HomeMy WebLinkAbout13.1.e. Advocacy Strategy Committee Report, 11 October 2023
1
ADVOCACY STRATEGY COMMITTEE
October 11, 2023, 12:00 pm
Zoom Meeting
Members: Alysha Aziz, Lynn Scott
Staff Present Pino Buffone (Director of Education), Diane Pernari (General
Manager, Communications), Nicole Guthrie (General Manager,
Board Services), Darcy Knoll (Communications Coordinator),
James Baker (Board/Committee Coordinator)
1. Call to Order
Quorum could not be achieved. Those assembled agreed to proceed with an
informal session.
Chair Aziz called the information session to order at 12:08 p.m.
2. Acknowledgement of Territorial Lands
Chair Aziz acknowledged that the meeting is taking place on unceded Algonquin
Homelands and thanked the Algonquin Nations for hosting the meeting on their
land.
3. Declarations of Interest
No declarations of interest were filed.
4. Approval of the Agenda
The agenda could not be approved.
5. Matters for Discussion:
5.1 Advocacy Plan for 2023 - 2024 (Draft)
During a discussion and in response to queries, the following information
was provided:
Two priorities were identified at the June 2023 meeting: community
building and sustainable funding;
Under these two priorities, areas of focus will be on funding for
transportation, nutrition programs, child care, and (special)
education;
2
Advocacy through the Ontario Public School Boards' Association
(OPSBA) is effective as OPSBA continually addresses issues with
various levels of government;
OPSBA holds an annual Advocacy Day where Board members
attend Queen's Park to meet with Members of Provincial
Parliament (MPP) regarding advocacy initiatives. All information
obtained is then reported back through the Board. This year’s event
will be held on 27 November 2023;
It was suggested that "advocacy days" be arranged to allow MPP's,
City Councilors, and community partners to meet in-person with
trustees at 133 Greenbank;
It was suggested that a key priorities document be prepared for
trustees to assist them during meetings with various elected
officials and community partners so that trustees can advocate
more effectively ;
It was noted that previous in-person meetings with MPP's was
productive;
It was suggested that past practices could be replicated with
respect to hosting a breakfast event since previous initiatives were
well received;
It was suggested meetings with City Councilors may be better
addressed by individual trustees with one-on-one meetings at
Ottawa City Hall to advocate for local issues;
It was suggested that advocacy through written communications
with elected officials is effective and should be ongoing;
Once details on the consultations for Bill 98 are known, the Board
should react and respond accordingly;
It was suggested that reaching out to federal officials be a
secondary priority to meetings with provincial officials and
community partners;
It was suggested that a meeting with MPP's take place in the first
week of December 2023;
It was suggested that the advocacy strategy focus on a few key
needs and funding to increase effectiveness;
It was suggested that the issue of executive compensation be
included as an area of focus in the work of the Committee but in a
different manner as the issue has legislative and regulatory
requirements as opposed to other funding sources; and
3
Communications will be preparing a package that focuses on the
target audience, identifies what success looks like, what pathways
are available, and ways to create opportunities.
5.2 Meetings with Community Partners
a. Members of Provincial Parliament - 1 December 2023
Staff will review the feasibility of this date and report back to the
committee at a future meeting.
b. Members of City Council - 8 December 2023
Staff will review the feasibility of this date and report back to the
committee at a future meeting.
6. Information Items:
6.1 Equity Assessment Tool for Policies and Procedures
The equity tool was provided for information purposes. Chair Aziz noted
the importance of using this tool when considering any messaging and
strategies.
7. New Business -- Information and Inquiries
There was no new business.
8. Adjournment
The information session adjourned at 1:20 p.m.
_________________________
Alysha Aziz, Chair, Advocacy Strategy Committee