The Inter-Governmental Relations and Advocacy Committee (IGRAC) met on November 29, 2007, at 9:52 a.m. in the Council Lounge, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Brampton.

C. Thomson, Committee Clerk presided.

1. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR

RECOMMENDATION IGRAC-1-2007:

That Councillor Parrish be appointed Chair of the Inter-Governmental Relations and Advocacy Committee for the term ending November 30, 2010, or until a successor is appointed;

And further, that Councillor Thompson be appointed Vice-Chair of the Inter-Governmental Relations and Advocacy Committee for the term ending November 30, 2010, or until a successor is appointed.

Councillor Parrish assumed the Chair.

2. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - Nil

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION IGRAC-2-2007:

That the agenda for the November 29, 2007, Inter-Governmental Relations and Advocacy Committee meeting be approved.

4. REVIEW OF COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE

RECOMMENDATION IGRAC-3-2007:

That the Terms of Reference for the Inter-Governmental Relations and Advocacy Committee be amended to change the name of the Committee to the “Government Relations Committee”;

And further, that the Terms of Reference for the Government Relations Committee be amended by removing all references to the term “advocacy” from the Terms of Reference of the Committee;

And further, that the mandate set out in the Terms of Reference for the Government Relations Committee be amended to include related government agencies and municipalities within the scope of the mandate;

And further, that the Terms of Reference for the Government Relations Committee be approved, as amended.

5. REPORTS

a)	Post Provincial Election Work (Oral)
		Discussion led by Bob Richardson, President, The Devon Group

Received

Bob Richardson, President, The Devon Group provided an overview of matters that are expected to be included in the Throne Speech, scheduled to be read the afternoon of November 29, 2007. It is expected the speech will focus on poverty with other topics regarding education, health, environment and the economy. He noted that an invitation to Chair Kolb to attend the Throne Speech and Lieutenant Governor Reception had been secured.

Bob Richardson advised that the Devon Group would continue efforts to schedule meetings with key political figures and staff including, among others, the Office of the Premier, Official Opposition and Third Party leaders. Further, planning will resume for a meet-and-greet session for new Peel-area Members of Provincial Parliament at the Peel Heritage Complex and a reception will be held in the Legislative Cafeteria at Queens Park.

Councillor Parrish suggested that congratulatory letters be sent to the new Chiefs of Staff. Bob Richardson undertook to draft a letter for this purpose.

In response to an inquiry from Regional Chair Kolb, Bob Richardson undertook to provide the Government Relations Committee with background information on the Chiefs of Staff.

Received

Councillor Parrish requested that the Devon Group update the workbooks that were prepared for the pre-election meetings with candidates to reflect the commitment made by the Provincial Government to phase-out the Toronto Tax and the Ontario Disability Support Program. She suggested that the Committee request the phase-out of other programs that have been downloaded to municipalities.

David Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer suggested that the Committee consider promoting the Region of Peel as a pilot location for other provincial-municipal initiatives the government wants to undertake, noting that the success of the Families First initiative has raised the “Peel profile” with the Ministry of Community and Social Services.

Councillor Groves departed at 10:32 a.m.

David Szwarc undertook to submit the report on the Families First Pilot Project to the Government Relations Committee, prior to presenting it to General Committee, to develop a strategy for the release of the report.

R. Kent Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor noted that emergency department delays have a significant impact on Paramedic Services and suggested that a Peel-area Urgent Care Centre Pilot Project would be beneficial for Peel. He noted that two locations have been designated for the Toronto area but neither fit within the Peel service area. R. Kent Gillespie suggested that the William Osler Hospital – Brampton Campus (the former Brampton hospital) has the potential to meet the criteria for a pilot site.

Janet Menard, Executive Director, Human Services advised that Shelley White of the United Way is compiling a strategic response to the Throne Speech which will complement the focus the Province is placing on poverty and highlight that poverty is a major concern to areas outside of Toronto as well. Shelley White has requested data from Peel Region and is creating a task force to develop a strategy for presenting the United Way of Peel concerns to the government. She has inquired if Region of Peel political representatives would like to be included. Meetings have been scheduled for December 4th, 11th and 18th from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and participants would have the option to participate by phone.

Councillor Parrish undertook to liaise with the members of the Government Relations Committee to ascertain if any members are available to attend on those dates.

Councillor Thompson advised that recent data indicates that 69 per cent of rural children are living under the poverty line and suggested that the Committee include the Rural Ontario Municipal Association when highlighting the issue of poverty as an all-Ontario issue and not one that is specific to Toronto.

Marilyn Hood, Director, Communications Services and Curry Clifford, Director, Strategic Initiatives, undertook to develop a proposed work-plan with priorities and related cost estimates for consideration by the Committee at its next meeting.

6. COMMUNICATIONS

7. OTHER BUSINESS

8. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE MEETINGS

The Committee Clerk was requested to work with the area municipal Council offices to schedule monthly meetings of the Government Relations Committee in 2008, preferably scheduling the meetings for 11:00 a.m. prior to Waste Management Subcommittee meetings.

9. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 10:50 a.m.