Minutes

Committee of the Whole

Thursday, April 10, 2025

9:00 A.m. - 4:00 P.m.

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, 
• S. Erdman, 
• L. Gonsalves, 
• D. Kuzmyk, 
• E. Mahoney, 
• L. McDowell, 
• L. Mirabella, 
• and C. Raynor 

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A.

Call to Order

Regional Chair Jolliffe called the meeting to order at 9:00 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

Regional Councillor Davison provided a disclosure of interest on items D.2 and H.1.1 - Public Health 2024 Update and 2025 Areas of Focus and D.4 and H.2.1 - Provincial Funding Shortfall of Human and Health Services as her sibling is a public health nurse and an indirect conflict on item I.1.1 2025 Capital Contribution for Mackenzie Health - Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital Project due to employment at Southlake Health. Regional Councillor Davison did not participate in any discussion or voting on these matters.

D.

Presentations

D.1

Regional Response Plan to the Economic Impacts of U.S. Tariffs

Committee of the Whole received the presentation by Jonathan Wheatle, Director, Economic Strategy, Corporate Services 

(See Item I.1.5)

D.2

Public Health 2024 Update and 2025 Areas of Focus

Committee of the Whole received the presentation by Dr. Sarah Erdman, Acting Medical Officer of Health, Community and Health Services.

(See Item H.1.1)

Regional Councillor Davison declared an interest in relation to this matter and did not participate in any discussion or voting on this item.

D.3

2024 Operational Due Diligence and Regulatory Update

Committee of the Whole received the presentation by David Szeptycki, Director, Sustainability, Communications and Innovation, Environmental Services, Public Works and Richard Walker, Director, Water and Wastewater Operations, Environmental Services, Public Works.

(See Items G.1.1 and G.1.2)

D.4

Provincial Funding Shortfall of Human and Health Services

Committee of the Whole received the presentation by Monica Bryce, Acting Director, Integrated Business Services, Community and Health Services and Alexandra Bilton, Manager, Financial Services and Business Planning, Community and Health Services.

(See Item H.2.1)

Regional Councillor Davison declared an interest in relation to this matter and did not participate in any discussion or voting on this item.

E.

Deputations

None

F.

Public Works - Transportation Services

F.1

Communications

F.1.1

Corporate Asset Management Progress Report

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum dated March 24, 2025 from Laura McDowell, Commissioner of Public Works and Laura Mirabella, Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer.

F.2

Reports

F.2.1

York Region Transit 2024 System Performance Report

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations, as amended, in the report dated March 24, 2025 from the Commissioner of Public Works:

1. York Region requests the Minister of Transportation and Ontario Ministry of Transportation to make the One Fare Program a permanent program in the GTA.
2. The Regional Clerk circulate this report to the Clerks of local municipalities.

G.

Public Works - Environmental Services

G.1

Communications

G.1.1

2024 Drinking Water Systems Council Memo

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum dated March 24, 2025 from Laura McDowell, Commissioner of Public Works.

G.1.2

2024 Integrated Management System Memo for Water, Wastewater and Waste Management

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum dated March 24, 2025 from Laura McDowell, Commissioner of Public Works.

G.1.3

Update on Public Works Research and Innovation Program

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum dated March 24, 2025 from Laura McDowell, Commissioner of Public Works.

G.1.4

National Public Works Week - May 18 to 24, 2025

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum dated March 24, 2025 from Laura McDowell, Commissioner of Public Works.

G.2

Reports

None

H.

Community and Health Services

H.1

Communications

H.1.1

Public Health 2024 Update and 2025 Areas of Focus

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum dated March 25, 2025 from Lisa Gonsalves, Commissioner of Community and Health Services and Dr. Sarah Erdman, Acting Medical Officer of Health.

Regional Councillor Davison declared an interest in relation to this matter and did not participate in any discussion or voting on this item.

H.1.2

Canadian Public Health Week - April 7 to April 11, 2025

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum dated March 24, 2025 from Lisa Gonsalves, Commissioner of Community and Health Services and Dr. Sarah Erdman, Acting Medical Officer of Health.

H.2

Reports

H.2.1

Provincial Funding Shortfall of Human and Health Programs and Services

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations, as amended, in the report dated March 25, 2025 from the Commissioner of Community and Health Services:

1. The Regional Chairman and all nine mayors, send a joint letter to the Premier of Ontario and the Ministers of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Long-Term Care, and Health, and York Region MPPs requesting a meeting to:
   1. Discuss the $77 million shortfall in health and human services funding arrangements for mandated health and human services, taking into account population growth, socio-economic shifts and increased costs, and establish permanent sustainable provincial funding solutions to ensure York Region receives the funding needed to deliver these important programs.
   2. Request the Province to improve the funding arrangements for mandated human and health services to reduce the burden on property taxpayers.
2. York Region staff work with community partners, Association of Municipalities of Ontario and other public sector organizations to advocate to provincial counterparts for sustainable funding to ensure services delivered by municipalities can meet growing and changing community needs.
3. The Regional Clerk circulate the report, to local municipalities, local hospitals, Human Services Planning Board, Newcomer Inclusion Table, Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Ontario Municipal Social Services Association, United Way Greater Toronto, AdvantAge Ontario, Ontario Long-Term Care Association, Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs, Association of Public Health Business Administrators, Ontario Alliance to End Homelessness, Ontario Health Teams in York Region and local Members of Provincial Parliament requesting they join in the Region’s advocacy efforts.

Regional Councillor Davison declared an interest in relation to this matter and did not participate in any discussion or voting on this item.

H.2.2

Establishing a Housing and Homelessness Committee of Council

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated March 28, 2025 from the Commissioner of Community and Health Services:

1. Council establish a Housing and Homelessness Committee as a Special Committee of Council.
2. Council refer the proposed mandate and Terms of Reference for the Housing and Homelessness Committee as outlined in Appendix A to its first meeting and direct the Committee to report back with any further recommended changes.

I.

Finance and Administration

I.1

Communications

I.1.1

2025 Capital Contribution for Mackenzie Health - Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital Project

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum dated March 24, 2025 from Laura Mirabella, Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer.

Regional Councillor Davison declared an interest in relation to this matter and did not participate in any discussion or voting on this item.

I.1.2

2024 Development Charge Reserve Fund Statement

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum dated March 24, 2025 from Laura Mirabella, Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer.

I.1.3

City of Richmond Hill Resolution - Councillor Cilevitz - Redistribution of Land Transfer Tax and GST

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the correspondence dated March 7, 2025 from Stephen M.A. Huycke, Director of Legislative Services/City Clerk, City of Richmond Hill.

I.1.4

Chief Administrative Officer and Commissioner of Corporate Services’ Use of Delegated Authority for Land Acquisitions and Dispositions 2024 Annual Report

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum dated March 25, 2025 Dino Basso, Commissioner of Corporate Services.

I.1.5

Regional Response Plan to the Economic Impacts of United States Tariffs

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum dated April 10, 2025 Dino Basso, Commissioner of Corporate Services.

I.2

Reports

I.2.1

Municipal Diversity Plan for the Appointments to the York Regional Police Service Board

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated March 28, 2025 from the Chief Administrative Officer:

1. Council approve the Municipal Diversity Plan for Appointments to the York Regional Police Service Board, included as Appendix A.

I.2.2

2024 Financial Results - Unaudited Budget to Actual Comparison

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations, as amended, in the report dated March 24, 2025 from the Commissioner of Finance:

1. Council approve changes to 2024 capital funding sources for Public Works, which are within the overall approved capital budget, to reflect $16.6 million in accelerated spending in Roads and Transit renewal program groups, as detailed in Appendix C.
2. Council approve a one-time allocation of $10 million and an additional $35.1 million (funded from commensurate reduction to the proposed Workers Compensation and Group Benefits reserve contributions) of the 2024 operating surplus to the Social Housing Development Reserve for initiatives to increase affordable housing supply, before allocating any remaining surplus in accordance with the Region’s Reserve and Reserve Fund Policy.
3. Federal and Provincial governments be requested to match this contribution.

I.2.3

Development Charge Credit Update - York Downs

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated March 24, 2025 from the Commissioner of Finance:

1. Council authorize a development charge credit increase of $1,002,275, for eligible road works undertaken and completed to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Public Works, by Metropia Minto (Sixteenth) Holdings Inc. & KP Limited Partnership (York Downs Landowners) in the City of Markham.
2. The Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer be authorized to fund this development charge credit from the Regional Roads Development Charges Reserve.

I.2.4

Minutes - Agriculture and Agri-Food Advisory Committee Meeting - March 19, 2025

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the Minutes of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Advisory Committee Meeting held on March 19, 2025.

J.

Notice of Motion

J.1

Mayor Del Duca

Downloading of Regional Roads

1. York Region download the following Regional Roads to the City of Vaughan:
1. Teston Road from Keele Street to Dufferin Street;
2. Langstaff Road connection from approximately 240m east of Creditstone Road to Keele Street;
3. Highway 7 from Pine Valley Drive to Martin Grove Road; and

2. York Region enter into an agreement with the City of Vaughan regarding the financial considerations arising from this download.

This will be forwarded to the May 8, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting for consideration.

K.

Other Business

K.1

Observances and Days of Significance

Regional Chair Jolliffe noted the following observances and days of significance:

• World Autism Day – April 2, 2025
• World Health Day – April 7, 2025
• Passover – April 12, 2025
• Theravāda New Year – April 13, 2025
• Vaisakhi – April 14, 2025
• Easter – April 18 – 21, 2025

L.

Private Session

​Committee of the Whole did not resolve into private session.

L.1

Private Memorandum - Exercise of Regional Solicitor’s Delegated Authority – Settlement/Commencement of Litigation

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the private memorandum dated March 25, 2025 from the Regional Solicitor and General Counsel.

Memorandum remains private.

L.2

Private Memorandum - Exercise of Regional Solicitor’s Delegated Authority – Ontario Land Tribunal Matters 2024 - Litigation

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the private memorandum dated March 20, 2025 from the Regional Solicitor and General Counsel.

Memorandum remains private.

L.3

Private Attachment 1 to Item I.1.4 - Chief Administrative Officer and Commissioner of Corporate Services’ Use of Delegated Authority for Land Acquisitions and Dispositions 2024 Annual Report

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

M.

Adjournment

Committee of the Whole adjourned at 12:18 p.m.