DISPOSITION OF REPORTS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE
17 APRIL 97
Notes: 1. Underlining indicates a new or amended recommendation(s) approved by Committee.
2. Reports requiring Council consideration will be presented to Council on 14 May 1997 in Community Services Report 47.
1. GRANT PROPOSAL - CENTRE 507
That the Community Services Committee recommend Council approve the following:
1. That based on the allocations criteria the current funding for Centre 507 qualifies for additional funding to the amount of $2,719 plus the rent increase of $480 requested on February 6, 1997 for a total of $3,199;
2. That a one-time only expense in the amount of $1,200 be granted to Centre 507 to cover expenses re: moving and renovations for 1997.
CARRIED
2. COMMUNITY HOUSES
That the Community Services Committee recommend Council approve that $95,000 be transferred from the Social Services Department project funding (One-Time Grants) envelope to Purchase of Service funding in 1997 to be allocated to Community Houses to assist with co-ordination.
CARRIED
3. FUNDING STATUS FOR HOUSING AGENCIES - ACTIONLOGEMENT AND HOUSING HELP
1. That the Community Services Committee recommend Council approve that funding for Action-Logement and Housing Help be maintained at 1996 levels.
2. That staff review the funding envelope for housing services for 1998 and provide recommendations regarding developing an objective funding formula for allocating funds to housing agencies based on criteria to include, but not limited to, number of clients served, area of service, language of clients and range of services provided.
3. That neither housing agency's funding be reduced from 1997 levels as a result of the staff review, given the dramatically increasing demand and dramatically decreasing public funding the agencies are experiencing.
CARRIED as amended
COUNCILLORS' ITEMS
4. OUR HOMES/CHEZ NOUS POSITION RE: THE PROVINCIAL PROPOSAL TO DOWNLOAD SOCIAL HOUSING TO MUNICIPALITIES
1. WHEREAS the Government of Canada is currently negotiating with the Government of Ontario over the responsibility and funding of social housing and;
WHEREAS to maintain the affordability and accessibility of social housing to its tenants, federal dollars should continue to ensure that rent continues to be based on income;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton request the Government of Canada to set conditions in devolving its social housing responsibility to the provinces to ensure that social housing tenants continue to pay their rent based on their income.
2. WHEREAS social housing is an important part of society's safety net, providing affordable and accessible housing for those in need, including the elderly, the disabled, single-parent families and the poor and;
WHEREAS property tax is inappropriate as the means to finance accessible/affordable social housing;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton request the Government of Ontario to withdraw its proposal to off-load the responsibility and funding of social housing to municipalities and;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Government of Ontario consult with social housing providers and other interested agencies to determine the most efficient and cost-effective means of providing social housing to Ontario's needy.
CARRIED as amended
OTHER BUSINESS
5. PUBLIC HEALTH AND DOWNLOADING
WHEREAS there has been broad concern about the province's proposal to make municipalities (regional government, in Ottawa-Carleton) fully responsible financially for public health;
WHEREAS significant concern has been expressed in the health community about the consequences of this proposal, including by the Ontario Medical Association and Dr. Duncan Sinclair, head of the Health Services Restructuring Commission;
WHEREAS such a decision could lead to the steady erosion in public health programs, with greatly different standards from region to region, with communities in Ontario varying markedly in their ability to:
control communicable diseases and outbreaks;
carry out cancer prevention activities;
undertake heart health programs, targeting Canada's number one killer;
assure that children and seniors are adequately vaccinated against such diseases as meningitis and flu;
assure the safety of and purity of drinking water and rural groundwater;
prevent low birthweight babies and;
reduce teen pregnancies and sexually-transmitted diseases and;
WHEREAS the cost-sharing of public health allows the province to set province-wide standards;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Community Services Committee and Regional Council express support for the continuation of a cost-sharing relationship between the province and the region for the financing of public health and;
THAT this resolution be forwarded to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Association of Local Public Health Agencies, all members of Council, all Ottawa-Carleton MPP's, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Minister of Health.
CARRIED as amended
INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY DISTRIBUTED
1. SSD 1993-96 Strategic Plan Report Card
2. Response to Inquiry - Background Information on Factors Influencing Demand for Social Assistance and Related Services
3. Decisions of the Allocations Committee for 1997 One-Time Grants -
Health and Social Services