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Council Info for April 21, 2021

Council Info is a summary of major discussion items presented at Council meetings - circulated immediately following each meeting. You are encouraged to quote from and/or copy this information. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.

Council forms committee to study Community Benefits Agreements

Council, in support of a motion by Councillor Sean Strickland, will form an ad hoc steering committee with Regional councillors and supported by staff to determine specifics related to Community Benefits Agreements/Workforce Development Agreements. Council voted to create the committee in response to the pandemic disproportionately impacting employment opportunities for underrepresented groups (Indigenous Peoples, Women, Black Canadians, people of colour). The committee will report back to Council in September.

Community Innovation Grant aims to help remove barriers to learning

Regional Council will invest a $50,000 Community Innovation Grant into organizations and initiatives committed to removing barriers to connectivity and learning for Black, Indigenous, and non-white racialized youth. Isolation during COVID-19 has created barriers to connectivity, which has posed a significant challenge on the ability to learn.

Workplace Count will help plan for growth and support local business

The Region of Waterloo, in coordination with local municipalities and the Waterloo Economic Development Corporation, will collect information from workplaces across Waterloo Region to use for planning for employment growth, and for supporting local business needs. The Workplace Count, last held in 2018, is a census of workplaces and contributes to the Region’s focus on a thriving economy.

Separated bike lanes will stay in Waterloo following pilot

Regional Council voted to end the pilot phase of separated bike lanes in the City of Waterloo by leaving the existing facilities in place and directed staff to start planning for making the facilities permanent on Regional roads. Staff were asked to investigate opportunities to reduce winter maintenance costs of the separated cycling network through alternative maintenance delivery. The Region will undertake a study to develop the functional design and costing for the conversion of the pilot network to permanent facilities with lower operating costs, and assess the impacts on all users and adjacent land uses.

Regional fund will support 18 local environmental projects

Regional Council approved investing $149,992 from the Community Environmental Fund into 18 environmental stewardship and sustainability projects. The recommended projects are located across the Region, including several in rural communities and settlement areas. Since its inception, the Community Environmental Fund has granted approximately $1.8 million to over 220 projects.

Region and WRDSB agree to closure date for Elmira Children’s Centre

The Region of Waterloo and the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) have agreed to an August 20th closure date for the Elmira Children’s Centre, located at Riverside Public School. In accordance with its normal practice, the WRDSB is responsible for selecting child care providers to operate in its schools and will make a public announcement when a provider at Riverside is confirmed. View the media release.

Region opposes greenbelt extension unless it strengthens protections

In response to consultations on a potential expansion of the provincial greenbelt, Regional Council will advise the Province that it opposes any expansion to the greenbelt in Waterloo Region unless it enables municipalities to enact stronger protections and includes policies that provide for the highest level of protection to prevail. The Region is concerned an expansion could impose a lower level of protection than the Regional Official Plan, particularly in relation to mineral aggregate operations and source water protection.

Region to request more provincial funding to address homelessness

Regional Council, in support of a motion put forward by Councillor Elizabeth Clarke, will request additional funding from the Province so that the Region and its partners can ensure the most vulnerable residents in our community have housing that is affordable and paired with the right support to meet complex needs.

For more information contact:

Lynsey Slupeiks, Manager, Corporate Communications, LSlupeiks@regionofwaterloo.ca

Regional Clerk’s Office, 519-575-4400