Minutes

Committee of the Whole

Thursday, April 13, 2023

9:00 A.m. - 1:00 P.m.

Electronic and In-Person Meeting

Council Chambers

17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket

Members:

• W. Emmerson, 
• G. Chan, 
• N. Davison, 
• S. Del Duca, 
• J. DiPaola, 
• M. Ferri, 
• V. Hackson, 
• A. Ho, 
• L. Jackson, 
• J. Jones, 
• J. Li, 
• I. Lovatt, 
• T. Mrakas, 
• S. Pellegrini, 
• M. Quirk, 
• M. G. Racco, 
• F. Scarpitti, 
• J. Taylor, 
• T. Vegh, 
• and D. West 

Staff:

• D. Basso, 
• K. Chislett, 
• P. Freeman, 
• D. Kuzmyk, 
• B. Macgregor, 
• E. Mahoney, 
• L. Mirabella, 
• and C. Raynor 

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A.

Call to Order

Regional Chair Emmerson called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. and 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."

B.

Disclosures of Interest

None

C.

Presentations

C.1

Transportation Capital Infrastructure Status Update

Committee of the Whole received the presentation by Salim Alibhai, Director, Capital Planning and Delivery, Transportation Services, Public Works.

C.2

Water and Wastewater Capital Infrastructure Status Update

Committee of the Whole received the presentation by Mike Rabeau, Director, Capital Planning and Delivery, Environmental Services, Public Works.

C.3

Growth and Economic Development Update

Committee of the Whole received the presentation by Paul Bottomley, Manager, Policy, Research and Forecasting, Planning and Economic Development.

D.

Deputations

None

E.

Public Works - Transportation Services

E.1

Communications

None

E.2

Reports

E.2.1

Transportation Capital Infrastructure Status Update

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated March 24, 2023 from the Commissioner of Public Works:

1. The Regional Clerk circulate this report to Clerks of local municipalities. 

E.2.2

York Region Transit 2022 System Performance

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated March 24, 2023 from the Commissioner of Public Works:

1. Council receive this report for information. 

E.2.3

2023 Speed Limit Revisions

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated March 24, 2023 from the Commissioner of Public Works:

1. Speed limits on Regional roads listed in Table 1 of this report be revised.
2. The Regional Clerk circulate this report to the Clerks of Towns of Georgina and Whitchurch-Stouffville, Township of King, City of Markham and Chief of York Regional Police.
3. The Regional Solicitor prepare the necessary bylaws.

E.2.4

Request for Pedestrian Signal - Highway 11 at The Landing - Town of East Gwillimbury

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated March 24, 2023 from the Commissioner of Public Works:

1. A pedestrian signal be installed on Highway 11 at The Landing in the Town of East Gwillimbury.
2. The Regional Clerk forward this report to the Clerk of the Town of East Gwillimbury and Chief of York Regional Police.

E.2.5

Simcoe Promenade Bus Rapidway - Construction, Operation and Maintenance Agreements

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated March 24, 2023 from the Commissioner of Public Works:

1. Council authorize the Commissioner of Public Works to:
   1. Enter into a “Permission to Enter and Construct” agreement with the City of Markham and York Region Rapid Transit Corporation for construction of the Simcoe Promenade bus rapidway
   2. Amend the existing Licence to Operate and Maintain Transit Rapidways agreement dated, July 22, 2010, to include the Simcoe Promenade bus rapidway
2. The Commissioner of Public Works be authorized to execute the agreements and any future extensions or amendments to the Simcoe Promenade bus rapidway, if required.
3. This report be circulated to the York Region Rapid Transit Corporation, City of Markham, and The Remington Group.

F.

Public Works - Environmental Services

F.1

Communications

F.1.1

National Public Works Week - May 20 to 27, 2023

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum dated March 24, 2023 from Erin Mahoney, Commissioner of Public Works.

F.1.2

2022 Research and Innovation Update

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum dated March 24, 2023 from Erin Mahoney, Commissioner of Public Works.

F.1.3

York Region Sewage Works Project

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the communication from David Piccini, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks dated March 28, 2023.

F.2

Reports

F.2.1

Water and Wastewater Capital Infrastructure Status Update

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated February 28, 2023 from the Commissioner of Public Works:

1. The Regional Clerk circulate this report for information to the Ontario Ministers of Environment, Conservation and Parks, and Municipal Affairs and Housing and Infrastructure, Clerks of the local municipalities, Building Industry and Land Development Association, and the Ontario Homebuilders’ Association.

G.

Community and Health Services

G.1

Communications

G.1.1

Update on Implementation of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care System

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum dated March 22, 2023 from Katherine Chislett, Commissioner of Community and Health Services.

G.2

Reports

G.2.1

Framework for the York Region 2023 to 2026 Newcomer Inclusion Plan

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated March 22, 2023 from the Commissioner of Community and Health Services:

1. Council approve the recommended framework for the York Region 2023 to 2026 Newcomer Inclusion Plan provided in Appendix 1.
2. The Regional Clerk circulate this report to the Clerks of local municipalities, the Newcomer Inclusion Table of York Region, the Human Services Planning Board of York Region, and the Municipal Diversity and Inclusion Group.

G.2.2

Sustaining Community Housing through a Conditional Capital Grant Program

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated March 22, 2023 from the Commissioner of Community and Health Services:

1. Council approve the development and implementation of a conditional capital grant program to replace the existing housing provider loan program in order to better address housing providers’ capital repair needs.
2. Council grant the Commissioner, Community and Health Services, delegated authority to determine, in consultation with the Regional Solicitor, the terms and conditions of the conditional capital grant agreements, and ancillary documents required, to provide conditional capital grants to housing providers and, where desired, replace any existing housing provider loans.
3. Council grant authority to the Commissioner, Community and Health Services to enter into conditional capital grant agreements with housing providers and execute all related documents on business terms satisfactory to the Commissioner and on legal terms satisfactory to the Regional Solicitor.

G.2.3

Long-Term Care Transformation: Proposed Amendments to Ontario Regulation 264/22 under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated March 22, 2023 from the Commissioner of Community and Health Services:

1. Council, in its role as Committee of Management for the Region’s two long-term care homes, endorse the submission made by staff to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, Appendix 1, on proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 246/22 of the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021.
2. The Regional Clerk circulate this report to York Region Members of Provincial Parliament and Members of Parliament, Minister of Long-Term Care, Minister of Health, Minister of Seniors and Accessibility, Ontario Health Central Region, Home and Community Care Support Services Central, Ontario Health Teams in York Region, AdvantAge Ontario, Ontario Long-Term Care Association and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

H.

Planning and Economic Development

H.1

Communications

H.1.1

Region of Peel Resolution - Infrastructure Planning and Requests of the Province to Support Bill 23 Housing Targets

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the communication from Nando Iannicca, Regional Chair and CEO, Region of Peel dated March 21, 2023.

H.1.2

City of Richmond Hill Resolution - 2031 Municipal Housing Target Pledge

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the communication from Mayor David West, City of Richmond Hill dated March 21, 2023.

H.2

Reports

H.2.1

Growth and Development Review 2022

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated March 23, 2023 from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and the Chief Planner:

1. The Regional Clerk forward this report to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and local municipalities.

H.2.2

2020-2023 Economic Development Action Plan Update

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated March 23, 2023 from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and the Chief Planner:

1. The Regional Clerk forward this report to the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Workforce Planning Board, Local Chambers of Commerce, Boards of Trade, Invest Ontario, Toronto Global, ventureLAB and the local municipalities for information.

H.2.3

Streamlining Development Approvals and Supporting Provincial Housing Targets

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated March 23, 2023 from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and the Chief Planner:

1. Regional staff continue to engage with the local municipalities, the Province and the development industry to advance opportunities to streamline and improve the development approval process.
2. The Province, through the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, be requested to:
   1. Amend the Planning Act to:
      1. account for resubmissions by proponents of development applications in the approval timelines for municipalities.
      2. provide a mechanism to “stop the clock” when a municipality is waiting for an applicant to submit or resubmit information.
   2. Commit to improve all Provincial Ministry response times in development review to ensure municipalities can meet the legislated timeframes set out in the Planning Act.
   3. Consider establishing Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) as the aggregated source of building and occupancy permit data for Ontario.
3. Local municipalities be requested to confirm support for:
   1. Local development tracking systems to support data exchange and sharing of planning application data with the Region to enable common real-time housing supply and monitoring for Regional servicing capacity allocation.
   2. The Collaborative Application Preparation (CAP) process as a consistent standard for intaking development applications to ensure high-quality, complete submissions.
   3. Participation in a Planning Innovation Team with the Region and other stakeholders to advance modernization of the planning process.  
4. The Regional Clerk forward this report to the School Boards, Conservation Authorities, Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD), Area Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and local municipalities for information and support of this initiative.

H.2.4

York Region 2021 Census Data

The Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated March 23, 2023 from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and the Chief Planner: 

1. The Regional Clerk forward this report to local Chambers of Commerce, Boards of Trade and the local municipalities for information. 

I.

Finance and Administration

I.1

Communications

None

I.2

Reports

I.2.1

Chief Administrative Officer and Commissioner of Corporate Services’ Use of Delegated Authority for Land Acquisitions and Dispositions 2022 Annual Report

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated March 24, 2023 from the Commissioner of Corporate Services:

1. Council receive this report for information.

I.2.2

2022 Financial Results – Unaudited Budget to Actual Comparison

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated March 24, 2023 from the Commissioner of Finance:

1. Council receive this report for information.

I.2.3

2023 Capital Contribution for the Mackenzie Health – Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital Project

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated March 24, 2023 from the Commissioner of Finance:

1. Council receive this report for information.

I.2.4

2023 Property Tax Ratios

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated March 24, 2023 from the Commissioner of Finance:

1. The property tax ratios for the 2023 taxation year be established according to the table referred to in the report.   
2. Staff be directed to review amendments to property tax discounts for Vacant and Excess Commercial and Industrial land following the next property reassessment.
3. The Regional Solicitor be authorized to prepare a bylaw to implement the above tax ratios.
4. The Regional Clerk circulate this report to the local municipalities.

I.2.5

2023 Property Tax Rates

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated March 24, 2023 from the Commissioner of Finance:

1. Regional property tax rates for 2023 be established according to the table referred to in the report.
2. Local municipalities pay the final two instalments of their 2022 Regional property tax levy on or before September 29, 2023 and December 15, 2023.
3. Notional tax rate calculation adjustment be adopted.
4. The Regional Solicitor be authorized to prepare a bylaw to implement the above tax rates.
5. The Regional Clerk circulate this report to local municipalities.

I.2.6

2022 Development Charge Reserve Fund Statement

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated March 24, 2023 from the Commissioner of Finance:

1. The Regional Clerk circulate this report to the local municipalities and the Building Industry and Land Development Association.

I.2.7

Contract Awards, including Emergency Purchases, Fast Tracks, and Renewals between July 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated March 24, 2023 from the Commissioner of Finance:

1. Council receive this report for information.

J.

Notice of Motion

None

K.

Other Business

K.1

World Autism Day

Regional Chair Emmerson noted that April 2, 2023 was World Autism Day which aims to increase awareness and acceptance of autism through the lived experience of autistic people.

K.2

World Health Day

Regional Chair Emmerson noted that April 7, 2023 was World Health Day and the 75th anniversary of the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO, as part of their celebration called on communities around the world to join them in a journey to achieve "Health for All".

K.3

International Day of Pink

Regional Chair Emmerson announced that April 12, 2023 was International Day of Pink, a world-wide day of recognition raising awareness against bullying, discrimination, homophobia and transphobia.

K.4

National Volunteer Week

Regional Chair Emmerson announced that April 16 to 22, 2023 will be recognized as National Volunteer Week. This national week of observance is an opportunity to celebrate the individual and collective actions that create strong interconnected and vibrant communities and to thank all volunteers who contribute their time and energy.

K.5

Appointment to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority Board of Directors

Regional Chair Emmerson announced that Tracy Li has been appointed as the new York Region representative on the Greater Toronto Airports Authority Board of Directors.

K.6

Hate Motivated Incidents in City of Markham

Regional Chair Emmerson condemned the recent hate motivated incidents on mosques in Markham that occurred between April 6 and 10, 2023 during the holy month of Ramadan. On behalf of York Region, Regional Chair Emmerson expressed that we stand in solidarity with our Muslim community and continue to remain committed to a welcoming and inclusive community where diversity is celebrated and everyone can live free of discrimination.

L.

Private Session

Committee of the Whole did not resolve into private session.

L.1

Exercise of Regional Solicitor’s Delegated Authority - Ontario Land Tribunal Matters 2022 - Litigation

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the private recommendation in the report dated March 24, 2023 from the Regional Solicitor and General Council and the Commissioner of Finance.

L.2

Exercise of Regional Solicitor's Delegated Authority – Settlement/Commencement of Litigation - Litigation

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the private recommendation in the report dated March 24, 2023 from the Regional Solicitor and General Counsel.

L.3

Private Attachment 1 to Item I.2.1 - CAO and Commissioner of Corporate Services’ Use of Delegated Authority for Land Acquisitions and Dispositions - Land Acquisition

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the private attachment. Attachment remains private.

L.4

Private Attachment 1 to Item I.2.7 - Contract Awards, including Emergency Purchases, Fast Tracks, and Renewals between July 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022 - Security of Property

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the private attachment. Attachment remains private.

M.

Adjournment

Committee of the Whole adjourned at 11:52 a.m.