GENERAL COMMITTEE
April 11, 2011
Meeting No. 12
Finance & Administrative Issues Community Services Issues
Chair: Mayor
Frank Scarpitti Chair: Councillor Alex Chiu
Vice Chair: Councillor Carolina Moretti Vice
Chair: Councillor Howard Shore
Environment
& Sustainability Issues Building,
Parks, & Construction Issues
Chair: Councillor
Valerie Burke Chair: Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Vice Chair: Regional Councillor Joe Li Vice
Chair: Councillor Colin Campbell
Alternate formats are available
upon request.
Attendance
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John
Livey, Chief Administrative Officer
Catherine
Conrad, Town Solicitor
Brenda
Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services
Andy
Taylor, Commissioner of Corporate Services
Gary Adamkowski, Acting Director, Asset Management
Nasir
Kenea, Chief Information Officer
Joel Lustig,
Treasurer
Andrew
Brouwer, Deputy Clerk
Alida
Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator
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The General Committee convened at 9:05 AM with Mayor Frank Scarpitti in the
Chair.
DISCLOSURE OF
INTEREST
None disclosed.
1. ISRAELI
APARTHEID WEEK AT YORK UNIVERSITY
- (MARCH 7 TO MARCH 11, 2011)
(3.0)
Race
Relations Comments
Councillor Howard
Shore read the following revised proposed motion:
Whereas Markham is the most culturally diverse
community in Canada; and,
Whereas Markham
stands proudly in its commitment to the inclusion and integration of all
communities, in its appreciation of differences in all peoples, and in its
rejection of inflammatory language that labels supporters of Israel as racists and lessens
their feelings of security; and,
Whereas Markham is striving to promote our
community as a harmonious place to live and work, and one which recognizes that
discrimination against any group or individual is a disservice to all; and,
Whereas Markham is striving to promote our
community as a harmonious place to live and work, and one which recognizes that
discrimination against any group or individual is a disservice to all; and,
Whereas Markham is recognized as a leader in
diversity and in 2010 launched its ground breaking Diversity Action Plan titled
“Everyone Welcome” to serve as the basis of a ten-year strategy to further
promote unity and inclusiveness; and,
Whereas Markham has proudly declared its
commitment to the removal of barriers and to he promotion of the value of human
rights and diversity by joining, along with more than 35 other Canadian
municipalities, the Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and
Discrimination; and,
Whereas Markham takes immense pride in engaging
its vibrant communities through year-round celebrations, proclamations and flag
raisings that reflect its rich history and diversity, such as but not limited
to: Actifest, Black History Month Awards, Canada Day Celebration, Channukah
Menorah lighting Celebration, Chinese
New Year Celebration, Christmas tree lighting Celebration, India Independence
Day, Junior Achievement’s Diversity Day, Many Faces of Markham, Markham Fair,
Markham Festival, Milliken Children’s Festival, Pakistan National Day,
Philippine Week, Seniors’ events, Taste of Asia, Thornhill Festival, Unionville
Festival, and Yom HaShoah, all of which
underscore our philosophy of “One Family, One Markham, One Canada”; and,
Whereas the Mirriam-Webster Dictionary defines
“Apartheid” as an Afrikaans word meaning: racial segregation; specifically
the institutionalized policy of segregation and
political and economic discrimination against non-European groups in the
Republic of South Africa; and,
Whereas Apartheid South Africa
was based on a theory and practice of racial discrimination that negated the
most fundamental principles of equal human worth; and,
Whereas Markham recognizes that
any comparison of Israel to Apartheid South Africa or Nazi Germany demonstrates
the difference between legitimate criticism and anti-semitism; and,
Whereas the Ontario
Legislature unanimously adopted a resolution condemning “Israeli Apartheid
Week”; and,
Whereas Israeli Arabs
have the right to own property, vote and have members in the Knesset that
Israeli Arabs study in all Israeli universities and live in peace in cities
such as Haifa, Jaffa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem; and,
Whereas “Israel Apartheid Week”, which has now
occurred for 7 consecutive years on some university and college campuses in
Ontario and Canada, can lead to divisiveness and anti-Semitic harassment,
intimidation, intolerance and bullying both on campus and off; and,
Whereas Markham values its relationship with the
State of Israel and will be leading a Trade Mission to Israel in May, 2011 as
part of the Economic Strategy’s Global Markham program in order to promote
Markham as a preferred investment location for information and communication
technology, medical devices, New Media and other related high-tech
companies; and,
Whereas Markham believes in a Canada of inclusion
not division; of tolerance and constructive dialogue not division; and,
Whereas Israel Apartheid Week has nothing to do
with respect for human rights, the alleviation of human suffering or the
furtherance of constructive dialogue to advance peace; and,
Whereas Markham condemns this event which
repeatedly singles out and condemns Israel year after year and creates a
hateful environment that offends not only our sense of fairness, but also our
core Canadian values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
Therefore,
be it resolved:
1)
That Markham Council call on all Canadian universities
and colleges to join the Government of Ontario and the Federal government by
clearly and unambiguously condemning such activities on campus or University
property, (or as part of any activity under the jurisdiction of the
University); and,
2)
That Markham Council direct staff to broaden the
subject matter of the lecture series previously endorsed by this Council to
address the Maclean’s “Too Asian” article to include a discussion of
anti-semitic hate speech; and,
3)
That Markham Council continue to demonstrate its
leadership and commitment to “One Family, One Markham, One Canada”; and
further,
4)
That a copy of this resolution be circulated to all
Canadian universities and colleges, the Canadian Federation of Students, the
Students Against Israeli Apartheid, Hillel of Greater Toronto, the Canadian
Jewish Congress, the Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and
Discrimination (CMARD), the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), the
Prime Minister of Canada, the Premier of Ontario, the Association of
Universities and Colleges of Canada, and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.
Dr. Helene Ijaz
addressed the Committee regarding Councillor Howard Shore’s proposed motion
regarding Israeli Apartheid Week and spoke in opposition to the proposed
motion.
Ms. J. MacNeal on
behalf of Canadian for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, and addressed the
Committee regarding Councillor Howard Shore’s proposed motion regarding Israeli
Apartheid Week and spoke in opposition to the proposed motion.
Mr. Dan Freeman-Maloy addressed
the Committee regarding Councillor Howard Shore’s proposed motion regarding
Israeli Apartheid Week and spoke in opposition to the proposed motion.
Ms. Smadar Carmon addressed
the Committee regarding Councillor Howard Shore’s proposed motion regarding
Israeli Apartheid Week and spoke in opposition to the proposed motion.
Ms. Shaheena Kharal
addressed the Committee regarding Councillor Howard Shore’s proposed motion
regarding Israeli Apartheid Week and spoke in opposition to the proposed
motion.
Mr. Khaled Mouammar,
National President of Canadian Arab Federation, addressed the Committee
regarding Councillor Howard Shore’s proposed motion regarding Israeli Apartheid
Week and spoke in opposition to the proposed motion.
Mr. Zafar Bangash on
behalf of Society of York Region, addressed the Committee regarding Councillor
Howard Shore’s proposed motion regarding Israeli Apartheid Week and spoke in opposition
to the proposed motion.
Ms. Mary Yusra
Mouammar addressed the Committee regarding Councillor Howard Shore’s proposed
motion regarding Israeli Apartheid Week and spoke in opposition to the proposed
motion.
Ms. Hebba Fahmy
addressed the Committee regarding Councillor Howard Shore’s proposed motion
regarding Israeli Apartheid Week and spoke in opposition to the proposed
motion.
Mr. Omar Hassouna
addressed the Committee regarding Councillor Howard Shore’s proposed motion
regarding Israeli Apartheid Week and spoke in opposition to the proposed
motion.
Mr. Ahmed Ijsz on
behalf of Ms. Naomi Binder Wall, addressed the Committee regarding Councillor
Howard Shore’s proposed motion regarding Israeli Apartheid Week and spoke in opposition
to the proposed motion.
Ms. Goldie Plotkin
addressed the Committee regarding Councillor Howard Shore’s proposed motion
regarding Israeli Apartheid Week and spoke in support to the proposed motion.
Ms. Evelyn Ellison
addressed the Committee regarding Councillor Howard Shore’s proposed motion
regarding Israeli Apartheid Week and suggested that the word Apartheid be removed
from the event at the various universities.
Mr. Ahmad Khawaja
addressed the Committee regarding Councillor Howard Shore’s proposed motion
regarding Israeli Apartheid Week and spoke in opposition to the proposed
motion.
Rabbi Plotkin addressed
the Committee regarding Councillor Howard Shore’s proposed motion regarding
Israeli Apartheid Week and spoke in support of the motion.
Ms. Afifah Khawaja
addressed the Committee regarding Councillor Howard Shore’s motion regarding
Israeli Apartheid Week and spoke in opposition to the motion.
The Committee thanked
everyone for coming out today to voice their opinions regarding the proposed
motion related to Israeli Apartheid Week.
The Committee
suggested that the resolution requires further refinements and that it should
be referred back to General Committee or referred directly to Council.
Moved by Councillor Carolina Moretti
Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu
That the revised proposed motion regarding
Israeli Apartheid Week by Councillor Howard Shore be referred directly to the
May 3, 2011 Council meeting.
CARRIED
2. JOINT
PORTAL PROJECT- AN UPDATE (7.13)
Presentation
Mr. Nasir Kenea, Chief
Information Officer delivered a PowerPoint presentation providing an update on
the Joint Portal Project.
Ms. Rhonda Bosch, Senior
Manager, Shared Services illustrated some examples of the services that will be
available with the launch of the portal.
The Committee
discussed and suggested the following:
·
Add a
field that allows constituents to type in their address in place of only having
a Ward map
·
In future could
there be the opportunity to have the information translated into the various languages
of interest
·
Include
another field after the question to allow the option to respond "Yes"
or "No"
·
Ensure it
is user friendly, clean, and obvious
·
Consider
consulting with the Member of Council assistants
·
Consider
replacing the word "garbage" with something like waste removal and
use it as an opportunity to educate constituents
·
Include
links to other levels of Government (eg. information regarding immigration)
·
Set up an Informal
Workshop
Staff advised
Committee that this entire process was not done in isolation rather that there
was extensive focus group consultation with members of the public. Staff also advised that they are always open
to feedback and that they will continue to enhance and add features.
Moved by Councillor Alex
Chiu
Seconded by Regional
Councillor Gord Landon
1) That the presentation by Nasir Kenea,
Chief Information Officer, entitled “Joint Portal Project- an Update” be received.
CARRIED
3. MINUTES
OF THE APRIL 4, 2011
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Regional
Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by
Councillor Alex Chiu
1) That the Minutes of the April 4, 2011
General Committee be confirmed.
CARRIED
4. MINUTES OF THE MARCH 14, 2011
SENIORS’ HALL OF FAME AWARDS
COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Regional
Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Councillor
Alex Chiu
1) That the Minutes of the March 14, 2011
Seniors Advisory Committee be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
5. BOARD
RESIGNATIONS (16.24)
The Committee suggested that there should
be some discussions regarding the following resignations during an in-camera
session.
Moved by Councillor Don Hamilton
Seconded Councillor Alex Chiu
Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham
1) That the resignations of Howard Back,
Alan Bryce, Anna Hudson , Robert McCulloch, Elizabeth Plashkes and Beverly
Schaeffer from the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham be received with
regret and that letters of appreciation be forwarded by Mayor Frank Scarpitti.
CARRIED
6. REVISED
PROCLAMATIONS POLICY (2.1)
Report Appendix
A Appendix
B
Proclamations
Approved by Council Consistent with Proposed Proclamations Policy
The Committee suggested that "Black History
Month" and "International Day for Elimination of Racial
Discrimination" be two separate proclamations.
Moved by Regional
Councillor Jim Jones
Seconded by Deputy
Mayor Jack Heath
1) That Council approve the Revised Proclamations Policy
(attached as Appendix “A”); and,
2) That Council delegate the authority for approving or denying
requests for proclamations that have been previously approved by Council within
5 years of the request date to the Clerk; and,
3) That Council delegate the authority for approving or denying
requests for proclamations to the Clerk during Council’s summer recess if
required, subject to the terms of the Proclamations Policy; and,
4) That the list of Proclamations be brought forward to Council once a
year for information purposes; and further,
5) That Staff be
authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this
resolution.
CARRIED
7. ISRAELI
APARTHEID WEEK AT YORK UNIVERSITY
- (MARCH 7 TO MARCH 11, 2011)
(3.0)
Correspondence
Moved by Deputy Mayor Jack
Heath
Seconded by Councillor
Logan Kanapathi
That the following
communications providing comments for the above subject matter be received:
1) Linda Belanger
2) Chris Burke
3) Tony Omran
4) Dennis Choptiany
5) Ahmad Khawaja
6) Hisham Ali
7) Khaled Mouammar
8) Mary-Jo Nadeau
9) Keith M. Landy
10) Shah Baqar
CARRIED
8. IN-CAMERA MATTERS (16.24)
Moved by Deputy
Mayor Jack Heath
Seconded by Councillor
Alan Ho
That, in
accordance with Section 239 (2) (b) of the Municipal
Act, General Committee resolve into an in-camera session to discuss the
following confidential matters (12:41 PM):
1) Two personal matters
about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Carolina Moretti
Seconded by Councillor Don Hamilton
That the Committee rise from the
in-camera session (1:18 PM)
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 1:19 PM.