Region of Waterloo’s proposed 2021 budget plans for beyond COVID-19
Waterloo Region – The Region of Waterloo’s proposed 2021 Budget Plan: Beyond COVID-19 is now available online. The proposed 2021 Budget is purpose built around the Region’s strategic focus areas of: Thriving Economy, Healthy, Safe and Inclusive Communities, Responsive and Engaging Public Service, Sustainable Transportation, and Environmental and Climate Action.
Virtual budget deliberations began today, November 25, 2020 with final Budget approval scheduled for January 20, 2021.
“Our proposed 2021 Budget Plan: Beyond COVID-19 takes a deliberate, planned and intentional approach to help us build for the future. The plan is intended to embrace all community members while reflecting the acute challenges presented by the pandemic,” said Bruce Lauckner, Chief Administrative Officer, Region of Waterloo
“We are committed to investing in the provision of high quality service to our 600,000 residents. We have managed our finances prudently and we will continue to address the challenges of the pandemic through prioritization of our strategic plan as well as tackling the economic challenges all of our residents are facing,” said Councillor Sean Strickland, Chair Budget Committee, Region of Waterloo
In addition to driving forward with providing critical services such as clean water, public health, transit, affordable housing, social services and paramedic services, the plan focuses further on:
- supporting our most vulnerable through additional investments in affordable housing;
- addressing inequities in our community;
- modernizing and streamlining of service provision, including investment in technology to enhance citizen services; and
- ongoing management of the COVID-19 pandemic and support to impacted businesses and impacted workforce.
“The Region of Waterloo has navigated diligently and nimbly through the pandemic, but we are still in unprecedented times. If issues are not addressed today, they will be magnified in 2021, 2022 and beyond,” said Karen Redman, Regional Chair.
Have your say
Despite the restrictions in place around the COVID-19 pandemic, there are meaningful opportunities for community members to provide input on the 2021 budget.
Here is how residents, business and stakeholders can review the proposed 2021 budget and provide their feedback:
- Budget Committee meetings begin November 25
- Budget Public Input Meeting: December 16
- Delegation registration: https://forms.regionofwaterloo.ca/Council-and-Administrative-Services/Delegation-Registration
- The deadline to register as a delegation is Monday, December 14, 2020 at 4:30 p.m.
- Online survey for feedback: https://www.engagewr.ca/2021-budget will stay open until December 20, 2020.
- Written submissions to: Regional Clerk, Region of Waterloo, 150 Frederick Street, 2nd Floor, Kitchener, ON N2G 4J3
For more information, please contact:
TJ Flynn, Acting Director, Corporate Communications at 519-575-4400 ext. 3301 or