PHSSC

That Report COM 7-2023, dated March 7, 2023, respecting Homelessness Prevention Plan Investment Plan 2023-24, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendation BE APPROVED: 1. That the Ministry mandated Homelessness Prevention Plan (HPP) investment plan for the 2023-24 funding allotment BE APPROVED.

That Correspondence Item COM-C 22-2023, being a memorandum from A.-M. Norio, Regional Clerk, dated March 7, 2023, respecting Councillor Appointment to the Niagara Poverty Reduction Strategy (NPRS) Steering Committee, BE RECEIVED.

That two (2) Regional Councillors BE APPOINTED to the Niagara Poverty Reduction Strategy Steering Committee; and That Councillors Bateman and Ip BE APPOINTED to the Niagara Poverty Reduction Strategy Steering Committee for the remainder of this term of Council.

That Report PHD 2-2023, dated March 7, 2023, respecting Extension of Ministry of Health Dedicated Offload Health Care Provider Funding Initiative, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendation BE APPROVED: 1. That the Regional Chair BE DIRECTED to write to the Ontario Minister of Health, Deputy Minister, Associate Deputy Minister for Health Integration & Partnerships, and the Assistant Deputy Minister for Emergency Health Services, to express disappointment that the Ministry will not consider the question of whether the Emergency Department Technician (ED Tech) is an acceptable health care provider to receive funding in accordance with the Offload Health Care Provider program, and to urge reconsideration of this decision.

That Report PHD 1-2023, dated March 7, 2023, respecting Emergency Management Year End Report, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendation BE APPROVED: 1. That Regional Council APPOINT a member of Council as a representative on the Niagara Region Emergency Management Program Committee.

That Report COM 9-2023, dated March 7, 2023, respecting Asylum Seekers Transferred to Niagara Falls – Request for Immediate Temporary Funding, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendation BE APPROVED: 1. That the Regional Chair BE DIRECTED to send a letter to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, requesting one-time provincial funding of $5,959,200, for the delivery of Ontario Works (OW) and discretionary client benefits to address the critical services pressures associated with the provision of social assistance to Asylum Seekers currently placed in Niagara by the federal government. The following friendly amendments were accepted by the Chair, and the mover and seconder of the motion: 2. That the Regional Chair BE DIRECTED to send correspondence to the Federal Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship requesting financial support to offset the local impacts of the growing number of asylum seekers who are being located to Niagara, as well as urging the minister to take all appropriate steps to ensure the impact of asylum seekers entering Canada are being distributed across the country; and Public Health and Social Services Committee Open Session Minutes PHSSC 3-2023 March 7, 2023 Page 5 3. That a copy of the letter BE SENT to the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and local area MPPs. The Chair called the vote on the motion, as amended, and declared it,

WHEREAS the homelessness crisis is taking a devastating toll on families and communities, undermining a healthy and prosperous Ontario; WHEREAS underinvestment and policy choices of successive provincial governments are significant contributors to the homelessness crisis; WHEREAS the Auditor General’s 2021 report found that the funding allocation model for homelessness is incorrect and results in several municipalities, including Niagara Region, being underfunded by the province to address homelessness; WHEREAS homelessness requires a range of housing, social service, and health solutions from government; WHEREAS homelessness is felt most at the level of local government and the residents that they serve; WHEREAS municipalities are doing their part, but do not have the resources, capacity, or tools to address this complex challenge; and WHEREAS leadership and urgent action is needed from the provincial government on an emergency basis to develop, resource, and implement a comprehensive plan to prevent, reduce and ultimately end homelessness in Ontario. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: 1. That Niagara Regional Council CALL on the Provincial Government to urgently: a) Acknowledge that homelessness in Ontario is a social, economic, and health crisis; b) Commit to ending homelessness in Ontario; Public Health and Social Services Committee Open Session Minutes PHSSC 3-2023 March 7, 2023 Page 6 c) Work with AMO and a broad range of community, health, Indigenous, and economic partners

That Correspondence Item PHD-C 2-2023, being a memorandum from P. Martel, Manager, Emergency Management, dated March 7, 2023, respecting 2024 Eclipse, BE RECEIVED for information.