Open Council

6th Meeting of the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee

Open Council

6th Meeting of the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee

May 1, 2025, at 1:00 PM

Original link

The meeting is called to order at 1:00 PM; it being noted that Councillors S. Lehman and P. Van Meerbergen were in remote attendance.

1.   Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest

That it BE NOTED that no pecuniary interests were disclosed.

2.   Consent

2.1   Request for a Shareholder’s Meeting - London Hydro Inc.

2025-05-01 Submission - Shareholders Request-Hydro

Moved by E. Peloza

Seconded by A. Hopkins

That the following actions be taken with respect to the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder for London Hydro Inc.:

a)      the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder for London Hydro Inc. BE HELD at a meeting of the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee on May 27, 2025, for the purpose of receiving the report from the Board of Directors of London Hydro Inc. in accordance with the Shareholder Declaration and the Business Corporations Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. B.16; and

b)      the City Clerk BE DIRECTED to provide notice of the 2024 Annual Meeting to the Board of Directors for London Hydro Inc. and to invite the Chair of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer of London Hydro Inc. to attend the Annual Meeting and present the report of the Board in accordance with the Shareholder Declaration;

it being noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received a communication dated March 31, 2025, from C. Graham, Chair, Board of Directors, London Hydro Inc., with respect to this matter.

Motion Passed (14 to 0)

2.2   Request for a Shareholder’s Meeting - London & Middlesex Community Housing

2025-05-01 Submission - Shareholders Request-LMCH

Moved by P. Cuddy

Seconded by S. Hillier

That the following actions be taken with respect to the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder for London & Middlesex Community Housing:

a)      the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder for London & Middlesex Community Housing BE HELD at a meeting of the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee on June 17, 2025, for the purpose of receiving the report from the Board of Directors of London & Middlesex Community Housing in accordance with the Shareholder Declaration and the Business Corporations Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. B.16; and

b)      the City Clerk BE DIRECTED to provide notice of the 2024 Annual Meeting to the Board of Directors for London & Middlesex Community Housing and to invite the Chair of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer of London & Middlesex Community Housing to attend the Annual Meeting and present the report of the Board in accordance with the Shareholder Declaration;

it being noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received a communication dated April 16, 2025, from P. Chisholm, Chief Executive Officer, London & Middlesex Community Housing with respect to this matter.

Motion Passed (14 to 0)

2.3   ReconciliAction Plan

2025-05-01 Staff Report - ReconciliAction Plan

Moved by E. Peloza

Seconded by C. Rahman

That the following actions be taken with respect to the ReconciliAction Plan and accompanying staff report dated May 1, 2025:

a)    on the recommendation of the City Manager, the report titled ReconciliAction Plan, including the ReconciliAction Plan, BE RECEIVED for approval; and

b)    that Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to forward the ReconciliAction Plan to the Tourism London Board, London and Middlesex Community Housing Board of Directors, and the London Public Library Board.

Motion Passed (14 to 0)

3.   Scheduled Items

None.

4.   Items for Direction

4.1   London & Middlesex Community Housing Board of Directors Request for Extension of Terms

2025-05-01 Submission - LMCH Extension of Board Member Terms

Moved by S. Trosow

Seconded by D. Ferreira

That the following actions be taken with respect to the London & Middlesex Community Housing Board of Directors:

a)  the term for Phil Squire, Chair, London & Middlesex Community Housing Board of Directors BE EXTENDED from December 31, 2024 to September 30, 2027; and

b)  the term for Greg Thompson, London & Middlesex Community Housing Board of Directors BE EXTENDED from December 31, 2024 to September 30, 2027;

c)  the term for Kathleen Savoy, Tenant, London & Middlesex Community Housing Board of Directors BE EXTENDED from December 31, 2026 to September 30, 2027;

it being noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received a communication dated April 7, 2025 from P. Chisholm, CEO, London & Middlesex Community Housing with respect to this matter.

ADDITIONAL VOTES:

Moved by S. Trosow

Seconded by D. Ferreira

That the following actions be taken with respect to the London & Middlesex Community Housing Board of Directors:

a)  the term for Phil Squire, Chair, London & Middlesex Community Housing Board of Directors BE EXTENDED from December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2026; and

b)  the term for Greg Thompson, London & Middlesex Community Housing Board of Directors BE EXTENDED from December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2026;

it being noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received a communication dated April 7, 2025 from P. Chisholm, CEO, London & Middlesex Community Housing with respect to this matter.

Moved by D. Ferreira

Seconded by A. Hopkins

That the motion BE AMENDED in part a) and part b) to extend the terms to September 30, 2027 and add a new part c) to read as follows:

c)  the term for Kathleen Savoy, Tenant, London & Middlesex Community Housing Board of Directors BE EXTENDED from December 31, 2026 to September 30, 2027;

Motion Passed (11 to 3)

Moved by D. Ferreira

Seconded by A. Hopkins

That the motion, as amended, BE APPROVED.

Motion Passed (13 to 1)

4.2   Canada Disability Benefit - Councillors H. McAlister, P. Cuddy and S. Lewis

2025-05-01 Submission - Canada Disability Benefit

Moved by H. McAlister

Seconded by P. Cuddy

That the following actions be taken with respect to the Canada Disability Benefit:

a)  the Mayor BE REQUESTED to communicate to Premier Ford and Minister Parsa, that the Municipal Council calls on the Government of Ontario to follow Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Nunavut in committing to not reduce or claw back any provincial assistance related to the implementation of the Canada Disability Benefit; and

b) the Mayor BE REQUESTED to advocate with his Ontario Big City Mayor’s colleagues to take a united position on this matter;

it being noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received communications from the following individuals with respect to this matter:

  • a communication from J. Salisbury;

  • a communication from A. Roberts;

  • a communication from D. Slater;

  • a communication from A. Lowe;

  • a communication from A. Does;

  • a communication from D. Hayes;

  • a communication from J. Benstead;

  • a communication from K. MacLennan;

  • a communication from I. Gillis; and

  • a communication from S. Hay;

it being further noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee heard verbal delegations from J. Salisbury and A. Roberts with respect to this matter.

Motion Passed (14 to 0)

ADDITIONAL VOTES:

Moved by H. McAlister

Seconded by P. Cuddy

That the delegation requests from J. Salisbury and A. Roberts BE APPROVED to be heard at this time.

Motion Passed (14 to 0)

5.   Deferred Matters/Additional Business

5.1   (ADDED) 1st Report of the Governance Working Group

2025-05-01Staff Report - (5.1) GWG Report 1

Moved by P. Cuddy

Seconded by S. Stevenson

That the following actions be taken with respect to the 1st Report of the Governance Working Group from its meeting held on April 24, 2025:

a)     the following actions be taken with respect to the Memo, dated April 24, 2025, from E. Hunt, Manager, Legislative Services, related to Agencies, Boards and Commissions:

i)    the Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to consult with Agencies, Boards and Commissions with respect to the existing application and provide questions they would recommend being placed on the application; and,

iii)    the Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to report back at the next meeting of the Governance Working Group with respect to the potential to extend the terms of the current Agencies, Boards and Commissions to the end of January 2027 and to extend the application window to two weeks following the Municipal Election to allow for greater time for applicants and consideration of appointments by the incoming Council;

b)    the following actions be taken with respect to the MNP – London Housing Development Projects – Lessons Learned Review document, dated January 29, 2025:

i)    the Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to report back to Council, as soon as possible, when new affordable housing funding programs become available, providing details of the program, and identifying the proposed populations and support needs to be served, as well as reporting back on any significant changes to projects, and providing an opportunity for Council to approve moving forward with the application; and,

ii)    the above-noted document BE REFERRED to the next meeting of the Governance Working Group for further consideration:

c)    clauses 1.1, 4.2 and 5.1 BE RECEIVED for information.

Motion Passed (14 to 0)

5.2   (ADDED) Municipal Diversity Plan for Appointments to the London Police Service Board

2025-05-01 Staff Report - (5.2) Municipal Diversity Plan for Appointments-LPSB

Moved by C. Rahman

Seconded by S. Hillier

That, on the recommendation of the Deputy City Manager, Legal Services, the following actions be taken:

a)    the report entitled “Municipal Diversity Plan for Appointments to the London Police Services Board” BE RECEIVED for information; and

b)    the proposed by-law, as appended to the staff report dated May 1, 2025 as Appendix “A”, being the “Municipal Diversity Plan for Appointments to the London Police Service Board Policy” BE INTRODUCED at the Municipal Council meeting to be held on May 13, 2025 to adopt the Municipal Diversity Plan for Appointments to the London Police Service Board.

Motion Passed (14 to 0)

6.   Confidential (Provided to Members only.)

Moved by D. Ferreira

Seconded by S. Hillier

That the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee convenes In Closed session to consider the following:

6.1    (ADDED) Solicitor-Client Privilege/Personal Matters About Identifiable Individual/Labour Relations/Employee Negotiations

A matter pertaining to advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose, personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees and labour relations or employee negotiations with respect to the Councillor’s Office.

6.2    (ADDED)  Litigation/Potential Litigation / Solicitor-Client Privilege Advice

A matter pertaining to litigation or potential litigation and advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose.

Motion Passed (14 to 0)

The Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee convenes In Closed Session from 2:46 PM to 3:01 PM.

7.   Adjournment

Moved by A. Hopkins

Seconded by S. Hillier

That the meeting BE ADJOURNED.

Motion Passed

The meeting adjourned at 3:03 PM.

Full Transcript

Transcript provided by Lillian Skinner’s London Council Archive. Note: This is an automated speech-to-text transcript and may contain errors. Speaker names are not identified.

View full transcript (1 hour, 57 minutes)

[7:52] Everyone, it being 1 p.m. I am going to call the sixth meeting of the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee to Order. And as always, we will begin by recognizing that the city of London is situated on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee, Lene Peiwok, and Adawanda in peoples. And we honor and respect the history, languages, and culture of the diverse indigenous people who call this territory home. The city of London is currently home to many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. And as representatives of the people of the city of London, we are grateful to have the opportunity to work and live in this territory.

[8:27] City of London is also committed to making every effort to provide alternate formats and communication supports for meetings upon request. And to make a request specific to this meeting, please contact SPPC@london.ca or phone 519-661-2489, extension 2425. Colleagues, I’m going to begin by looking for any disclosures of pecanary interest. Seeing none, we will move along to the consent agenda.

[9:01] I’ve had a request to have item 2.3 dealt with separately. We will also have a brief staff presentation on 2.3. That is the Reconcili Action Plan. So I’m going to look for a mover or items 2.1 in, oh, Councilor Trussa. I guess that, yes, that 0.2 is different than the request. Okay, yes, I’d like 2.2 pulled as well, ‘cause I have some extended comments about that.

[9:38] Councilor, you can have extended comments without this is a request for a shareholders meeting. I might want to make an amendment to that. All right, well, then we only have 2.1 and the other items we’ll be dealt with after our items for direction. So looking for a mover for 2.1, Councilor Palosa and Hopkins, thank you. Looking for, sorry, we’ll look for any questions or comments now. Seeing none, I’ll ask the clerk to open the vote.

[10:16] So votes, yes. Councilor Van Meerbergen. Oh, yes. Posing the vote, motion carries, 14 to zero. Okay, colleagues, moving on since 2.2 and 2.3, when we dealt with separately, we will deal with those at the end of items for direction under the deferred matters.

[10:49] We move now to items for direction as we have no scheduled items. Item 4.1 is the London and Middlesex Community Housing Board of Directors request for extension of terms, looking for a mover and a seconder. Councilor Trussa. Motion to the clerk. I submitted a motion to the clerk, which should, I don’t know which one you’re referring to. Well, my motion was about ending the terms at the end of this council term, December, December, 2026.

[11:27] And I believe that, is that the motion you’re referring to? I did not receive that, Councilor, as the Chair, so no, I’m referring to what’s in our agenda. I was submitted to the clerk and I believe it’s been loaded into the system. Please correct me if I’m wrong. So it has not been loaded into the system, Councilor.

[12:02] You can put something on the floor now, you can let the staff recommendation come forward and then amend it. But right now, we only have the staff recommendation, or the submission from LMCH in the agenda loaded in eScribe. Recommendation with— No, and I corrected myself. I said the LMCH request in eScribe. Right, but there’s no motion from them. Could you put on the screen what motion you’re referring to ‘cause we’re talking about different things?

[12:37] I did submit this to the clerks this morning. So, Councilor, if you wanna read what you submitted to the clerks, you can just move that now rather than what’s in the report. You were the first speaker I went to, so if you wanna read that out now as an alternate motion, you can do so. I will find the email that I sent to the clerk and try to read it from my screen. Can one of the clerks help me?

[13:22] Ms. Korman can read that out. Thank you. You will need the microphone though. Following actions be taken with respect to the London and Middlesex Community Housing Board of Directors. Part A, the term for Phil Squire Chair, London and Middlesex Community Housing Board of Directors be extended from December 31st, 2024 to December 31st, 2026. And B, that the term for Greg Thompson, London and Middlesex Community Housing Board of Directors be extended from December 31st, 2024 to December 31st, 2026.

[14:05] It being noted that the SPPC received a communication dated April 7th, 2025 from Paul Chisholm CEO, London and Middlesex Community Housing with respect to this matter. Councillor, does that capture your intent? Yes. I thank the clerks for putting that in proper language. Okay, so look to see if there’s a seconder for that. Councillor Ferri, you wanted to ask a question? Okay, go ahead.

[14:38] Thank you, Chair. I do see the motion on the floor. I did do some thinking, I did do some conversation. So I just want to stop you there for a second. There’s not a seconder yet. So if it’s a question specific to the, before you decide whether or not you’re going to second it, I’ll allow that if it’s more in terms of debate than we’ve got to wait till there’s a seconder. It’s a, I wanted to make an amendment to that motion. So I don’t know if I can do that to second or if I can, can I do that? Well, it has to be seconded before it could be amended.

[15:16] So you could second it and then move an amendment if you wanted. Okay, I’ll second it and then I’ll move an amendment. Okay, so it’s been seconded. Councillor Ferri has indicated he will second it. And then in speaking to it, he’s going to propose an amendment is what he was indicating. So as the seconder, I’m going to go to him now to go ahead. Thank you, Chair. The reason, okay. So the amendment that I’d like to propose to this would be to just for continuity and the fact that I know that we have a lot of like strategic planning is going to be coming up at the beginning of the term, but I don’t want to be tying in councils.

[15:55] I don’t want to be tying councils hands on the next term as well. I was thinking a way to kind of hit both of my concerns that I’d like to address is to extend the term until September, 2027, which would put us about seven months into the new term. And that would allow the new council to go through the strategic plan, all the planning that it goes into that. Also to be posting that documentation out to the public once we finalize that strategic plan and also allow the potential new members of LMCH to be able to read that new strategic plan and use that in their applications and use that in their future planning for the board.

[16:37] So I would like to amend it to bring it to September of 2027. Okay, so we’ll see if there’s a seconder for that. Councillor Hopkins. Yeah, I’ll second it just to have a further conversation here. Thank you, Councillor. I was hoping someone would do that ‘cause I was prepared to do the same thing. But thank you for putting your name to that. Okay, so we have a motion now on the floor, an amendment to the motion from Councillor Trussau to change the term to September of 2027.

[17:19] So that’s where we are. Now I’ll look for questions, comments, speakers. Councillor Palosa. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I am hoping through you just for some clarification as we did see on page 72, that the board does send a letter requesting certain terms of four years, just looking to see if this coincides to with what they want. I know they’re just saying four years, but the September endpoint, just I know that you’re a board member in the know, so hoping for some information.

[17:55] Well, this was the board recommendation, but I’m gonna perhaps see if Councillor McAllister wants to comment just as I’m chairing. So you don’t have to, Councillor, but as the other board member, I’m gonna give you an opportunity so that I don’t have to leave the chair if possible. Thank you and through the chair. I mean, it’s my understanding in terms of the appointments that are being, the additional terms are asked for to have the continuity, but also recognizing we have a large turnover on this board.

[18:29] We have found some members who are willing to continue their service, which is much appreciated, but ensuring that we do have some continuity on the board because we have had to fill a number of vacancies. Sometimes these terms are shorter, but ensuring that there is that institutional knowledge that carries forward into the next term. Councillor Palosa. No, thank you for the extra explanation. I appreciate it knowing that it wasn’t required, so I appreciate it, and happy to support it. Looking for other speakers, Councillor Troso.

[19:07] Well, I think asking for, through the chair, asking for a four-year extension, I think is excessive, and yes, we want continuity, but we also want accountability, and I am not willing to bind the next council, and tell them that they cannot make these appointments. I’m willing to talk about an extension. Maybe it should be through December, maybe it should be, as the Councillor suggests, in October. Either of those would be acceptable, but I think to say that we should extend it for the full four years is excessive.

[19:46] And the other thing that I just wanna remind people in light of issues that could arise with respect to board members is the board members in any event do serve at the pleasure of council, and if I’m wrong about that, I would very much like to be corrected, ‘cause that’s my understanding. We are going to have a very serious meeting in June talking about their performance, and I can tell you from the emails and the phone calls that I get taken together with the resident survey, there are a lot of problems with this agency, and I’m not sure in the end that I won’t get ahead of myself.

[20:37] I’ll just say I’m not willing to do the four-year extension right now, and I’m looking forward to their presentation in June, because I know there are gonna be a lot of other members from the public who come to that and ask to talk to us as delegations, and we’re gonna have to make some decisions, and we might have to make some changes. So this is one of the other reasons why I’m not willing to grant such a long, long extension. Thank you, that’s our Hopkins. On the amendment, Councillor Ferri, I appreciate the amendment.

[21:15] I am a supportive of it. I think it does make sense to have the next council determine whatever their strategic plan will look like to deal with the next board. It does make sense to leave it with them. I know in the past, this board has had staggering of two years, two years has always made sense, there’s always opportunities to reapply to boards, but I’ll be supportive of the amendment.

[21:55] Others got Councillor Ferri, and then I’ll look for other speakers, Councillor Ferri. Thank you, Chair, through you. So yeah, I’m not willing to also bind the next council for potential two years on top of that, which is why I brought this motion forward. I would like to see that continuity of governance, however, so this is just a middle ground that I feel would work. And that middle ground, as you can tell, from the date that I kind of struck there, that is so we can get our strategic plan finalized and published so any potential candidates for the board in that future round would be able to review that and also incorporate that on their initiatives of working on the board or potentially getting on the board.

[22:42] So this is why you see that. I’m just trying to find that reasonable ground from ensuring that we have that continuity piece, ensuring that we have that information piece, also for council itself, ‘cause we’re gonna be busy right at the beginning of the term with a lot of items that are gonna be before us right at the beginning. So that is just something that I felt would fit right in that timeframe. So it’s just, like I said, like a middle ground that I’m hoping to find between the two, my reasons for not wanting to extend the term to the four years, but at the same time, ensuring that we have that continuity piece.

[23:14] So that’s why you see that motion and that that’s what I’m hoping for support for. Councillor McAllister. Thank you and through the chair. I will not be supporting the amendment and the motion that preceded it. I have in favor of what was suggested to the board for what I previously spoke to. I think we actually have a very good functioning board right now in terms of having the tenant perspective, community at large, and then the experience that Chair Squire has also brought to the board. So I will not be supporting either of these.

[23:50] And I would like, if these are defeated, I would put the original board motion on the floor. Thank you, Councillor McAllister. Councillor Vameer-Bergin. Thank you, Chair. Let’s check with clerks. Can this current council find a future council in a matter such as an appointment? In other words, can a future council override?

[24:25] So I can respond to that for you, Councillor. And I’ve double-checked with the clerks. No, we cannot bind a future council. A future council could certainly, and Councillor Trostar referenced this himself. Board members serve at the pleasure of council. Future council could recall any or all board members change the board composition, et cetera, in the future. There’s a process to that. There could be changes to the shareholder agreement or to by-law appointments.

[24:59] But certainly a future council could change the composition or membership of the board at its discretion in the future. Okay, so in other words, these boards are redundant. We can easily go with the original motion. I will ask the clerk to read out the submission from LMCH. It was the recommendation from the board, yes.

[25:38] Has it been? Okay. At the board, prove to the following recommendations. One, approve the recommendation to reappoint Phil Squire to the LMCH board of directors for an additional term of four years. Two, approve the recommendation to reappoint Greg Thompson to the LMCH board of directors for an additional term of four years. Three, approve the recommendation to reappoint Kathleen Savoy to the LMCH board of directors for an additional term of four years.

[26:12] And four, authorize the board chair and chief executive officer to work with the city clerk’s office to facilitate this request. Five, authorize LMCH staff to take the necessary steps to give effect to the above recommendations. Okay, for other speakers. Sorry, Councilor Van Meerbergen, did that, are you done? Yeah, I mean, I was just making the point that the motion that’s on the floor now is redundant. I mean, we go with the original motion and then the next council’s totally free to do what it wants at that point in time.

[26:53] Thank you. Thank you, Councilor, looking for other speakers. Councilor Trussow. Yes, through the chair, and respectfully. I don’t think this motion is redundant because this motion is setting what the term is gonna be unless it’s disturbed later on. So I just think we should be really clear about what we’re doing here. Yes, we will be trying to bind the next council. Yes, we will, like in all of our other appointments, have the escape valve of going through the rather difficult and likely unpleasant task of removing a duly appointed board member.

[27:38] I think it’s just better for everybody to have reasonable expectations at the beginning. And I think by granting this for your extension, we’re setting a, I think we’re setting a really terrible precedent in terms of giving up our ability to have some level. We can’t, we cannot get into the weeds of the policies that these boards that we appoint engage with. Our ability to deal with these boards is pretty much limited to two things, the budget and our appointments.

[28:14] And I really do not want to put the incoming counselors in the disadvantage of starting with this board determined for the entire term. ‘Cause this is not just staggering. This is a massive, this is a massive increase. So I’m quite happy to go along with what I think is Councilor Fryra’s compromise. I’ll be supporting the amendment. But I really take strong issue with the exception, with the suggestion that this is redundant.

[28:49] Thank you. Thank you for any other speakers. Councilor McAllister. Thank you through the chair. I just want to clarify something that this is three members of the board. If you look on the submission by LMCH, there are a number of vacant positions which would still have to be filled as well as appointing two counselors. Recognizing that we did have a number of people start, mid-term, even later than mid-term. We’ve brought those selections to council for their approval. But we have not had anyone really stay the full term.

[29:24] There’s been staggered starts throughout. And I’m sure a number of boards also experienced that. Thank you. Councilor Raman, can I ask you to take your chair for me, please? Thank you, go ahead, I have the chair. Thank you, and so I find myself in an odd position here. I supported this at the board, but from a council perspective, I actually think that Councilor Ferreira has raised some excellent points around.

[29:58] And I like the September date far more than December of 2026 because I think that does provide an opportunity for the incoming council to solidify their strategic plan to allow applicants to come forward who may see things in the strategic plan that they really want to support at the housing level. So I do see some benefit, and actually for me, it’s consistent with the discussion that we started. And I know we’re gonna receive the governance working group report later in this agenda.

[30:31] But it’s also part of the discussion we had at governance working group about perhaps, can we look at not having board appointments happen as the first thing an incoming council has to do and feeling 120, 150 spots. But in fact, whether perhaps all boards should be extended to some point into mid or even late 2027 to give the incoming council time to get their feet on the ground and focus on the council job first and then start working on the boards and commissions job. So I can support the 2027 from a council perspective. I continue to support the three names that have been brought forward.

[31:12] I think personally they’ve done incredible work on the board. Kathleen Savoy has been in the time that I have been on the LMCH board, the most outstanding tenant rep we have had come forward. She’s contributed a great deal to the board. Greg Thompson is very new to the position. We’ve only had him for a little over a year. Again, an incredible addition to the team and the institutional knowledge that Mr. Squire brings has been extremely valuable. So I do want to see all three of them continue, but I’m also willing to meet part way and say that 2027 September give the incoming council an opportunity to consider things.

[31:55] And frankly, in the governance working group before the end of this term, I would like to see us consider all boards and commissions move to that sort of model. So I’ll support the amended motion, but if it fails, I’ll support the original. So that’s what I wanted to share. I’m wearing two hats, I see the merits in both. I think both have value. And so I’m willing to meet in the middle there. Thank you, returning the chair to you if no one on the speakers list. I’ll do a last call for other speakers then.

[32:35] Seeing none, I will ask the clerk to open the vote. Opposing the vote, voting carries 11 to three. Thank you, colleagues, that dispenses with item 4.1. Oh, sorry, that was an amendment.

[33:10] Now we’ve got to deal with the main motion as amended. Taking cues from Councillor Layman at Peck a couple of days ago where we were skipping that as amended piece, but we’ll put the main motion as amended on the floor now. Are the same mover and seconder okay? Councillor Furrier and Councillor Hopkins seeing nods. So we use the same mover and seconder for the main motion as amended. Oh, yes. Opposing the motion carries 11 to three.

[33:55] Thank you, colleagues, moving on. Now we will move to item 4.2. This is the candidate disability benefit. There were three of us who signed as the chair. I’m gonna just stay in the chair. I’m gonna see if Councillor Callister and Councillor Cudi, you want to move their motion as well as if they want to move. I’m just gonna see if you want to move their request for delegation status at the same time. Seeing nods from both. So we’ll have to deal with the delegations first. So I’ll ask the clerk to open the vote to approve the delegations.

[34:29] We’ll hear from our delegate move to the motion that’s on the floor. Councillor Hopkins, you had a question? Oh, okay, here we go. Councillor Baum, Mayor Bergen, Councillor Trossa.

[35:34] Opposing the vote, motion carries 14 to zero. Thank you, colleagues. So we have requests for delegation for Mr. Salisbury and Mr. Roberts. I believe they’re both with us here in the gallery. So Mr. Salisbury, if you’d like to move to one of the microphones and you have five minutes. If you get close to your five minutes with about 30 seconds, I’ll give you a wave just so you know you’re approaching the end of your time. And when you’re ready, if you would like to begin. I’m ready. I’ll start with, my name is Jeffrey Salisbury.

[36:08] And I’d like to thank the Councillors for bringing this motion forward on my request. I’d like to say the Ontario government really should be ashamed of themselves for letting people living on ODSP live in legislative poverty. They do this by keeping a ridiculously low cap on the rent part of ODSP, currently capped at $581 a month when they know full well there’s nothing available anywhere in Ontario for $581 a month. No, Ontario isn’t the only one guilty of this.

[36:41] Every province and territory in Canada has disabled people living far below the poverty line. So the federal government stepped in and in 2021, the prime minister announced in his throne speech, he would be creating a new federal disability benefit called the Canada Disability Benefit to bring disabled people to the poverty line. After four years of waiting for this benefit, it passed and it will be starting in July. And although the $200 a month doesn’t really make good on the promise of bringing people to the poverty line, this $200 is meant to help disabled people not pad the budgets of the Ontario government.

[37:25] Seven provinces, or six provinces in one territory have already agreed that they will not touch this benefit. One province, mainly Alberta, says they will take this benefit away from people on disability in Alberta. Doug Ford refuses to answer the question. CTV has asked him the question. He would not go on camera and make any commitments. I’ve tried to get the answer out of Doug Ford. I’ve tried to get the answer out of Michael Parsa. Can’t get any answers out of either of them.

[37:59] They really should be ashamed of themselves. This money is meant to help disabled people. They should have answered this question a year ago like the other six provinces in one territory. The line really needs to be drawn here. They’re already stealing lots of money from disabled people who receive CPP disability. EI, if you receive any of those benefits, they take every dollar you get from one of those benefits off of your ODSP check. Doug Ford tells you he wants you out there working, but there’s no incentive to work because they only let you make $1,000 a month before they start taking money away from you.

[38:40] So where’s the incentive for a disabled person to work? Just to put money back into the provinces pocket. It’s really ridiculous and they really should be ashamed of themselves for making disabled people just beg to keep this little $200 that was supposed to benefit them. So I really hope this motion will pass you unanimously and that Doug Ford will do the right thing and announce that he will not be calling this money back from disabled people. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Salisbury and Mr. Roberts.

[39:17] Similarly, you’ve got up to five minutes. If you’re getting close, I’ll give you the wave with about 30 seconds to go. Otherwise, when you’re ready to start, please go ahead. Well, I was going to say unfortunately with the clawback that we are unsure of that potentially could be happening. Unfortunately, I think it’s going to drive more people even further into poverty because as it is, we’re already funding through other means of social assistance, provincial funding such as CPP, EI. All these things that have been brought forward, yet we’re constantly giving out, but we’re taking away to fix what budget, where are we putting this money?

[40:00] Why are we taking it from people? Unfortunately, families like myself, example, you know, I have two disabled children myself, right? That extra $200 could help, you know, keeping a roof over our head, keeping the hydro on, keeping the gas into my home. I think this is disgusting that Doug Ford hasn’t come forward with a decision whatsoever. I hope that this passes, thanks. Thank you, Mr. Roberts. So, Councillors, those are our delegates.

[40:36] We also have some communications that can be received as part of the main motion that’s on the floor, moved by Councillor McAllister and seconded by Councillor Cuddy. We will open the floor now to members of council for questions, comments, debate. Looking for speakers. Councillor McAllister. Thank you and through the chair. I think we heard it quite clearly from the delegates. We’ve seen it in other provinces. We should not be taking away money that is desperately needed for folks who are living on disability. Any additional money should go towards them. I know this is still not going to lift people out of poverty, but we absolutely need to keep every dollar that we can from other levels of government in the pockets of those who need it most.

[41:21] So, I’m very happy to support this and I hope my colleagues will as well ‘cause it’s very important. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor, Councillor Cuddy. Thank you, Chair, and through you and I wanna thank you, Chair, for helping Councillor McAllister and I put this together. Bring it forward to SCCP. I also like to thank the delegates today, Mr. Salisbury and Mr. Roberts for coming forward and speaking on this really important issue. And Chair, this dovetails quite nicely with what we saw on Webster Street at 1270, 1280 Webster Street two years ago when many people were being charged exorbitant rates for their apartments that they didn’t been in for 20 years and they run disability and they couldn’t afford to pay.

[42:09] And we’d have this discussion and we met with our provincial counterparts and have this discussion and really we haven’t made any progress on this file. So, thank you again for bringing this forward. I thank you again for the delegates who have written in and also for those who came in to speak today. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor, looking for any other speakers. Councillor Trussa. Well, through the Chair, thank you so much to the delegates for coming. These are things that we’re aware of, but having you here in our chamber, talking to us makes us aware about it in a very personal level.

[42:49] And thank you to the Councillors for bringing this forward. I guess my question, though, is there something else that the city of London could be doing? And I guess this is addressed to perhaps Mr. Dickens? I don’t know. Are there other things that the city could be doing to ease the burden, make life easier, help? People who find themselves in these terrible conditions? Well, I can go to Mr. Dickens.

[43:27] It’s with respect to provincial policy. I’m not sure how much more he can comment, but Mr. Dickens, go ahead. Thank you and through you, Chair. That’s correct. City of London Civic Administration, we act as the Consolidated Municipal Service Manager for the delivery of the Ontario Works Program. We, however, are not the service manager or have any jurisdiction over the Ontario Disability Support Program, the ODSP program that’s referenced here and in the letter attached on the agenda. There are a number of things civic administration already does to support people of low income through our discretionary benefits program for those on OWN ODSP, as it relates to a number of health related or personal related items that we can assist with, as well as a number of council supported financial investments as it relates to rent subsidies and things like that.

[44:20] Thank you very much. The only other thing I want to say is there was a very, very compelling report on CBC this morning about how London is one of the jurisdictions in Canada that’s going to get hit, that the people in London are going to get hit the hardest by the tariffs. And this is going to, I think, have a very disparate effect on people of lower income. So this is very timely. So once again, I thank you for bringing this. Thank you for any other speakers.

[44:54] Councillor Ferrera. Thank you, Chair. I’ll be quick. So full support for me on this motion. I really appreciate the Councillors all three bringing this forward in the mover in the seconder. I think that it’s also very timely, as already it was spoken to, especially considering we’re going to be at a bigger crunch than we already are considering the tariffs and the fact that we’re really heavy industrial or manufacturing sector here. And I would also say just knowing kind of what we’ve seen in the past, you know, this is not something that’s out of the blue.

[45:26] We’ve seen, I guess, in some shape, where form this type of potential funding coming from another level of government or an action from another level of government coming in and the province pulling back funding for that. And then we’ve just seen that. I could reference, you know, the secondary schools situation where we do have kind of the subsidies coming from the province and then with the international students and kind of how that’s all played out. And we haven’t seen any funding for that and we’ve seen a wind down. So this is something that’s very timely. And I do see similarities in that.

[45:59] So I do hope that the mayor has success and is advocacy to the province. And I’m really hoping that we continue that stream of funding. So thank you again. You’re going to see my full support on this here and at council. Thank you, Councillor Ferrera, Councillor Pribble. Thank you and I would also like to thank Mr. Salisbury and Mr. Roberts. And also Mr. Salisbury mentioned that he has addressed the provincial government and he, according to him, he did not receive an answer to this topic. My question is actually to one of my colleagues who put this forward and also the mayor because if you are requesting, I would like to hear his feedback.

[46:35] But my question is if any one of you have certain inclination or signs that this would be the case that the provincial government would be doing, I did some research and I didn’t see anything in this kind of case that they are considering it or they are planning to do it. So I just wanted to get a feedback from any one of the individuals who made this motion if they are aware of certain things like this. And also if we are requesting in both points mayor, I would like to get his feedback as well. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Pribble.

[47:10] So I guess I’ll start. I’ll see if either of the other signatories of the letter want to add anything as well as the mayor. I will say from my perspective, the concern is that there has not been a commitment made when other provinces and territories have. And in fact, six other provinces and territories have made a commitment not to. One has made a commitment in fact to Clawback and from Ontario so far, we’ve had a bit of what I would call radio silence.

[47:47] It’s been noncommittal. That’s not to say that they necessarily would. It’s not to say that they necessarily wouldn’t, but following a provincial election and with a provincial budget to come in the next few weeks, this seemed like an opportune time. I have long been a proponent of the municipality cannot backfill for provincial responsibilities, but I do think we have the ability to be an advocacy voice, particularly if other municipalities can join in that advocacy.

[48:19] And so that was why I was supportive and co-signed the letter to bring this forward. Councillor McAllister, Councillor Cuddy, did you have anything that you’d like to comment on? Councillor McAllister? Thank you, through the chair. Yeah, it’s my understanding in terms of we haven’t received any sort of commitment as was indicated by the delegates. The question has been posed a number of times and no answer has been given. And from my understanding with letters that received from other municipalities and the other provinces, they wanted to make it explicitly known that the clawback didn’t happen.

[48:51] And I think it would be appropriate for the government, the provincial government of Ontario to answer one way or the other. I think it’s causing a lot of concern, especially among residents in terms of whether they will or not. And then once the precedent was set with Alberta actually saying they would claw back, I think that’s what really triggered a lot of the concern is that a province has indicated they would go that direction. And so they would like confirmation that they won’t. So I’m again still supportive of this, but I do think not having an answer is speaking volumes and worrying a lot of folks.

[49:25] Councillor Cuddy, anything to add from your perspective? Thank you, Chair, through you and point your phrase. We’ve been advocating for this for a number of years. We’ve spoken with cabinet members and ministers and I think we’ve done everything we can on this file to move it forward. But as Councillor McAllister said, other provinces have moved forward on this and we haven’t. And probably with an election in the behind us, this is a good opportunity to speak with them again and maybe make some progress.

[50:01] Thank you. And I will give the mayor an opportunity through the Ontario Big City Mayor’s Caucus or through the federal Big City Mayor’s, ‘cause this is a federal benefit. If there’s anything that the mayor wants to add from his perspective. Sure, I’ll be brief. I don’t have any issues with the directions before us. I don’t think that there’s gonna be a lot of people on the Ontario Big Sea Mayor’s who wouldn’t agree with the direction going.

[50:35] I would say that it’s probably appropriate to for Councillor Hopkins. And I don’t think we need to have this in the motion to inquire through AMO, whether or not there’s any policy that’s been passed on this direction through that, but we generally coordinate together. So given other provinces have moved in this direction, I think it’s an appropriate ask for clarity for the province of Ontario. And then aligning any sort of advocacy efforts with Ontario Big City Mayor’s or AMO, which is the most effective way to influence government policy. Thank you, Mayor Morgan.

[51:07] Councillor Pribble, return to you. And thanks to all four of you for the answers. Any other speakers? Seeing none, then I’m gonna ask the clerk to open the vote, please. Vote yes. Opposing the vote, motion carries 14 to zero. Thank you, colleagues.

[51:41] So that concludes our items for direction. We will move down to deferred matters and additional business now. And the first item on the deferred matters is the first report of the governance working group. This isn’t a report that gets presented because we’re not a council. This will be presented as part of the SPPC reported council. But you do have the information in your package, looking to see if there’s a mover and a seconder to receive this. Councillor Cuddy and Councillor Stevenson. And so that’s on the floor and looking for any discussion.

[52:19] Seeing none, then I will ask the clerk to open the vote. Oh, yes. Opposing the vote, motion carries 14 to zero. Thank you, colleagues. The next item on the deferred matters is the added municipal diversity plan for appointments to London Police Services Board.

[52:52] This was an added and staff actually works to address this arising from a question from Councillor Stevenson and the governance working group. I’m gonna just give Ms. Paul at an opportunity if she would like because it wasn’t added. If you want to give us some preliminary or an overview of why we’re receiving this today as an added, and then we’ll look for a mover and a seconder. Thank you and through the chair. And thank you to Councillor Stevenson for flagging this issue at GWG.

[53:28] Under the Community Safety and Policing Act, municipalities are required to develop a diversity plan for appointments to the police services board. There was some confusion over the creation of the plan and once the Councillor flagged it for us, we completed the plan and we’re presenting it to you for review today. This is something that aligns with the work that civic administration does with the anti-racism, anti-oppression framework as well as the equity tool.

[54:02] And it also aligns with a 2023 endorsement by Council as to a process used with the interview when Council is appointing members to the board. So happy to take questions. Thank you. So we’ll see if there’s a mover and a seconder to get it on the floor to frame the discussion. And we’ll move by Councillor ramen, seconded by Councillor Hillyer. So that’s moved and seconded. And now we can go forward to questions, comments, debate. Councillor Stevenson. Thank you and thank you for getting this to us quickly.

[54:37] I did wanna ask, ‘cause I know that we’re out of compliance that this was due April 1st. And I just wondered from a proactive, how do we avoid this situation going forward? I wondered like, is there no guidance from AMO? Like I’m just wondering how we as a municipality are aware of legislative changes like this? And if there’s something that we could advocate or do to improve the chances of this not happening again? Ms. Pollack.

[55:09] Thank you and through you. This one is a little bit unusual because typically the police services board, they do have their own equity or sorry, diversity plan and that sort of thing. And it’s a little strange where the onus was on the municipality. So it’s one of those items where it’s sort of straddled to separate areas. I don’t know that AMO provided any guidance on this, but usually it is something that we look at and we do have appropriate deadlines and that sort of thing.

[55:52] Ms. Stater, spirit, you wanna add something to that? If I could through you, Mr. Chair, and I do wanna respect the fact that our team and specifically into the leadership of the city solicitor took this on and thank you again to a counselor for identifying it to us. We were aware of it. I think it’s really important for us to know that we do monitor legislation and requirements of legislation. There were some discussions that happened in this organization with respect to it. We’ve now spoken with the police about it. They’re involved in this discussion as well and I’ve spoken to Chief Trong about it as well. When we get notification about changes of legislation, in this case, was the understanding of making sure that the policy that we were putting in place was respectful not only of our work here and the work of appointing people to the board of LPS, but also LPS’s work as well.

[56:42] So I’ve talked to Chief Trong about that last week and he is supportive of this work coming forward. To your point about how to ensure that we always have the legislation in place, that’s our job. In this case, we needed to be reminded and we appreciate you for doing that, Councillor. Yeah, thank you. I appreciate that. It just seems to even from the province, some communication or something could have been improved there to make sure reminders or something to help out. Okay, thank you. Councillor Robin.

[57:14] Thank you and through you. I just had a follow-up question just in terms of our plan and how we’ll be putting this out in the community when we go through a time of reappointment or a time of selection in some other boards but what they’ve done is that they’ve actually put in their plan that they will attach it to the posting and I’m just wondering what we might do to elevate the fact that this plan exists and make sure that people are aware of it.

[57:53] And we will go to Mr. Schulfuss. Ms. Dater’s. Ms. Dater’s beer first. It’s not our intention, Mr. Chair, to fight to answer questions but I’ll start by saying that pending council’s endorsement of this at both at SPPC, we will now have a discussion again with the chief to ensure we have a process in place and get back to you as council members and we can share that in advance even of next week’s meeting but we’ll talk to them a little bit about once it’s in place what the process is and obviously I’ll pass it to the clerk too for his advice.

[58:31] And we will go to Mr. Schulfuss who whose area has the responsibility for getting those postings out. Thank you through the chair and certainly in alignment with what the city manager just said, should there be an agreed process where the posting that includes the policy? Certainly clerks could include that but we’ll see where that lands post the post discussion. Thank you. Councilor ramen. Thank you. And there is a point of a line in this policy that says this also means fair representation of all geographic areas of London.

[59:12] And I’m just wondering, has that ever been contemplated before in selection for the police board? Ms. Pollack or Ms. Dater’s beer? Through you chair and in putting forward this proposal, this proposal is a municipal approach to how we would ensure appointments reflect diversity. And so I think these are best practices ideas and ideas that we want to ensure.

[59:53] As we do any time we look to appoint people to certain boards is that the entire community is reflected in the board. Similarly to the way that each of you represent a ward. So it allows that. I don’t think that we’re looking necessarily for the police services board to create ward type positions like you are, but I think it would be helpful for them to look at making sure that they have a diversity of people but also people from across the organization and across the city as well. So we have set what we believe to be a broad enough policy and we’re happy to work with LPS to ensure that they implement in a way that meets the requirements of the act, recognizing that the act is specific to their work as well.

[1:00:41] Councilor. Thank you and just to follow up comments. So I will say that I appreciate that the province took the step to create this need for a plan within their process. But personally I need this to be more than words in the future when we make a selection. And so I’m struggling with how that will be the case just from a policy perspective because the policy to me speaks more to recruitment and selection and yes, it will be attached to our package when we make a choice, but one, I think just within the limitation and confines of how many members we have that would actually serve on a police board in our community, we run into the issue of how do we make that then reflective within all these different reflective needs of our community.

[1:01:30] So I am struggling with this one a little bit in terms of we’re going to put in place a policy and a plan and then how do we actually live up to that when at the time of the next selection other than what’s right now being asked, which is basically to attach it to the selection process when we make that process selection. So I guess I’ll comment further when we, well, I’ll look at it further I guess in the future. Thank you, Councillor, Councillor Trussow.

[1:02:08] Direct question through the chair. Are we in compliance with these requirements right now? Paul it. Thank you and through you. So they, we are not in compliance. However, there’s no repercussions for not being in compliance. Councillor. Thank you. That was one of the, that’s what I thought she was going to say but I needed to confirm that. I think there are, I just know this is my opinion.

[1:02:42] I think there are repercussions. When this selection process last occurred, we did get a very, very specific letter from a local notable human rights lawyer. So Councillor, sorry, I’m going to stop you there. When the last appointments were made, this requirement was not in force and effect in Ontario. So it was not relevant to the last selection process because it was not yet a requirement. Actually, if you would not cut me off, that’s the next thing I was going to say.

[1:03:16] And I’ll just go dot, dot, dot. It was pointed out that technically those requirements did not apply because they were not yet in force. Although they were legislated and coming into force. What are the options, putting aside what were technically mandated to do? What options, if any, does this city have to bring us into compliance? Oh, and to bring us into compliance before the beginning of 2027, which is when presumably these appointments would otherwise be revisited.

[1:04:01] That’s a question to whoever wants to take it. Ms. Paula. Thank you and through you. So in order to be in compliance, the municipality has to have the plan and post it on the internet. Okay, well, I’ll let this go for now. But I think the next council is going to have to look at this very carefully.

[1:04:35] Not just in terms of technically what do we do, have to do to comply with this by posting something on the internet, but actually effectuating the purpose of these requirements. And I’ll just leave it at that for this council term. Any other speakers? Seeing none, then I’m going to, oh, Councillor Stevenson. Yeah, thank you. I just wanted to say that I need more time to look at this. So I’m going to support it now, but I do want to spend some time looking at this prior to council.

[1:05:14] I too had concerns about the last process. And I think this plan, I really want to look at it from that lens to avoid what I found very troubling was the experience that we had with this posting last time based on people’s interpretation of legislation that hadn’t even passed yet. So now that it has passed, and now that we are developing this plan, people are interpreting it. And I’m just concerned for what happens to people when they put their name forward to serve our community.

[1:05:55] And they suffer a real or perceived reputational harm through some of the things that are said that council can’t control necessarily. It’s what people in the public are saying. But if there’s something that we can do in this plan to provide real clarity that could perhaps avoid what happened the last time, that’s what I’m going to be doing as I prepare for the next council meeting. Thank you, councilor. Ms. Dator, spirit, did you want to offer a comment? If I could through you.

[1:06:28] So, and I appreciate the comments made by the councilor. I think the comments that have been made by councilors has been about the process of the mechanism by which the city goes through the process but defining those who want to be candidates for a committee, whether it be the police services board or otherwise. I think I want to be clear that this is our requirement under the act to ensure that there’s diversity on the police services board. The mechanism by which we identify who those people are is a city process that has happened through the clerk’s office, through the regular processes.

[1:07:09] So, if there are concerns about that, I would say that they’re not as part of this, they’re part of the procedural process that we have as it relates to identifying people. And it’s more broadly than that. And I want to be clear about that. That was my thinking, I’m not sure I’ve made that better except to say that I think there’s two processes in place that are relevant to the situation based on what the comments have been made. Thank you, Ms. Dator’s beer, Councilor Stevenson. Yeah, thank you. I do agree that there’s two opportunities here and there is an opportunity here to potentially, I don’t know if it’s possible, honestly, to prevent what I can see might happen in the next few appointments.

[1:07:53] But if there’s anything that we can do here, then I’d like to look at it with that lens. And then I do think we have a lot of work to do on the other part too as to how we walk that out and how we protect people, fellow councillors and our public from the interpretation that is being made and was made at the last time around what this means to commit to a diversity plan. Thank you, Councilor.

[1:08:27] I have no one else on the speakers list. Last call, I’m gonna ask the clerk to open the vote. Hello, yes. Closing the vote, motion carries 14 to zero. Thank you, colleagues. Now we still have some deferred matters because we deferred some matters for consent. So the next item on the agenda from the consent deferral is the request for shareholders meeting London middle section community housing to come to us on May 27th.

[1:09:13] So we’ll look to see if there’s a mover, a seconder for that and then we can engage in discussion and debate, moved by Councilor Cuddy, seconded by Councilor Hillier. So that’s on the floor, Councilor McCallis. Just a question, does say June 17th in the wording, you said May 27th, I just wanna confirm the date. Oh, sorry, that’s my her. Yes, June 17th, SPPC. Okay, now we’ll look for speakers. Councilor Trussa.

[1:09:46] Yes, and thank you for recognizing me and through the chair since I pulled this. I’ll ask some questions and depending on the answers to the questions, I may want to make an amendment. And my first question is, do we have the ability to request that in advance of the meeting, at least in time for our agenda packet, we’d be provided with certain documents to be identified. And let me be more specific about that. We anticipate receiving an asset management plan from this agency in the next period of time.

[1:10:27] Are we going to have that in time to read that and digest it and comment on it by the time of the shareholders meeting? I guess I don’t know who— That’s yours, sorry, Councilor. I’m not sure how you want that directed to, LMCH is not here, so. Well, okay, I’m disappointed that they’re not here because they have items on the agenda and I would think that they at least make themselves available if Mr. Chisholm is not here able to talk to us, maybe one of the members of the board or a member of our staff could help us with that.

[1:11:12] And again, I think the asset management plan is something that we plan on getting. Is there an estimated time of arrival? ‘Cause I’d really like to have that in time for this meeting. So, Councilor, I will say as a board member, the board has not approved the annual report yet to come to Council. That would be in our next board meeting cycle at LMCH. So I don’t think either Councilor McAllister or I and Councilor McAllister can speak for himself, but not having seen the annual report from our own staff at LMCH at the board level, I don’t think we can speak to what’s coming forward June 17th, six weeks from now.

[1:11:58] If, thank you. If I wanted to amend this motion to include a request, a request to the agency to provide us with this document in advance of the meeting, would that be an appropriate amendment? I’m gonna consult with the clerk for a moment, but I’m also going to see if either Mr. Murray or Ms. Dater’s beer can comment on the asset management plan because there was a piece where this was not in sync with another schedule.

[1:12:32] It was being worked on. I don’t know if either of you can comment on where the asset management plan development with LMCH is specifically, but I’ll go to either one of you if you wish to comment. Thank you through you. We are advised that it’s the intention to have the asset management plan come before this committee in the next cycle of this committee structure. So we’re hoping before the end of May. Thank you. I don’t need to proceed with what I was just asking in light of that very, very clear answer.

[1:13:09] My other question, and maybe this would lead to an amendment, my sense is from talking to people in the community that there are going to be a number of people who want to attend this meeting and who want to seek delegation status. And I think it would be important for us to go out of our way to encourage residents of London Middlesex housing to do this. And I know that when the clerks get a lot of delegation requests and requests for added agenda items, it does create additional work.

[1:13:44] Is there any value for us to say we’re going to have a public participation meeting at this meeting prior to the shareholders meeting so we can give people the opportunity to come here and talk to us? Would a motion to that affect be an order or necessary? Or is that something we could just do? Or if I could get some guidance? So Councilor, in consultation with the clerk, an AGM shareholders report could receive delegates.

[1:14:19] It’s not a public participation meeting. That would not be an order. And I would encourage you to consider that there are something in the range of 3,000 households in the LMCH portfolio, including residents in Middlesex County. And so probably best that if you wish to encourage people to participate, that you ask them to make submissions in writing in advance so that Councilors can read them, recognizing that we will only get a snapshot of those who choose to write in out of the 3,000 or so households we have.

[1:15:02] Yes. And I think that that can happen through the normal process. And I know when my office receives a good volume of letters of distress and concern, and I will advise people who contact me to consider sending in something for this meeting. So I think at this point, I’m going to forego making any motion.

[1:15:34] So I think since I had potential motions in my mind, I felt it was appropriate to flag this at the beginning of the meeting. And I’m sorry for adding any delay to this. And I think we’re all anxious to get on to the next item. So that’s pretty much all I have. Thank you. Thank you, Councilor. And I’ll just add to that comment that, of course, like all of our board’s agencies and commissions, the monthly board meetings of LMCH are open to the public. That includes members of Council who wish to attend as guests and as observers, take in a board meeting.

[1:16:12] I think that there’s a great value for people to see in terms of the progress that is being made in repairs, in energy efficiency upgrades, in those sorts of things, those are regular reports to our board each month. And so those who are interested, I would encourage you to consider making time to attend one of those board meetings and get the information firsthand. Certainly, and if there’s interest in specific topics, I suspect that both Councilor McAllister and myself, again, don’t want to speak for them or offer up extra work for them.

[1:16:44] But if there’s specific items of interest that you’d like to see the monthly update from the board, of course, those minutes are public, so I’m sure we’d be happy to forward those to you. And with no one else on the speaker’s list, I will ask the clerk to open the vote. I’ll vote yes. Closing the vote, motion carries, 14 to 0. Thank you, colleagues.

[1:17:21] So that brings us to our final deferred item from the consent agenda. And that is the Reconciliation Action Plan. And I’m going to ask colleagues just so we can, again, frame the discussion. Can we get a mover and a seconder? Councilor Palose, I believe you had circulated part B that you wanted to add. So I’m going to see if you want to move your— if you want to move the staff recommendation with your additional clause, and then once that’s on the floor, we’re going to go to Ms. Antone for a brief staff presentation before we engage in debate.

[1:18:00] Thank you, I did circulate part B, and it was clerked that civic administration be directed to forward the Reconciliation Action Plan to tourism London LMCH and London Public Library Board, realizing they were actually referred to within the report just to make sure that the information goes out. So I’m moving A and B. OK, so and second from Councilor ramen. OK, so we have that on the floor now. Ms. Antone, thank you, first of all, for all the work that you’ve put into this action plan for us.

[1:18:34] I’m going to go to you to give us a bit of a brief high-level overview of the work, and then we’ll proceed with any questions for you and into debate. So if you’d like to start when you’re ready, go ahead. Thank you, Chair. So [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] The city of London sits on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabek, Hunnishoni, and Lenape. This year marks a significant milestone, 10 years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action were released.

[1:19:14] Indigenous peoples were often viewed as equity denied, yet they are vital, active contributors to the cultural, social, and economic life of our city. They are part of the fabric of London’s community and their voices matter just as much as those of any other resident. It is essential that our actions reflect this reality and ensure that Indigenous people are valued, seen, and heard in all aspects of civic life. In 2024, we engage many respondents from across the Indigenous communities in London, as well as Indigenous community organizations and partners.

[1:19:56] Through surveys and focus groups, we gathered valuable insights into the needs and experiences of Indigenous residents. From this engagement, four central themes emerged that reflect the priorities and aspirations of the Indigenous community. The four themes were services and strategic planning, civic engagement, and leadership, First Nations Relations and Partnerships. This plan is land of stand alone initiative. It is a city-wide commitment embedded within our strategic plans.

[1:20:31] We have developed a 10-year phased plan that is realistic and sustainable and adaptable, ensuring that we are prepared to respond to evolving community needs. The good news is that these initiatives are built into our current budgets and priorities. By integrating reconciliation work into the heart of the city’s ongoing efforts, we ensure that this is not a temporary project, but a long-term transformation. This plan is a living document which will remain open to updates and adjustments as the needs of the community evolve.

[1:21:11] And as a new budget cycle begins, Indigenous partners will continue to be part being at the forefront of every phase of implementation, ensuring that we remain accountable and responsive to their concerns. This plan reflects the voice of our Indigenous community and aligns with our strategic objectives. It is a comprehensive, thoughtful approach to reconciliation that will make a lasting, positive difference in our city. Reconciliation work is about healing relationships and creating a future that is more just and equitable for all.

[1:21:48] It’s not about fleeting political movements. It’s about unlearning the harmful beliefs and systems that have shaped our society, such as the doctrine of discovery, which has historically justified this position and marginalization of Indigenous people. These entrenched ideas have influenced policies that have negatively impacted Indigenous communities for centuries and into today. Now we must confront them, unlearn them, and work toward a society that values all people equally and without bias.

[1:22:24] Indigenous people are an integral part of the city. We have been here since time immemorial and our voices and contributions are just as critical to the future of the city as those of any other community member. Our work today and the work you are helping advance is for the residential school survivors, for the generations of Indigenous people who have been erased or ignored, and for the future we all build together. I want to take a moment to thank our incredible civic administration, my colleagues and the amazing resilient Indigenous community for their dedication and collaboration and bringing this action plan to life.

[1:23:08] This work is possible because of your perseverance, vision and commitment. May the leadership of the city of London be blessed for your unwavering support for this important work. It is through these actions that we are reminded of the legacy of those who came before us, especially the many residential school children who never made it home to their families. That was not that long ago. This work is for them and for our future generations to come. We are committed to walking this path alongside Indigenous partners, and together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive London for generations to come.

[1:23:48] Yeah, we’ll go, Miigwech. Anushik, thank you. Miigwech, Ms. Santone. We will go now to members of council for questions, comments on the motion that’s on the floor. So I will start my speaker’s list. Councilor Trussow. Do you need a seconder for the motion or is that happened? That has happened. Councilor Palosa has moved and Councilor Ramana has seconded. Great. So I have one question and an observation. My observation is easy ‘cause I’ve already shared that with all of you.

[1:24:23] I did have a concern, but when you say that this is a living document, it’s gonna be open to revision from time to time that takes care of my concern. There are developments that are happening regarding a variety of issues, including the homeless file. And I think we can look forward to seeing some additions made to this living document. I need to say that there are few things that come to my packet that are actually inspirational and fun to read and make me really happy that I received the document.

[1:25:03] And this was one of them. And I’m sure many of my colleagues are gonna tell you what a wonderful job you’ve done with this. And don’t take that lightly ‘cause if we don’t like it, we’ll tell you that. I do have one question though, and that is under the heading of five honesty, the last sentence says, ensuring meaningful consultation with indigenous communities regarding land use and resource management decisions.

[1:25:38] And I was very happy to see that ‘cause I think that is one of the overall requirements of indigenous Aboriginal law broadly construed. And I was happy to see that in there. And I’m just wondering maybe somebody in planning can help me with this. How is this going to be implemented? I don’t think we’re in compliance with this now. And I also note that there was just an amendment to our notice procedures from the planning committee that will be coming up to council.

[1:26:13] And I’m just hoping that there’s not a conflict between what’s in that amendment and what’s in this on page 11 of the report. So could someone help me with that, Mr. Mathers? Through the chair, this is absolutely complimentary to the work that we do. And as it’s highlighted in the London plan, the need and the expectation of doing this type of consultation and work with indigenous communities. So I’m very much complimentary to what we’re doing now and very much end of lines with what we wanna do in the future as well.

[1:26:50] If I could push on that a little bit through the chair, could you just elaborate on that a little bit? What do we do when the development application comes through? How do we go about that extra level of consultation, which I believe does go beyond what the minimum requirements of the planning act are? Mr. Mathers. Absolutely through the chair. So firstly, we have a circulation list that goes beyond even the city of London boundaries and goes almost to a provincial level to ensure that any indigenous communities that are interested in our applications have the notice of that application on more significant applications.

[1:27:30] So they have city-wide applications and that’s an expectation of what we’re, we’ve put through this with these additional actions is to have that direct reaching out, especially to those neighboring indigenous communities as well. So we are doing that with a number of the different large applications. So we’re at the rethink zoning process. We’re actually reaching out and going into the community to meet with folks to be able to ensure that they understand some of the ramifications and some of the benefits of some of the changes that are making to indigenous communities in their culture. Thank you.

[1:28:05] And I’ll just close this question by saying, while many of these are zoning applications, there are a lot of other things that are noted on our get involved list that do involve public consultation, things like the mobility master plan. So while this reads zoning and land use, I’m taking that to, I’m taking that broadly. So thank you. Thank you for entertaining that question. Well, Councilor, if you’d like, I can also go to Ms. Chair with respect to consultation with regard to infrastructure projects.

[1:28:43] You referenced the master mobility plan. So I don’t know if she has anything to add. I’m kind of throwing this at her out of deep center field, but Ms. Chair, did you have anything you wanted to add with the consultation your teams do? Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I’m absolutely happy to share. The team in environment and infrastructure has had a longstanding set of guidelines with respect to indigenous engagement for infrastructure projects. It is a legislated requirement, but it’s also an ethical and moral requirement for us to engage with municipal donation about the projects that are being built on traditional lands. So the level of consultation engagement would vary from notification for minor projects like repaving to involvement in a more detailed and specific way for things like the W12A landfill expansion, the mobility master plan, the spring bank dam project, anything that’s involved in shared waterways, our new one water master plan.

[1:29:34] So this is a guidelines that we are updating now and we’ll be updating in consultation with our neighboring nations. And we look forward to refreshing them and making sure they were following evolving best practices as well. Thank you very much. Looking for other speakers. Sorry, I did have Councilor McAllister and now I have Councilor Pribble after Councilor McAllister. Councilor McAllister, go ahead. Thank you through the chair. Really appreciate this coming forward. I think it’s long overdue. There’s a lot of important themes in here.

[1:30:07] I did just have some questions. Theme three for me, I think it was great that we had the meeting with Oneida. Recognizing we haven’t been able to connect it with Chippewa of the Thames or Muncie Delaware. But I’m wondering in terms of the Intergovernmental Relations component of this, I personally see a lot of value in this. I think just having that interaction between the elected officials, knowing what their needs are, how we can assist. But I’m just wondering in terms of this plan, is there any sort of mechanism in place to have meetings called, but then also to have reports back to us in terms of the work that’s ongoing, and how we can support that moving forward.

[1:30:52] Ms. Dater’s beer, where are we going on this? I’ll start with Ms. Dater’s beer and let you pass it off to others as appropriate. Thank you, Chair. And I certainly appreciate the question. I think it speaks to the fact that there are many ways and many opportunities for engagement between our civic administration and more broadly organizations that we are associated with to engage with our three local First Nations, with our urban indigenous agencies and with other groups as well. And so I think you have a suggestion about the mechanisms by which we share that information with Council as I think a very valid one, and whether that happens through our government relations department, it happens through the work that Ms. Antone does through our AIO department, or it happens more broadly in terms of political engagements as well.

[1:31:40] Good advice, we’ll take it back and we’ll figure out a way in mechanism by which we share more information. It’s kind of broadly, as part of that big discussion, even having about how best to communicate with Council members on everything that happens. Councilor. Thank you through you and appreciate the answer. Where I was thinking more of this is, I mean, we have a lot of work that goes on, but trying to get input from the indigenous community, whether these are things that can be forwarded to the Councils for them to review. So we get reports back from our neighboring Councils in terms of work and impact the indigenous community.

[1:32:18] Obviously planning is one that has been identified, but even ensuring that they have input, say on things like economic development, wastewater management. There’s a number of issues where I think it would be invaluable to get indigenous insight. And I’m just wondering if there’s any sort of way we could have a commentary input into our reporting, Ms. Antone. Thank you, Chair. Yes, this work has been, has started, and we’re continuing with our engagement and continuing with our plans on what this working together looks like.

[1:32:54] And yeah, we’re doing it. Councilor, thank you and through the Chair. Yeah, just my final thought, as I said earlier, I think there’s a lot of value in terms of interaction between the neighboring First Nation Councils and ourselves. And so I would really appreciate any opportunity where we can have that interaction. I think it was a great first step meeting with Oneida, and I’d love to see that with the other ones surrounding us. I think elected officials having those conversations is also important. I appreciate civic administration already does that, but I think having more of those meetings between elected officials is very important, and we need more of that.

[1:33:34] Councilor Pribble, and then Mayor Morgan. Thank you, and thank you as well for the report. And I really enjoyed the seven grandfather teachings. The one, the six, which is the bravery. And I have employed in my business in the past indigenous people. And that was the, I would say honestly, the number one thing they were mentioning, entrepreneurship and business opportunities, which I was really happy to see this. And my question is this, when it’s stated, and so I clearly quote, prioritize creating economic development and employment opportunities.

[1:34:11] We’re really kind of the next steps. It’s a great saying. It’s this, how this will be developed. We have implemented throughout the city hall, kind of the implementation plan. Is this going to be kind of a similar process? So we certainly stay on the right path and actually deliver such the entrepreneurship and business interests. Anyone in the front row wants to take that? Well, I saw nods back and forth between all three of you. So go ahead.

[1:34:44] Through you, Chair, to answer that question, I know there’s lots of opportunities to look at economic development. And given our current relationship with the three nations, but also looking at how do we build through our economic development office and seeing even when it comes to job opportunities to people’s services to look at how do we create kind of a welcoming space for more opportunities? So we’re beginning at least steps towards it, but we will continue towards having more opportunities. Councilor Perbault.

[1:35:18] Thank you, Mr. Chair, full up. So there will be, again, this is the first step, first stage, but there will be a program plan developed. So we have, as I said, kind of a recall and it was in the city implementation plan. So we stay on track. So it will be developed. So we can see if we reached our goals, targets, and if certain things didn’t come through, or as we hope for, so we can evaluate these opportunities or kind of learn from the past, move into the better future. Through you, Chair, immediately after Councilor Perault, the next big step from Santon and the ARAO team is to look at an implementation plan.

[1:35:55] So we will be going back to all the business units to look at how we can measure them, how we will implement them at what stages, because it’s a 10-year window. We’re looking at creating a bit of an opportunity to see what we can do immediately and what we can do over the next phase of the plan. Thank you. Councilor. Thank you as well. No more questions. Mayor Morgan. Yes, I’ll say a few things. I appreciate, I appreciate very much the work that’s been done and our engagement on it over the last number of months.

[1:36:29] I also wanna thank everybody who was engaged with in the development of the document. It wasn’t just our staff doing a report, but a significant amount of time outreach in a variety of different ways to seek feedback. And so the willingness to give honest and straightforward feedback is valuable and allows the document to be as comprehensive as it is. And so I just wanted to say pass along our thanks to our staff, but also obviously extend those thanks to everybody who participated in the consultation process and the development of it.

[1:37:03] And to through the chair to a comment that Councillor McAllister made, I found great value in the council to council meeting as well and I know the chief and the councilors did as well. And well, what I would say is we respectfully offered that sort of engagement out to the other nations, but each one will want to engage in a different way and on their own terms and at the times that are right for them and there have certainly been engagements with the local chiefs and some Councillors and on matters of economic development, urban, indigenous populations and a number of other issues.

[1:37:49] But I want to say I hear your ask and desire and I think other members of council would probably share it to a more personal connection with members of the local nations and I think that I certainly can endeavor to work with our staff. I will say it probably won’t look like the way that O9 and I wanted to do it, but certainly we can find I think an avenue to find those meaningful connections and engagements at a personal level that I heard really positive feedback from our Councillors on with the other nations that maybe feel, you know, might not feel as close a connection to because of the, we haven’t gone through the same process.

[1:38:30] And those are things are gonna happen at different speeds at different paces and in different ways. So I just wanted to add that I hear what the Councillor’s saying. I’m certainly willing to work with our staff. I know I do engage with the chiefs regularly, but I can express that desire and open a conversation about the desire that this council has to do some personal engagement with members of those councils as well. Thank you Mayor Morgan, Councillor Hopkins. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I just wanna maybe just start off just acknowledging that this year is the 10th year anniversary with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

[1:39:10] And from that commission, there were, I think about eight calls to action for governments, particular municipalities to consider. I’ve been on council 10 years and I am so excited to see this plan come forward for the next 10 years. And maybe just a few comments that I can make to the plan, I really appreciate the themes. If anything, they’re very straightforward, they’re very understandable to read and I really appreciate the services and strategic planning part, especially as it relates to housing.

[1:40:01] I know there’s a lot of work being done out there in the community and how we build upon that is something that we, when we encourage throughout the plan to do strengthening our partnerships is also really, really important. And I know it’s mentioned in the plan, the London Homelessness Coalition Leadership role as we go forward. It’s something that I hope will continue and strengthen along the way.

[1:40:37] The piece around meaningful partnership, I love the word partnership because one thing I’ve learned is that it is about partnerships and how we work together. And I think I would like to see being on council and maybe just following up on Council McAllister’s comments around that, I wonder if there is a better way that we as Councillors can do a better job communicating, having orientation, presentations, a better understanding about our role and our policies within the Indigenous community is something I need to learn as well.

[1:41:23] Whatever that looks like, I hope we continue having those conversations going forward. I was at an AMO board meeting not too long ago when we had an Indigenous presentation. And from that presentation, I came away really understanding that that Indigenous lens complements our policies. And it’s just sort of seeing things in a different way and we need to hear and learn and listen to each other as we go forward.

[1:41:58] I do want to thank, I just want to make a comment about the supporting the Indigenous community liaison advisor. I think that’s an important piece in the plan as well. George Antone is here. I want to thank you for the work that you’ve done. I know it’s been, I think, something that you’ve sort of labored with and put a lot of work into it. And as well as the city manager’s office and the work and the division there, how everyone comes together and works.

[1:42:39] And I really want to keep that positivity going and because I know there is a lot of work that goes into that and then sharing that information back to us is important. So many thanks, not only to city staff, but the mayor made a really good point about the community engagement piece and the stakeholders. It is that partnership and that work and it does take time and I understand that, but I’m really pleased that it’s here with us today. So thank you, Councillor Paluzzo.

[1:43:17] Thank you, Mr. Chair. (indistinct) Thank you for this report. I have a couple of technical questions and then I’ll go into just general comments. On page six, it just says, the plan will be reviewed in full every two years with the progress support shared with community and council, including new actions to ensure progress over the life of the plan. Realizing this plan as a decade, looking to see if council can expect to report every two years, like I know it’s gonna be reviewed in full every two years, but is there like an annual snapshot update we’re gonna along the way?

[1:43:48] Like when will we see you again to know about how we’re moving forward with these initiatives? Who Ms. Dator’s beer, Ms. Anton, who would like that one? Thank you, Chair. Yes, that will be addressed. I guess as we go in with our implementation and looking at any changes or anything that we need to add or do with the plan, I would be happy to provide a report on a yearly basis. And I know that on year two is when we’re looking at providing a more false and report as well.

[1:44:32] So we’d be happy to provide updates. Councilor, oh, sorry, Ms. Dator’s beer. Thank you, and we really appreciate SPPs’ indulgence to allow us all to speak on this issue. We’re passionate about it, so thank you for that. I think the other opportunity for us is also to do this through our report box on the strap plan. This is clearly entrenched in council’s strap plan, so that opportunity exists. As Ms. Anton says, as we work through the implementation process, our intention is to do a report back in every two years.

[1:45:03] We may find that that is more than enough or maybe too much or not enough. And I think with your indulgence, we’ll use some flexibility in that regard as well. Thank you for that, Mr. Chair, and to staff, just realizing it was a long time coming, a lot of work to do, and happy to have that flexibility as we go forward and see how those conversations progress. Question through you to staff, realizing as well within the report, it talks about, I’m on page 36, strategy 1.5, section C, development implementation of outreach programs for Indigenous businesses, as the city does procurement, realizing that in February, the discussions in chambers was around tariffs and by local, by Canadian, just making sure that it’s clear that I don’t believe our intention was to ever exclude any local First Nations from having economic opportunities within the city.

[1:46:02] Ms. Deater’s beer. Thank you, that’s correct. It’s not our intention to do that. And I should have mentioned earlier too that we have Indigenous organizations and partners representatives involved in the economic development strategy as well as we move through that process too. So we have an opportunity there too. Councilor. Thank you, just making sure that we were all on the same page and the awareness was out there in the community as I had recently had conversations with what an economic ledc, just realizing there’s economic developing on neighboring First Nations and those relationships were already there.

[1:46:37] So just touching base on that. Overall comments, thank you. A really comprehensive report outlining a long history behind us and hopefully a great path ahead of us to build and grow together, realizing we have many urban First Nation residents in London and especially in the East End, I’m in some pockets in the South with me. Grateful for the work that’s been done. I know when I started on city council we were just still developing a smudging policy and it was cultural learning internally as well as that got rolled out.

[1:47:13] I know the first time I did it. People from facility security, everyone was in my office ‘cause everyone was learning like, what is this? On dearness, home, we’ve seen it roll out with special Indigenous events for all residents there. And here at City Hall and Dearness, even just the red dress day and a red dress. Going down, everyone had an opportunity to gather in the lobby public or staff alike to engage and come together. So just really glad that we’re creating this space and the policy as we move forward to help guide us.

[1:47:54] I’ve noted the library’s already had a part to pay and pulling up some historical data, recognizing the history that we’ve had in the area and lots of highlights seem to be in here from tourism London as well, with some great tourism opportunities to bring revenue to the region and highlight the upgrade offerings as well. So thank you for this. I look forward to seeing it, let’s say come to life and fruition as we move through this process. If we have comments and community feedback as we go through it, looking through you to see if which representative would be the best person to send it to.

[1:48:35] State or spirit, did you wanna volunteer a member of your team there? Through you, definitely through Miss Antone and certainly supportive of the area or team as well, but also because as she’s indicated, there’s been so much feedback and input from our service areas as well. That would be helpful too, but we can filter it through Miss Antone. Councillor, you’re good. Councillor for I have you next. Thank you, Chair. The comments from Councillor Palazzo, I agree with them and your office is always the place to be.

[1:49:10] So for the smudging policy, I think you said, I have not surprised that people were there. I just wanted to say thanks to Miss Antone as well. I thought it was a great report. The attachment to that was very comprehensive. I really appreciate that. So thank you to you and the work that you did there. Thank you to Mr. Sanjay for the work you did there and Ms. Statier’s beer. I know you all had your hands on this. I do appreciate seeing and I saw this multiple times in that attachment, just kind of to identify the gaps and recommend opportunities and have recommendations to kind of fulfill those gaps.

[1:49:45] I think that’s a really big deal ‘cause that really does. And I did, I also saw this in the document as well, kind of driving that data informed decision-based making. So I really appreciate seeing that piece right there because it does help to have the knowledge to be able to move forward and really kind of get surgical on finding these gaps in these areas to address. So I really appreciated that. And I did also appreciate, I do gotta touch on this, but the Dundas Place events and the indigenous led events for Dundas Place. Obviously, the Councilor who has downtown, I’m gonna make a comment on that.

[1:50:16] So I do appreciate seeing that as well. So all in all, I really appreciated the report and I will look forward to seeing what we do in the future starting here. I did have one question that I wanted to raise. And I do see that in that attachment, it was very explicitly laid out that truth and reconciliation will, or truth and reconciliation will be observed as a date for reflection. So the national date of truth and reconciliation on June 21st. For this year, I do know of some areas who have, I don’t wanna name any of names, but there’s some associations that I’ve been speaking with that have set up events for that day.

[1:51:02] And they were, I guess, maybe unaware of the significance of the date. And I was trying to point out that we should be kind of setting this day as a date for reflection, but I was a little bit late to the game on that for that conversation. So I know that some events are going on. So I just wanted to know what can we do in the future to ensure that any associations associated with the city is able to know that this date is a date that’s supposed to be for reflection itself. And I just wanna maybe get your take on that if, you know, just like the appropriateness of events on the same day.

[1:51:38] So this date coming out for the 21st of June, I feel like I’m not able to wiggle around that for this particular association, but I just wanted to know, is there anything that we can do in the future to inform any associations that are related to the city to know that we should be kind of holding this date as a date for reflection? Zantong. Yes, thank you, Chair. There is actually solidarity day planning that’s occurring right now, Indigenous community partners, and it will be on Friday, June 20th.

[1:52:15] And I believe it will be on the green and wortly. And to add to your question, I think too, we can make sure we have more sendals and more communication to keep everybody more up to date on things that are upcoming in our community, and we’ll keep working on that to make it better. Councilor, thank you, I appreciate that. I know just in my discussions with the particular association I’m talking with when they told me that they’ve already set the date, I was like, oh, this may not be the best, most appropriate date, but I guess there were things that are already in set in motion.

[1:52:57] So that’s why I’m just thinking of the future for the next year, just to ensure that. So I appreciate the answer and I appreciate the report. Thank you so much for the work. Thank you, Councilor. I have no one else on my speaker’s list. So I’m going to clear at last call before I get the clerk to open the vote. Seeing none, I will ask the clerk to open the vote. Oh, yes.

[1:53:35] Supposing the vote, motion carries 14 to zero. Thank you, colleagues. We have two items to deal with in confidential sessions. So I’m going to look for a motion to go in camera, moved by Councillors Ferreira and Hillier. I will ask the clerk to open the vote. House of votes, yes. Oh, vote, yes. Councilor Stevenson, closing the vote, motion carries 14 to zero.

[1:54:26] Recording in progress. One, we just need to get the appropriate staff in the room, close the public gallery, ask Mr. Newcomb to make his way out, and then we’ll resume with our meeting with the confidential matters. Okay, our streams are back up.

[1:56:35] Chambers is reopened and we are back in public session. Colleagues, Councillor ramen, Vice Chair, can I ask you to report out from closed session, please? Thank you, I’ll report the progress is made for the matters which we win camera. Thank you, and colleagues that exhaust our agenda. So I just need a motion to adjourn and Councillor Hopkins and Hillier on that one. All those in favor? Motion carries. Thank you, colleagues. We are adjourned. Have a great rest of your day and go Leafs go.