Council Info for June 9, 2020
Council Info is a summary of major discussion items presented at Regional Council meetings, and is circulated following each meeting. The media can quote from and/or copy this information. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.
Regional Council calls on provincial and federal governments to search all former residential school sites for remains of Indigenous children
Regional Council has added its support to a motion from Wilmot Township Council, calling upon the provincial and federal government to take immediate action and search for the remains of Indigenous children on the grounds of all 139 former historic Indian Residential Schools in Canada, as the Truth Reconciliation Commission of Canada 2008 demands the truth.
Regional Council and partners advocate for funding to address overdoses in emergency shelters
Regional Council, in partnership with the Waterloo Region Integrated Drug Strategy and Ontario Health Teams, will endorse a letter of advocacy to the provincial and federal governments calling for enhanced funding and targeting of timely substance use treatment, harm reduction services, and mental health supports to help community members find and maintain permanent housing. The letter will also call for enhanced region-wide access to overdose prevention supports, including safe places for people to use substances. It follows a project launched in response to an increase in opioid-overdoses in emergency shelters. The Emergency Shelter and Harm Reduction Integration Initiative examined harms associated with substance use in shelters and the impacts on shelter participants and staff. In addition to the letter of advocacy, Regional staff will work with the shelters on other strategies to help curb overdoses. This includes a plan to improve access to the consumption and treatment site at 150 Duke St. in Kitchener, and a risk framework to identify strategies for overdose prevention.
Market Trail construction to begin this summer
Regional Council approved the tender to construct the Market Trail – a paved shared-use trail connecting ION light rail’s Northfield Station to the St Jacobs Market District. The 1.5 km trail will have lighting and rest areas, and will eventually serve as the new Trans-Canada Trail route between Woolwich and Waterloo. The federal government will fund its construction through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. This program builds on the Region’s 11 major active transportation projects funded through Canada’s Public Transit Infrastructure Fund. A map of recent projects that improve connections between transit and active transportation networks is available on the Grand River Transit website.
Region to hold public consultations to determine use for bunker
Regional Council has directed staff to hold public consultations to determine how the Region’s bunker could be used to enhance arts, culture and heritage opportunities in the region. Options proposed in a staff report for the property at 3571 King St. E. in Kitchener included community art space, filming space, space for Indigenous activities, and community events. The property is in need of repairs and any future use would require renovations and redevelopment. A Heritage Impact Assessment completed last year found the structure is worthy of designation under the Ontario Heritage Act.