Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee/

Comité consultatif sur l’équité et la diversité

Minutes 1/Proces-verbal 1

Monday, 13 August 2001, 7:00 p.m.

le lundi 13 août 2001, 19h

Colonel By Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West

Salle Colonel By, 110, avenue Laurier ouest

Present : Sonia Brereton (Chair) Priya Kharat

Essam Hamed (Vice-Chair) Dr. Séverin Ndema-Moussa

Jennifer Breakspear Shari Ritter

Larry Cao Dr. Sheikh

George Christidis Dr. Bakhshish S. Samagh

Shelley Cruise Krishan Uppal

Marcia Green Yvon Vaillant

Mohamed Hagi-Aden Nancy Worsfold

Dr. Khaled Hashem

Others: Angelo Iacono, reserve member

Lois Emburg, Manager of Human Rights and Employments Equity, Human Resources Department

Marilyn Comeau-Doucet, Councillor’s Assistant, Office of Councillor P. McNeely

Carole Langford, Advisory Committee Coordinator, Corporate Services Department

Declarations of Interest

No declarations of interest were received.

REGULAR ITEMS

1. INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS /

INTRODUCTION DES MEMBRES

Members introduced themselves and gave a brief overview of their backgrounds.

2. ELECTIONS OF CHAIRPERSON AND VICE-CHAIRPERSON / ÉLECTION DU PRÉSIDENT ET DU VICE-PRÉSIDENT

Dr. B.S. Samagh asked if one of the roles of the Chair is to speak to the media. The Coordinator explained that it is the role of the Chair to speak to the media, however, she advised should there be a difference of opinion with certain issues, the Chairperson should note that when he/she makes comments to the media, it is as an individual person and not as Chair of the Advisory Committee. The Chair needs to have a clear idea of what the Committee feels. J. Breakspear suggested the Chair or any member of the Committee could speak of issues that have been decided upon previously by the Committee and not on issues that are not clear of the feeling of the full Committee.

Moved by Y. Vaillant:

That the Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee (EDAC) elect a chair and vice-chair to serve until 31 December 2001, after which a chair and vice-chair will be elected for a one year term.

CARRIED

S. Ritter nominated S. Brereton for the position of Chair of the Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee.

Dr. S. Ndema-Moussa nominate K. Uppal for the position of Chair of the Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee.

No other nominations were received for the position of Chair. The nominated members accepted the nominations. Members were asked to vote for their choice of the two members nominated.

S. Brereton was declared Chair of the Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee.

J. Breakspear nominated K. Uppal for the position of Vice-Chair of the Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee.

S. Cruise nominated E. Hamed for the position of Vice-Chair of the Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee.

No other nominations were received for the position of Vice-Chair. Members accepted the nominations. Members were asked to vote for their choice of the two members nominated.

E. Hamed was declared Vice-Chair of the Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee.

The Chair and Vice-Chair proceeded to take their positions chairing the meeting.

3. WORKPLAN /

PLAN D’ACTION

C. Langford, Advisory Committee Coordinator suggested that a sub-committee with members who are interested on the Committee’s objectives be struck. She noted that the deadline to have a final report to Standing Committee and Council is October 2001.

N. Worsfold suggested going around the table to get a feel of what is important to each member.

L. Emburg, Manager of Human Rights and Employment Equity volunteered to list the Committee’s ideas on the flipchart to have an overview of the important issues.

Y. Vaillant said that the GLBT Community has a strong need for an establishment of a community centre and a task force is being formed to study the issues. This task force would require some funding to operate.

S. Brereton suggested that someone from the GLBT make a presentation at the next meeting. Y. Vaillant said that Bruce Bursey was scheduled to make a presentation at this meeting; however, he is ill and asked to defer it to the next meeting.

M. Hagi-Aden suggested reviewing the employment systems within the City of Ottawa.

N. Worsfold suggested the document originated by the Ottawa Transition Board Access to Service Committee, that was presented to the Ottawa Transition Board, be circulated to committee members. The OTB Access to Service Committee identified a series of eight issues that the Committee thought were key issues to ensure equity in the City. Some of the issues were as follows:

· Employment Equity

· Fairness in Contracting

· Participation of all residents (multicultural community)

· Parks, Recreational, Health and Public Services

· Zoning

Chair Brereton volunteered to e-mail the OTB report to the Coordinator to forward to all members, including workplan sub-committee members.

J. Breakspear suggested Arts and Culture be added as an item for the Workplan.

B. Samagh suggested educating the public by having an outreach in the community. Chair Brereton indicated that she thought this was a responsibility for the City. The Coordinator explained that the City will be advertising the advisory committee meetings in the major newspapers as well as posting the meetings on the City’s website. She suggested that the Committee could create a flyer/pamphlet to explain the Committee’s role. The Committee can mail the flyer to different communities throughout the City of Ottawa.

A. Iacono, reserve member, suggested focusing concerns on certain issues that are important to the Committee, such as access to service in the City of Ottawa. Another issue would be external services by making this committee publicly known and getting the community involved.

Dr. Ndema-Moussa wanted clarification on what is needed for a workplan. He concurred with A. Iacono by concentrating on a few items that are significant to the members.

Dr. Sheikh suggested that the Mayor have a press release advertising the Committee.

P. Kharat suggested adding women’s groups in the workplan.

Chair Brereton reminded members that staff from the People Services Department would make a presentation at the September 10^th meeting. This will clarify the role of the Department and how they can assist the Committee with certain issues.

The following members volunteered to sit on the workplan sub-committee:

· S. Ritter

· Ndema-Moussa

· A. Iacono

· E. Hamed

· Dr. Samagh

· L. Emburg

· P. Kharat

· S. Cruise

· M. Green

The workplan sub-committee agreed to meet on Tuesday, August 21, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. The Coordinator will reserve a boardroom at City Hall and notify the sub-committee members.

4. WELLNESS SURVEY /

SONDAGE SUR LE MIEUX-ÊTRE

The Committee deferred this item to its meeting of September 10, 2001.

5.. Meeting Location /

Location des rÉunions

The Coordinator explained that the Advisory Committees could meet in other city facilities other than City Hall. After discussion, the Committee agreed to meet at City Hall for the September meeting.

6.. NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION YMCA- YWCA HOSTING AN ANTIRACISMWORKSHOP/

ORGANISATION D’UN ATELIER CONTRE LE RACISME PAR LES YMCA – YWCA DE LA RÉGION DE LA CAPITALE NATIONALE

Chair Brereton introduced Lisa Galloway, Coordinator of the Boardwalk Workshops. L. Galloway briefly explained the process of the workshops and the information sessions available and how EDAC can benefit from them. The Committee thanked Lisa for her presentation and received this item for information.

7.. REFUGEE CAMP IN THE CITY /

CAMP DE RÉFUGIÉS DANS LA VILLE

Because of the length of the meeting, Chair Brereton explained that this organization is looking for support. She suggested that members read the attached letter and if members are interested in supporting this cause, they are to e-mail the Coordinator with comments. The Committee received this item for information.

INQUIRIES

PRAYER/MINUTE OF SILENCE

Dr. Sheikh inquired if it is in the procedure to have a moment of silence or a prayer at the beginning of each meeting. The Coordinator explained that it can be added at the beginning of the agenda. S. Brereton suggested that each individual could take a moment of silence since there are many religions. Dr. Sheikh also indicated that at other meetings that he has attended, a moment of silence was taken out of respect of all different religions. The Committee agreed that a moment of silence would be taken at the beginning of each meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

The Committee adjourned the meeting at 9:05 p.m.

_________________________ _________________________

Carole Langford, Sonia Brereton,

Committee Coordinator Chair