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Council Info – March 11, 2020

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.

Update on Consumption and Treatment Services

The province will provide funding for the Region’s Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) clinic located at 150 Duke Street in Kitchener. They will provide 100 per cent of operating costs ($1,585,500) and $883,500 towards capital costs (the Region will fund the remaining $216,000). A temporary CTS has been operating at 150 Duke Street since October 2019. In the first three months of operation, Sanguen Health Centre staff responded to 40 overdoses. Clients also accessed other services on site including wound care, Hep C and HIV testing and treatment, counselling and support, and referrals to offsite services including treatment services and primary care. The full site will be at the same location and is expected to be operational in August 2020. The clinic will offer additional on-site services including addictions counselling and primary care.

Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative – funding exchange

Council has agreed to exchange part of the Region’s provincial housing funding so that the City of St. Thomas can use the capital to complete an affordable housing project in 2020/2021. In return, the Region will receive that funding back in 2021/2022. The funding is part of the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI). The program allows for Service Managers to exchange their funding with other Service Managers to allow the development of larger projects. OPHI, along with the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) have allocated $12,364,400 over three years to help grow and stabilize community housing in Waterloo Region by protecting affordability, supporting repairs, and expanding supply.

Children and Youth Planning Table receives grant

The Region was given a $90,000 grant from the Astley Family Foundation to support the Children and Youth Planning Table (CYPT). The grant will be used to support work in the area of meaningful child and youth engagement. CYPT is an open membership collaborative of approximately 60 organizations serving children, youth and families in Waterloo Region. The group works together towards the shared vision of happy, healthy children and youth.

Review of municipal funding for cultural institutions, including THEMUSEUM

Regional staff will work with municipalities and key cultural institutions to review and improve the process for municipal funding of key cultural institutions. In 2019/2020, work with key cultural institutions resulted in a number of findings:

  • Space and facilities could be used differently to maximize their use.
  • Ticket sales and attendance tend to be strong.
  • Balancing high quality programming with limited funding in an ongoing challenge.
  • Strategies should be developed to communicate with municipal Councils.
  • Reliable and stable funding is needed.

THEMUSEUM recently requested a substantial increase to their operating grant. In response, the Region of Waterloo and the City of Kitchener worked with THEMUSEUM to undertake a strategic review of their operations. Results of the review indicated a number of issues related to ongoing operating deficits. THEMUSEUM and municipal funders have developed a conditional three-year funding plan to achieve sustainability, ensure responsible use of public funds and ensure funding best practices. Municipal funders have also offered in-kind services to further support THEMUSEUM’s operations.

Tenders/Contracts:         

The following tenders/contracts were approved by Council:

  • $10,018,150 to Nova Bus, a division of Volvo Group Canada Inc. for 16 transit coaches.
  • $1,198,750 to Creative Carriage Ltd. for seven Low Floor Accessible Mini Buses.
  • $1,600,000 to Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions to complete a Stage 4 Archaeological assessment as part of a larger upcoming construction for improvements to the Fischer –Hallman Road Improvements, Bleams Road to Plains Road in Kitchener.
  • 1,383,396 (which includes an amended increase total of $400,000 for the project) to Associated Engineering (Ont.) Ltd. for Consulting Services for Fischer Hallman Road Improvements, Bleams Road to Plains Road in Kitchener.
  • $1,064,514 (which includes an amended increase total of $468,584 for the project) to Engineering (Ont.) Ltd. to provide engineering consulting services for preliminary design, detailed design, contract administration and construction inspection services for the King Street East improvements between the Highway 401 overpass and the Freeport Bridge and Sportsworld Drive.
  • $909,240 to Troy Life and Fire Safety Inc. for fire life safety systems and suppression systems inspection and maintenance for a three-year term.
  • The Region will pay its portion of the $1,249,206 to Staples Advantage Canada for office and school supplies shared between the Grand River Cooperative Purchasing Group (21 agencies).

For information: Covid-19 update to Council

Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang gave Regional Council an update on COVID-19. Dr. Wang shared information about the virus as well as what’s happening at the international, national and local levels. Public Health is working closely with hospitals, primary care providers and other healthcare system partners to respond in a coordinated and timely fashion. Dr. Wang stressed the importance of remaining vigilant, consulting trusted sources of information and continuing to plan and prepare for potential future scenarios. Updated information and resources can be found at www.regionofwaterloo.ca/2019NovelCoronavirus

Next Council Meeting
April 1, 2020 at 7 p.m.


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