M I N U T E S   IRAC-2013-3

The Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee (IRAC) met on June 6, 2013, at 11:15 a.m. in the Council Chamber, 5th Floor, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A, Brampton.

Members Present:	B. Crombie; E. Kolb; E. Moore; R. Paterak; A. Thompson; J. Tovey
Members Absent:	C. Fonseca, due to illness; S. Hames, due to vacation; P. Saito, due to a personal matter; J. Sanderson, due to vacation; R. Starr
Also Present:	D. Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer; N. Trim, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Corporate Services; D. Labrecque, Commissioner of Public Works; D. Langtry, Acting Commissioner of Health; L. Duarte, Acting Commissioner of Human Services; A. Baird, Director, Executive Office; D. Arbuckle, Manager, Public Policy and Government Relations; L. Rubin-Vaughan, Senior Advisor, Government Relations, Executive Office; A. Macintyre, Manager, Legislative Services; 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-6-2013:

That the agenda for the June 6, 2013 Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee meeting, be approved.

David Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer, introduced Aileen Baird, Director, Executive Office to the Members of the Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee.

3. DELEGATIONS - Nil

4. REPORTS

a) 2013 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Annual Conference

RECOMMENDATION IRAC-7-2013:

That the advocacy issues identified in the report of the Chair of the Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee, dated April 17, 2013, titled “2013 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Annual Conference, be endorsed;

And further, that staff develop briefing notes on the identified advocacy issues to support discussions with various Ministry representatives at the AMO Conference.

Councillor Moore noted that the Region of Peel has identified mental health and addictions as a priority issue and she requested that it be included on the list of issues to be discussed with representatives from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

Regional Chair Kolb requested that the Metrolinx “Big Move” be included as a theme for discussion with the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Infrastructure, noting that it is imperative for municipalities to continually advocate for the inclusion of the Big Move in the 2014 Infrastructure Program.

Councillor Tovey highlighted the need for Ontario Municipal Board reform, noting a current Private Members Bill that would provide greater authority to municipalities.

Councillor Thompson advised that Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, has indicated her willingness to meet with representatives from the Region of Peel and he requested that staff invite her to a future meeting of the Committee.

b) Federation of Canadian Municipalities Update (Oral)

Discussion led by Allan Thompson, Chair, Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee

Received

Councillor Thompson stated that discussion at this year’s Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Annual Conference centred on the success of FCM’s infrastructure campaign that led to the federal Long Term Infrastructure Plan announced in the 2013 Budget. The focus of FCM going forward will be the development of a national housing strategy and the 2015 federal election. He noted that FCM’s Executive, staff and membership were encouraged about the new relationship developed with the federal government, noting that modernizing the municipal-federal partnership was the focus of FCM’s 2013 Report on the State of Canada’s Cities and Communities, which was released during the Conference.

Councillor Thompson commended staff from the Executive Office for support provided at the Conference.

Additional Item – Item 4c:

c) MP/MPP Barbecue (Oral)

RECOMMENDATION IRAC-8-2013:

That a Peel-area MP/MPP Barbecue be scheduled for September 5, 2013.

Regional Chair Kolb advised that the barbecue for Peel-area MPs and MPPs planned for June 2013 will be rescheduled to September.

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

Received

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

In response to comments from Councillor Paterak, David Arbuckle, Manager, Public Policy and Government Relations, confirmed that Region of Peel staff would continue to monitor issues related to the Metrolinx Investment Strategy and identify future opportunities to demonstrate support for the recommended funding tools.

Regional Chair Kolb advised that the Peel Police Services Board would be hosting a meeting on August 12, 2013 at the Mississauga Convention Centre, featuring a guest speaker from Glasgow, Scotland who will be speaking about their experience in dealing with gang violence. Regional Chair Kolb noted that staff from the Human Services and Health Services departments have been working on strategies with the Peel Police Services Board to reduce gang violence in the Region of Peel, and he invited members of the Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee to attend the session which is free of charge.

6. COMMUNICATIONS

a) Sacha Smith, Team Leader – Legislative Coordinator, City of Mississauga, Providing a Copy of the City of Mississauga Report titled “Mississauga Priorities for Funding from the Province of Ontario”

Received

7. IN CAMERA MATTERS - Nil

8. OTHER BUSINESS

Additional Item – Item 8a:

a) Broadband Allocation to Public Safety Agencies (Oral)

Received

In response to an inquiry from Regional Chair Kolb, the Chief Administrative Officer undertook to follow up with the Executive Director of the Peel Police Services Board to determine if the Council endorsed advocacy position related to the allocation of broadband to public safety agencies requires updating.

9. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee is scheduled for Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 11:00 a.m., Council Chamber, 5^th 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 12:13 p.m.