Item - 2010.EX45.5

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council adopt Appendix A attached to the report (May 27, 2010) from the City Manager as the City of Toronto Statement of Commitment to Aboriginal communities in Toronto.

2.         City Council request the City Manager to report to Council on the development of an Action Plan in consultation with the Aboriginal Affairs Committee to give effect to the commitments contained in Appendix A to the report (May 27, 2010) from the City Manager.

3.         City Council direct that because of the increasing size of Aboriginal communities in urban areas across Canada, the City of Toronto continue to meet with Federal and Provincial officials to discuss the City’s formal role in the policy development process regarding urban Aboriginal issues and that the City’s participation be guided by the commitments outlined in Appendix A  to the report (May 27, 2010) from the City Manager.

4.         City Council express its appreciation to the members of the Aboriginal Affairs Committee for their partnership role in the development of this Statement of Commitment and to members of the Aboriginal community for their participation  in this process.

This report responds to City Council’s decision to develop an Urban Aboriginal Framework for Toronto in consultation with Aboriginal communities in Toronto.  This report recommends a Statement of Commitment towards the Aboriginal people of Toronto and the development of an Action Plan in support of the Statement of Commitment.  The Aboriginal Affairs Committee has been consulted on this Statement of Commitment and has endorsed it.

The City of Toronto currently works with local Aboriginal communities on a wide spectrum of Aboriginal affairs and has established an Aboriginal Affairs Committee to provide advice to City Council.  A Toronto Urban Aboriginal Framework, which will provide a guiding framework that brings together community aspirations and City responsibilities, is being developed in two phases.

This report provides the result of the first phase is the proposed Statement of Commitment which has been grounded in a consultative and a research process, to outline the principles which are important to achieving strong Aboriginal-Municipal relations.  It will guide the City in its on-going relationships with Aboriginal communities, discussions with other municipalities and orders of government and inform all aspects of departmental policy, planning and service delivery throughout the Toronto Public Service in addition to being the foundation for completing Phase Two, the development of an Action Plan.

The Aboriginal Affairs Committee on May 27, 2010 considered the proposed Statement of Commitment to Aboriginal Communities in Toronto.  The Committee established a Sub-Committee which worked with City staff to develop a consultation process through which feedback was given by members of Aboriginal communities in Toronto and other stakeholders. The Sub-committee recommended that the Aboriginal Affairs Committee endorse the proposed Statement.

Members of the Aboriginal Affairs Committee noted that this proposal is forward looking in addition to being groundbreaking and places the City of Toronto in a leadership position regarding municipal Aboriginal relationships.

Members of the Committee are looking forward to working closely with the City on the development of the proposed Action Plan which is intended to give effect to the commitments outlined in the statement.