Council Info for Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Council Info – Feb. 6, 2019

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

GRT route improvements will support ION

Regional Council approved significant GRT route improvements to be implemented when ION light rail begins revenue service. Over 25 bus routes will be changed to connect to ION stations. Some bus stops will disappear while new ones will be added. The new routes will be aligned to support a grid network with more frequent services on 19 routes and increased hours of service on 16 routes. To assist riders with the changes, an online trip planner called “My new ride” will be available on the GRT website in March. A new GRT Customer Service Centre located in downtown Kitchener is planned to be open in late April and leading up to ION opening day, there will be promotion of the new service changes in print, social media and GRT staff will be on-site at key locations to help. Visit www.grt.ca/newdirections for all the service changes.  

Region to continue to administer homelessness funding

The Region of Waterloo will continue to administer federal homelessness funding and programs. Canada’s new homelessness strategy, called Reaching Home, is a 10-year plan that replaces the Homelessness Partnering Strategy. Reaching Home is a community-based program focused on preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. It provides funding to communities to support their efforts in addressing specific needs and priorities related to homelessness. The Region’s share of Reaching Home funding will be almost $4.7 million over five years.

Region participates in province’s housing strategy consultation

The Region has provided input to the province’s recent consultation on increasing housing supply in Ontario.  This consultation seeks feedback on how municipalities can help address the challenges to creating new ownership and rental housing in Ontario. The Region has provided ideas on: speeding up development approvals; extending rent controls to better protect tenants; and bringing new types of housing to existing neighbourhoods, including more mid-rise buildings. In keeping with the Region’s strong commitment to managing growth, Councillors emphasized the need to consider all the factors influencing housing affordability, rather than simply focusing on supply. Councillors also asked the province to keep the current development charge system in place, to ensure growing municipalities like Waterloo Region can recover the full costs of the infrastructure needed to support growth.

Grants for affordable housing and Habitat for Humanity projects

Council approved a policy for this term of Council that will allow grants for affordable rental housing units and Habitat for Humanity projects in order to cover the cost of Regional development charges. The Region has provided these development charge grants since 2001.

Region recommends universal transit pass (U-Pass) be considered a mandatory student fee

Regional Council voted to request the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to deem universal transit passes as a mandatory student fee as part of the implementation of the province’s Student Choice Initiative. A copy of the report and associated Council resolution will be circulated to MPPs representing ridings in Waterloo Region; The University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College and their respective student associations; the Association of Municipalities of Ontario; and the Ontario Public Transit Association. The province’s initiative potentially has impacts on agreements between municipalities and universities regarding universal student bus passes. The Region of Waterloo is party to five U-Pass agreements, covering the undergraduate and graduate student associations at Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo, plus Renison University College.

Region responds to child care implications in Bill 66

The Region will submit feedback to the province related to Bill 66 implications on child care and early learning programs. The province is proposing changes to age ratios in licensed and unlicensed home-based child care programs. This would mean that in some cases, home-based child care providers would be able to increase the number of very young children in their care. Staff is concerned these changes may negatively impact the safety and quality of care for young children in Waterloo Region.

Tenders/Contracts:       

The following tenders/contracts were approved by Council:

• $773,775.00 to J-AAR Excavating Limited for sanitary upgrades to the former Kitchener landfill.

For information:

The Region of Waterloo has launched the Safe Roads Waterloo Region (#SafeRoadsWR) campaign. This multi-phase public educations campaign aims to reduce injuries and fatalities on Waterloo Region roads. It addresses the data collected and makes residents aware of where, when and why collisions are happening.  Based on a comprehensive review of collision data the campaign will bring awareness to four collision patterns in the community, rear-end collisions, roundabout collisions, cyclist collisions and pedestrian collisions. Waterloo Regional Police have partnered with the Region to reinforce the message that road safety must be a top priority for all road users.

Next Council Meeting
February 27, 2019 at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact:
Bryan Stortz, Director, Corporate Communications, 519-575-4408
Regional Clerk’s Office, 519-575-4400