Comité des services communautaires et de protection
Community
and Protective Services Committee
et au Conseil / and Council
le 21 janvier 2010 / 21 January 2010
Steve Kanellakos, Directeur municipal adjoint / Deputy City Manager,
Opérations municipales / City Operations
Personne ressource / Contact Person :
Colleen Hendrick, Gestionnaire, Division des politiques sociales,
des partenariats communautaires et de l’évaluation, Département des services
sociaux et communautaires/ Manager, Policy, Evaluation and Community Partnerships
Branch, Community and Social Services
613‑580‑2424, poste 24366,
colleen.hendrick@ottawa.ca
OBJET :
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LA STRATÉGIE DE RÉDUCTION DE LA PAUVRETÉ DE
LA VILLE D’OTTAWA − LA PAUVRETÉ, C’EST L’AFFAIRE DE TOUS : UNE
APPROCHE COMMUNAUTAIRE POUR RÉDUIRE LA PAUVRETÉ |
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SUBJECT:
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OTTAWA’S POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY − POVERTY AFFECTS US ALL: A
COMMUNITY APPROACH TO POVERTY REDUCTION |
RECOMMANDATIONS
DU RAPPORT
Que le Comité des services communautaires et de
protection recommande au Conseil :
1.
D’approuver la phase I de la Stratégie de réduction de la
pauvreté traitée dans le présent rapport;
2.
D’inviter le personnel de la Ville à présenter les rapports
nécessaires au Comité et au Conseil concernant les recommandations relatives à
la Stratégie qui ont une incidence sur le budget de 2011;
3.
D’inviter le personnel de la Ville à présenter un rapport au Comité
et au Conseil sur l’application de la Stratégie d’ici janvier 2012.
That the Community and
Protective Services Committee recommend Council:
1.
Approve the Poverty Reduction
Strategy (Phase I) outlined in this report;
2.
Direct staff to report back to
Committee and Council with respect to any Poverty Reduction Strategy
recommendations that have budget impacts in 2011;
3.
Direct staff to report back to
Committee and Council on the progress of the Strategy by January 2012.
En novembre 2008, l’Ontario a mis de l’avant la Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté dans le but de réduire la pauvreté infantile de 25% d’ici les cinq prochaines années. Pour atteindre cet objectif, la province a recours à des leviers stratégiques qui relèvent des instances supérieures, comme l’augmentation du salaire minimum et la hausse accélérée des montants versés dans le cadre du programme Prestation ontarienne pour enfants, l’octroi de fonds aux collectivités pour l’utilisation communautaire des installations scolaires et l’offre de logements abordables et de logements avec services d’appui à domicile. La stratégie provinciale invite les municipalités et les communautés à mettre sur pied des projets municipaux et communautaires dans leur région.
Le Réseau de réduction de la pauvreté d’Ottawa a présenté son rapport intitulé ...something left over at the end of the month au Comité des services communautaires et de protection en novembre 2008 et au Conseil municipal en décembre 2008. Le 10 décembre 2008, le Conseil municipal a donné son aval à la Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté, dont l’élaboration doit se faire en consultation avec la communauté et les partenaires communautaires en prévision du budget de 2010.
En avril 2009, le Comité des services communautaires et de protection a approuvé le rapport du personnel de la Ville sur le cadre de la Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté, qui recommandait notamment la création d’un comité directeur conjoint réunissant des délégués de la Ville et des partenaires communautaires afin qu’ils déterminent les mesures prioritaires à adopter dès 2010.
Le comité directeur de la Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté est coprésidé par des membres du personnel de la Ville et la présidente‑directrice générale de la Fondation communautaire d’Ottawa. Le comité réunit des représentants des personnes à faible revenu et d’organismes communautaires, notamment des communautés d’Inuits et d’immigrants, de la Coalition des centres de ressources et de santé communautaires, du Conseil de planification sociale, du secteur de l’éducation, des bailleurs de fonds et du secteur privé.
Depuis une décennie, la Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté d’Ottawa renforce la capacité des personnes à faible revenu en favorisant leur participation à des initiatives leur permettant de s’exprimer.
L’initiative d’Ottawa élargit le groupe cible de la Stratégie ontarienne de réduction de la pauvreté en y intégrant les personnes, les familles et les enfants qui disposent d’un faible revenu.
La stratégie d’Ottawa est axée sur la mise en œuvre d’initiatives locales visant à réduire la pauvreté et à sensibiliser la population et sert de complément aux activités communautaires existantes.
Le rapport contient 3 priorités stratégiques et 16 recommandations. Dès 2010, le lancement de la phase II de la Stratégie permettra d’appliquer ces recommandations et de mesurer les progrès effectués grâce à l’adoption de mesures concrètes et locales et à l’évaluation des résultats obtenus, et ce, en une période de deux ans.
Lien avec le Plan stratégique global
La Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté occupera une place de choix dans la nouvelle version du Plan stratégique global, qui est en cours de révision par le Conseil dans le cadre du processus d’élaboration du budget de 2010.
Plusieurs autres initiatives approuvées par le Conseil, qui sont également fortement axées sur l’accessibilité, l’inclusion et la capacité de la communauté, seront également intégrées à la version révisée du Plan stratégique global, notamment :
§ L’élaboration et la mise en œuvre du Plan directeur des parcs et des
loisirs;
§ La mise en œuvre de la Stratégie du logement de
la Ville;
§ L’élaboration d’une nouvelle stratégie pour les personnes âgées et d’un plan de mise en œuvre;
§ Le développement et la mise en œuvre du Cadre de développement communautaire;
§ La prestation de services sociaux et communautaires.
La Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté est intimement liée aux initiatives énumérées ci‑dessus, notamment en raison des recommandations relatives à la Stratégie, qui portent sur ces initiatives et visent à les développer et à les mettre en œuvre, créant par le fait même synergie et interdépendance.
La Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté d’Ottawa est un effort concerté visant à attirer l’attention sur la réduction de la pauvreté dans la ville et à prendre des mesures concrètes en ce sens à l’échelle municipale et communautaire. Depuis une décennie, la Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté renforce la capacité des personnes à faible revenu en favorisant leur participation à des initiatives leur permettant de s’exprimer. Le comité directeur de la Stratégie réunit des représentants des personnes à faible revenu et d’organismes communautaires, notamment des communautés d’Inuits et d’immigrants, de la Coalition de centres de ressources et de santé communautaires, du Conseil de planification sociale, du secteur de l’éducation, des bailleurs de fonds et du secteur privé. Reportez‑vous à l’annexe 1 pour consulter la liste des membres du comité.
Le Plan stratégique global est fondé sur des recommandations formulées à la suite de consultations et d’initiatives antérieures, notamment :
§ Les audiences populaires (1997);
§ Le groupe de travail sur la pauvreté (1998-2000);
§ Le travail effectué par le Comité consultatif sur la pauvreté (CCP);
§ Le rapport du CCP intitulé Besoins essentiels (2004);
§ Les audiences populaires II (2005);
§ Repenser la pauvreté I (2007);
§ La création du Réseau de réduction de la pauvreté d’Ottawa (2008) et la publication du rapport intitulé ...something left over at the end of the month (25 juin 2008);
§ Repenser la pauvreté II (2009).
En novembre 2008, l’Ontario a mis de l’avant la Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté dans le but de réduire la pauvreté infantile de 25 % d’ici les cinq prochaines années. La province a recours à des leviers stratégiques qui relèvent des instances supérieures, comme l’augmentation du salaire minimum et la hausse accélérée des montants versés dans le cadre du programme Prestation ontarienne pour enfants, l’octroi de fonds aux collectivités pour l’utilisation communautaire des installations scolaires et l’offre de logements abordables et de logements avec services d’appui à domicile. La stratégie provinciale invite les municipalités et les communautés à mettre sur pied des projets municipaux et communautaires dans leur région.
Le Réseau de réduction de la pauvreté d’Ottawa a présenté son rapport au Comité des services communautaires et de protection en novembre 2008 et au Conseil municipal en décembre 2008.
Le 10 décembre 2008, le Conseil municipal a donné son aval à la Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté, dont l’élaboration doit se faire en consultation avec la communauté et les partenaires communautaires en prévision du budget de 2010.
Le 10 décembre 2008, le Conseil a approuvé et révisé les recommandations suivantes de la Stratégie communautaire de réduction de la pauvreté ACS2008-CCS-CPS-0039 :
Rôle de la
Ville dans la réduction de la pauvreté
La Ville d’Ottawa est responsable de la réduction de la pauvreté et doit faire preuve d’initiative dans ce dossier. En effet, la capitale nationale est en excellente position pour servir de modèle et mettre fin aux mythes entourant la pauvreté en prenant des mesures pour la réduire.
L’Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) et l’Association des services sociaux des municipalités de l’Ontario (OMSSA) ont publié un document de travail conjoint intitulé Government Makes a Difference: Working Toward Poverty Reduction (2009). Ce document révèle que la pauvreté est maintenant une réalité quotidienne des tranches les plus vulnérables de la population, et que les municipalités ont un important rôle à jouer dans sa réduction :
« Les municipalités observent directement cette pauvreté, car elles sont les premières à s’y attaquer par des programmes qu’elles financent ou des programmes à frais partagés. Elles disposent de plusieurs outils pour atteindre leurs objectifs sociaux et économiques, notamment [la capacité, l’expérience et l’expertise], ce qui leur permet d’intégrer et de coordonner la prestation de services, de renforcer la capacité et la coopération locales et de gérer la planification du développement stratégique social et économique. Elles sont les moteurs du changement et de la mobilisation. »
Les activités de réduction de la pauvreté de l’Ontario comprennent la table ronde d’Hamilton sur la réduction de la pauvreté, le groupe de travail consultatif provincial du district de Nipissing, les tables de concertation où les municipalités jouent un rôle central dans la région de Kitchener‑Waterloo (Opportunities Waterloo Region), le groupe de travail du maire sur la réduction de la pauvreté dans la Ville de Peterborough et une table ronde communautaire dans la Ville de Kingston. Des structures similaires commencent également à apparaître à Windsor, à London, dans la région de Peel, dans les comtés de Brantford et de Brant, dans la région de York ainsi qu’à Ottawa. Les documents de travail de l’AMO et de l’OMSSA soulignent que :
« Ces activités ont permis de réunir des représentants municipaux et des intervenants locaux afin de trouver des solutions efficaces à la pauvreté. Elles ont alimenté des discussions fructueuses sur la responsabilité collective en matière de réduction de la pauvreté, qui ont permis aux différentes communautés d’adopter des solutions concrètes. Il est donc évident que ces communautés misent sur les ressources, les capacités et les avantages locaux qui leur sont propres pour enrayer la pauvreté. »
Bien que toute la communauté doive faire des efforts pour combattre ce fléau, la première phase de la Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté porte principalement sur le rôle de la Ville et de ses partenaires communautaires. La Stratégie mise sur le réinvestissement d’éventuelles économies dans l’infrastructure sociale et la réduction de la pauvreté afin de créer un environnement sain, inclusif et sûr où les résidents pourront réaliser pleinement leur potentiel. La Stratégie repose également sur une approche de réduction de la pauvreté pluriannuelle en plusieurs étapes. À long terme, le comité directeur de la Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté espère que la lutte contre la pauvreté deviendra l’affaire de tous.
Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté d’Ottawa
En avril 2009, le Comité des services communautaires et de protection a approuvé le rapport du personnel de la Ville sur le cadre de la Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté, qui recommandait notamment la création d’un comité directeur conjoint réunissant des délégués de la Ville et des partenaires communautaires afin qu’ils déterminent les mesures prioritaires à adopter dès 2010. La première phase de cette stratégie d’Ottawa élargit le groupe cible de la Stratégie ontarienne de réduction de la pauvreté en y intégrant les personnes, les familles et les enfants qui disposent d’un faible revenu. La stratégie d’Ottawa est axée sur la mise en œuvre d’initiatives locales visant à réduire la pauvreté et à sensibiliser la population, et sert de complément aux activités communautaires existantes. La Stratégie propose plusieurs mesures concrètes et locales pouvant être exécutées et évaluées en deux ans.
Dans sa Stratégie, Ottawa propose une vision collective de la réduction de la pauvreté, à laquelle sont intégrées les initiatives actuelles et nouvelles. Pour 2010, on ne prévoit aucun coût lié à cette stratégie. Toutefois, elle pourrait avoir une incidence sur le budget de 2011. Le projet communautaire proposé de présentation des demandes dans le cadre du POSPH sera financé (200 000 $) par des fonds provinciaux ponctuels et mis à l’essai en 2010. Il pourrait également avoir une incidence sur le budget de 2011. On prévoit mettre en œuvre les modifications proposées concernant l’évaluation des besoins en services sociaux et de santé essentiels et en services d’appui à domicile dans le cadre du budget de 2010 du programme et les évaluer minutieusement. Si les modifications apportées aux politiques de ce programme engendrent des pressions financières supplémentaires, il faudra chercher des solutions, notamment instaurer des plafonds, modifier certaines des composantes du programme, créer une liste d’attente pour certaines d’entre elles ou demander au Conseil d’augmenter le budget du programme en 2011. Bien qu’aucune demande n’ait été déposée à ce sujet en 2010, la mise en œuvre d’un vaste projet de communications pourrait entraîner des coûts supplémentaires.
L’application des 16 recommandations nécessitera des investissements de 3,5 millions de dollars (3 300 000 $ pour accroître le soutien à l’emploi et les occasions d’emploi, et 200 000 $ pour élaborer un processus communautaire amélioré de présentation des demandes dans le cadre du POSPH). En 2010, le financement proviendra de fonds provinciaux uniques, nouveaux ou existants, versés par le ministère des Services sociaux et communautaires. Chaque recommandation présente les répercussions financières pour 2010, ainsi que les répercussions éventuelles pour les années suivantes en fonction des résultats, des recommandations issues des initiatives et des directives du Conseil.
Vision et
principes de la Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté
Garantir la dignité et la santé à tous les résidents d’Ottawa, au sein d’une communauté qui favorise la participation et l’inclusion de tous.
Principes :
1. Tous les résidents d’Ottawa doivent pouvoir satisfaire leurs besoins essentiels, y compris vivre dans la dignité ainsi qu’en sécurité et en santé, avoir un sentiment d’appartenance et différentes possibilités de participer à la vie communautaire;
2. La Ville doit faire preuve de leadership en réduisant la pauvreté et en investissant dans l’infrastructure sociale;
3. Les initiatives communautaires doivent tenir compte de l’opinion des personnes à faible revenu;
4. Le meilleur moyen de produire des changements à l’échelle locale consiste à faire en sorte que la communauté se réunisse afin de trouver des solutions locales axées sur la collaboration, la coopération et les occasions de partenariat;
5. Ces solutions doivent refléter la diversité des membres de la communauté en ce qui concerne leur sexe, leur âge, leurs capacités, leur milieu de vie (urbain ou rural) et leur race, et tenir compte de la population autochtone et des nouveaux arrivants;
6. Les efforts de sensibilisation du public et les mesures concrètes contribuent à la réduction de la pauvreté.
Priorités
stratégiques et recommandations
Première stratégie : Créer un système de services
qui profite aux personnes dans le besoin
1. Élaborer un processus communautaire amélioré de présentation des demandes dans le cadre du POSPH, selon le modèle décrit dans le présent rapport.
2. Rationaliser l’évaluation des besoins des personnes défavorisées en matière de services sociaux et de santé essentiels et de services d’appui à domicile.
3. Améliorer l’accès aux services municipaux en créant un service centralisé de présentation des demandes pour les divers services importants pour les personnes à faible revenu et en veillant à ce que le 311 (services municipaux) et le 211 (services municipaux et communautaires) soient en mesure de fournir des renseignements sur l’ensemble de ces services.
Deuxième stratégie : Bâtir une communauté fondée
sur l’inclusion et l’appartenance
4. Augmenter l’accessibilité aux loisirs pour les personnes à faible revenu.
5. Organiser une table de planification communautaire qui réunira des représentants des conseils scolaires, du Service des Parcs, des Loisirs et de la Culture, des Services à l’enfance, de Prévention du crime Ottawa et des organismes communautaires afin de créer, de planifier et de coordonner des solutions visant à accroître l’utilisation des écoles par la communauté.
6. Demander au gouvernement provincial de procéder à une augmentation annuelle des taux d’aide sociale au moyen d’une mesure de la pauvreté fondée sur un panier de consommation qui reflète le coût de la vie et son augmentation annuelle, et d’éliminer les obstacles systémiques entre les ministères qui nuisent à la réduction de la pauvreté.
7. Accroître l’aide à l’emploi et les occasions d’emploi pour les personnes vulnérables d’Ottawa.
8. Intégrer les immigrants et les nouveaux arrivants à l’effectif de la Ville d’Ottawa pour en accroître la diversité et faire de la Ville un employeur modèle, et mettre en œuvre un cadre d’égalité et adopter une approche d’équité dans tous les services municipaux.
9. Recommander une augmentation des investissements dans les initiatives de prévention du sans-abrisme, de logements sociaux et abordables et de logements avec services d’appui à domicile.
10. Mieux faire connaître l’existence du programme de modernisation, qui vise à aider les résidents des secteurs ruraux à réduire leurs coûts énergétiques.
11. Désigner une communauté rurale comme quartier prioritaire en vue de la prochaine phase du Cadre de développement communautaire.
Troisième stratégie : Mettre fin aux mythes
entourant la pauvreté et favoriser la réduction de la pauvreté
12. Mettre sur pied une stratégie communautaire pour sensibiliser le public aux problèmes liés à la pauvreté et promouvoir les mesures de portée locale qui visent à réduire la pauvreté.
13. Collaborer avec les bailleurs de fonds de la communauté afin de mettre l’accent sur la réduction de la pauvreté dans les priorités de financement.
14. Échafauder différentes options en vue de doter la Ville d’une politique de salaire minimum vital, ainsi que d’un plan de consultation. En présenter un compte rendu au Comité des services communautaires et de protection au printemps 2010.
15. Mettre au point un cadre stratégique permettant de réinvestir les sommes économisées sur les coûts de l’aide sociale dans les infrastructures sociales et les mesures de réduction de la pauvreté afin d’assurer l’équilibre des investissements dans le triple bilan.
16. Étendre la portée de la Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté dans le cadre des phases ultérieures afin de s’attaquer aux autres problèmes de pauvreté.
INCIDENCE EN
MILIEU RURAL
La Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté comprend deux projets locaux visant l’adoption de pratiques exemplaires pour réduire la pauvreté.
La Ville s’est associée au Conseil de la planification sociale d’Ottawa pour organiser deux séances de consultation publiques portant sur la Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté les 18 et 21 septembre. Au total, 118 personnes y ont participé. Environ 50% des participants étaient des personnes à faible revenu, et environ 20 % d’entre eux étaient francophones. De plus, des propositions écrites ont été déposées par l’organisme Poverty Elimination Mental Health Advocates (PEMHA), les responsables du projet Safe People, la coalition Local Agencies Serving Immigrants (LASI) et l’Association canadienne pour la santé mentale (ACSM).
Les comités consultatifs suivants ont été consultés : le Comité consultatif sur la pauvreté, le Comité consultatif sur la santé et les services sociaux, le Comité consultatif sur les questions rurales, le Comité consultatif sur les affaires, le Comité consultatif sur les personnes âgées et le Comité consultatif sur l’accessibilité.
Deux comités
consultatifs présentent les déclarations ci‑dessous en faveur de la
Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté.
Comité consultatif sur la pauvreté (CCP)
Le CCP appuie le cadre de réduction
de la pauvreté proposé par la Ville.
Le CCP félicite la Ville d’avoir pris les choses
en main quant à cet enjeu crucial. Nous tenons à souligner l’excellent travail
des employés de la ville et du comité directeur sur la Stratégie de réduction
de la pauvreté en ce qui concerne l’approche intégrée qu’ils ont adoptée. Le
plan, qui ne se limite pas à la lutte contre la pauvreté des enfants et des
familles, ce qui est la priorité provinciale, est pensé de manière à inclure
l’ensemble des citoyens qui subissent les terribles effets de la pauvreté.
Nous applaudissons l’approche collaborative
adoptée jusqu’à maintenant et soutenons sans réserve le Conseil municipal dans
ses pressions sur les gouvernements provincial et fédéral visant à obtenir des
fonds suffisants pour financer les services
sociaux dont nos concitoyens ont un besoin criant.
Jour après jour, c’est avec un indéfectible dévouement que les conseillers luttent contre la pauvreté en répondant aux besoins urgents des gens de leur milieu. Nous savons que, pour assurer le succès de cette initiative, la Ville doit consacrer une partie importante de ses ressources financières limitées affectées au problème de la pauvreté. Dans cette optique, nous recommandons que les sommes épargnées dans le cadre du Programme ontarien de soutien aux personnes handicapées soient réinvesties dans des initiatives de réduction de la pauvreté de préférence aux autres services. Nous espérons que les responsables de la Ville liront notre déclaration pour ce qu’elle est : un premier pas dans la bonne direction, vers une ville où règnent l’équité et la compassion. Nous enjoignons le Conseil de prendre des mesures concrètes et immédiates pour réduire la pauvreté à Ottawa. Enfin, le CCP recommande d’adopter un plan à long terme prévoyant des stratégies qui cibleraient les groupes les plus marginalisés, tels que les autochtones, les nouveaux arrivants et les parents seuls, ainsi que des objectifs et des résultats attendus mesurables. Le CCP encourage vivement le Conseil à donner à la Ville, pour la première fois, un cadre de réduction de la pauvreté.
Comité consultatif sur la santé et
les services sociaux (CCSSS)
Le CCSSS
recommande que le Comité des services communautaires et de protection recommande au Conseil
d’approuver et de mettre en œuvre la Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté
telle qu’elle a été élaborée par la Direction des politiques sociales, de l’évaluation et des partenariats
communautaires de la Ville d’Ottawa.
Les recommandations de ce rapport n’ont aucune incidence sur la gestion des risques juridiques.
L’approbation des recommandations de ce rapport n’a aucune incidence sur le budget de 2010. Les recommandations qui auront une incidence sur le budget de 2011 seront étudiées conformément au cadre financier de la Ville, et leurs répercussions sur le budget seront présentées dans la version préliminaire du budget de fonctionnement de 2011 présenté au Comité et au Conseil.
Annexe 1 :
Membres du comité directeur de la Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté (Suit
immédiatement le rapport)
Annexe 2 : La Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté de la ville d’Ottawa − La pauvreté, c’est l’affaire de tous : une approche communautaire pour réduire la pauvreté (Distribué précédemment et déposé auprès du greffier municipal)
Le personnel des Opérations municipales exécutera toutes les directives reçues relativement au présent rapport.
Annexe 1
Membres du comité directeur de la Stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté
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Barb McInnes (coprésidente) Colleen Hendrick, (coprésidente) Luc Ouellette Walter Piovesan Dianne Urquhart Jane McIssac et Marcel St-Jean Bob Mather Hélène Ménard Conseiller Georges Bédard Michael Maidment Hope Suggett Dick Stewart Eileen Dooley et Peggy Austen Karen Baker-Anderson Hamdi Mohamed Jeffrey Dale Francine Riopelle Micheline McTiernan Colleen Pellatt (chef de projet) Jennifer Charles |
Fondation communautaire d’Ottawa Ville d’Ottawa Centre de ressources communautaires Orléans-Cumberland Ottawa Carleton District School Board Conseil de planification sociale d’Ottawa Ministère des Services sociaux et communautaires Réseau de réduction de la pauvreté d’Ottawa Réseau de réduction de la pauvreté d’Ottawa Ville d’Ottawa Comité consultatif sur la pauvreté Comité consultatif sur la pauvreté Membre de la communauté United Way/Centraide Ottawa Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre Organisme Communautaire des Services aux Immigrants d’Ottawa Membre du milieu des affaires Ville d’Ottawa Ville d’Ottawa Ville d’Ottawa Ville d’Ottawa |
OTTAWA’S POVERTY
REDUCTION STRATEGY Poverty Affects Us All: A Community Approach To Poverty
Reduction
LA STRATÉGIE POUR RÉDUIRE LA PAUVRETÉ DE LA VILLE D'OTTAWA LA PAUVRETÉ, C’EST L’AFFAIRE DE TOUS: UNE APPROCHE COMMUNAUTAIRE POUR RÉDUIRE LA PAUVRETÉ
ACS2010-COS-CSS-0001 CITY-WIDE / À
L’ÉCHELLE DE LA VILLE
Steve Kanellakos, Deputy City Manager, City
Operations began by introducing those assisting in giving the presentation:
Barbara McInnes – Steering Committee Co-Chair - Community
Foundation of Ottawa
Colleen Hendrick - Steering Committee Co-Chair - Manager,
Policy, Evaluation and Community Partnership
Jeffrey Dale - Business Sector
Hélène Ménard - Ottawa Poverty Reduction Network
The Steering Committee was formed in May 2009
and much work has been done engaging the community and producing this report. He acknowledged the work of the Steering
Committee and its members as well as City Staff and Councillor Bédard.
Barbara McInnes stated she was delighted to
co-chair the Steering Committee with Colleen Hendrick. The team then presented the recommendations
through a PowerPoint presentation, which is held on file with the City Clerk’s
office.
Colleen Hendrick wrapped up the presentation by
noting the next steps in the process.
They are seeking approval of the report and then staff would begin the implementation
of the recommendations before them. They
would then report back to Committee on the progress on the implementation. She then expressed appreciation for all the comments
and contributions made by the steering committee members as well as Councillor
Bédard and staff work by Micheline McTiernan, Francine Riopelle and Jennifer
Charles with special thanks to Colleen Pellatt who is about to retire.
Chair Deans thanked the Steering Committee for
all their hard work, for the thorough presentation and especially for the
thoughtful recommendations.
The Committee heard from the following
delegations:
2) Linda Lalonde and Daniel
Oickle – Ottawa Poverty Reduction Network
3) Jeannine Larocque and Michel Groulx – Groupe d’action communautaire d’Ottawa
4) Michelle Walrond,
Everald Roberly and Nadia Willard - ACORN
5) Michael Maidment –
Poverty Issues Advisory Committee
6) Dr. John Courtneidge
7)
Dominique
Paris-MacKay and Catherine Dubois – Coalition of Community Health and Resource
Centres of Ottawa
8) Earl Rheaume
9) Beth Schilling and
Charity Gasesepe – City for All Women Initiative (CAWI)
10) Steve O’Brien – Canadian
Mental Health Association
11) Kevin Kinsella
12)
Candyrose
Freeman – Poverty Elimination Mental Health Advocates
13)
Lisa
Jamieson – Canadian Mental Health Association Ottawa Branch
14) Mary-Martha Hale – Centre 454
15) Stefan Cherry – The Village Church
16)
Ray
Sullivan and Meg McCallum – Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation and Ottawa
Social Housing Network
Speaking notes were received from Marion
Wright, Alliance to End Homelessness but she was unable to present and
Mary-Martha Hale of Centre 454 delivered them.
The majority of delegations provided their
presentations to the Committee Coordinator and they are kept on file with the
City Clerk’s office.
Rabbi Arie Chark, spoke on the Living Wage recommendation and
how it is based on the Jewish notion of social justice. He noted that the core goal of the wages of
loving-kindness is to alleviate suffering and the core goal of righteous behaviour
is the alleviation of poverty. He stated
that a living wage would increase the tax base.
A living wage is not only good social policy but also a good fiscal
policy.
Linda Lalonde and Daniel Oickle, Ottawa Poverty
Reduction Network, stated that
they were very impressed with the way the cross-sectored steering committee had
worked to produce this report. They
presented 7 specific recommendations to the report on; City/Community Poverty
Reduction commitment, Housing, Reinvestment in Social Infrastructure, Access to
Recreation, Public Awareness, EHSS Asset Levels and Advocacy on Poverty-related
Issues. A copy of their presentation is
held on file with the City Clerk’s office.
They expressed their thanks to the members of the Steering Committee including
their own reps, Bob Mather and Hélène Ménard, for their contribution to this
report.
Councillor Bellemare asked the presenters if
they were comfortable with the timetable on the go forward basis. Ms. Lalonde responded by saying that they are
concerned with the January 2012 date and feel that two years is too long. They hope that a review would be done in six
months on the progress of the implementation and continued at least twice a
year. They would hope that much is done
instead before 2012 to influence the 2012 Budget process.
Jeannine Larocque and Michel Groulx, Groupe
d’action communautaire d’Ottawa,
they commented that Le Groupe d’action communautaire francophone had to be at
the meeting today to bring their support for the first report on the Poverty
Reduction Strategy for Ottawa. They thanked the Committee for listening to them
and for the great work on this report. They stated that poverty is everyone’s
concern. They hope that Council will
adopt the report as presented. A copy of
their presentation is held on file with the City Clerk’s office.
Michelle Walrond, Everald Roberly and Nadia
Willard, ACORN, stated they
were there to speak to you about 1 point on the Poverty Reduction Strategy.
They said there is a moral benefit of a living wage and is one small step to
reducing poverty.
Poverty is like a large elephant and we taking
a bite out of the elephant. They wanted to remind Councillors that they are
specifically looking at full-time workers. Therefore they asked the Committee
support recommendation #14 which is: Develop options for a living wage policy
at the City and a consultation plan and report to Community and Protective
Services Committee in the spring of 2010.
Councillor Cullen asked staff if the intention
of the recommendation was to direct staff to come back to Committee in the
spring with options on a living wage.
Colleen Hendrick answered in the affirmative.
Michael Maidment, Poverty Issues Advisory
Committee, stated that he
wanted to talk about why we as a City need a plan to reduce poverty. He said that families, children, men and
women living in poverty deserve better.
He noted that right now in the City of Ottawa, 167,000 people live in
poverty. In the following Councillors’
wards there are the following numbers of people who live in poverty:
o Councillor
Chiarelli – 10,000
o Councillor
Bedard – 8,862
o Councillor
Deans – 8,918
o Councillor
Feltmate – 7,960
The Poverty Reduction Strategy is a good plan
and it is not perfect but it’s a very important first step and it was designed
to add additional phases. He said that
on behalf of the Poverty Issue Advisory Committee, they add their full support
to this plan and volunteer their continued involvement in ensuring its successful
implementation.
Dr. John Courtneidge, stated that he had 2 action requests with
regards to recommendations #15 and #16.
The first request is that Council provide the City with a report on the
use of monies saved due to the upload of the Ontario Disability Support Program
(ODSP) and Ontario Works (OW), which he calculates to be about $18 million, and
this report would be provided every June.
The second request is in regards to phases 2 and 3 and feels that this
is very important to pursue. He would
like to see a cost benefit analysis on being able to provide Para Transpo for
free. As well he would like to have the
City petition the Provincial Government to raise the Ontario Works level to the
same as ODSP.
Dominique Paris-MacKay and Catherine Dubois,
Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centres of Ottawa, stated that they were here today in support
of the Ottawa Poverty Reduction Strategy.
They took the opportunity to congratulate the City for taking the
leadership locally on this very important issue. They said that recognition of the root causes
of poverty are evident in the vision, strategies priorities and recommendations
that are found in this report. As a
coalition, they strongly support a multi-phase, multi-year strategy, appreciating
that only long-term and sustained community-wide efforts will have meaningful
impact on poverty levels on our city.
Earl Rheaume, stated he was very disappointed in the motion dealing with the Equal
Benefits for those on Essential Health and Social Supports (EHSS) and Home Help
Program. He emphatically disagreed with
the wording that recommended an increase in the asset level from $5,000 to
$10,000 for non-cash items, and demanded the motion should read Equal Benefits
for EHSS and Home Help recipients. He has documented his frustrations and sent
all committee members the documentation.
This is on file with the City Clerk’s office. He said that his ongoing research has shown
that the asset limits established by the Ontario Ministry of Community and
Social Services that was carried out by the City of Ottawa was a complete sham
from the beginning and it is now time for the City to initiate its own Equal
Benefits program that he proposed three years ago.
Councillor Cullen thanked Mr. Rheaume for
presenting and being the instigator on this important issue. It is a 100% municipal program that provides
service to people in need to gain assistance for such things as hearing aids,
glasses, and various supports that the Social Assistance program doesn’t meet. He asked if the intent was to offer these
services to anyone in need and be accommodated by the City. Mr. Rheaume said that that was incorrect but
could not elaborate but it was all outlined in the documentation circulated to
the Committee members.
Beth Schilling and Charity Gasesepe, City for
All Women Initiative (CAWI),
said that on behalf of CAWI, they wish to express their thanks to the
Committee, city staff and community members who have created this Poverty
Reduction Strategy. They support the
implementation of the strategy in Ottawa.
It is a marvellous step in what will hopefully be a long-term commitment
to reducing the impact of poverty in our communities. They believe the strategy’s implementation
would be a step in the right direction on the journey to eradicate poverty in
Ottawa. A copy of their presentation is
held on file with the City Clerk’s office.
Steve O’Brien, Canadian Mental Health
Association, provided a brief
synopsis of what he felt to be the core issues concerning the City’s role in
addressing affordable housing and how it relates to those living in poverty and
with mental illness. The City has to
become more proactive not by advocating, not by persuasion but by endless
harassment of the appropriate provincial or federal agencies involved. Nowhere
is this more obvious than with ODSP and OW. Extensive and persistent action is
needed to force the province into putting those benefits back to the pre-Mike
Harris era. The 20%-plus reduction in the late 1990s coincided with the
decision to end rent controls. Each of these actions had an enormous
detrimental effect on those who could least afford to bear it. He said that the City received a windfall in
infrastructure money from the federal government matched by the province, which
included funds to build or repair existing affordable housing stock. In
addition, the province decided to upload more of the costs of administering
ODSP. He commented that the money saved from the ODSP uploading should be
directed back into areas affecting those on ODSP such as affordable housing and
various other programs. He went on to discuss housing issues regarding
shelters, seniors, and rooming houses and to work pro-actively with
developers. A copy of his speaking notes
is held on file with the City Clerk’s office.
Kevin Kinsella, said he was concerned with recommendation #6
and the use of “market basket” measures.
He feels that the market basket system is very dangerous and could lead
to serious inequities across the Province and will affect mobility rights as
well as adversely affect the taxpayers of Ottawa since it would make the City
attractive for those on assistance to live.
He wants to see increases to Social Assistance but should be across the
board equally. He feels that
recommendation #14 is very positive but that the Committee should move quickly
on it. He stated that the report in
general is an excellent document.
Candyrose Freeman, Poverty Elimination Mental
Health Advocates, thanked City
staff and all the steering committee participants for all their hard work. Her group strongly believes that those with
mental illness should not be sentenced to a life of poverty. This report is a positive step towards
change. She is pleased that housing and
support for housing is reflected in this strategy. They are concerned however that affordable
transportation has not been addressed.
As well healthy nutrition and food security have not been
addressed. They urge Committee and
Council to support the recommendations especially #15.
Lisa Jamieson, Canadian Mental Health
Association Ottawa Branch,
urged the Committee members to support all 16 recommendations in the
Strategy. She noted that of key
importance are recommendations 15 and 16.
She thanked all the community members and City staff who have put
poverty reduction back on the City agenda and who have developed the poverty
reduction strategy. Although it will
create a small change in the next year they believe it to be a crucial step for
long-term community action.
Poverty reduction initiatives must be the
foundation of Ottawa’s social infrastructure and a measure of Ottawa’s social
performance in the City’s “triple bottom line”.
However, much more needs to be done by the City and higher levels of
government. A copy of their presentation
is held on file with the City Clerk’s office.
Mary-Martha Hale, Centre 454, spoke for Centre 454 and the Alliance to End
Homelessness. The Alliance to End
Homelessness offers congratulations to the Poverty Reduction Steering Committee
in bringing forth these recommendations.
They believe that everyone in Ottawa has the right to live poverty free
in housing that is stable, adequate, equitably accessible and affordable. They
believe that investing $3.5 million to implement the 16 recommendations is a
down payment. They understand that the City
will receive approximately $18 million of the uploaded social services dollars
in 2009 and only $1.7 million will remain in Community and Social
Services. Keeping the $16.3 million in
Community and Social Services would be a solid, innovative and action-oriented
payment to implement Ottawa’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.
On behalf of Centre 454, they support the
proposed poverty reduction strategy, paying special attention to the first
recommendation: to expand and provide three application support workers to
assist people with significant barriers with ODSP applications. ODSP provides
an increase in the quality of life for those who receive it- better housing and
diet, a greater sense of independence or freedom. Without this assistance in filling out their
applications, many of those who would have benefited greatly from ODSP have
been denied.
Centre 454 has provided ODSP application
support for the past four years. The success rate for applications in the first
two years was 85% and 82%. The data for the year just completed sits at 57%
with 30% applications still pending. She wanted to note that access to the
transit system in Ottawa has decreased at an alarming rate for people on low
and/or fixed income. OC Transpo rates have increased by 7.5% last year and this
and are expected to do the same for a third year. But the cost of living has
risen at approximately one quarter of that rate. Any gains in income through cost of living
increases have been neutralized by these increases. Attention to this issue
must be a part of Poverty Reduction Initiatives in Ottawa.
Stefan Cherry, The Village Church, thanked all for their listening ears and
patience for hearing all the delegations.
He applauded the efforts on the Poverty Reduction Strategy. He spoke
more specifically on recommendation #14.
He quoted that a living wage must provide enough income for households
to maintain safe, healthy, living standards and be able to save for emergencies
and for retirement. Communities with a
high proportion of low paying jobs have a high percentage of poverty. The median wage in Canada is $18/hour and
therefore low paid jobs are those less than $12/hour as defined by UNICEF. One in four jobs in Canada are low paying
jobs and many have to work longer hours to make ends meet and families
suffer. Helping people out of poverty
impacts on all society.
Ray Sullivan and Meg McCallum, Centretown
Citizens Ottawa Corporation and Ottawa Social Housing Network, stated they were present to support the
recommendations of the strategy and wanted to congratulate everyone for the
very hard work that has been done. They
spoke in support of 2 recommendations specifically, #9, which is, increased
investment in homelessness prevention initiatives, social and affordable
housing and housing with supports. They
stated that advocacy is great but action is better. The waiting list for social
housing is daunting at more than 10,000 people.
There is a real need to get the Provincial and Federal governments back
on board. The other recommendation they
spoke to was #15 dealing with re-investing in social infrastructure and the
need to use those dollars gained from uploading for social infrastructure such
as the need for capital expenditures in daycares, shelters, drop in centres and
more importantly, social housing. Long
term planning is needed for these funds.
The Committee recessed at 12:25 and resumed
deliberations at 12:55.
Councillor Cullen thanked all the community
groups involved in the Steering Committee for the work done and stated that it
is clear that the municipality has a role to play in poverty reduction. He said
that what has been presented shows the inadequacy of social services that
presently exists and make it known to the Provincial and Federal Governments. He said his first general question he
inquired that if the Committee approves recommendations 1, 2, and 3 of the
report, is there a need for direction on the 16 specific items in the
report? Colleen Hendrick replied by
saying that by agreeing with recommendation #1 that is the overall strategy, it
would include the 16 specific items mentioned in the report. Many of the 16
items include coming back with policy reports, which would include more
information on the Living Wage issue.
In response to Councillor Cullen’s question on
the ODSP application process, Colleen Hendrick stated that currently we have a
pilot program in place where they are paying for a position in Centre 454,
which assists people in qualifying for ODSP.
The application process is very intensive work so the worker makes sure
they have access to primary health care practitioner and make sure that all the
documentation is complete. With this
recommendation they would be moving from one worker who is doing that kind of
work in the community now to add two additional workers. They believe that $200
thousand invested in that initiative would result in $800 thousand increase in
household income.
Councillor Cullen said the second question
deals with EHSS (Essential Health and Social Services). He did bring the matter to this Committee
back in June and asked when it would be reviewed and see something effective?
Colleen Hendrick responded by saying that they are taking action now and are
taking a very extensive review of all of the applicants that come to their
department. They are reviewing what are
their access is, what is their income level, what type of needs are they
applying for and they are taking a look at what would happen if they move the
access level to $5 thousand or $10 thousand or $15 thousand.
The review is taking place during the months of
December 2009, January and February. After that review when they have solid
evidence on the implications they will report back to the Committee.
Councillor Cullen asked in regards to
recommendation #5 dealing with increased usage of schools and if there is a
timetable or working group? Colleen
Hendrick stated the intention is to bring the stakeholders together with a
common objective to figure out access to schools in the community.
With regards to recommendation #11, a rural
community as a priority neighbourhood in the next phase of the Community
Development Framework, Councillor Cullen noted that there are 4 pilot projects
now and wondered if a rural community would be on the list for the future
considering the predominance of poverty in urban centres. He was not suggesting there is no poverty in
the rural area but thought that they would be assessed and evaluated according
to criteria as in the fist 4. Steve Kanellakos responded by stating that there
is a Research Roundtable that specifies the criteria for the CDF.
Colleen Hendrick responded to Councillor
Cullen’s statement on public awareness in recommendation #12 and how advocacy
is good but more action is required by saying that what really has to be
addressed is attitudes within the community. At the present time in developing
the strategy they are looking at the most effective tools and methods. She does not think that it is separate from
action but need to address that the community really understands the depth of
poverty in the community and addressing attitudes.
Councillor Cullen’s
last question dealt with recommendation #16 to extend the Poverty Reduction
Strategy to future phases to address other poverty issues. There was mention in the report dealing with
transit and access and affordability to the bus system. There was a time when
the government gave bus passes for people on ODSP and social assistance and the
province covered these costs. Then the
Mike Harris government came in and abandoned bus passes for people on social
assistance. He inquired if he should
give direction to staff to send the Poverty Reduction Strategy issues related
to transit to the Transit Committee? He asked if staff is prepared to make a
presentation on this or does he need to give direction? Colleen Hendrick
responded by stating that they are asking Committee and Council to recognize
that poverty reduction, as a strategy it is not just the listed 16
recommendations. It is much broader and
deeper than that and that poverty reduction needs profile, needs an action plan
and it needs continued debate and discussion on the radar of our
community. Therefore the initiatives
they chose, the 16 recommendations, are the ones they are sharing for now and
wish to start implementing this year.
There are other issues including Transit, Child Care, Food Security and
many other that have been identified by the community of being as importance
and need to be addressed as well. Their
intent would be in the next term of their Committee is to do two things. One is to implement what they have. Second is
to begin to research and consider the implication of other areas that they have
not developed recommendations for yet. Therefore, during 2010 they would be
going to Transit Committee and it would be an appropriate role to position and
profile this strategy and also to talk about what additional areas they need to
focus on and Transit would be one of those.
Councillor Feltmate
after listening to all the delegations stated that it reminded her how we need
a whole system change on poverty. It is
not just about giving people more money it is also about the fact that they
need education, housing, better health care, food and child care. One thing alone isn’t going to solve the
problem. She asked where the upload money of $18 to $20 million went this year.
Steve Kanellakos
explained the upload this year was approximately $18 million. However, the
province uploaded but also added $6 million to the City’s property tax base for
the City to pay its share of Ontario Works rate increases, childcare, housing,
and public health issues. So it is actually $13 million. The $13 million was
placed in the overall context of the budget in term of the expenditure and
revenue and all of the other priorities of all city departments and city
services were mapped out against the bottom line and Council’s wish to maintain
Social Services.
Councillor Feltmate
said she was trying to understand the entire upload issue since a motion will
be coming forward later. She asked if there was a baseline to start from to see
where we have had success or lack of success in the future. There is about $20
million in uploads so how do we as a City invest for the future those funds or
future funds especially with the number of recommendations being put
forward. Colleen Hendrick stated that
the recommendations request that the team drill down further and to come back
to Committee and Council with further recommendations and cost analysis.
Councillor Feltmate cited a number of examples such as childcare where the City
will need bridge financing in order to get through the big changes. It has a huge impact in our community. Para
Transpo would also be wise investment.
Councillor Feltmate
inquired with regards to the recommendations around the police criminal check,
would it be the Committee or Council recommending that it be reviewed and
amended and goes before the Police Services Board? Colleen Hendrick stated that was her
understanding. Councillor Feltmate
stated she had motion regarding that recommendation.
Councillor Feltmate
wanted a further explanation on the term “market basket” and why is it being
used in one of the recommendations. Colleen Hendrick responded by saying
that a market basket approach is one
that reflects different cost of living in different areas such as different
costs in rent, food and utilities. They
were looking at the market basket approach since it is reflective of the
differences in costs and wages in varying communities. At the present time it is standardized across
the province so although costs may vary greatly from Toronto to say a small
town in Eastern Ontario, the rates are the same, which seems rather unfair.
There are pros and
cons to a market basket approach versus what we have current in Ontario. Councillor Feltmate commented that there
appeared to be benefits to leaving market basket in the recommendation.
Councillor Feltmate
noted that there has been a provincial policy strategy release and that there
are a number of other cities that are looking at this as well as Ottawa. She asked if there has been any discussion by
the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) with regards to best
practices and different experiences and also as a joint lobby to move forward a
provincial agenda. Colleen Hendrick
remarked that it was an excellent suggestion.
She stated that there are some informal practices happening across the
municipalities in Ontario. The Ontario
Municipal Social Services Association (OMSSA) does have a policy advocacy
Committee so there are group of representative from various municipalities that
touch base with each other every two months and they discuss and share
information around policies, directions, funding initiatives that they can
share with their colleagues and she represents Ottawa on that committee and
certainly kept the committee up to date in term of what the City of Ottawa has
been doing on the Poverty Reduction Strategy. She said it should be more
formalized and thinks that there are at least four, five cities that are doing
different work around poverty reduction and would be an opportunity to share
best practice, learning, resources, at the OMSSA level and also think at the
AMO level in term of policies, influencing and keeping momentum on the radar
around poverty reduction. Councillor
Feltmate stated she has a motion to that affect.
Councillor Holmes
inquired why there was an only one-person assisting people in applying for ODSP
or did she misunderstand? Colleen Hendrick clarified and indicated she did not
want to leave that impression with member of committee. In terms of volume for example, what they are
currently doing in Social Services and Janice Burrelle would step in but
currently staff do have responsibility for making referral to Ontario
Disability Support program. In 2009 they made over 2500 referrals and of those,
1400 have resulted in grant accessibility. She said that what is different in
this recommendation is that in addition to what we already have, is to do more
work with individuals who are highly marginalized. For example, those who do
not have a doctor or who will not be able on their own to make
appointments. The 3 workers discussed
would be providing much more intensive support, case management, follow up with
individual to ensure that they to get on to ODSP.
Councillor Holmes had
a question on recommendation #3 regarding access to services such as the 211
and 311 service and how it is suppose to be a one-stop-shop, is there such a
thing for Social Services? Colleen Hendrick
and Janice Burelle responded by saying that in Social Services all applications
do come into one central application unit.
The Councillor asked
if they could get housing, ODSP, support services information as well. Janice
Burelle said they are moving towards providing housing information at the
present time but not completed as much has to be done. Councillor Holmes also asked what languages
are being offered. Most services are
offered in French and English in 311 and can refer to other languages when
necessary. The 211 service is very similar with access to other languages. With regards to computers, applicants do have
access in various areas if they do not have their own such as libraries,
Community Health and Resource Centres, etc… Colleen Hendrick will get more
information and confirm in writing with Councillor Holmes.
Councillor Holmes
stated that at one time there was a good working relationship with the school
boards with regards to use of schools by the community. There was a committee that
met monthly and there was a one-stop booking system. Does it still exist? Aaron Burry said there
is a patchwork of systems since they are dealing with 4 school boards. With many boards their activities come first
and community activities come second.
The City is in various discussions with the school boards but operate
differently. He stated that funds are
available by the province for community groups to have access to schools and
there are reciprocal agreements with City facilities. The community table will be good and waiting
for even more on a neighbourhood level.
Councillor Holmes is
asking for an annual report with regards to recommendation #15 and the upload
funds detailing the information and the reallocation of the funding with a
portion to be kept in the Social Services envelope. This would be in the spring of every
year. Is this a good time of year? Steve Kanellakos stated that he was more
concerned more with the content of the report rather than when. It may not be
so easy to filter out the upload since it is added to the bottom line of the
City budget. Councillor Holmes feels
there is not much transparency presently on the uploaded funds and how they are
expended.
In response to
Councillor Holmes’ question on childcare, Colleen Hendrick stated that it would
be addressed in Phase II along with transit issues.
Councillor Holmes
stated that there were other cities that have poverty roundtables,
approximately 8 cities in Ontario. Do
they consider themselves a roundtable?
Colleen Hendrick stated that there are many models across the province.
Probably the closest to describe Councillor Holmes’ question would be the model
that took place in Hamilton. She said that Ottawa’s is unique and they have
Councillor Bédard as a political representative on the Committee and certainly
it is really important to have the political connection on the committee
because that extra advice on community strategy thinking and what is of
interest to Council is very important in terms of the work going forward. They are proposing that they continue with
the steering committee. They have sent
out some draft terms of reference for the next phase, which is in 2010 to 2011,
and they have to identify what the core component to the work plan for each
committee: this would be implementing the recommendations, it will be
monitoring and tracking the project for each of those recommendations and will
also begin discussing what are the other areas that they need to work on in the
community for those areas they have discussed such as transit, food security,
childcare and etc.
They feel that in
order for poverty reduction to be successful it needs to have profile, it needs
to be supported; it needs to be politically recognized that this city and this
community needs to address it. How do we
keep that conversation and dialogue in the community?
Barb McInnes stated
that one thing she found very powerful about this group is that it included so
many people from the task groups. It was
quite a consortium of people that would normally not get together. If you go beyond the grassroots and raise the
level too much you lose that touch.
Councillor Bédard
stated how wonderful this committee was.
It was absolutely amazing. He
recognized and realized that there are so many people in the City of Ottawa
that are caring people and they are part of the caring network. It worked very well and it was interesting
that many of the points that were discussed here were in fact discussed at the
committee and about the same kind of questions that were asked today were asked
from the members of the committee and it was an interesting exercise because
these people realize the political sensitivity.
One of the members was telling him how they travelled around other
municipalities but Ottawa is recognized as being an area and a municipality
that does a lot of work to try to help those people who need help. We should congratulate ourselves for the work
that has been done but in particular for the work that you are about to
undertake because this is an amazing strategy.
He thinks this is very encouraging for those people who are in need. The
Steering Committee wants to make people aware that poverty is everywhere. This has to be dealt with wherever it lies.
Chair Deans
congratulated the Steering Committee and staff for the wonderful and hard work
they have done and a special thanks to Councillor Bédard for volunteering to be
a part of the team.
Chair Deans stated
she would now read the motions as given to her:
Moved by A. Cullen
That staff be directed to refer Recommendation 11 to
the Community Development Framework Round Table for its evaluation and
consideration.
CARRIED
with Councillors Bédard and Feltmate dissenting
Moved by P. Feltmate
Be It
Resolved that Ottawa Police Services police records check policy and practices
be reviewed and amended to reduce the potential for discrimination by employers
towards people apprehended under Mental Health Act.
CARRIED
Moved by P. Feltmate
Whereas as the Province of Ontario has released a
Poverty Reduction Strategy;
Whereas a number of municipalities across Ontario have
Poverty Reduction Task Forces;
Whereas AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario)
has responded to the Provincial Task Force on Poverty Reduction;
Be It Resolved that the City of Ottawa recommend Association of
Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and the Ontario Municipal Social Services
Association (OMSSA) establish a Task Force on Poverty Reduction that would
share experiences, best practices and enable a joint approach and advocacy to
work with the Province to achieve the goal of poverty reduction
CARRIED
Moved by D. Holmes
That
a report be prepared within 6 months with targets goals and timelines for the
implementation of the recommendations of Poverty Reduction Strategy.
CARRIED
Moved by D. Holmes
That a policy be established
regarding the philosophy of a triple bottom line for the implementation of the
2011 budget.
CARRIED
Moved by D. Holmes
Promote
quality childcare options that are affordable, accessible, and flexible so as
to accommodate different hours for Phase II in 2010.
CARRIED
Moved by D. Holmes
That
recommendation #2 be amended to have staff report back by December 2010 and
amend recommendation #3 by deleting the words “by January 2012” and inserting
the word “annually”.
CARRIED
That
the Community and Protective Services Committee recommend Council:
1. Approve the Poverty
Reduction Strategy (Phase I) outlined in this report;
2.
Direct staff to report back to Committee and
Council with respect to any Poverty Reduction Strategy recommendations by
December 2010 that have budget impacts in 2011;
3.
Direct staff to report back to Committee and
Council on the progress of the Strategy annually.
4. Direct staff to refer Recommendation
11 to the Community Development Framework Round Table for its evaluation and
consideration.
5. Direct staff to have the Ottawa
Police Services police records check policy and practices reviewed and amended
to reduce the potential for discrimination by employers towards people
apprehended under Mental Health Act.
6. Request that the Association of
Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and the Ontario Municipal Social Services
Association (OMSSA) establish a Task Force on Poverty Reduction that would
share experiences, best practices and enable a joint approach and advocacy to
work with the Province to achieve the goal of poverty reduction.
7. Direct staff to prepare a report
within 6 months with targets goals and timelines for the implementation of the
recommendations of Poverty Reduction Strategy.
8. Have staff establish a policy
regarding the philosophy of a triple bottom line for the implementation of the
2011 budget.
9. Promote quality child care options
that are affordable, accessible, and flexible so as to accommodate different
hours for Phase II in 2010.
CARRIED
as amended
Councillor
Chiarelli dissented on recommendations #14 and #15