1.
implementation timeline for francophone child care services calendrier de mise en œuvre pour les services de garde d’enfants
francophones |
That Council approve a 3 year implementation option of $767,000 per year including the creation of 83 additional Francophone subsidized spaces each year and that this option be referred to the Council Prioritization Session to be held in November 2006 for consideration as part of the 2007 budget.
Recommandation du Comité
Que le Conseil approuve une option de mise en œuvre échelonnée sur
3 ans et prévoyant l’injection de 767 000 $ et la création de
83 places subventionnées pour enfants francophones par année, et que cette
option soit présentée à la séance d’établissement de priorités du Conseil qui se tiendra en novembre 2006, à
des fins d’étude, dans le cadre du processus budgétaire de 2007.
DOCUMENTATION
1. Deputy City Manager, Community and Protective Services, report dated 12 September 2006 (ACS2006-CPS-PAR-0013).
2. Extract of Draft Minutes, 21 September 2006.
Report to/Rapport au:
Health, Recreation and
Social Services Committee
Comité de la santé, des loisirs et
des services sociaux
and Council / et au Conseil
12 September 2006 / le 12 septembre
2006
Submitted by/Soumis par: Steve Kanellakos, Deputy City Manager/Directeur
municipal adjoint,
Community and Protective Services/Services communautaires et de
protection
Contact
Person/Personne ressource : Aaron Burry, Director
Parks and Recreation/Parcs et Loisir
(613) 580-2424 x, 23666
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SUBJECT: |
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OBJET : |
Calendrier
de mise en oeuvre pour les services de garde d’enfants francophones |
REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee recommend that Council approve a 3 year implementation option of $767,000 per year including the creation of 83 additional Francophone subsidized spaces each year and that this option be referred to the Council Prioritization Session to be held in November 2006 for consideration as part of the 2007 budget.
RECOMMANDATION DU
RAPPORT
Que le Comité de la
santé, des loisirs et des services sociaux recommande que le Conseil approuve
une option de mise en œuvre échelonnée sur 3 ans et prévoyant l’injection
de 767 000 $ et la création de 83 places subventionnées pour
enfants francophones par année, et que cette option soit présentée à la séance
d’établissement de priorités du
Conseil qui se tiendra en novembre 2006, à des fins d’étude, dans le cadre
du processus budgétaire de 2007.
BACKGROUND
At its meeting of August 23, 2006 Council approved the following as part of its consideration of the Francophone Child Care Development Plan report (ACS2006-CPS-PAR-0007):
That staff bring forward by the
first part of September, implementation timeline options for the $2.3 million
funding required to close the funding gap between the Francophone Child Care
Services and the Anglophone Child Care Services, thereby respecting the equity
provisions of the City of Ottawa’s Bilingualism Policy as part of the 2007
budget process for the new Council’s consideration.
The purpose of this report is to recommend to Committee and Council an implementation timeline for the ongoing funding of additional subsidized child care spaces in Francophone child care programs.
As previously
reported to Committee and Council, the provincial Ministry of Children and
Youth Services has indicated that there will be no increased funding for child
care subsidized spaces in the foreseeable future. The expansion of Francophone child care subsidized spaces without
provincial funding will require the addition of ongoing 100% municipal dollars
to the child care base budget. The
additional funding will bring subsidized child care service levels up to
reflect the proportion of the Francophone population in Ottawa which is
currently 14.9%.
The table below
shows optional timelines for the expansion of Francophone subsidized child care
spaces from 1 to 10 years.
|
Number of years |
Required per year 100% municipal increase to the child care base budget |
Additional number of Francophone subsidized spaces created |
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1 |
$2,300,000 |
248 |
|
2 |
$1,150,000 |
124 |
|
3 |
$767,000 |
83 |
|
5 |
$460,000 |
50 |
|
7 |
$329,000 |
35 |
|
10 |
$230,000 |
25 |
In the
implementation plan outlined in the Analysis of Francophone Child Care
Services report prepared for the City by Ronald Bisson and
Associates, it was noted that: “The Francophone child care agencies that were
consulted have indicated that a certain amount of time will be required to put
in place all the required elements and increase their capacity to meet the
needs identified in the report.” This
will allow time for the development of new evening, overnight and weekend child
care services that are in high demand by the Francophone visible minority
population. Therefore, staff are recommending the three year (83 new spaces per
year) option as one that could reasonably be planned for and implemented in the
shortest possible timeframe.
It is proposed
that the three year option be approved for referral to the Council
prioritization session for subsequent consideration as part of the 2007 budget
process.
CONSULTATION
Parks and Recreation, Children’s Services Division consulted with members of the Francophone child care community.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Subject to approval of this report, and subsequent discussion at the Council Prioritization Session, the recommended funding option will be referred to the 2007 budget process.
DISPOSITION
Community and
Protective Services Department, Parks and Recreation Branch to action any
direction received as part of consideration of this report.
IMPLEMENTATION
TIMELINE FOR FRANCOPHONE CHILD CARE SERVICES
CALENDRIER
DE MISE EN OEUVRE POUR LES SERVICES DE GARDE D’ENFANTS FRANCOPHONES
ACS2006-CPS-PAR-0013 CITY WIDE / À L'ÉCHELLE DE LA VILLE
Louise Albert, Chair, French Language Services Advisory Committee introduced Steve Clement, also a member of the FLSAC. Ms. Albert indicated the committee’s support for the staff recommendation as it reflects a catch-up plan to bring equity to Francophone child care services by 2009. Over the next few years, the dialogue that has already been established in a working committee made up of the Francophone child care community, the FLSAC and City staff will continue. Staff confirmed this working group would be maintained.
Councillor Cullen noted that the recommendation calls for the report to be referred to the Council Prioritization Session to be held in November, but he asked whether Council would in fact make a decision at that session on this item. The Deputy City Manager, Steve Kanellakos indicated that it would not be a formal decision of Council, but discussion of what the new Council sees as it’s priorities.
Mireille Chartrand, Les services a l’enfance grandir ensemble supported the recommendation in the report, stating they want to proceed with the implementation plan over the next three years. They consider the three-year timeframe ideal because the majority of child care spaces will mainly be created in home-care settings and this would give them the necessary time to recruit and train people to run home child-care facilities, and to advertise about the service. Their only concern about the schedule is the possibility they may have to lobby actively during every budget process for the next three years to illustrate how this catch-up plan is essential.
Lise Morissette, Regroupement des services éducatifs à l'enfance d'Ottawa supported the recommendation in the report and indicated the willingess of the Francophone child care community, over the next three years, to work with the City staff to develop the new subsidized spaces. She echoed the comments of the previous speaker with regards to where the majority of these spaces must be created because that is where there is the greatest need. She recognized that spaces must offer flexible hours such as evening, night and weekend care, to meet the more specific needs of immigrant families. It takes longer to develop such services and to recruit caregivers. She reiterated their desire to participate actively in all decisions involving the action plan, in collaboration with City staff.
Councillor Bédard congratulated staff for their excellent work. He recognized it was difficult at times and he thanked the Deputy City Manager for his personal dedication to follow-up on this issue.
That the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee recommend that Council approve a 3 year implementation option of $767,000 per year including the creation of 83 additional Francophone subsidized spaces each year and that this option be referred to the Council Prioritization Session to be held in November 2006 for consideration as part of the 2007 budget.