MINUTES

MINUTES
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE
REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF OTTAWA-CARLETON
THURSDAY 5 OCTOBER 2000
CHAMPLAIN ROOM, 1:30 P.M.

PRESENT
Chair: A. Munter
Members: D. Beamish, C. Doucet, D. Holmes, A. Loney, M. McGoldrick-Larsen
Regrets: W. Byrne, L. Davis, H. Kreling.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
Notes:
1. Underlining indicates new or amended recommendations approved by Committee.
2. Items requiring Council approval will be presented on 11 and 25 October 2000 in Community Services Report Nos. 54 and 55, respectively.

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

That the Community Services Committee confirm the Minutes of the regular meeting of 7 September 2000.

CARRIED

REGULAR ITEMS
SOCIAL SERVICES

1. TRANSPORTING PRESCHOOL CHILDREN ON SCHOOL BUSES

A/Social Services Commissioner’s report dated 26 Sep 00

That the Community Services Committee approve the following:

a) That the Child Care Directorate resume the practice of transporting preschool children on field trips using regular school buses and OC Transpo.

b) That the Child Care Directorate refrain from transporting Toddlers on field trips involving school buses and OC Transpo.

c) That the Child Care Directorate review current safety routines on field trips and establish standards of practice for all Regional child care centres including guidelines for adult volunteers.

1. That child/adult ratios be increased to 1:4 during field trips by using students, volunteers, parents or supply teachers to be available in cases of emergency.

d) That when research in progress at Transport Canada is complete, the Child Care Directorate review policies and routines to conform with the recommendations at that time.

e) That Purchase of Service child care centres be encouraged to review their policies and procedures regarding safety practices on field trips to ensure the safety of the children enrolled.

CARRIED

2. CHILD CARE CAPITAL PROJECTS

- A/Social Services Commissioner report 26 Sep 00

MOTION TO MOVE IN-CAMERA

Moved by A. Loney

That the Community Services Committee move In-Camera, pursuant to Section 11 (c) of the Council Procedure By-law (112 of 1994), being a proposed or pending acquisition of land for the purposes of the Regional Corporation.

CARRIED

Moved by A. Loney

That the meeting resume in Open Session.

CARRIED

The Committee considered the following Motion:

Moved by M. McGoldrick-Larsen

That the Community Services Committee approve the principle of a partnership with the private sector to secure a permanent site for City View Child Care in South Nepean, subject to further negotiations and a staff report.

CARRIED as amended

That the Community Services Committee recommend Council:

1. Approve the transfer of $132,400 from the Child Care Contingency fund to the Child Care Capital Reserve fund;

2. Approve a maximum expenditure of $332,400 from the Child Care Capital reserve fund in 2000 to provide the following capital grants to child care programs:

Centre parascolaire Parasol - $ 82,400
Centre parascolaire la Clémentine - $ 250,000

3. Approve an expenditure of $300,000 from the child care regional development charge capital fund to include a child care program in a new Ottawa-Carleton District School Board school in Barrhaven.

CARRIED

3. SOUTH NEPEAN NEEDS ASSESSMENT

A/Social Services Commissioner report dated 6 Sep 00

Councillor M. McGoldrick-Larsen introduced the item by saying she was pleased to see this matter come before the Committee after three years of work. The Councillor alluded to the work done by the Nepean Community Resource Centre and she introduced its new Executive Director, Ms. Kim Bulger. She also introduced Ms. Zelda Shore and Ms. Lisa Jamieson, Community Health Consultants, the authors of the study.

Lisa Jamieson described the consultation methods used, provided highlights of survey findings and outlined the following five priority areas identified by participants:

Child care;
Youth;
Family resources and supports;
Seniors;
Mental health and counseling;

Ms. Shore spoke about service access barriers, such as isolation, lack of transportation options, lack of community-based services, among others. She said survey participants had shown a preference for "hub" services, where information, assessment and referral, as well as counseling, outreach and support groups, among others, could be located.

Ms. Bulger outlined the study recommendations, including that the needs assessment be a tool for planners in determining service priorities and facility requirements for health and social services in South Nepean and that emphasis be placed on addressing the five identified priority issues. She also thanked regional staff for its support and guidance and she made reference to the leadership of Councillor McGoldrick-Larsen in bringing the matter to fruition.

Councillor McGoldrick-Larsen pointed out that the population of South Nepean would increase to 50,000 in five years. She noted that, during a school forum consultation, a comment was made that children have the same needs in South Nepean as in other disadvantaged areas of the Region and officials from the public school board have indicated that a higher number of youth from South Nepean are referred to high-risk programs. The Councillor thanked the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. R. Cushman, along with senior staff from the Social Services Department and participants from agencies and from the community, for their participation in the study.

That the Community Services Committee receive this report for information.

RECEIVED
COUNCILLORS’ ITEM(S)

4. PROTECTION OF HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

- Councillor D. Holmes report dated 20 Sep 00
That the Community Services Committee recommend Council:

1. Write to Environment Minister David Anderson supporting his Ministry’s plan to classify Nonyl Phenol and its Ethoxylates as ‘toxic’ under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Recognition that this class of chemicals is toxic partially due to its endocrine-disruptive effects is an important development to help protect human health and the environment.

2. Write to Health Minister Alan. Rock asking for his support of the Federal Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development’s recommendations in their May 2000 report ‘Pesticides, Making the Right Choice for the Protection of Health and the Environment’ including:

the phased-in ban on pesticides for cosmetic lawn-care purposes;

the reassessment using the upgraded standards noted in the Committee’s report of all pre-1995 pesticides by no later than the year 2006. Presently, 7000 pesticides are registered for use in Canada, many of which contain active ingredients that have not been re-evaluated for years.

That the Community Services Committee approve the following:

WHEREAS the pesticide Chlorpyrifos commonly known as Dursban is being banned the United States and;

WHEREAS Chlorpyrifos is one of the insecticides which has been used in lawn-care treatments for the killing of white grubs:

BE IT RESOLVED that the Health Department of Ottawa-Carleton write to Minister Rock requesting a ban of Diazinon (a more toxic alternative to people and birds) and Chlorpyrifos in Canada and that the Health Department provide public information regarding the use of non-pesticide alternatives to treating white grub infestations and announce this information both in the fall of 2000 and spring of 2001.

CARRIED
INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY DISTRIBUTED
1. FOOD SAFETY IN OTTAWA-CARLETON

- A/Regional Solicitor and Medical Officer of Health joint Memorandum dated 19 Sep 00
2. PARTICIPATION OF REGIONAL COUNCILLORS ON THE OTTAWA-CARLETON HOUSING BOARD

- Director, Litigation and Employment Law report dated 21 Sep 00

- Response to CS Inquiry No. 38(00)
OTHER BUSINESS
INVITATION TO D. STEWART

The Committee agreed with a suggestion from Councillor D. Holmes, that the new Director of People Services, Mr. D. Stewart, be invited to attend the next meeting to provide the Committee with an update on the 2001 budget and staffing implications.

NEXT MEETING - 19 October 2000

ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.