York Regional Council Highlights

Region to request additional funding from Province

 for child care fee assistance and early intervention services

Regional Council approved recommendations to request additional funding from the Provincial Government to address the wait list for child care fee assistance, and to cover the funding shortfall and address the wait list of children in need of Early Intervention Services (EIS).

York Region is currently maximizing child care fee assistance funding.  The fact that Provincial funding levels have remained the same, while the child population 0 to 12 years of age has risen by 13% since 1996, contributes to increasing pressure on the child care system and on low-income families in York Region.  This has resulted in an extensive wait list for child care fee assistance, which was at 1,124 in January 2004.

EIS has responded to the increased service demands and expanded population requirements with improved service delivery and customer service.  However, since Provincial funding has not kept pace with the child population growth in York Region, an average of only 1.3% of all children 0 to 6 years of age receive EIS.  Research indicates that at least 5% of this population will need these services.  The Region contributes additional funding to serve an additional 300 children; however 79 children are still on the waiting list.

Region receives funding to enable children of low-income families

to participate in sport and recreational activities

Regional Council received a report from Community Services and Housing Committee announcing that the Region successfully secured $45,000 in funding from the Ministry of Tourism and Recreation’s Community Sport Opportunity Fund.  The funding will allow the Region to proceed with the Positive Leisure Activities for Youth (PLAY) project.  The Region matched this funding with $38,600 in National Child Benefit funding and $6,400 in-kind contributions.

The PLAY project provides eligible children (low-income, financially-assisted and recipients of subsidized housing), aged 6 to 12 years with access to approved recreation programs throughout the year; an after-school program at four of the Region’s social housing properties; and scholarships to eligible youth to participate in leadership courses such as Aquatic Lifeguarding and Leader-In-Training.

Removing radioactive materials in residential solid waste

In an effort to eliminate radioactive materials from solid waste sent to Michigan, Regional Council approved a motion to ask municipalities to amend their collection by-laws and enforcement procedures to ensure that radioactive materials do not enter the disposable waste stream.

Because the majority of radioactive waste comes from medical patients, Council also recommended working with other GTA Health Units to ensure that proper disposal protocols are followed.

Implementation of the Region’s First Annual Accessibility Plan well underway

Regional Council received an update report on the development of the Region’s second accessibility plan and status of the Region’s implementation of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA).

Last September, Council approved and released Understanding Barriers: York Region’s First Annual Accessibility Plan.  In 2004, requirements under the ODA include implementation and monitoring of the Accessibility Plan, development for the second plan and ongoing support to the Region’s Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC).  Implementation of the Region’s Accessibility Plan is well underway, focusing on identification of barriers.  Planning is also underway for the development of a second plan that will include public consultation.

The Ontario Accessibility Directorate, the provincial body responsible for the ODA, intends to highlight York Region as a best practice for the accessibility planning process developed in creating Understanding Barriers, and has also approached the Region’s AAC to participate in the development of a handbook to assist AACs in carrying out their legislated mandate.

Region approves Solid Waste Management promotion and education plan

Having approved a Solid Waste Management Communications Strategy in May 2004, York Regional Council has now approved a promotion and education plan to educate residents on the need for waste diversion.

Operating on the philosophy that informed residents are more likely to fully participate in recycling efforts, the promotion and education plan includes advertising and community outreach to assist the Region in attaining its goal of 50% waste diversion from landfills.

Council has allocated $350,000 for the plan, which includes the hiring of a coordinator and outreach personnel.

Waste Diversion Ontario funding

York Region received $717,507 from Waste Diversion Ontario and Stewardship Ontario to offset the costs associated with the Blue Box and other recycling programs.  Council decided to divide the funds based on net costs incurred by the area municipalities with their collection programs.  The breakdown is as follows:

     Aurora                                 $ 33,763                          East Gwillimbury                     $ 32,467

     Georgina                              $ 33,567                          King                                       $ 22,074

     Markham                             $294,834                         Richmond Hill             $108,905

     Vaughan                              $159,242                         Whitchurch-Stouffville $ 32,655

Newmarket is separate from the other municipalities, as they have their own contract to process recyclables.

Region to participate in Province’s revised

Strong Communities Rent Supplement program

Regional Council approved a recommendation to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Province to participate in a revised Strong Communities Rent Supplement Program.

Originally announced in January 2000, the Rent Supplement Program involves the service manager entering into a contract with a landlord to pay the difference between the agreed market rent and the geared-to-income rent charged to a low or modest income household.  The units are filled with applicants from the centralized waiting list and the Region invoices the Province for the full cost of the subsidies provided.  Under the revised program, guidelines eliminate the invoicing process in favour of a fixed block funding allocation guaranteed to 2023.  The Region is to receive an initial block funding allocation of $2,423,081.05.

Staff is in the process of estimating the number of households that can be served with the Provincial funding.  In the meantime, the Region will enter into an agreement with the Salvation Army to pilot a referral program for short-term rent supplements for up to 12 households who are temporarily unable to afford their rent due to certain circumstances.

Council endorses draft joint actions to improve air quality

to be announced at 2004 Smog Summit

Regional Council endorsed the GTA Clean Air Council (CAC) draft joint actions to improve air quality, which will be announced at the fifth annual Smog Summit to be held later this month in Toronto.  York Region has been a member of the GTA CAC since 2001, supporting its aim to tackle smog and greenhouse gas emissions in the GTA. 

The theme of the 2004 Smog Summit will be the natural and built environment with an emphasis on energy efficiency.  As part of the Summit, York Region will participate in a municipal roundtable discussion, represented by Vaughan Regional Councillor Joyce Frustaglio, Chair of the Health and Emergency Medical Services Committee, to highlight the Region’s commitment to smog reduction.  Councillor Frustaglio will share and highlight the Region’s activities relating to its Energy and Environmental Management System, GTA Smart Commute Initiative and Greening Strategy.

Richmond Hill Regional Councillor Hogg re-elected to Federation of Canadian Municipalities National Board of Directors

Regional Chair and CEO Bill Fisch acknowledged and congratulated Richmond Hill Regional Councillor Brenda Hogg on her successful re-election to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) 2004-2005 National Board of Directors.  This will be Councillor Hogg’s 8^th term as FCM Director.

FCM, the national voice of municipal government since 1901, is dedicated to improving the quality of life in all communities by promoting strong, effective and accountable municipal government.

Newmarket Health Centre rates excellent after

 surprise inspection by Province

Regional Council received a Health and EMS Committee report stating that overall standards of care at York Region’s Newmarket Health Centre were found to be excellent and in substantial compliance with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) Standards and Guidelines for Long Term Care Facilities.  This was the conclusion after the Newmarket Health Centre received its first surprise inspection by a MOHLTC Compliance Advisor/Officer earlier this year.

On February 23, 2004, an MOHLTC Compliance Advisor arrived unannounced with no pre-warning and found that the residents were well cared for, clean and well groomed. In the wrap-up report, the Compliance Advisor noted that the Newmarket Health Centre continues to be resident focussed, has an excellent reputation in York Region and has become well known in the community for providing high quality care, services and programs for clients.  Criteria related to three standards were not fully met; however, immediate measures were taken to rectify the areas identified.

On January 1^st, 2004, the MOHLTC instituted surprise annual inspections of long-term care facilities by a Compliance Advisor/Officer.  The inspection/Compliance Review audits nursing and medical care, dietary and nutritional programs, activation and rehabilitation services, environmental services and conditions, financial and administrative practices.

Council endorses Call to Action:

Creating a Healthy School Nutrition Environment

Regional Council endorsed a report from the Ontario Society of Nutrition Professionals in Public Health (OSNPPH), which challenges the provincial government, boards of education, school communities and public health units to act on their role in establishing supportive nutrition environments in schools.

The report, entitled Call to Action: Creating a Healthy School Nutrition Environment, identifies the importance of healthy eating in schools and presents the link between nutritional health, learning and chronic disease in children.  Nine recommendations are included in the report for a healthy school environment.

The Region is currently taking an active role in the education and policy development components directly related to the nine recommendations included in Call to Action through the Health Department’s Chronic Disease Prevention Program.