UPDATED August 16, 2006
Report From the Charlottetown, Present and Future Challenges for our City Forum
-On Tuesday, June 20, the PEI Federation of Labour in association with
organizations and community groups like the MacKillop Center for Social
Justice
held a Forum on Charlottetown, Present and Future Challenges for
our City at the Basilica Recreational Centre. The forum attracted
approximately 36 participants from a wide range of labour,
community, and social organizations.
-The day started with Federation Vice President, Blair Penny welcoming
everyone to the Forum. Then keynote speaker, Dr. Katherine Clough
(Retired planner and policy analyst with the Government of PEI) gave an
interesting presentation on the challenges Charlottetown will face
mainly from an environmental perspective. One of the issues she brought
forth was the affect that Global Warming will have on Charlottetown and
the need there is for us to be prepared.
-Next those in attendance broke up into small groups to discuss the
challenges facing Charlottetown in conjunction with the issues brought
up in Dr. Clough’s presentation.
The Panel Discussion chaired by Eileen Brown-Wilt (UPSE) followed next with panel members:
-Scott Ryan, Charlottetown’s Manager of Finances who spoke on the
city’s finances and where the city gets its money from.
-Blaine Parkman President of CUPE, local 830 who spoke on the state of
Charlottetown’s public services, the problems associated
with the city’s increasing use of private contractors rather than
using in house staff and the need to increase municipal staffing to
handle the increased workload caused by amalgamation and an aging
infrastructure.
-David M. Bulger Provincial Co-ordinator for research project
"Multi-level Governance and Public Policy in Canadian Municipalities
who spoke on the state of democracy in the Island’s
municipalities, the need to make councilors more accountable to their
constituents, the growing power that councilors have, and the need for
citizens to get more active in municipal politics.
-After lunch, panel members, Bill MacKinnon (CUPE) (replacing Blaine
Parkman) and David Bulger answered questions from the those in
attendance. Blaine Parkman and Scott Ryan had to leave after their
presentation due to prior commitments.
-After this everyone broke up into 4 small groups to discuss a particular challenge:
-Group 1 discussed the environmental challenges facing Charlottetown.
Dr Irene Novaczek, Director of the Institute of Island Studies was the
speaker, Irene Larkin was the facilitator, and Jeanne Maki was the
recorder. Some of the issues brought up in this group were: the impact
rising sea-levels will have on the City waterfront, the negative impact
Cruise ships will have on the environment, the need to adopt a ban for
cosmetic pesticides, maintain green spaces and monitor emissions
from the incinerator, and how to use public transit more effectively.
-Group 2 discussed the challenges the city faces in fighting poverty.
Mary Boyd, Director of the MacKillop Centre for Social Justice was the
speaker, Cathy MacKinnon (UPSE) was the facilitator, and Lisa
Sheppard (CUPW) was the recorder. Some of the issues brought up in this
group were: the need for more and spread out public and CO-OP housing,
to monitor slum lords, for City Council to support a National
Child care program, and improvements to EI, and Breakfast
programs.
-Group 3 discussed the challenges the city faces as far improving
living conditions in the city. Kele Redmond (Seniors United Network),
was the speaker, Ron Kelly (Seniors United Network) was the
facilitator, and Daniel Perry was the recorder. Some of the issues
brought up in this group were the need for affordable housing and a
livable income, how to create a sense of community, and how to make
marginalised groups such as youths, seniors and individuals with
disabilities and mental illness feel like they are a part of the
community, and community safety .
-Group 4 discussed the challenges Newcomers to the city face. Ghassan
Kassouf (PSAC local 90001), was the speaker, Kevin Arsenault
(Executive Director of the PEI Association for Newcomers) was the
facilitator, and JC Basque (CLC) was the recorder. Some of the
issues brought up in this group were: how to retain newcomers after
they come to the Island, the need for the city to have an equity policy
with minimum targets for hiring at City hall, the need for the city to
figure out how it can fulfill the unique needs of newcomers, and the
need for public education.
-After the reports from the groups, Federation VP Blair Penny thanked
everyone for their attendance and participation and the committee for
their efforts in organizing the event. Emcee Bill MacKinnon then
closed the event.
-All in all, the event went very well with good attendance and a high
participation level from everyone. The next step will be for the
committee to produce an information brochure and a questionnaire for
candidates in the upcoming municipal election based on the
discussions at the forum.
-The Federation would like to thank the organizing committee that
worked so hard to put the event together (Jean Claude Basque (CLC),
Mary Boyd (MacKillop Centre for Social Justice), Ghassan Kassouf
(PSAC local 90001), Eileen Brown-Wilt (UPSE), Blaine Parkman
(CUPE) Mary MacNeil (PSAC), Ron Kelly (Seniors United Network)
, and Lisa Sheppard (CUPW). We would also like to thank the
speakers, panelists, facilitators, recorders, and emcee Bill
MacKinnon(CUPE) for all that they brought to the event.
Program from the Forum pages 1-4
Program from the Forum pages 2-3
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