Council Info - June 5, 2019

August 01, 2025

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.

Council endorses Stage 2 ION route: light rail transit from Kitchener to Cambridge

The project team Preferred Refinement between Shantz Hill Road and Eagle Street North at William Street was endorsed by Council tonight. The Preferred Route was endorsed in June 2018, subject to further evaluation in the subject area. The Preferred Refinement was identified after further evaluation of route refinements and public consultation. Preliminary design will be completed in fall 2019. The route connects Kitchener and Cambridge making stops at Sportsworld, Preston, Pinebush, Cambridge Centre Mall, Can-Amera, Delta, Main and downtown Cambridge.

Council endorses interim site for consumption and treatment services

Council endorsed an interim Consumption and Treatment Services site at 150 Duke Street in Kitchener. The 2019 budget will be amended to include approximately $530,000 for the interim site. Staff had explored options for an interim site and have recommended using 150 Duke Street to:

  • minimize disruption to clients and the general community that may occur due to changing the site location; and
  • eliminate costs associated with trailer rental, renovation and lease of a second property.

Council to submit recommendations on Bill 108

Council agreed to submit input and recommendations to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding Bill 108, also known as the More Homes, More Choices Act, 2019. The Bill amends the Development Charges Act in a way that reduces a municipality’s ability to collect development charges to pay for growth and related infrastructure. This further shifts the cost of growth onto existing taxpayers and in the view of Region staff, will neither assist in meet housing supply needs nor improve affordability. The Region of Waterloo participated in a variety of provincial consultation sessions on this issue earlier this year and believes any reduction to development charges would be counterproductive, inefficient and ineffective.

Council votes to apply to Audit and Accountability Fund

Council intends to submit an application to the Province of Ontario’s Audit and Accountability Fund. The purpose of the fund is to “offer large municipalities an opportunity to benefit from provincial funding to conduct service delivery and administrative expenditure reviews.” All reviews must be completed by Nov. 30, 2019.

Provincial funding reduction to Employment Ontario programs

Council approved adjusting the 2019 budget to reflect reduced funding to the Region of Waterloo for the Employment Ontario program. Employment Ontario is funded by the province but administered by the Region. This program helps residents get training and build skills to find a job. Funding has been reduced by $292,808 for 2019/2020. To meet the revised budget, the Region will reduce staffing by one full-time facilitator and one full-time program assistant (both through attrition) and program costs related to incentives and training supports. This may negatively impact both employer and participant ability to take part in Employment Ontario.

Community Environmental Fund supports 20 new projects

Council approved $145,861.47 be allocated from the Community Environmental Fund to support 20 local environmental stewardship and sustainability projects. The Fund supports projects that: provide a positive lasting environmental return; encourage collaboration; seek innovative solutions; and produce measurable results. The five largest grants went to Waterloo Region Community Garden Network Pollinator and Food Hedges Project ($23,192), KW Habilitation Our Farm Trail Building Project ($16,175), Bee City Kitchener Iron Horse Trail Pollinator Path ($12,700), Forest Heights Community Pollinator Garden ($12,600) and Conrad Grebel College Green Roof ($12,500).

Tenders/Contracts:          

The following tenders/contracts were approved by Council:

  • $11,807,646 to Steed and Evans Limited for Regional road 81 (South Boundary Road) Highway 24 and the Franklin Boulevard extension.
  • $4,034,767 to New-Alliance Ltd. for the installation of watermain from Belmont Avenue to William Street.
  • $3,537,139 to James Kemp Construction Limited for the University of Waterloo bus station construction.
  • $1,328,325 to Codehesive Solutions Inc. for supply and delivery of cellular modems for a three-year period.
  • $408,480 to LP Landscape Plus Inc. for winter maintenance at Grand River Transit bus stops in Kitchener from November 2019 to April 2020.

Next Council Meeting:
June 26, 2019 at 7 p.m.

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

Council Info is also online.