Item - 2011.CD1.9
Tracking Status
- City Council considered this item on February 7, 2011 and referred this item to an official or another committee or body. Consult the text of the decision for further information on the referral.
- This item was considered by the Community Development and Recreation Committee on January 21, 2011 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on February 7, 2011.
CD1.9 - Citizenship and Immigration Funding Cuts to Toronto Agencies
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Referred
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on February 7 and 8, 2011, referred Item CD1.9, together with the following motions from Councillor Davis, to the Executive Committee for consideration:
Moved by Councillor Janet Davis:
a. That City Council direct that a copy of this Item be forwarded to the Chair and Members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration for consideration as part of their deliberations on the matter, on February 8, 10 and 15, 2011.
b. That City Council amend Recommendation 4 of the Community Development and Recreation Committee by adding the word "Federal" before the word "funding" so that it now reads as follows:
4. City Council direct that the City Manager work with the agencies serving immigrants and other community groups, including the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, to restore Federal funding for the programs that have been defunded by the Federal Government.
City Council also requested the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to report to the Executive Committee, at such time as the Committee considers this Item, with statistics on the ratio of funds received by the cities of Vancouver and Montreal in comparison to Toronto.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-35185.pdf
Communications (City Council)
(February 4, 2011) Letter from The Honourable Jason Kenney, PC, M.P., Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism (CC.New.CD1.9.2)
(February 7, 2011) E-mail from Sherman Griffith CC.New (CC.New.CD1.9.3)
(February 8, 2011) E-mail from Gerard Kennedy, M.P., Parkdale-High Park (CC.New.CD1.9.4)
Motions (City Council)
That City Council direct that a copy of this Item be forwarded to the Chair and Members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration for consideration as part of their deliberations on the matter, on February 8, 10 and 15, 2011.
That City Council amend Recommendation 4 of the Community Development and Recreation Committee by adding the word "Federal" before the word "funding" so that it now reads as follows:
4. City Council direct that the City Manager work with the agencies serving immigrants and other community groups, including the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, to restore Federal funding for the programs that have been defunded by the Federal Government.
That City Council refer this Item, together with Motions 1a and 1b from Councillor Davis to the Executive Committee for consideration.
Amended by motion 3 by Councillor Mammoliti.
Vote (Refer Item) Feb-07-2011
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - CD1.9 - Holyday referral motion 2, as amended |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 22 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Michelle Berardinetti, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Mike Del Grande, Frank Di Giorgio, Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Mark Grimes, Doug Holyday, Norman Kelly, Giorgio Mammoliti, Peter Milczyn, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, John Parker, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, Karen Stintz, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that voted No: 21 | Members that voted No are Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Josh Matlow, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Adam Vaughan, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that were Absent: 2 | Members that were absent are Gloria Lindsay Luby, Pam McConnell |
That motion 2 by Councillor Holyday be amended by adding the following:
and further, the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration be requested to report to the Executive Committee, at such time as the Committee considers this Item, with statistics on the ratio of funds received by the cities of Vancouver and Montreal in comparison to Toronto.
Vote (Amend Motion) Feb-07-2011
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - CD1.9 - Mammoliti - motion 3 |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 30 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Michelle Berardinetti, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Mike Del Grande, Frank Di Giorgio, Paula Fletcher, Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Mark Grimes, Doug Holyday, Norman Kelly, Chin Lee, Giorgio Mammoliti, Josh Matlow, Peter Milczyn, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, John Parker, James Pasternak, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, Karen Stintz, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that voted No: 13 | Members that voted No are Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Shelley Carroll, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Mary Fragedakis, Mike Layton, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Adam Vaughan, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that were Absent: 2 | Members that were absent are Gloria Lindsay Luby, Pam McConnell |
CD1.9 - Citizenship and Immigration Funding Cuts to Toronto Agencies
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Wards:
- All
Committee Recommendations
The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:
1. City Council declare its opposition to cuts in funding for settlement services in Toronto.
2. City Council request Mayor Ford to write Prime Minister Harper and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and call on them to reverse the cuts to these settlement programs.
3. City Council request the City Manager to report to the next meeting of the Community Development and Recreation Committee on the impacts of these cuts on the immigrant-serving agencies; the effect on the supports to immigrants in Toronto; the areas of the City whose residents will be most affected by these cuts; and the adequacy of City Services in these areas to make up for the loss in these services.
4. City Council direct that the City Manager work with the agencies serving immigrants and other community groups, including the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, to restore funding for the programs that have been defunded by the Federal Government.
Origin
Summary
I am writing to express my concern about the impacts of the recent and dramatic cuts to agencies serving immigrants in Toronto. The Federal government has cut nearly $5 million in Citizenship and Immigration Canada funding to 14 agencies in Toronto.
The full scale of the impacts of these cuts are not yet clear, but these cuts will certainly reduce our City's capacity to support newcomers in finding work, housing, and accessing necessary services. It will make the work of building strong, inclusive communities in Toronto harder, and it will erode the strong network of community organizations who deliver essential services to residents across this City. These cuts will also mean that more people will rely on City services to meet their needs.
I therefore urge the Community Development and Recreation Committee to take action to address this important issue.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-35185.pdf
Motions
That the Community Development and Recreation Committee consider the letter (January 20, 2011) from Councillor Janet Davis about Citizenship and Immigration Funding Cuts to Toronto Agencies.