The General Manager, Children’s Services, recommends that:

1.         City Council support the full vision (direction and scope) of the Charles Pascal Report, which articulates strong municipal responsibility for systems planning, system management and governance through an accountability framework with the province for services from prenatal to 12 years of age.

2.         Given expertise within the City of Toronto as manager of the second largest child care system in Canada, and in the spirit of the Toronto-Ontario Cooperation and Consultation Agreement (T-OCCA) and stated positions and priorities of the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association (OMSSA), City Council authorize staff to support and assist Provincial ministries in development and implementation of the Early Learning Program (ELP).

3.         Notwithstanding a phased in implementation, City Council request that the Province of Ontario confirm by February 2010 its intent to move forward with the full vision for the ELP, and reaffirm the role of municipalities in service system management.

4.         City Council reaffirm the importance of families having centralized access to subsidies and encourage the Province to recognize the City as the one centralized subsidy administrator for families accessing children’s services in Toronto.

5.         City Council request that the Province of Ontario provide all necessary tools to support the transition to an ELP and ensure that the child care system remains stable and sustainable. These tools and processes should include, but are not limited to:

i.          detailed implementation plans and processes;

ii.         a supportive implementation framework that includes:

-           simplified and more flexible funding formulas that enable base funding of programs affected by implementation of ELP;

-           necessary regulation changes; and

-           clarified roles and responsibilities;

iii.        transitional funding for capital and operating expenses in the 2010 Provincial Budget;

iv.        inclusion of planning and associated resources for Ontario Early Years Centres (OEYCs) under the municipal system management formula with a view to integrating services into a single system; and

v.         creation of an inter-ministerial policy and implementation table to address the full range of implementation issues.

6.         City Council direct City staff, in consultation with community partners, to develop criteria for supporting child care programs impacted by the introduction of ELP; such criteria to be based on Service Planning principles, program quality and cost effectiveness.

7.         City Council direct staff to put in place a joint process with the Boards of Education to address implementation and operational issues.

8.         City Council request that the Province of Ontario ensure that the provincial funding formula provides sufficient funding to maintain existing service levels of 24,000 child care subsidies; and recognize cost of living and other legitimate increases in operating costs.

9.         In the event that the Province does not confirm the vision and  municipal role for ELP by the end of February 2010, transitional funding for early learning, and a strategy to address the end of Best Start funding by the time of the Provincial budget in 2010, City Council direct City staff to develop contingency plans for gradual child care service level reduction of 2,000 subsidies by 2011 and 3,000 by 2012, such plans to be based on client attrition and respect the principles of the Service Plan, such as age and geographic equity.

10.       City Council request the General Manager, Children’s Services, to report back mid year on implementation of ELP and strategies for addressing fiscal challenges.

11.       City Council request that the Government of Canada recognize the national   importance of sustainable child care and restore the National Child Care Plan.

The recommendations will have no financial impact beyond what has already been approved in the current year’s budget.

However, should the Province fail to provide additional resources to maintain the existing Council approved service level of 24,000 child care fee subsidies, and transitional funding related to implementation of ELP for capital and operating expenses in 2011, there will need to be gradual service level reductions beginning in July 2010 for a 2,000 space reduction by January 2011, followed by a further 3,000 by January 1, 2012 for a total of 5,000 spaces or 21%.

The Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer has reviewed this report and agrees with the financial impact information.

The City Solicitor recommends that:

1.         City Council receive this report for information.

2.         Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (December 15, 2009) from the City Solicitor remain confidential as it contains information subject to solicitor-client privilege and to litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the City or a local board.

The General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, recommends that:

1.         City Council approve a grant of up to $6,000 to the tenants’ association of 200 Roehampton Avenue from the 2009 Tenant Support Grants Program to assist the tenants towards any payment of costs for legal assistance.

2.         City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, to take the necessary actions to implement Council’s approval.

There is no new financial impact.  Funds are available within the 2009 approved operating budget for this purpose.

The Tenant Defence Sub-Committee referred the Grant Request from the tenants of 200 Roehampton Avenue to the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, for a report directly to the January 8, 2010, meeting of the Community Development and Recreation Committee.

The Tenant Defence Sub-Committee on November 23, 2009, considered a letter (November 23, 2009) from Councillor Walker requesting that the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, report directly to the January 8, 2010 meeting of the Community Development and Recreation Committee regarding the Tenant Defence Fund Grant Request by the tenants at 200 Roehampton Avenue for a rent rebate/reduction due to the condition of the building which has resulted in the loss of the reasonable enjoyment and quality of life of their tenancies and resulted in multiple Property Standards Orders issued by the City's Municipal Licensing and Standards Division.