JOINT PEEL-CALEDON

ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (AAC)

Glenn Barnes, Chair, presided

1. CALL TO ORDER

Glenn Barnes, Chair of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee called the meeting to order at 1:12 p.m. and welcomed everyone present.

Item 3 was dealt with.

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION AAC-9-2006:

That the agenda for the April 25, 2006 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be amended to include a letter from Dr. Kuldip S. Kular, MPP, responding to William Goursky, Citizen Member, regarding the proposed changes to the Ontario Human Rights system, under Item 4 - Communications;

And further, that the agenda for the April 25, 2006 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be amended to include an article from the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) Inc. providing information on assistive devices and how to improve the quality of life for persons with disability, under Item 4 - Communications;

And further, that the agenda for the April 25, 2006 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be amended to include an invitation from the Mississauga Accessibility Advisory Committee to attend the Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee Forum being held Tuesday, June 13, 2006, under Item 4 - Communications;

And further, that the agenda for the April 25, 2006 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be amended to defer Item 5b to a future Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) meeting;

And further, that the agenda for the April 25, 2006 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be amended to defer Item 5d to a future Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) meeting;

And further, that the agenda for the April 25, 2006 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved, as amended.

Marlowe Horn, Citizen Member, inquired if Committee members would support her request to invite representatives from the Peel District School Board to make a presentation to a future meeting of the AAC.

Staff Direction AAC-01-2006-4:

That staff extend an invitation to representatives from the Peel District School Board to make a presentation before the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) at a future meeting, to provide an update on the School Board Accessibility Plan.

Regional Chair E. Kolb arrived 1:20 p.m. due to other municipal business.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

RECOMMENDATION AAC-10-2006:

That the minutes of the March 28, 2006 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved.

Glenn Barnes updated members about an item raised at the March 28, 2006 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) meeting regarding member attendance at AAC meetings. He informed the Committee that the AAC Terms of Reference contain no specific clause pertaining to the attendance of Committee members. Consequently, the provisions of the Region of Peel Procedural By-law 54-1999, as amended, apply to the conduct of the AAC meetings.

Glenn Barnes suggested that a memo be sent to the AAC members who have been away for three consecutive meetings, reminding those concerned about their absences and suggesting that a representative be sent to the AAC in their stead. Ava Macintyre, Acting Regional Clerk, advised that the provisions of the Procedural By-law pertain only to the members of Council not to the citizen members.

A group discussion ensued regarding the AAC Terms of Reference and committee membership/appointments. R. Kent Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor, suggested that staff report back to the AAC to provide more information in regards to committee membership and meeting proceedings.

Regional Chair Emil Kolb advised of the difficulty in meeting demands for time as Regional Chair and that of Regional Councillors. He suggested that there is a need to effectively manage future agendas to ensure that there are substantial matters to be dealt with. He suggested that staff and Glenn Barnes, as Chair of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC), review items to be considered at future meetings to determine if they are significant enough to warrant a meeting. He further advised that should there not be sufficient matters to be dealt with at a particular meeting that those matters be deferred to a future meeting.

Ava Macintyre, Acting Regional Clerk, reminded the Committee that with the forthcoming election in November 2006, re-appointment of AAC membership is imminent. She suggested that AAC consider expanding the Terms of Reference with regards to all members, at the discretion of the Committee. Glenn Barnes suggested that discussion of the Committee Terms of Reference be deferred to the next AAC meeting.

Glenn Barnes inquired about the frequency of AAC meetings. Staff informed that AAC meetings are to be held at the call of the Committee Chair or in accordance with a pre-determined schedule approved by the Committee.

R. Kent Gillespie advised that a presentation will be made at a future AAC meeting regarding the proposed structure of the Accessibility Planning Program and its specific goals and purpose, which will review the structure for the Accessibility Planning Service Strategy Business Plan. The presentation will be available as soon as the Executive Management Team approves the proposal. The plan will assist in developing a more coordinated approach to agenda management.

Further discussion occurred with regards to the involvement of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) in internal versus external accessibility activities. Some of the concerns raised by the members include a more active involvement and participation of AAC members in community activities; long term care centres; outreach programs to residents; conferences and/or regional events. This will allow the AAC to be more visible in the community and to Regional staff.

RECOMMENDATION AAC-11-2006:

That the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) visit seniors' residences and long term care facilities in the Region of Peel.

William Goursky suggested that the AAC devote one full meeting to discussion of the terms of reference, expanding the membership and its purpose as a committee.

Staff Direction AAC-02-2006-4:

That a special meeting of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) be held on June 20, 2006 to consider the structure of the accessibility program and the terms of reference and mandate of the AAC;

And further, that Janine Elias-Joukema, Director of Strategic Initiatives, be invited to the June 20, 2006 Special Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) meeting to assist with the strategic planning.

William Goursky departed at 2:00 p.m. due to a personal matter.

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

This item was dealt with earlier in the meeting

4. COMMUNICATION ITEMS

a. Business Abilities Website (www.businessabilities.ca), Article by Kash Sher, LLB, Regarding the Responsibility of All Businesses to Become More Accessible under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)

Received

b. Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, Access Update, Volume 3, Issue 1, Winter 2006

Received

Additional Items - 4c to 4e inclusive

c. Dr. Kuldip S. Kular, MPP, Bramalea-Gore-Malton-Springdale, Letter dated April 19, 2006, Responding to William Goursky, Citizen Member, Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC), regarding the Proposed Changes to the Ontario Human Rights System

Received

d. Article: Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) Inc., dated April 2005, Providing Information on Assistive Devices and How to Improve the Quality of Life for Persons with Disability

Received

e. Invitation from the Mississauga Accessibility Advisory Committee to the Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee Forum Being Held Tuesday, June 13, 2006 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Mississauga Valley Community Centre, Hazel McCallion Room

Received

AAC members were requested to contact Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist, on or before Friday, May 26, 2006 to confirm their attendance at the Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee Forum.

 

5. PRESENTATIONS

a. Lisa Jones, Transportation Accessibility Specialist, Social Services Department, Presenting an Update on the Accessible Transportation Coordination Office

This item was dealt with later in the meeting

b. Steven Belanger, Capital Project Manager, Facilitites Construction and Real Estate, Housing and Property Department; and John Daly, Statutory Specialist, Corporate Services Department, Regarding the Council Chamber Retrofit Project

Deferred to a future Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) meeting

c. Dev Mutta, Community Development Officer, Business and Information Services, Health Department, Regarding the Upcoming Lunch and Learn Session to be Hosted by the Health Department on June 7, 2006 to Raise Awareness about how to Communicate with Persons with Disabilities

This item was dealt with later in the meeting

d. R. Kent Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor, Regarding the Proposed Structure of the Accessibility Planning Program and its Specific Goals and Purpose

Deferred to a future Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) meeting

 

6. REPORTS

7. REPORT FROM THE ACCESSIBILITY PLANNING COORDINATORS

a. Colleen Grant, Town Prosecutor and Solicitor, Town of Caledon (Oral)

Received

Colleen Grant, Town Prosecutor and Solicitor, Town of Caledon, informed the Committee that the Town of Caledon will present a report to the AAC regarding a proposed zoning by-law. Upon completion of the report, Colleen Grant will request comments and suggestions from the AAC before finalizing the by-law related to parking for persons with disabilities.

Presentations - Item 5a was dealt with.

5. PRESENTATIONS

a. Lisa Jones, Transportation Accessibility Specialist, Social Services Department, Presenting an Update on the Accessible Transportation Coordination Office

Received

Lisa Jones, Transportation Accessibility Specialist, Social Services Department, presented an overview of the recent activities of the Region of Peel Accessible Transportation Coordination Office.

She informed that a status report on the Accessible Transportation Coordination Office will be presented to the General Committee in May 2006.

Naz Husain requested that Lisa Jones provide a list of future dates for focus group meetings to the AAC members so that members can share the information in their respective communities.

Glenn Barnes acknowledged the efforts of the Region of Peel and its Accessible Transportation Coordination Office with respect to initiatives regarding transportation for persons with disabilities. He also encouraged staff to utilize the network available with AAC members to various community organizations.

Regional Chair E. Kolb departed at 2:30 p.m.


7. REPORT FROM THE ACCESSIBILITY PLANNING COORDINATORS

b. Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist, Region of Peel

Received

Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist, provided an overview on the objectives and actions of the Accessibility Planning program. She further explained that her work is in response to the objectives of the Accessibility Plan. She indicated that her reports on activities to the Executive Management Team, and meetings with other departments, stressed the objectives of the AAC, by requesting specific tasks and strengthening organizational processes that will support accessibility within the Region.

Through the diligent work of the AAC, increasing public awareness and knowledge of accessibility issues (ie. focus groups and newsletters) and advocating needs within the community through external meetings with the province are some of the factors that help in fulfilling the objectives of the accessibility program.

Presentations - Item 5c was dealt with.

5. PRESENTATIONS

c. Dev Mutta, Community Development Officer, Business and Information Services, Health Department, Regarding the Upcoming Lunch and Learn Session to be Hosted by the Health Department on June 7, 2006 to Raise Awareness about how to Communicate with Persons with Disabilities

Received

Meenu Sikand introduced Dev Mutta, Community Development Officer, Business and Information Services, Health Department, who has been designated by the Health Department to look at the accessibility initiative that resulted from a partnership between Health and Accessibility Planning Program during the National Access Awareness Week in June and later in the year.

Dev Mutta provided a brief overview of the Lunch and Learn Sessions that will be sponsored by the Region of Peel Health Department. The following events are scheduled for 2006:

• June 7, 2006 - Effective Communication with People with Disablities (Two additional sessions are also being considered at other locations)
• August 2006 - How to Prepare Universal Accessible Print Materials
• October 2006 - Accommodation and Invisible Disabilities
  

Naz Husain and Marlowe Horn expressed interest in getting involved in facilitating the workshops. Dev Mutta undertook to send invitations to future Lunch and Learns Sessions to the AAC members.

Other Business - Item 9 was dealt with.

9. OTHER BUSINESS

Additional Item - 9a

a. Recognition of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) Contributions to the Region of Peel by the Clerk's Division (Oral)

Received

To commemorate the National Volunteers Week from April 23 to 29, 2006, Ava Macintyre presented appreciation gifts to the members of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) in recognition of their valuable contributions to the Region of Peel.

8. REPORT OF THE ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR (ORAL)

Received

Glenn Barnes invited the Members of the Committee to upcoming events:

May 6, 2006	-	Coalition of Persons with Disabilities Fair, 1780 Meadowvale Blvd
June 3 & 4, 2006	-	People in Motion Show, Exhibition Place
June 11, 2006	-	Rick Hansen Event to be simultaneously held in the Cities of Brampton and Mississauga and the Town of Caledon
June 23, 2006	-	Coalition of Persons with Disabilities Annual General Meeting

9. OTHER BUSINESS

This item was dealt with earlier in the meeting

10. NEXT MEETING

Tuesday, May 23, 2006
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Region of Peel Administrative Headquarters
Council Chamber, 5th floor
10 Peel Centre Dr.
Brampton, Ontario

11. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 2:55 p.m.