Item - 2020.AA7.4

The Aboriginal Affairs Advisory Committee recommends to the Executive Committee that:

1.  City Council request the Director, Indigenous Affairs Office, to work with the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and other relevant City staff and divisions, and report to the Aboriginal Affairs Advisory Committee at its next meeting on a process to identify funding needs and sources to fund Indigenous-led responses to community safety and mental health in Toronto.

Within the context of current discussions related to persistent structural racism within police service nationally and discussions about the reallocation of funds to enable community responses, we, as the Co-Chairs of the Aboriginal Affairs Advisory Committee, would like to table a discussion on possibilities for Indigenous community safety and mental health responses in Toronto.

We recognize that a variety of programs and responses may be necessary to improve community safety and responses to mental health concerns for Indigenous communities across Toronto. We would like to have a discussion with the Committee and receive presentations from organizations working with Indigenous communities to develop pilots, programs, and/or other potential responses. We would also like to have a presentation from the Indigenous Affairs Office on how it will support the Committee to work with City staff and City Council to identify the resources necessary to fund Indigenous-led responses to community safety and mental health in Toronto.