolution and to work with other municipalities in efforts to convince the Province to reverse its clawback of the National Child Benefit; and

(v)(December 2, 1998) from Ms. Maria de Wit, Chair, Child Care Advisory Committee of Toronto, outlining the position adopted by the Advisory Committee at its meeting on December 2, 1998.

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

-Ms. Sue Cox, Daily Bread Food Bank; and submitted a paper, entitled "Hunger Hardship and Children in Toronto";

-Ms. Debbie Bridge, L.A.M.P., and Mr. Gavin MacLeod;

-Mr. Colin Hughes, Metro Campaign 2000; and submitted a brief in regard thereto;

-Ms. Sue Collis, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty;

-Mr. Mike Howard;

-Ms. Vicki McPhee, Riverdale for Kids;

-Ms. Cheryl MacDonald, Toronto Coalition for Better Child Care; and

-Ms. Michelle Adams; and submitted a brief in regard thereto.

(c)Defining Child Poverty in the City of Toronto.

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

(November 20, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services responding to the request of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee for a report on various approaches to defining and describing levels of poverty; and recommending that the report be received for information.

(d)Children and Youth Action Committee - Workplan.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having endorsed the workplan of the Children and Youth Action Committee:

(November 5, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that the Children and Youth Action Committee on October 26, 1998, recommended that its workplan be endorsed.

(e)Report Sponsored by the Caledon Institute of Social Policy, Entitled "Early Years Project".

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services for a report thereon to the Committee:

(November 5, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that the Children and Youth Action Committee on October 26, 1998, had before it a report (October, 1998), entitled "Early Years Project"; from Ms. Julie Mathien, which was sponsored by the Caledon Institute of Social Policy, and recommended that:

(i)City Council endorse the recommendations contained in the report sponsored by the Caledon Institute of Social Policy regarding the Early Years Project, which read as follows:

(1)the Federal Government take leadership in establishing a federal/provincial partnership to fund, implement and evaluate demonstration school-based integrated early childhood education programs for kindergarten-aged children; New Brunswick, because of its recent experience implementing kindergarten, and Quebec, due to its innovative early childhood reform, can provide particular provincial expertise;

(2)local and provincial jurisdictions responsible for curriculum and program continue to respect child development and the wishes of parents and practitioners regarding the content of early childhood education programs;

(3)regardless of new models, provincial and local jurisdictions with responsibility for education and child care, take steps to encourage communication and co-ordination between kindergarten and child care programs, especially those that share children; and

(4)provincial and local jurisdictions recognize that early childhood education programs require minimum number of trained staff to ensure quality and make the necessary regulatory and funding changes. Further, that they co-operate in providing "cross-over" in-service training in early childhood education at levels appropriate to both teachers and child care staff; and

(ii)the Child Care Research Committee be requested to examine a follow up study focussing on different jurisdictional models for child care, and design a communication strategy to promote the results of the study; and that the findings of the study be used as background for any future consultation on child care.

(f)Implementation of the Ontario Works Program as it Relates to Children.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having received the following communication from the City Clerk, having regard that a further report is forthcoming from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services:

(November 5, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that the Children and Youth Action Committee on October 26, 1998, recommended that:

(1)Council direct the City Clerk to file a formal request under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the actual costs of tracking and verifying the expenditure costs of informal child care under the Ontario Works Program; and

(2)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be requested to report back to the Children and Youth Action Committee on the City of Toronto's costs of administering informal child care under the Ontario Works Program.

(g)School Based Child Care Fact Sheet.

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

(November 5, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services advising that, due to the recent announcement by the Provincial Premier regarding "a solution to school closure threats", it may not be necessary for the Community and Neighbourhood Services Department to continue providing updates on the school closure issue on a monthly basis; and noting that the Department will keep the Committee advised of the full impact of the Premier's announcement, and of any resulting change in the current status of the child care programs located in school facilities.

(h)Occupancy Update on Shelters.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having directed that:

(1)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be requested to:

(a)develop a Charter of Rights for Shelters providing a clear explanation of what the client might expect and what is expected of the client;

(b)undertake full consultation with all interested parties in the development of the Charter of Rights;

(c)ensure the Charter of Rights is posted in a prominent location in each shelter facility;

(d)establish a clear policy that standardizes specific rules across the City of Toronto on the barring regulations; noting that, whilst barring should be used as a last resort, safety should be a top priority for shelters;

(e)provide an annual report to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on situations that caused barring of clients, especially those that are barred permanently, to ensure that operators implement the policy;

(f)report to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on what measures can be put in place to enhance the quality of life for both residents and staff; and

(g)ensure that shelter policies are implemented evenly by operators;

(2)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be requested to provide a confidential report to the Chair of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on the issues raised in the deputation by Mr. Karl Schmidt;

(3)the Chair of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee be requested to send an expression of appreciation to the Canadian Armed Forces for their assistance in providing Fort York Armoury as an emergency hostel; and

(4)its appreciation be expressed to all staff involved in bringing hostels on stream for December and January:

(i)(November 20, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services providing a brief occupancy update for the emergency shelter system;

(ii)(November 24, 1998) from Mr. John Clarke, Provincial Organizer, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, requesting the opportunity to appear before the Committee with respect to matters related to the barring practices of homeless shelter facilities in Toronto;

(iii)a fact sheet from the Community Services Department providing an update on the opening dates of emergency shelter beds being added to the shelter system; and

(iv)a copy of the Hostel Standards.

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

-Mr. John Clarke, Provincial Organizer, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty;

-Ms. Wendy Forest;

-Mr. Gaetan Heroux;

-Mr. Karl Schmidt;

-Mr. Mark Grieveson; and

-Mr. Peter Rosenthal.

(i)Update on the Strategy to Create Affordable Housing and Demonstration Projects.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having:

(1)recommended to the Corporate Services Committee the adoption of the recommendation of the Council Strategy Committee for People Without Homes embodied in the following communication from the City Clerk; and

(2)directed that the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development be requested to report to the Corporate Services Committee for its meeting on December 7, 1998, if possible, or directly to Council on December 16, 1998, on:

(a)the feasibility of a community design concept use for the northerly Grand Avenue site referred to in Recommendation No. (2) of the report of the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services;

(b)the need for open space on the southerly Grand Avenue site;

(c)an underpass for the Legion Road site; and

(d)dedication of the Legion Road site to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority for open space:

(November 18, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that the Council Strategy Committee for People Without Homes on November16,1998, recommended the adoption of a report (November 12, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services providing an update on the strategy to create affordable housing and demonstration projects, and wherein it was recommended that:

(1)the Council Strategy Committee recommend to Council that the Lawrence/Allen Road (Ward8) site continue to be held from sale and the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be requested to report back by April 1999 on the results of the proposal call for transitional housing, as outlined in this report;

(2)the Council Strategy Committee recommend to Council that the two City-owned sites on Grand Avenue (Ward 2) continue to be held from sale; and that the Commissioner of Corporate Services be requested to expedite the soil remediation study now underway, and based on results of that study, the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be requested to report back by April 1999 on the results of a proposal call for affordable rental and ownership housing as outlined in this report;

(3)the Council Strategy Committee recommend to Council that the Legion Road (Ward2) site be released for sale, given that it is not suitable or feasible for affordable housing development;

(4)Council confirm the decision of the Council of the former City of Toronto of October28,1996, that the City-owned site at 419-425 Coxwell Avenue (Ward 26) and 331Bartlett Avenue North (Ward 21) will continue to be used for affordable housing purposes and any proceeds from sale will be returned to the Social Housing Reserve Fund, as the site was obtained under Section 36 (now 37) density bonusing provisions of the Planning Act; and

(5)Council confirm the decision of the Council of the former City of Toronto of October28,1996, that the City-owned sites at 156 Munro Street (Ward 25) and 30St.Lawrence Street (Ward 25) be used for affordable housing purposes; the City-owned site at 275 Ontario Street (Ward 25) continue to be retained by the City; and any proceeds from sale of these sites be returned to the Land Banking Fund of the former City of Toronto to help retire the debenture debt related to that fund.

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Councillor Irene Jones, Lakeshore-Queensway, appeared before the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee in connection with the foregoing matter.

(j)Update on Eviction Prevention Strategies.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having received the following communication; and further having directed that the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be requested to submit the final report on the success of the three programs, referred to in her report, to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee:

(November 18, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that the Council Strategy Committee for People Without Homes on November16,1998, directed that the report (November12, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services providing a status report on the three eviction prevention programs currently being delivered with City of Toronto funding be forwarded to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee for information.

(k)Establishment of a Capital Revolving Fund for Affordable Housing and the Social Housing Reserve Fund.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having recommended to the Budget Committee, and the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, the adoption of:

(1)the recommendation of the Board of Directors of the City of Toronto Non-Profit Housing Corporation and the Board of Directors of The Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company Limited embodied in the following communication dated November 23, 1998, from the Corporate Secretary; and

(2)the joint report dated December 1, 1998, from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer:

(i)(November 23, 1998) from the Corporate Secretary, The City of Toronto Non-Profit Housing Corporation and the Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company Limited advising that the Boards of Directors on November 23, 1998, recommended the adoption of a report (November 16, 1998) from the Chief Operating Officer outlining recommendations with respect to the establishment of a Capital Revolving Fund for Affordable Housing and the Social Housing Reserve Fund; and

(ii)(December 1, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer outlining recommendations with respect to the establishment of a Capital Revolving Fund for Affordable Housing and the redesignation of the Social Housing Reserve Fund.

(l)Pesticide Use.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services for a report thereon directly to Council for its meeting on December16,1998, for consideration with the Board of Health report on this matter.

(November 26, 1998) from Councillor Jack Layton, Chair, Environmental Task Force, attaching Clause No. 1 of Report No. 13 of The Board of Health, headed "Phasing Out Pesticide Use in the City of Toronto; and recommending that the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee endorse the recommendations of the Board of Health.