Regarding the Public Information Campaign (PIC) Ad Hoc Committee meeting scheduled for August 23, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Brampton.

Councillor Parrish, Committee Chair, called the meeting to order at 1:03 p.m. However, quorum was not achieved in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Committee.

In accordance with section III 4 (d) no quorum was present 30 minutes after the time approved for the meeting (1:30 p.m.) of which time the Clerk recorded the names of the members present as:

G. Carlson
A. Groves
C. Parrish
A. Thompson

In accordance with section III 4 (g) the members present received information and no minutes were kept. The following are summary notes of the information received

The Devon Group provided a brief progress report to the members of the Committee outlining the accomplishments of the information campaign for Phase I to date, highlights included:

• Preparation of the booklet titled “A Fair Deal for Peel: Closing the Funding Gap for Human Services”;
• Development of presentation material for meetings with elected and government officials; and
• Management of logistics including the scheduling of meetings, media releases and post meeting follow-up.

Chair Parrish summarized the various meetings which were held with Peel Area MPPs and key Ministers in the Provincial Government. She stated that in general, the initial response and perception from provincial staff and elected officials was that the Region of Peel was financially equipped to resource social programs. Chair Parrish advised that the presentations by Region of Peel staff members Janet Menard, Executive Director, Human Services and Ed Zamparo, Manager, Financial Policy and Strategic Analysis, were very effective in addressing the factual inequities that confront the Region of Peel as a result of current provincial funding arrangements. She added that the general response from all political parties was positive to the “Fair Deal for Peel” presentations. It was suggested that follow-up letters be sent to the elected officials and government staff members who met with Regional staff and members of the Public Information Campaign Ad hoc Committee (PIC), requesting a response to the funding and policy questions that were left at the end of each meeting.

Feedback regarding Phase I results was sought by the Devon Group from the members and staff present. Group discussion occurred wherein favourable comments regarding the success of the campaign to date were provided.

The Devon group presented some potential options for Phase II, as follows:

• Direct mail newsletter providing a plain language overview of Human Services under- funding in Peel Region;
• Stakeholder and community consultations/townhalls with local MPPs, Councillors, media and stakeholder groups;
• Advertising in local press, radio, billboards and transit shelters;
• Ethnic media engagement, print and radio advertising; and
• Ongoing media relations.

The Devon group undertook to report back with a Phase II recommended approach and a draft newsletter for presentation to the next scheduled PIC meeting.

The members discussed the cost of distributing an information newsletter to the residents of Peel and the importance of providing the information in a plain-language format and utilization of the Region of Peel website to promote the information. Further discussion took place regarding providing copies of the “Fair Deal for Peel” presentation and information booklet to all Members of Regional Council, all MPPs, other municipal partners and ratepayer groups within the Region of Peel.

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