The Grants Ad Hoc Committee (GRC) met on October 5, 2006, at 10:37 a.m. in the 5th Floor Boardroom, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Dr., Brampton.

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* See text for arrivals
¨See text for departures

Councillor N. Stewart presided.

1. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION GRC-4-2006:

That the agenda for the October 5, 2006 Grants Ad hoc Committee meeting be approved.

3. DELEGATIONS/PRESENTATIONS

a) Lori Archer, Office Manager, Ontario Cultural Society for the Deaf, Providing an Overview of the Ontario Cultural Society for the Deaf and their Funding Request for Community Program Funding

Received

b) Cathy Denyer, Executive Director and Susan Nomi, Director of Programs, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel, Providing an Overview of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel and their Funding Request for Community Program Funding

Received

c) Doreen Young, Executive Director, Caledon Dufferin Victim Services, Providing an Overview of Caledon Dufferin Victim Services and their Funding Request for Community Program Funding

Received

d) Ahmed Iqbal, Executive Director, Brampton Multicultural Community Centre, Providing an Overview of the Brampton Multicultural Community Centre and their Funding Request for Community Program Funding

Received

4. REPORTS

a) Community Programs Funding/One Year Program Funding 2006

RECOMMENDATION GRC-5-2006:

That Community Programs Funding Recommendations for One Year Program Funding 2006, as outlined in Appendix I to the report of the Acting Commissioner of Social Services, dated September 15, 2006, titled "Community Programs Funding/One Year Program Funding 2006", totalling $251,603, to be financed under Social Services 2006 budget (CF00012 56743), be approved.

5. COMMUNICATIONS

a) Janet Menard, Acting Commissioner of Social Services, Region of Peel, Memo dated September 18, 2006, Providing an Overview of the 2007 One Year Program Funding and 2007 to 2009 Multi-Year Operating Funding Requests

Received

The Grants Ad hoc Committee members confirmed Council's direction given at the September 7, 2006 General Committee meeting, to proceed with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) application for 2007-2009 Multi-Year Operating Funding. In addition, members indicated their support for providing the 2007 funding dollars for Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) from the 2006 Community Programs Funding Budget Surplus.

Following discussion regarding the impact of Community Program Funding Guidelines, the Grants Ad hoc Committee members expressed their support for the 2007 Community Program Fund to include both One-year Program and Multi-year Operating Funding. Staff will review the impact of the current Community Program Funding Guidelines which require two years consecutive one year funding as a pre-requisite for multi-year operating funding eligibility and; the guidelines stating that one year program funding is subject to budget availability. Staff will conduct a review and provide recommendations for revising the guidelines, if appropriate, to the Grants Ad hoc Committee in Spring 2007.

The Committee members suggest that staff proceed with the 2007 budget process by requesting the total 2007 Community Program Funding eligible requests. For the 2007 budget, committee members support the unbundling of the Community Program Funding Budget into three allocations: one-year program, a multi-year operating and strengthening organizational effectiveness fund.

Grants Ad hoc Committee members further suggested that the report on the 2007 Community Program Funding Budget include any research findings that confirm the benefits of supporting the community at this level. Members suggested staff consult with area funders to determine if they are experiencing a similar increase in funding requests.

6. NEXT MEETING

RECOMMENDATION GRC-6-2006:

That the next meeting of the Grants Ad hoc Committee be scheduled at the call of the Chair.

7. OTHER BUSINESS

8. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m.