THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF PEEL

PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN AD HOC COMMITTEE

M I N U T E S PIC-2007-4

The Public Information Campaign (PIC) Ad Hoc Committee met on August 2, 2007, at 1:02 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Brampton.

Members: G. Carlson, E. Kolb, C. Parrish, G. Gibson * , as designate for J. Sanderson, A. Thompson
 
Members Absent: A. Groves, J. Sanderson
 
Also Present:

M. Morrison, Mayor, Town of Caledon; P. Mullin, Regional Councillor, City of Mississauga; D. Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer; R. K. Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor; D. Labrecque, Chief Financial Officer; J. Smith, Commissioner of Health Services; M. Hood, Director, Communication Services; E. Zamparo, Manager, Financial Policy and Strategic Analysis, Finance; A. Warren, Strategic Policy Project Manager, Executive Office; C. Thomson, Committee Clerk

Chaired by Councillor C. Parrish

1. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - Nil


2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION PIC-9-2007:

That the agenda for the August 2, 2007 Public Information Campaign Ad hoc Committee meeting be amended to include a letter from Emil Kolb, Regional Chair, dated July 19, 2007, to be dealt with under Communications;

And further, that the agenda for the August 2, 2007 Public Information Campaign (PIC) Ad hoc Committee meeting be approved, as amended.

3. DELEGATIONS/PRESENTATIONS

a) Harry Kitchen, Professor, Trent University, Presenting his Findings on the Study “Comparative Review of Municipal and Education Financing Systems” (Oral)

Received

Councillor Gibson departed at 1:30 p.m.

A quorum of voting members was lost and in accordance with Section III 4(g) of the Region of Peel Procedure By-law 57-2006, the Public Information Campaign (PIC) Ad hoc Committee continued to receive information.

Harry Kitchen, Professor of Economics, Trent University, presented a condensed version of his report titled “Comparative Review of Municipal and Education Financing Systems” and noted that additional details are included in the full report, a copy of which may be obtained through Ed Zamparo, Manager, Financial Policy and Strategic Analysis, Finance.

The presentation outlined the evolution of social services funding and illustrated that the Government of Ontario per capita spending is the lowest in Canada. In Ontario, municipal spending on social services, housing and health prevention is $250 per capita higher than the rest of Canada and Ontario property taxes are approximately $237 per capita higher than the rest of Canada.

The study also includes the impact for Ontario municipalities if human services were financed by the Province. If Ontario municipalities spent the same per capita as in the rest of Canada, after netting out conditional grants, municipal funding could fall by $1.9 billion for social services or $152 per capita; $715 million for social housing or $57 per capita; and $514 million for health care or $41 per capita. In total, municipalities in Ontario could lower their spending and subsequently their dependence on property taxes by $250 per capita or more than $3.1 billion, annually. If these amounts were funded from the provincial personal income tax instead of from the property tax, the provincial personal income tax would have to rise by an equivalent $250 per capita, which would result in these income distributional services being financed by taxes based on ability to pay.

In summary, Harry Kitchen noted that in his opinion, human services may be better delivered locally but should be funded at the provincial level. The funding of a significant part of human services from local property taxes in Ontario is unique from the rest of the country and shifting this burden from property taxes to the provincial personal income tax would improve fairness and competitiveness.

Harry Kitchen advised that he would be presenting his report at the upcoming Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference.

b) Anthony Irving, Senior Consultant, Devon Group, Providing a Progress Report on the Government Relations Program (Oral)

Received

Anthony Irving, Senior Consultant, Devon Group advised that all provincial parties, Peel-area MPPs and senior staff from various Provincial Ministries, have been contacted and progress is being made in setting up meetings to discuss issues of importance to Peel.

Anthony Irving distributed a booklet titled “A Fair Deal for Peel: Closing the Funding Gap for Human Services” which will be provided to provincial election candidates and other stakeholders as background information and will serve as the basis for discussion with provincial election candidates.

The PIC Ad hoc Committee, in reviewing the information booklet, noted that the key message to convey throughout the booklet is that the Province mandates social programs; the municipality delivers them without sufficient funding money; and, that this is not the case in other provinces. Residents would pay a fairer share through the funding of human services on the personal provincial income tax. The Committee further noted the need for the booklet to be refined and laid out in such a way that will allow politicians, stakeholders and residents to readily relate to it.

The Committee discussed other revisions to the booklet as follows:

Councillor Thompson suggested that the booklets be available to visitors at area fall fairs.

Councillor Parrish requested that the Devon Group ensure staff from Communication Services review the final version of the booklet prior to distribution.

c) Andrea Warren, Strategic Policy Project Manager, Executive Office, Discussing the Consultation Process with Key Stakeholders

Received

Andrea Warren, Strategic Policy Project Manager, Executive Office, advised that the Boards of Trade requested, through the Regional Chair’s office, that they be consulted with respect to the key messages of the Public Information Ad hoc Committee so they can assist in getting the message out.

4. COMMUNICATIONS

a) Andrea Warren, Strategic Policy Project Manager, Executive Office, Dated July 9, 2007, Providing a Summary of Actions Arising from the July 4, 2007 Meeting with the Devon Group

Additional Item 4b:

b) Emil Kolb, Regional Chair, Letter dated July 19, 2007, Requesting a meeting with the Leaders of the three Leading Political Parties, Senior Staff from the Provincial Government and Members of Provincial Parliament from Peel, to discuss the shortfall in Provincial Funding of Mandated Human Service Programs Delivered by the Region of Peel


5. REPORTS- Nil


6. OTHER BUSINESS

Councillor Thompson encouraged members of the PIC Ad hoc Committee to attend the upcoming AMO Conference at which Professor Kitchen will be presenting his study findings.

Councillors Carlson, Parrish and Thompson advised that they plan to attend the conference and David Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer undertook to ascertain other Peel attendees.  


7. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE MEETING

Thursday, September 6, 2007, 8:30 a.m.
Regional Administrative Headquarters Chair’s Boardroom, 5th Floor
10 Peel Centre Drive Brampton , Ontario

Thursday, September 27, 2007, Immediately following General Committee
Regional Administrative Headquarters Chair’s Boardroom, 5th Floor
10 Peel Centre Drive Brampton , Ontario  


8. ADJOURNMENT

As a quorum of voting members was not achieved and as all business had been reviewed, in accordance with Section III-4(g) of the Procedural By-law 57-2006, as amended, the meeting stood adjourned at 3:02 p.m.