Community and Protective Services Committee
Minutes 20
Thursday, June 17, 2021
9:30 am
Electronic Participation
This Meeting was
held through electronic participation in accordance with Section 238 of the Municipal
Act, 2001 as amended by Bill 197, the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act,
2020.
Notes: 1. Underlining
indicates a new or amended recommendation approved by Committee.
2. Except where otherwise indicated,
reports requiring Council consideration will be presented to Council on June 23,
2021 in Community and
Protective Services Committee Report 19.
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Present:
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Chair:
Councillor M. Luloff
Vice-Chair: Councillor K. Egli
Councillors: D. Deans, L. Dudas, E. El-Chantiry, M. Fleury, T.
Kavanagh, C. Kitts, C. McKenney, C. A. Meehan, T. Tierney
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No declarations of interest were filed
1.
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ACS2021-CSS-GEN-0009
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CITY WIDE
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REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That Council:
1.
Receive this report for information on
the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the child care and early years sector
and the ongoing supports to families, children and service providers.
2.
Approve the updated Children’s Services
Work Plan 2021-2022 as outlined in this report.
3.
Reaffirm the City of Ottawa’s support for
building a national child care program and system of early learning and child
care services that focuses on increased access, affordability, quality and
responsiveness which is essential to the COVID-19 pandemic response and
recovery by directing staff to actively monitor federal developments and engage
in provincial planning discussions as outlined in this report.
Jason Sabourin, Director, Children’s Services and Tracy Gierman,
Program Manager, Child Care System Planning and Program Support gave a
PowerPoint on items 1 and 2 in tandem. A copy of their PowerPoint is held on
file with the City Clerk’s office.
Following the presentation,
the Committee heard from delegations for Item 2 and questions for both Items 1
and 2 were fielded at the same time and can be found under Item 2 as the
concentration of questions were based on the Pinocchio Centre.
Most have learned that
with the pandemic, childcare is an essential service and impacts men and women
differently and has more importance to some other services the city provides.
Can the City look at expanding its mandate?
The plan and report talk
about all of that. The national plan may change things drastically. Staff
stated that they are not looking at expanding the City’s service as they did
not get direction from Council on this. Donna Gray, General Manager, Community
and Social Services commented that they are currently looking at impacts during
Covid. There is a national focus on daycare, and they are looking at direction
from province. In future, this plan will give them an opportunity to look at
gaps since last approved by Council. This gives us an opportunity to reassess
and bring back to council in 2023 to better understand the national goal.
Council can change the mandate and this report would give council the
opportunity to do that
Councillor Egli introduced
a motion for Item 1.
Motion CPS 2021 20/1
Moved by Councillor K. Egli
Whereas, on April 19, 2021,
the Federal Government announced $30 billion in new investment over the next 5
years, and $8.3 billion ongoing for Early Learning and Child Care and
Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care starting in 2021-22 to move towards a
universal child care system; and,
Whereas Children’s Services
staff support building a national program and system of early learning and
child care services that focuses on increased access, affordability, quality
and responsiveness; and,
Whereas A robust Early
Learning system is essential for families especially women and those disproportionately
impacted and vitally important to Ottawa’s economic renewal; and,
Whereas A national program
has the potential to make significant positive impacts and address issues that
families and service providers face, both historically and those further
exacerbated as a result of the pandemic; and,
Whereas due to the COVID-19 Pandemic,
the Province delayed a previously proposed change to the City of Ottawa’s Child
Care funding allocation for program delivery and administration to 2022; and,
Whereas the currently
proposed cost-sharing funding changes, now planned to take effect in 2022 will
cause financial pressures on the child care sector while it is still recovering
from the COVID-19 Pandemic; and
Whereas recommendation 3 of
the staff report recommends Council reaffirm the City of Ottawa’s support for
building a national child care program and system of early learning and child
care services that focuses on increased access, affordability, quality and
responsiveness which is essential to the COVID-19 pandemic response and
recovery by directing staff to actively monitor federal developments and engage
in provincial planning discussions;
Therefore be it Resolved that
Committee recommend Council request that Mayor Watson and the Chair of Community
Protective Services Committee send a follow up letter to Premier Doug Ford and Minister
of Education Stephen Lecce requesting that the proposed cost-sharing funding
changes be eliminated as the impacts would significantly affect the sector, and
subject to Council approval, reaffirming the City of Ottawa’s support for
building a National program, which is essential to the COVID-19 pandemic
response and recovery, and would benefit families, children, social well-being
and the economy.
The report recommendations were CARRIED as amended by
Councillor Egli’s motion.
2.
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ACS2021-CSS-GEN-0008
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CITY WIDE
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REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Community and Protective Services Committee
recommend Council:
1.
Receive the Municipal Child Care Centre
Review report (Document 1) as outlined in this report.
2.
Transition the municipally run Centre
éducatif Pinocchio child care services to a high needs area in
accordance with the strategic priorities in the Child Care and Early Years
Service System Plan 2019-2023, using evidence based-data, and in
consideration of the availability of land and budget as outlined in this
report.
3.
Direct staff to develop a business case and
capital funding plan to facilitate the transition of Centre éducatif
Pinocchio to a high needs area and to address the operational challenges
at Foster Farm Child Care Centre as outlined in this report and report
back for Council approval in Q1 of 2023.
4.
Direct staff to prioritize and work with
the Centre éducatif Pinocchio landlord and a not-for-profit child care
provider to maintain and seamlessly transition these critical francophone
child care services at the Centre éducatif Pinocchio location.
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Jason Sabourin, Director, Children’s Services and Tracy Gierman,
Program Manager, Child Care System Planning and Program Support gave a
PowerPoint on items 1 and 2 in tandem. A copy of their PowerPoint is held on
file with the City Clerk’s office.
Following the presentation, the Committee heard from the following
delegations:
1. Christine Constantin – As a parent of a child at Pinocchio she
is very much against the recommendations of this report. Will share comments and petition with
committee members shortly. The report was shared with parents on June 9, only
five days before this meeting. Despite short timeline, drafted a letter and
signed petition. Please consider their comments and provide us with time to
engage in these discussions that will affect our children. Better
communication with families is key. Want to ensure continued quality is
provided even though it is changing hands.
2. Andrea Talarico - Daughter attends this centre. This closure
would not affect them directly as daughter will go to school next year but
here to speak to ensure this service continues. They believe the report
speaks to inequalities to working women. Parents have a choice, put kids in
private daycare or city run daycare.
3. Khadija Marfouk - Parent with subsidy. It took her 20 months to
wait to have space for daughter at a French daycare. Praise Pinnochio for
exceptional service. What are action plan and can it be shared with them? Is
there a way to reach out to families that are being affected?
4. Charlotte Landry - Main concerns are regarding the transition
to new providers and that the fees would increase and quality will decrease.
$65/day currently but once transition, how do they know that service and fees
with stay the same. Feels staff did not do their homework. They skipped to an
easy solution by passing it off. Can’t understand how come other considerations
were not considered. Please reconsider.
5. Sarah Desrochers – Had signed up to speak but stated that most
of the previous speakers had given her points.
Following the delegations Committee members had a variety of
questions as listed below but not limited to the following:
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How much time did parents have to digest
this report and prepare comments? Staff stated that they will continue to
consult with parents in the next year and come back to council with needs.
Also taking the time to transition, which could take five years.
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No intention to close out this service,
correct? The report are only findings and sets out a plan. Staff intends to
work with current landlord to add another space in there.
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When new daycare goes there (Sussex) then
ensure they have francophone services? Staff said yes.
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What percentage of families are using
Pinocchio are subsidized? Last 3 years percentage is lower.
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We need to think about the need of
childcare and where is it going. Listening to staff this morning, a lot more
funding going into childcare. Why take it out of that location…why not keep
it? Is there not room for both? Staff will come back with plan in Q1 2023 so there
is time to look into the options and reconsider the plan.
Councillor
Fleury had a Direction to Staff as noted below.
The
recommendations were CARRIED as presented.
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Direction to Staff:
That staff be directed to include within
the business case and capital funding plan and with working with the landlord
and a not-for-profit provider to seamlessly facilitate a transition of spaces
assess the ability to keep the Pinocchio name to remain at the Sussex location,
support the spaces at the current Pinocchio location to remain Francophone with
a similar fee structure, and ensure that the new location for the city services
continue to provide dedicated francophone childcare services.
3.
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APPOINTMENT
TO THE PROPERTY STANDARDS AND LICENSE APPEALS COMMITTEE
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CS2021-OCC-GEN-0017
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CITY WIDE
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Motion CPS 2021 20/2
Moved by Councillor Egli
WHEREAS a
vacancy arose on the Property Standards and License Appeals Committee on May
31, 2021 and the Selection Panel has chosen a recommended candidate to fill
the vacancy;
WHEREAS
approval of the appointment by Committee and Council in June 2021, prior to
the summer legislative recess, would allow for the vacancy to be filled
promptly;
THEREFORE BE
IT RESOLVED THAT, pursuant to Section 89(3) of the Procedure By-law,
the Community and Protective Services Committee consider the report “Appointment
to the Property Standards and License Appeals Committee” (file no.
ACS2021-OCC-GEN-0017) at this meeting.
CARRIED
REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS:
That, further to deliberations of the Selection Panel, the
Community and Protective Services Committee recommend that Council approve
the appointment of Bryce Dillon to the Property Standards and License Appeals
Committee, the term to be effective May 31, 2021 for the 2018-2022 Term of
Council.
Councillors McKenney and Kavanagh had concerns regarding gender equity
on this and other advisory committees and boards and hoped that selection
panels and Clerk’s Office were doing the utmost to get gender parity.
The recommendation CARRIED as presented.
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A
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ACS2021-PIE-IS-0005
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CITY WIDE
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B
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ACS2021-EPS-OPS-0001
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CITY WIDE
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Motion CPS 2021 20/3
Moved by
Councillor C. McKenney
BE IT RESOLVED that, pursuant to Subsection 89(3) of the
Procedure By-law, Community and Protective Services Committee approve that
the motion by Councillor McKenney be added to the agenda for consideration at
today’s meeting.
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CARRIED
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Councillor C.
McKenney for Councillor S. Menard :
Motion CPS 2021 20/4
That staff
be directed to, in the next Term of Council, review the feasibility and impacts
of, and any requirements associated with:
1. Imposing
a limit on the number of Private Transportation Company (PTC) Vehicles that may
operate in the City of Ottawa under a PTC license; and,
2.
Introducing additional licensing fee categories for vehicle fleet size ranges
greater than 100, the current upper limit prescribed in the Vehicle-for-Hire
By-law (2016-272, as amended)
CARRIED
C
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ACS2021-EPS-GEN-0002
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CITY WIDE
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The meeting
adjourned at 12:00 pm.
_____________________________ _____________________________
Committee Coordinator Chair