Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee

Comité consultatif sur l’équité et la diversité

Minutes 19

Procès verbal 19

Monday, 19 January 2009, 6:00 p.m.

Le lundi 19 janvier 2009, 18 h

Richmond Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West

Salle Richmond, 110, avenue Laurier Ouest

Present/Présents : R. Fernandes (Chair/Présidente), W. Spragge (Vice-Chair / Vice-président), D. Abbey, L. Alvarez-Wilson, C. Bangoura, K. Hatt, A. Loubani, G. Romas.

Absent / Absente : A. Ali Khan, P. Dohutia, J.S. Lapolice, N. Mensah, S. Vollick.

Other / Autres : Catherine Frederick, Director, Human Resources / Directrice, Ressources Humaines

Lois Emburg, Prg Mgr, Human Rights & Empl Equity / GP, DPÉME

Marlène Barré, Advisory Committee Coordinator

PRAYER / MINUTE OF SILENCE

PRIÈRE / MOMENT DE SILENCE

A minute of silence was observed at the start of the meeting.

Confirmation of minutes

ratification du procÈs-verbal

Minutes 17 of the 23 October 2008 meeting were confirmed.

Minutes 18 of the 24 November 2008 meeting were confirmed

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
DÉCLARATIONS D’INTÉRÊT

No declarations of interest were received.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNONCES

Chair Fernandes announced that Member Baljinder Gill had resigned from the Committee.

Chair Fernandes introduced Catherine Frederick, Director, Human Resources.

ITEMS OF BUSINESS

POINTS À L’ÉTUDE

1. DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL - Interfaith Ottawa

DISCUSSION ET APPROBATION - INTERCONFESSIONS OTTAWA

Members agreed to continue EDAC’s involvement with Interfaith Ottawa, noting the high value added to both groups. The expected time commitment for a liaison would include quarterly meetings, email correspondence, and 1 to 2 annual events.

Members cautioned to keep the liaison from EDAC as neutral as possible, promoting diversity among all faith practices, and avoiding perceived and actual conflicts of interest.

Moved by D. Abbey

That Member Awad Loubani act as EDAC’s liaison on the Interfaith Ottawa Steering Committee.

That Member Wayne Spragge act as an alternate to Mr. Loubani.

CARRIED

Action: Coordinator to forward Members Loubani’s and Spragge’s contact information to Abdul Rashid, Interfaith Ottawa.

2. DISCUSSION – Draft 2009 workplan and 2008 Annual report

DiScussion – Ébauche du pLAN DE TRAVAIL 2009 et du rapport annuel de 2008

Chair Fernandes presented the general procedures and timeline for completing these two documents.

Moved by W. Spragge

That Members Dave Abbey and Awad Loubani form a subcommittee to draft the 2008 EDAC Annual Report. A draft of said document will be presented at the February 2009 meeting.

CARRIED

Action: Coordinator to send the list of action items to Members Abbey and Loubani.

Action: Coordinator to insert discussion on 2009 Annual Report in the next EDAC agenda.

3. SELECTION PANEL NOMINATIONS

NOMINATIONS AU COMITÉ DE SÉLECTION

Chair Fernandes, whose terms is ending April 30, 2009, declared that she will not be resubmitting an application to EDAC, and as such, may sit on the Selection Panel.

Moved by A. Loubani

That the Chair and Vice-Chair of EDAC sit on the 2009 Selection Panel.

CARRIED

4. DRAFT 2009 SCHEDULE

ÉBAUCHE DE L’HORAIRE 2009

Moved by G. Romas

That the 2009 EDAC Meeting Schedule be approved as amended.

CARRIED

5. FORWARD AGENDA ITEMS

POINTS À L’ORDRE DU JOUR DES PROCHAINES RÉUNIONS

a) Terms of Reference:

Action: Member Spragge to send a copy of the proposed Terms of Reference to Lois Emburg, Prg Mgr, Human Rights & Empl Equity, and Leslie Donnelly, Deputy City Clerk before the next meeting.

Action: Coordinator to insert a discussion regarding EDAC’s Terms of Reference on an upcoming EDAC agenda.

b) Equity Survey: Ms. Emburg provided a brief update on response rates and next steps for the Equity Survey. Ms. Emburg suggested that members pose any questions they may have regarding the City’s Diversity Strategy to Steve Kanellakos, Deputy City Manager, City Operations, when he presents to the Committee next month.

Action: Coordinator to insert Equity Survey in the March 2009 EDAC Agenda.

c) Equity and Inclusion Lens: Ms. Emburg provided a verbal overview of the Lens, which is now in the process of being drafted.

Action: Lois Emburg to provide updates on the development of the Lens as they arise; and seek comments from EDAC before the Lens is finalized in June 2009.

Action: Member Dohutia, as liaison to CAWI, to provide update at the following EDAC meeting.

d) Community Outreach Subcommittee – Communications Strategy: Member Hatt presented the Communications Strategy formed by the subcommittee. The Committee accepted the proposed tasks, acknowledging that the process will take time, and that realistic milestones must be set.

Action: Lois Emburg to report back to Committee on the status of the EDAC Website pilot program.

Action: Lois Emburg and Coordinator to forward any EDAC brochures previously published to members of EDAC for reference.

INQUIRIES

DEMANDES DE RENSEIGNEMENTS

Member Abbey submitted the following inquiry:

In December 2008, a member of Council spoke to media regarding the 2009 budget, mentioning budget reductions for Advisory Committees. What impact will these reductions have on Advisory Committees at the City of Ottawa, and what will be the resulting outcome of these reductions?

Additionally, will Steve Kanellakos speak to the Governance Review when he meets with the EDAC Committee in February?

OTHER BUSINESS

AUTRES QUESTIONS

Member Abbey requested that the Coordinator place any presentations to the Committee at the end of the meeting agendas, after all business items have been concluded.

Member Abbey also urged all presenters to send their presentations electronically to the Coordinator by the submission date, for members to read ahead of the time, in order to make more efficient use of the limited time at EDAC meetings.

ADJOURNMENT

LEVÉE DE LA SÉANCE

Quorum was lost at 8:01pm.

The meeting adjourned at 8:08p.m.

Original signed by Original signed by

M. Barré R. Fernandes

Committee Coordinator Chair