January 30, 2007 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC)
Page Content:
1. Call to Order and Introductions
2. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair
3. Approval of Minutes
4. Approval of Agenda
5. Communication Items
6. Presentations
7. Reports
8. Report from the Accessibility Planning Coordinators
9. Report of the Accessibility Advisory Committee Chair
10. Other Business
11. Next Meeting
12. Adjournment

 

JOINT PEEL-CALEDON

ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (AAC)


MINUTES


AAC-2007-1

 

The Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee met on January 30, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Dr., Brampton.

Members Present: H. Bajwa*; W. Goursky; J. Hardman; N. Husain; J. Spry; M. Tymkow
Members Absent: G. Barnes; S. Hames; E. Kolb, due to other municipal business; S. McFadden, due to other municipal business; R. Paterak, due to other municipal business
Also Present:

R.K. Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor; C. Grant, Town Prosecutor and Solicitor, Town of Caledon; C. Gravlev, Regional Clerk and Director of Clerk's; M. Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist, Corporate Services; J. Payne, Legislative Co-ordinator, Legislative Services

_____________________________________
*See text for arrivals
¨See text for departures

1. CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTIONS

Jeff Payne, Committee Clerk, presided

A quorum of voting members was not present, and in accordance with section III-4(g) of the Region of Peel Procedural By-law 57-2006, the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) received information.

Jeff Payne, Committee Clerk, noted that upon the arrival of one additional member, quorum would be achieved and at that time the Committee would formally approve the agenda, minutes of the previous meeting and conduct the election of the Chair and Vice-Chair.

Jeff Payne called upon members of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee to introduce themselves.


Communication Items - 5a and 5b were dealt with.

5. COMMUNICATION ITEMS

a. News Release: Citizens With Disabilities - Ontario, dated November 12, 2006, Announcing the Establishment of Local Action Committees (LACs) across Ontario

b. Brampton Guardian, Article dated November 17, 2006, titled "People with Disabilities Need to be Included"


Presentations - Item 6a was dealt with.

6. PRESENTATIONS

a. Jim Hardman, Member, Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee, Regarding Accommodating the Deaf, Deafened and Hard of Hearing at Committee Meetings (Oral)

Jim Hardman, Citizen Member, provided the Committee with information to assist in communicating effectively with persons who are deaf, deafened and hard of hearing. He distinguished between the three groups as follows: Deaf persons are persons who are born deaf; deafened persons are persons who have become deaf at some point during their lifetime; and hard of hearing persons are persons who have hearing loss to an extent that requires the use of assistive devices. Jim Hardman noted that use of the term "hearing impaired" is inappropriate as it suggests that there is something wrong with the individual. He explained that the Deaf community is considered a community because it has its own culture, language, grammar, traditions and history. Jim Hardman concluded by asking that he be spoken to in the first person as you would a hearing person, and to avoid talking to the sign language interpreters when communicating with him. He also asked that persons attending the meetings avoid side bar discussions or talking simultaneously as this can complicate the work of the interpreters.

Harvinder Bajwa, Citizen Member, arrived at 1:27 p.m.

A quorum of voting members was achieved.

Agenda Items 2a through 6a were sequentially dealt with.


2. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR

a. Election of the Accessibility Advisory Committee Chair

RECOMMENDATION AAC-1-2007:

That William Goursky be appointed as Chair of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) for the period January 30, 2007 to December 31, 2007 or until a successor is appointed by Regional Council.

b. Election of the Accessibility Advisory Committee Vice-Chair

RECOMMENDATION AAC-2-2007:

That Naz Husain be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) for the period January 30, 2007 to December 31, 2007 or until a successor is appointed by Regional Council.


William Goursky, Chair, presided

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

RECOMMENDATION AAC-3-2007:

That the minutes of the September 19, 2006 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) meeting, be approved.

William Goursky, Chair, questioned if the Newsletter from the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board referred to under item 5 a. in the minutes of the September 19, 2006 AAC meeting had been received.

Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Specialist, Region of Peel, advised that the Newsletter referred to had not been received, but that she would follow up with the appropriate staff member at the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board.


4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION AAC-4-2007:

That the agenda for the January 30, 2007 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved.

 

5. COMMUNICATION ITEMS

a. News Release: Citizens With Disabilities - Ontario, dated November 12, 2006, Announcing the Establishment of Local Action Committees (LACs) across Ontario

Received

b. Brampton Guardian, Article dated November 17, 2006, titled "People with Disabilities Need to be Included"

Received

 

6. PRESENTATIONS

a. Jim Hardman, Member, Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee, Regarding Accommodating the Deaf, Deafened and Hard of Hearing at Committee Meetings (Oral)

Received


b. Jan Spry, Member, Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee, Regarding Accommodating the Users of Service Dogs at Committee Meetings (Oral)

Received

Jan Spry, Community Member, provided information to the Committee regarding the attendance of her service dog at meetings. She explained that when she is out Ollie, her service dog, is in harness and is working. It is not appropriate to feed, play with or otherwise distract the dog. Service dogs undergo extensive training and in response to common concerns it is important to note the following: They are not aggressive; they are kept very clean to mitigate allergy concerns; and they will only bark if they determine that their human partner is in trouble. Jan Spry reminded the Committee that with the exception of a hospital operating room, sevice dogs are allowed to accompany their owner everywhere. To deny access to a service dog is against the law and can result in legal complaints to the Ontario Human Rights Commission.


Presentations - Item 6d was dealt with.

d. Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist, Region of Peel, Providing an Overview of the Region of Peel Accessibility Program and Expense Procedures for Members (Oral)

Received

Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist for the Region of Peel reviewed the contents of the Resource Manual distributed to the Members of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC). The manual provides Committee Members with an overview of the history, services provided and demographics of the Region of Peel. In addition, the manual contains information regarding the composition, role and mandate of the Committee. Further, information was provided to the members about the process for making allowable expense claims which is detailed in section 4.3 of the Resource Manual. Meenu Sikand confirmed that a copy of the Resource Manual would also be made available to members, upon request, in an electronic format on CD.


c. Colleen Grant, Town Prosecutor and Solicitor, Town of Caledon, Regarding Town of Caledon Services (Oral)

Colleen Grant, Town Prosecutor and Solicitor, Town of Caledon, requested that this item be dealt with in conjunction with item 8 a).

 

d. Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist, Region of Peel, Providing an Overview of the Region of Peel Accessibility Program and Expense Procedures for Members (Oral)

Item 6d was dealt with earlier in the meeting.

 

e. Jeff Payne, Legislative Co-ordinator, Corporate Services, Region of Peel, Presenting on Meeting Procedures and the Role of the Committee Clerk (Oral)

Received

Jeff Payne, Legislative Co-ordinator, Region of Peel, reviewed the responsibilities of Legislative Services staff. He explained to the members the process for the preparation and distribution of minutes and agendas. In the role of Committee Clerk, Jeff Payne explained that he will provide procedural advice to the Committee and assist the Chair in the conduct of the meeting. This includes the drafting of committee recommendations and staff directions for consideration by the Members in advance of and during the course of the meeting. He reviewed the meeting schedule for 2007. The meetings are generally held, unless notice is given to the contrary, at Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Dr., Brampton in the 5th floor Council Chamber. Finally, Jeff Payne noted that further information about the Committee including its role, meeting schedule, agendas and minutes is available on the Region of Peel Website: www.peelregion.ca.

 

7. REPORTS

a. Financial Support for the Coalition for Persons with Disabilities and Erinoak Children's Treatment Centre Facilitated by Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist, Region of Peel (Oral) (Referred from the September 19, 2006 AAC Meeting)

Discussion occurred amongst the members regarding the recommendation referred from the September 9, 2006 meeting. Consensus was achieved in this regard resulting in the following recommendation:

RECOMMENDATION AAC-5-2007:

That the Coalition for Persons with Disabilities and Erinoak Children's Treatment Centre be suggested to submit their request for financial support in the sum of $500 to the Region of Peel grants process for consideration.

STAFF DIRECTION AAC-01-2007-1:

That Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist, Region of Peel, explore situating Region of Peel booths, information tables and/or displays together creating a "one-stop-shop" approach in time for the 2007 Coalition for Persons with Disabilities Resource Fair.


8. REPORT FROM THE ACCESSIBILITY PLANNING COORDINATORS

a. Colleen Grant, Town Prosecutor and Solicitor, Town of Caledon (Oral)

Received

Colleen Grant, Town Prosecutor and Solicitor, Town of Caledon, provided an overview of the services provided by the Town of Caledon. These services include, but are not limited to: Fire and Emergency Services, Libraries, Recreational Facilities and Programs, the Provincial Offences Court, OPP Policing under contract to the Town of Caledon and many others. She noted that the Committee is a joint committee and that occasionally the Committee will be called upon to review Town of Caledon site plans.

Maureen Tymkow, Citizen Member, inquired about the decrease in representation from the Town of Caledon in the composition of the current Committee. R. K. Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor, responded that advertisements had appeared in local papers across the Region of Peel seeking interested persons to participate on the Committee. Interviews were conducted, and at that time there were no further applicants from the Town of Caledon who submitted their names for consideration. Jeff Payne, Committee Clerk, advised that the current composition of the Committee is in compliance with the Terms of Reference and that there are currently no vacancies on the membership.


b. Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist, Region of Peel (Oral)

Received

Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist, Region of Peel, provided an update on recent program activities. She thanked the members of the committee who attended and contributed to the success of the 2006 International Day of Disabled Persons Event. She noted that an additional report will be forthcoming once the survey results from the event have been compiled.


9. REPORT OF THE ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR
(ORAL)


10. OTHER BUSINESS

 

11. NEXT MEETING

Tuesday, October 24, 2006
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Caledon Community Complex
6215 Olde Church Road
Caledon, Ontario


12. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 3:43 p.m.