Minutes

YORK REGIONAL COUNCIL

Special Meeting

-
Electronic and In-Person Meeting
Council Chambers
17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket
Members:
  • E. Jolliffe, 
  • G. Chan, 
  • M. Chan, 
  • N. Davison, 
  • S. Del Duca, 
  • J. DiPaola, 
  • M. Ferri, 
  • A. Ho, 
  • L. Jackson, 
  • J. Jones, 
  • J. Li, 
  • I. Lovatt, 
  • T. Mrakas, 
  • S. Pellegrini, 
  • M. Quirk, 
  • M. G. Racco, 
  • G. Rosati, 
  • F. Scarpitti, 
  • J. Taylor, 
  • T. Vegh, 
  • and D. West 
Staff:
  • D. Basso, 
  • Dr. S. Erdman, 
  • L. Gonsalves, 
  • D. Kuzmyk, 
  • E. Mahoney, 
  • L. McDowell, 
  • L. Mirabella, 
  • and C. Raynor 

A.
Call to Order

 

Regional Chair Jolliffe called the meeting to order at 9:08 a.m.

B.
Land Acknowledgement

 

Regional Chair Jolliffe made the following remarks:

We acknowledge that York Region is located on the traditional territory of many Indigenous peoples including the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat and Métis peoples and the treaty territories of the Haudenosaunee, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and Williams Treaties First Nations.

Today this area is home to many diverse Indigenous Peoples, and we recognize their history, spirituality, culture and stewardship of this land.

We also acknowledge the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation as our closest First Nation community.

C.
Disclosures of Interest

 

None

D.
Presentations

 

D.1
Introduction

 
  • Moved byMayor Scarpitti
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Davison

    Council receive the presentation by Erin Mahoney, Chief Administrative Officer.

    Carried

D.2
Where in the World are We?

 
  • Moved byMayor Scarpitti
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Davison

    Council receive the presentation by Benjamin Tal, Deputy Chief Economist, CIBC World Markets.

    Carried

D.3
Impacts of Development Charge Reductions and Mechanisms to Increase Housing Affordability in York Region

This item has attachments. 
1.Impacts of Development Charge Reductions and Mechanisms to Increase Housing Affordability in York Region.pdf
  • Moved byMayor Scarpitti
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Davison

    Council receive the presentation by Erin Mahoney, Chief Administrative Officer and Laura Mirabella, Commissioner, Finance and Regional Treasurer.

    Carried

  • Main Motion - Development Charge Reductions

    Moved byMayor Pellegrini
    Seconded byMayor Taylor

    Council refer the following recommendations for inclusion in the Development Charges (DC) policies update report coming forward in June 2025: 

    1. Defer development charges payable on all residential development until the earlier of the date of issuance of a permit under the Building Code Act, 1992, authorizing occupation of the building or the date the building is first occupied.
    2. Defer 100% of the development charges payable on all non-luxury rental, provided that the building be operated as a non-luxury rental for a minimum of 40 years.
    3. Staff continue to review all options to mitigate development charges rate increases as part of the 2026 Development Charges Bylaw.
    4. Staff assess impact of necessary financing for the proposed residential deferrals, as part of the 2026 Budget and Fiscal Strategy.
    5. Staff assess the impact and develop a financial strategy, including funding advocacy, to support the repeal of the Region’s Development Charges Interest Policy – Under sections 26.1, 26.2, and 26.3 of the Development Charges Act, 1997.
    6. Council consider a First-Time Home Buyers’ development charges equivalent rebate subject to receipt of new funding from other levels of government.

      Continued Advocacy

    7. Staff prepare resolutions requesting increased, predictable and direct funding from the federal and provincial governments to support the Region’s housing challenges, initiatives, and incentives.

  • Motion to Amend - Recommendation #1

    Moved byMayor Scarpitti
    Seconded byMayor Del Duca

    Council amend recommendation 1 as follows:

    1. With immediate effect, defer development charges payable on all residential development:
      1. For high rise buildings, interest free for 24 months and then with interest until the earlier of 4 years or registration of condominium
      2. For low rise buildings, interest free until building permit issuance

    A recorded vote on this item was:

    For: G. Chan, M. Chan, Del Duca, DiPaola, Ferri, Ho, Jolliffe, Jones, Li, Scarpitti, Vegh, West (12)

    Against: Davison, Jackson, Lovatt, Mrakas, Pellegrini, Quirk, Rosati, Taylor (8)

    Absent: Hackson, Racco (2)

    Carried

  • Motion to Defer - Recommendations #2 to 7

    Moved byMayor West
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Davison

    Council defer consideration of recommendations 2 to 7 until staff report back in June 2025.

    A recorded vote on this item was:

    For: Scarpitti, West (2)

    Against: G. Chan, M. Chan, Davison, Del Duca, DiPaola, Ferri, Ho, Jackson, Jolliffe, Jones, Li, Mrakas, Pellegrini, Quirk, Rosati, Taylor, Vegh (17)

    Absent: Hackson, Lovatt, Racco (3)

    Defeated

  • Motion to Amend - Recommendation #2

    Moved byRegional Councillor Jackson
    Seconded byMayor Del Duca

    Council amend recommendation 2 as follows:

    2.    Defer 100% of the development charges payable on all non-luxury rental, provided that the building be operated as a non-luxury rental for a minimum of 40 years, with the effective date to be retroactive to April 3, 2025. 

    Carried

  • Main Motion, as Amended - Development Charge Reductions

    Moved byMayor Pellegrini
    Seconded byMayor Taylor
    1. With immediate effect, defer development charges payable on all residential development:
      1. For high rise buildings, interest free for 24 months and then with interest until the earlier of 4 years or registration of condominium
      2. For low rise buildings, interest free until building permit issuance

        Council refer the following recommendations for inclusion in the Development Charges (DC) policies update report coming forward in June 2025: 

    2. Defer 100% of the development charges payable on all non-luxury rental, provided that the building be operated as a non-luxury rental for a minimum of 40 years, with the effective date to be retroactive to April 3, 2025.
    3. Staff continue to review all options to mitigate development charges rate increases as part of the 2026 Development Charges Bylaw.
    4. Staff assess impact of necessary financing for the proposed residential deferrals, as part of the 2026 Budget and Fiscal Strategy.
    5. Staff assess the impact and develop a financial strategy, including funding advocacy, to support the repeal of the Region’s Development Charges Interest Policy – Under sections 26.1, 26.2, and 26.3 of the Development Charges Act, 1997.
    6. Council consider a First-Time Home Buyers’ development charges equivalent rebate subject to receipt of new funding from other levels of government.

      Continued Advocacy

    7. Staff prepare resolutions requesting increased, predictable and direct funding from the federal and provincial governments to support the Region’s housing challenges, initiatives, and incentives.
    Carried

E.
Deputations

 

E.1
Impacts of Development Charge Reductions and Mechanisms to Increase Housing Affordability in York Region

This item has attachments. 
1.Danielle Binder, Victoria Mortelliti, Jason Bottoni, and Randy Peddigrew - (BILD).pdf
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Jackson
    Seconded byMayor Lovatt

    Council receive the deputation from Danielle Binder, Jason Bottoni and Randy Peddigrew, Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD).

    Carried

    (See Item D.3)


F.
Communications

 

F.1
Impacts of Development Charge Reductions and Mechanisms to Increase Housing Affordability in York Region

This item has attachments. 
1.BILD re DC Reductions.pdf
  • Moved byMayor Scarpitti
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Davison

    Council receive the correspondence from Victoria Mortelliti, Senior Manager of Policy & Advocacy, Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) dated April 2, 2025.

    Carried

    (See Item D.3)

    Council recessed at 12:34 p.m. and resumed at 12:53 p.m.


G.
Consideration and Adoption of Reports

 

None

H.
Other Business

 

H.1
Ice Storm Recovery

 

On behalf of Town of Georgina residents, Mayor Quirk thanked York Regional staff that have been helping the Town recover from damage caused by the recent severe ice storm.

I.
Private Session

 

Council did not resolve into private session.

J.
Confirmatory Bylaw

This item has attachments. 
1.2025-24 Confirmatory Bylaw - Regional Council Special Meeting - April 3 2025.pdf
  • Moved byMayor Mrakas
    Seconded byMayor Quirk

    Council enact Bylaw No. 2025-24 to confirm the proceedings of this meeting of Council.

    Carried

K.
Adjournment

 
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Jones
    Seconded byMayor West

    Council adjourn the meeting at 2:37 p.m.

     

                                                               
    Regional Clerk



    Minutes confirmed and adopted at the meeting of Council held on April 24, 2025.

     

                                                               
    Regional Chair

    Carried
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