THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF NIAGARA

PUBLIC HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

MINUTES

PHSSC 8-2024

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

1:00 P.m. - 3:00 P.m.

Council Chamber - In Person and Electronic Meeting

Niagara Region Headquarters, Campbell West

1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, ON

Committee:

• Bateman, 
• Bradley (Regional Chair), 
• Chiocchio (Committee Co-Chair), 
• Craitor, 
• Easton, 
• Insinna, 
• Kaiser, 
• Morocco (Committee Co-Chair), 
• Rigby, 
• Seaborn, 
• Siscoe, 
• Sorrento, 
• Whalen, 
• and Witteveen 

Absent/Regrets:

• Diodati, 
• Foster, 
• Ip, 
• and Jordan 

Staff:

• C. Banach, Director, Housing Services, 
• A. Basic, Legislative Assistant, 
• C. Cousins, Director, Homelessness and Community Engagement, 
• A. Jugley, Commissioner, Community Services, 
• Dr. A. Kasmani, Medical Officer of Health, 
• S. Klair, Director, Children's Services, 
• H. Koning, Director, Senior Services, 
• A.-M. Norio, Regional Clerk, 
• M. Sergi, Commissioner, Growth Strategy & Economic Development, 
• R. Tripp, Chief Administrative Officer, 
• and D. Woiceshyn, Housing Services Project Consultant 

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

Committee Co-Chair Chiocchio called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.

2.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT

Councillor Witteveen read the Land Acknowledgement Statement.

3.

DISCLOSURES OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest.

4.

PRESENTATIONS

4.1

Early Development Instrument 2023 Results for Niagara Region

Early Development Instrument 2023 Results for Niagara Region

Satinder Klair, Director, Childrens Services, provided information respecting Early Development Instrument (EDI) 2023 Results for Niagara Region. Topics of the presentation included:

• Background of the Early Development Instrument
• Niagara Region's Results
• Niagara's Approach

5.

DELEGATIONS

There were no delegations.

6.

ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION

6.1

COM 28-2024

Housing Provider End of Mortgage Strategy - Service Agreements

Donna Woichesyn, Housing Services Project Consultant, provided information respecting Housing Provider End of Mortgage Strategy - Service Agreements. Topics of the presentation included:

• History
• End of Mortgage
• Niagara End of Mortgage Strategy 
• Housing Services Financial Model - 20 Years
• Community Housing Investment Opportunities
• Service and Exit Agreements
• Service Agreement Framework
• Housing Provider Financial Forecast
• Exit Agreements

• Moved by Councillor Easton
  Seconded by Councillor Witteveen

  That Report COM 28-2024, dated September 10, 2024, respecting Housing Provider End of Mortgage Strategy – Services Agreements, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendations BE APPROVED:

  1. That the Niagara Region Housing Services’ End of Mortgage Strategy for Housing Providers, attached as Appendix 1 to Report COM 27-2024, BE APPROVED and that the Commissioner of Community Services or designate be delegated the authority to modify the strategy so long as it supports the long-term sustainability of the social housing portfolio at End of Mortgage (EOM) and does not exceed approved budgets; and
  2. That the Commissioner of Community Services or designate BE AUTHORIZED to enter into service and exit agreements with housing providers, under the Housing Services Act (HSA). S.O. 2011, c. 6, Schedule 1, that have reached or are reaching EOM and execute agreements (including financial plans), in a form satisfactory to the Director of Legal Services.
  
  
  
  Carried

6.2

COM 25-2024

Budget Adjustment Senior Services

• Moved by Councillor Sorrento
  Seconded by Councillor Insinna

  That Report COM 25-2024, dated September 10, 2024, respecting Budget Adjustment Senior Services, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendations BE APPROVED:

  1. That an adjustment to the previously adopted 2024 Regional Municipality of Niagara (Niagara Region) operating budget in the amount of $5,675,723 to be fully funded through the Ministry of Long-Term Care (MLTC), BE APPROVED; and
  2. That Regional Council APPROVE the addition of 13 permanent Full-Time Equivalents (FTE)’s funded from the Long-Term Care Staffing Increase Funding.
  
  
  
  Carried

6.3

COM 27-2024

Emergency Social Services - Canadian Red Cross Contract/ Agreement

• Moved by Councillor Bateman
  Seconded by Councillor Whalen

  That Report COM 27-2024, dated September 10, 2024, respecting Emergency Social Services – Canadian Red Cross Contract/ Agreement, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendations BE APPROVED:

  1. That the Regional Chair and Regional Clerk BE AUTHORIZED to execute an agreement with the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) for the provision of Emergency Social Services for a term of three years, effective January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027, in a form that is satisfactory to the Director of Legal and Court Services.
  
  
  
  Carried

7.

CONSENT ITEMS FOR INFORMATION

• Moved by Councillor Witteveen
  Seconded by Councillor Bateman

  ​That the following items BE RECEIVED for information:

  COM 23-2024

  Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Program Directed Growth Priority Neighbourhood

  COM 26-2024

  Seniors Services Quality Improvement Report April-June 2024

  
  
  
  Carried

8.

OTHER BUSINESS

8.1

Verbal Update Respecting Support Hubs

Adrienne Jugley, Commissioner, Community Services, provided an update respecting 

8.2

Rabies Update

8.3

Long Term Care Home Update

Councillor Insinna requested an update respecting the progress of the Long-Term Care Homes. Adrienne Jugley, Commissioner, Community Services, advised that a report will be provided to Committee 

9.

NEXT MEETING

​The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Regional Headquarters.

10.

ADJOURNMENT

​There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:07 p.m.