MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on Thursday, November 13^th, 2003, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, January 13^th, 2004 at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

COMMUNITY SAFETY COMMITTEE ADVISORY TASK FORCE

3.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee Advisory Task Force held on Wednesday, November 5^th, 2003, be received for information.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

4.

CORY PARKER, SECRETARY IAFF LOCAL 1286, REGARDING CANCER PRESUMPTION  (File No.:  1600-01)

Mr. Cory Parker, Secretary IAFF Local 1286, introduced Mr. Tim Wilkinson, President, IAFF Local 1286 to the Committee.

Mr. Wilkinson requested the Cancer Presumption initiative for Richmond fire fighters be supported and that the City lobby the Minister of Labour, the three local MLAs, the Workers Compensation Board and the Greater Vancouver Labour Relations Board on behalf of the initiative.  

Mr. Wilkinson then briefly summarized the information provided on the matter, and made the following points:

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that cancer presumption legislation would acknowledge that fire fighters are exposed to a higher level of cancer rates than the general public;

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that the suggested legislation would only be applicable to long-term employees;

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that the suggested legislation would include a recognition that the day or event of contact with hazardous materials could not be pinpointed;

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that an employer would have the right of appeal, however, the onus would remain with the employer to prove the cancer did not result from the work environment; and

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that Cancer Presumption would be funded thru a pot to which those cities with full time employees would contribute and from which individuals claiming cancer presumption would be paid.

At the conclusion of his presentation Mr. Wilkinson submitted an Executive Summary entitled Evaluating the Association between Selected Cancers and Occupation as a Fire Fighter, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerks Office.

Cllr. Steves joined the meeting during the above discussion 4:10 pm.

Discussion then ensued amongst the Committee members and the delegation on the following issues:

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that information provided by the Ministry of Labour information indicated that 48 Cancer Presumption cases have been identified in BC since 1998 although past difficulties in completing the process could have resulted in unreported cases;

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the economic impact that would be felt by the City.  This was deemed to be minimal due to the role that the Workers Compensation Board would undertake on Cancer Presumption claims; and

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the role of the union in promoting Cancer Presumption legislation.

As a result of the discussion the following referral motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff prepare a detailed report:

1.

outlining the terms of impact and the compelling arguments as to why the Cancer Presumption clause should be included in Provincial legislation; and

2.

that would include:

i)

a strategy that would provide the basis of a lobby;

ii)

the anticipated impact on the welfare of employees; and

iii)

a review of the policy legislation of Ontario and New Brunswick.

Prior to the question being called i) clarification was provided that the resolution proposed by the IAFF, Local 1286, was not included in the motion, and, ii) that the report would be submitted to the February meeting of the Community Safety Committee. 

The question was then called and it was CARRIED with Cllr. Barnes opposed.

5.

MANAGERS REPORT

Cllr. Barnes requested the following actions:

That:

i.

a letter be sent to OIC Ward Clapham in acknowledgment of his receipt of a  2003 Head of the Public Service Award. As a result:

It was moved and seconded

That a letter be sent to OIC Ward Clapham in acknowledgement of his receipt of a Public Service Award.

CARRIED

ii.

Chief Hancock provide an update on Sumas II/Cherry Pt.

iii.

an update be provided on the 2003 Community Safety Work Plan.

iv.

the 2004 Community Safety Work Plan be submitted to the February meeting of the Committee.

v.

the referral for a Substance Abuse Co-ordinator be brought forward as soon as possible.

vi.

an update be provided on the Mt. McKinley climb that would include suggestions for ways in which the Committee could further support the project.

The Manager, Community Outreach, Don Pearson, reported on a proposed parking change to a short section of Buswell in response to a request from the Medical Clinic at 6840 Buswell. 

In response to a question regarding whether free parking could be supported on the north side of Firbridge Way, Mr. Pearson indicated that he would review the matter.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:40 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Tuesday, December 9^th, 2003.

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Councillor Linda Barnes
Chair

Deborah MacLennan
Administrative Assistant