Local leaders successfully promote Waterloo Region interests at Queen’s Park
Waterloo Region – Waterloo Region municipal leaders travelled to Queen’s Park in Toronto today for Waterloo Region Advocacy Day.
Regional Chair Karen Redman, Cambridge Mayor Kathryn McGarry, Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky, Township of North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton, Township of Wellesley Mayor Joe Nowak, Township of Wilmot Mayor Les Armstrong and Township of Woolwich Mayor Sandy Shantz met with provincial leaders and representatives of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Finance; Transportation; Infrastructure; Health and Long-Term Care; and, Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade to discuss key priorities, challenges and economic opportunities unique to our region.
During the meetings, Waterloo Region elected officials thanked the Provincial Government for the proposed amendments to the ‘Labour Relations Act’, included in Bill 66, ‘Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act’. The changes will remove municipalities from the definition for construction employers and thereby providing a fair and open tendering process related to municipal building projects. The group also noted that the Premier and his caucus listened to public and municipal government concerns over the safe drinking water and land protection. The Government of Ontario has announced that section 10 of Bill 66, dealing with proposed amendments to the ‘Planning Act’, will be removed.
“Waterloo Region is one of the fastest growing community of municipalities in Canada and home to a top-20 global technology cluster that is responsible for generating 17 per cent of Canada’s GDP,” said Regional Chair Redman. “Our meetings at Queen’s Park today are a testament to our collaborative nature as a region and why Waterloo Region is one of the best places to live, work and thrive in Ontario. No one level of government alone can serve the needs of our citizens; working together for the benefit of all is what good government is about.”
“Today, we had the opportunity to sit across the table from several Provincial Cabinet Ministers and speak directly to them about Waterloo Region priorities and the ways they can work with us to help deliver results for the people in our communities,” said Mayor Kathryn McGarry. “One of the most critical needs for our region is transportation, and we asked our provincial colleagues to recognize the critical need to expedite the implementation plan for faster, more frequent 2-way, all-day GO train service to Kitchener and to commit to the new option for extending GO train service to Cambridge through Guelph.”
"People and businesses in Waterloo Region need reliable infrastructure in order to grow, to make investment decisions and to enhance their quality of life,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “Municipalities are looking to access infrastructure funding so we can get to work on infrastructure renewal. Today, we requested that the Government of Ontario move forward with the 2019 intake process of the bilateral infrastructure funding agreements with the Federal Government so that we don't lose the upcoming construction season."
“Waterloo Region is the proud home to a wide variety of tech companies and a strong manufacturing sector which serves to grow our strong economy in the Toronto-Waterloo Innovation Corridor,” said Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky. “Our ability to compete on a global stage is in no small part due to the innovative efforts of our Waterloo Economic Development Corporation and the success of Communitech. Financial support from senior levels of government, including the Government of Ontario, is critical for provincial and national outcomes.”
“People need affordable housing now more than ever and today, we urged the Minister to launch the funding related to the bilateral agreement for the National Housing Strategy. We have urgent housing needs in Waterloo Region and our emergency shelter system is under significant pressure as people with complex needs seeking a safe place,” said North Dumfries Township Mayor Sue Foxton.
“Access to online education, government services, employment and entertainment should be available to all Ontarians, regardless of whether they live and work in urban or rural communities. Funding support from the Government of Ontario for the Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) Network will bring affordable and accessible high-speed fibre broadband service to those communities who want to actively compete globally and locally,” said Wellesley Township Mayor Joe Nowak.
“For years, Waterloo Region has lobbied the Government of Ontario to transfer the operational control of the local ambulance dispatch operations to the Region of Waterloo,” said Wilmot Township Mayor Les Armstrong. “If the Province supported the integration and alignment of ambulance service and dispatch within Waterloo Region, there would be significant potential for improving ambulance response times. This proposal would not create any additional costs for the Government of Ontario and would streamline and improve the provision of ambulance service for our residents.”
“The Province of Ontario must make investments in the promotion of mental health and wellness, as well as enhanced diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions and related addictions,” said Woolwich Township Mayor Sandy Shantz. “Regional Council, as the Board of Health for Waterloo Region, has partnered region-wide with local first responders and service agencies and extensively consulted with the public to develop a made-in-Waterloo-Region model of service. Today, we appealed to the Provincial Government to maintain or increase funding for opioid addiction treatment, rehabilitation and harm reduction programs in Waterloo Region.”
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For more information, please contact:
Andrew Donnachie, Chief of Staff, City of Cambridge
519-240-9393 or donnachiea@cambridge.ca
Susanne Hiller, Communications Director, City of Cambridge
519-239-5293 or hillers@cambridge.ca
Bryan Stortz, Communications Director, Region of Waterloo
519-575-4408 or bstortz@regionofwaterloo.ca
Paul Grivicic, Chief of Staff, City of Kitchener
226-749-3410 or Paul.grivicic@kitchener.ca
Nicole Amaral, Interim Director of Communications & Marketing, City of Kitchener
519-741-2200 Ext 7861 or Nicole.amaral@kitchener.ca
Tony Iavarone, Director of Corporate Communications, City of Waterloo
519-747-8513 or Tony.iavarone@waterloo.ca