THE JOINT PEEL- CALEDON

ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

J. Payne presided.

1. Call to Order - Jeff Payne

Jeff Payne called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. and welcomed everyone.

2. Introductions

Everyone in attendance introduced themselves.

3. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair

a) Election of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee Chair

RECOMMENDATION AAC-01-2004:

That Glenn Barnes be appointed as Chair of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee for a term ending December 31, 2004.

b) Election of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee Vice-Chair

RECOMMENDATION AAC-02-2004:

That Maureen Tymkow be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee for a term ending December 31, 2004.

G. Barnes assumed the Chair to preside over the remainder of the meeting.

4. Approval of November 18, 2003 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee Minutes

RECOMMENDATION AAC-03-2004:

That the minutes for the November 18, 2003, Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved.

Approval of the January 20, 2004 Joint-Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee Agenda

Jeff Payne noted that Bill O'Brien was from Paradigm Transportation Solutions Ltd and not the Consulting Firm as listed on the Agenda.

RECOMMENDATION AAC-04-2004:

That the agenda for the January 20, 2004, Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved as amended.

5. Communications Items

a) David Szwarc, Commissioner of Social Services, Region of Peel

Received

Glenn Barnes spoke on the fact that Alfred Stockwell would provide his assistance to the AAC if a TransHelp issue arises.

b) News Release from the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, dated December 3, 2003 (See also Item 6f)

Received

Glenn Barnes spoke on the Provincial Government's announcement to improve Accessibility on the International Day of Disabled Persons and that fact that they will be holding consultations on strengthening the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001. Christine Zelman advised the group that the names of the AAC members have been submitted to the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and the names of the new members will be submitted tomorrow.

6. Other Business

a) Strategic Plan and Service Strategy Business Plan (SSBP)
Presentation by Janine Elias-Joukema, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Executive Office, Region of Peel

Received

Janine Elias-Joukema presented on the Corporate Planning process at the Region of Peel. She spoke on the Region's Strategic Plan Framework, the departmental/program Service Strategy Business Plan (SSBP) Framework and the annual Budget process and described how the process and products fit together. She noted that the plan measures provide a consistent framework for the organization as a whole.

She stated that Accessibility will be included as a Strategic Action in the Plan. She spoke to the fact that the staff is working to ensure that AAC issues will be captured in the SSBP of the organization as action items.

Pat Saito requested that the AAC members review the Strategic Plan and provide wording for a Strategic Action. Janine Elias-Joukema advised that community consultations are taking place during January and February in order to obtain input. Janine Elias-Joukema agreed she would set up a special consultation with this group. February 10th, which is the date of the next meeting, was agreed upon by the group.

b) Region of Peel Planning Department Services
Overview by Ted Walker, APWG member representing the Planning Department

Received

Ted Walker provided an overview of the services in the Planning department and introduced the three divisions: Development Planning, Transportation Planning, and Planning Policy and Research.

c) Study of Transportation for Persons with Disabilities
Presentation by Bill O'Brien, Vice President, Paradigm Transportation Solutions Ltd

Tom AppaRao, Director of Transportation, Planning department spoke to the fact that the Study of Transportation for Persons with Disabilities is part of a bigger study to amend the Official Plan. His presentation focused on one area of the study namely "transportation for persons with a disability". He introduced Bill O'Brien who then made the presentation to the group. The presentation highlighted the study objectives which are: Assess current & future transportation needs of persons with disabilities; Determine role of publicly funded services in meeting needs; and Develop recommended strategy for Peel Region.

Group discussion followed in order to clarify the research pertaining to the City of Mississauga and City of Brampton transit services.

There was also discussion on policy and service changes required in the future, in order to meet the needs of all persons with a disability (not just mobility disability). The consultants have included that change in their recommendations.

There was discussion regarding the need for transportation in Caledon.

There was discussion on taxi scrip, which expanded into a discussion on the fact that the City of Mississauga is going to hold a review of their Public Vehicle By-Law. Pat Saito suggested that it would be an opportune time to make a recommendation to the Public Vehicle Advisory Committee regarding taxi scrip and accessible taxi cabs.

As this report and its recommendations are to go before the Region of Peel Council in February, Glenn Barnes requested that the AAC members provide feedback as to whether they support the report and its recommendations.

RECOMMENDATION AAC-05-2004:

That the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee agree in principle with the Study of Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Report Recommendations, subject to receiving more formal business plan information.

d) Discussion on Awareness Workshop
Oral update provided by Glenn Barnes.

Received

Glenn Barnes spoke on the requirement in the Accessibility Plan that addresses increasing staff awareness of disabilities. He suggested that the Members review training tools in order to make a recommendation to staff as to which training tool to implement. He requested that the Members advise Christine Zelman or himself of a date to meet to review the training tools offered by the Coalition of Person with Disabilities, the March of Dimes or any other organization that has a training program.

e) Accessibility Planning Coordinator
Oral update provided by Christine Zelman

Received

Christine Zelman was pleased to formally introduce Meenu Sikand who had recently accepted the position of Accessibility Co-ordinator at the Region of Peel. Meenu Sikand's first day in her new position will be February 2, 2004, but attended the January 20, 2004 AAC meeting to meet the committee.

f) Stakeholder Consultation with the Province
Oral update provided by Christine Zelman (See also Item 5 b).

Received

g) International Day of the Disabled
Oral update provided by Christine Zelman

Received

Christine Zelman advised the group that due to municipal elections in the fall of 2003, Regional Council was not sitting and, therefore, was not able to pass a proclamation regarding the International Day of the Disabled.

The Region of Peel was able to add a link to the United Nations Website on our intranet and internet sites which highlights the International Day of the Disabled information. This year's theme for the International Day of the Disabled is a "voice of our own".

h) Region of Peel - Addressing Barriers Progress Chart
Oral update from Christine Zelman

Received

Christine Zelman provided a brief update and said that she would send the progress chart to the AAC members.

i) 2004 Meeting Schedule
Oral update from Jeff Payne

Jeff Payne advised that the current meeting schedule of the third Tuesday of every month is no longer feasible due to the rescheduling of the Town of Caledon's Council meetings. A list of new dates was prepared and distributed to the Members. A new May AAC meeting date will be proposed.

Jeff Payne recommended that all AAC meetings be held at 10 Peel Centre Dr.. There was no opposition noted from the Members.

RECOMMENDATION AAC-06-2004:

That the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee adopt the new meeting dates for 2004 as set out in the memo from Jeff Payne, Legislative Co-ordinator, Region of Peel, dated January 6th, 2004 (excluding the May date).

And further, that future AAC meetings be held at the Region of Peel Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Dr., Brampton, Ontario.

7. Added Agenda Items

a) Politically Speaking - Rogers Cable Show
Oral summary by Pat Saito

Pat Saito advised the group about the phone in show that she was going to host on Thursday January 22nd from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. She was going to interview Glenn Barnes, Peel-Caledon AAC Chair; France Tolhurst, Mississauga AAC Chair; and Diana Simpson, City of Mississauga Accessibility Coordinator. They will be discussing accessibility issues.

8. Next Meeting

February 10th, 2004
1:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Region of Peel Headquarters
10 Peel Centre Dr.
Council Chambers, 5th floor
Brampton, Ontario

9. Adjournment:

Glenn Barnes noted that Christine Zelman would be handing out two items to the AAC members. She would be handing out a CD with the AAC Resource Manual burned on it and a consultant's report on the new Joint Use Facility that is being built by the Region of Peel which will be reviewed at the next meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.