M I N U T E S   IRAC-2013-1

The Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee (IRAC) met on February 7, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. in the Council Chamber, 5th Floor, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A, Brampton.

Members Present:	C. Fonseca; E. Kolb*; E. Moore; R. Paterak; P. Saito; J. Sanderson; R. Starr; A. Thompson
Members Absent:	B. Crombie, due to a personal matter; S. Hames, due to vacation; J. Tovey, due to vacation
Also Present:	D. Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer; N. Trim, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Corporate Services; D. Labrecque, Commissioner of Public Works; J. Smith, Commissioner of Health Services; D. Arbuckle, Manager, Public Policy and Government Relations; L. Rubin-Vaughan, Senior Advisor, Government Relations; K. Lockyer, Regional Clerk and Director of Clerk’s; C. Thomson, Committee Clerk

_______________________________
* See text for arrivals
¨See text for departures

Chaired by Councillor A. Thompson.

1. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - Nil

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION IRAC-1-2013:

That Delegations – Item 3a be withdrawn from the agenda for the February 7, 2013 Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee meeting;

And further, that the agenda for the February 7, 2013 Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee be approved, as amended.

Councillor Saito noted that Region of Peel staff were notified of the delegation withdrawal an hour prior to the scheduled meeting and she requested that when Members of Parliament (MPs) or Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) are invited to attend meetings of the Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee, staff confirm their attendance with their office staff, a day or two prior to the meeting.

3. DELEGATIONS

a) Amrit Mangat, Member of Provincial Parliament, Mississauga-Brampton South , Regarding Opportunities for Collaboration on Issues within the Mississauga-Brampton South Riding

Withdrawn

Regional Chair Kolb arrived at 11:08 a.m.

4. REPORTS

a) 2013 Government Relations Strategic Opportunities and Advocacy Priorities

RECOMMENDATION IRAC-2-2013:

That the Government Relations Strategic Opportunities and Advocacy Priorities identified in the report of the Chair of the Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee, dated January 29, 2013, titled, “2013 Government Relations Strategic Opportunities and Advocacy Priorities”, be approved.

RECOMMENDATION IRAC-3-2013:

That staff provide additional information to the summary of Council-endorsed advocacy positions, which includes the advocacy initiative, results, as well as, responses received from governments, for review at a future meeting of the Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee (IRAC);

And further, that upon its review of the summary, the IRAC prioritize and recommend next steps for the advocacy positions, for the consideration of Regional Council.

Councillor Thompson advised that an article in the Globe and Mail indicated that the federal long term infrastructure program for rural Canada would be moving ahead and he inquired as to the status of a long term infrastructure program for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and what needs to be done in order to move it ahead.

David Arbuckle, Manager, Public Policy and Government Relations, confirmed that Region of Peel staff will remain in contact with staff from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) regarding the progress of the long term infrastructure plan and the need for sustainable and predictable infrastructure funding for municipalities.

Councillor Saito requested that staff compile a summary of Council-endorsed advocacy positions, including the results and responses received from the higher orders of government, for review by the Committee at a future meeting, in order to re-evaluate the priorities and/or strengthen advocacy efforts.

Councillor Paterak highlighted one of the challenges related to rural infrastructure as being the inability of rural municipalities who are part of a Regional government, to access federal and provincial grants for such things as sanitary servicing. He noted that the ability to pay is no different between municipalities, however, municipalities such as the Town of Caledon are shut-out of the process.

Regional Chair Kolb advised that the Toronto Board of Trade, at a recent meeting, changed its name to the Toronto Region Board of Trade, and that the decision was made without notice or consultation with other Boards of Trade or Chambers of Commerce within the Greater Toronto Area.

Councillor Fonseca noted that Mayor McCallion raised the issue of the name change at a recent meeting of Mississauga Council. As a result, the the Mississauga Board of Trade and City of Mississauga’s Economic Development staff would be meeting to formulate a response.

b) 2013 Provincial Election Readiness Strategy

RECOMMENDATION IRAC-4-2013:

That the approaches identified in the report of the Chair of the Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee, dated January 16, 2013, titled “2013 Provincial Election Readiness Strategy”, be approved.

David Arbuckle, Manager, Public Policy and Government Relations, advised that staff would be proposing a complete list of issues to be raised during the provincial election, at the April 4, 2013 Committee meeting, rather than the March 7, 2013 meeting, as noted in the report.

5. GOVERNMENT RELATIONS STATUS REPORT AND CURRENT ACTIVITIES (Oral)

a) Federal News
b) Provincial News
c) Local News

Received

A copy of the presentation is available from the Office of the Regional Clerk.

Lowell Rubin-Vaughan, Senior Advisor, Government Relations, noted that staff would be coordinating meetings at the ROMA/OGRA Conference being held in February and requested that he be notified of Councillors who plan to attend the Conference.

Councillor Fonseca advised that in March, she along with Mayor Fennell, would be attending FCM Board Meetings in St. George, British Columbia and she undertook to coordinate with Mayor Fennell to ensure that any information received at those meetings is brought back to the IRAC.

Councillor Thompson requested that an update from Councillor Fonseca regarding FCM’s advocacy meetings be included on the April 4, 2013 IRAC agenda.

6. COMMUNICATIONS - Nil

7. IN CAMERA MATTERS - Nil

8. OTHER BUSINESS - Nil

9. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee is scheduled for Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 11:00 a.m., Council Chamber, 5th floor, Regional Administrative Headquarters, Suite A, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Brampton, Ontario.

Please forward regrets to Christine Thomson, Committee Clerk, (905) 791-7800, ext. 4582 or at christine.thomson@peelregion.ca.

10. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 11:51 a.m.