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York Regional Council - Thursday, May 22, 2025

June 04, 2025

Live streaming of the public session of Council and Committee of the Whole meetings is available on the day of the meeting from 9 a.m. until the close of the meeting. Past sessions are available at york.ca/CouncilAndCommittee

$7.4 billion for York Region Public Works infrastructure supports growth and daily life

York Regional Council received an update on how roads, water and wastewater capital infrastructure projects are keeping people and goods moving, maintaining and improving water networks and enabling future growth.

Updates from roads and water and wastewater capital infrastructure projects include:

  • Investing $2.7 billion in road projects and $4.64 billion in water and wastewater projects for growth and asset management under the 10-year Capital Plan
  • Planning for 29 active Roads Capital Program growth projects and 172 active asset management projects for 2025; work includes widening roads in the most congested urban areas and near new development, mid-block crossings over 400-series highways, improved intersections, new multi-use paths and streetscaping
  • Maintaining 166 active projects for the Water and Wastewater Capital Program; work focuses on building the regional trunk system, keeping infrastructure in a state of good repair and managing system risk and resiliency
  • Advancing key water and wastewater projects in the 2025 10-Year Capital Plan, including the provincially mandated York Region Sewage Works Project, along with other critical upgrades to the York Durham Sewage System, servicing in City of Vaughan and Township of King, facility improvements in the Town of Georgina and environmental studies for MZO lands in the City of Markham and Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville

York Region is expected to grow to over two million people and over 900,000 jobs by 2051. York Region’s Transportation Master Plan and Water and Wastewater Master Plan guide infrastructure investments to ensure services meet the needs of growing communities.

York Region Transit enhances safety and security amid record ridership in 2024

Regional Council received an update on the 2024 York Region Transit (YRT) Enforcement and Security Report. The report highlights ongoing efforts to ensure public safety across the YRT transit system while providing a convenient and comfortable experience for travellers.

Ridership reached a record of nearly 24 million trips in 2024 as more people choose to use YRT to get to work and school, shop or visit.

2024 YRT Enforcement and Security highlights include:

  • Engaging 19,000 customer service interactions, primarily answering questions related to service
  • Collaborating and participating in anti-human trafficking events
  • Participating in the annual Cold Weather Response Plan and Heat Relief Strategy for people experiencing homelessness; transit officers are equipped with heat/cold relief packages for distribution for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness
  • Reporting an 18% increase in assistance or aid to the public related to YRT, including supporting those at risk of or experiencing homelessness

YRT Enforcement reported over 15,200 safety and security events in 2024. There was a reduction in safety and security incidents reported for 2024, including a 15% decline in both disorderly conduct and crimes against property and a 1% decline in trespassing. Learn more at yrt.ca/Enforcement

York Region grows a greener future with 123,000 new trees and shrubs planted in 2024

York Region's 2024 Greening Strategy achievements showcases York Region’s collaborative efforts with partners and local cities and towns in helping safeguard our natural environment.

The 2024 Greening Strategy surpassed expectations across multiple key areas, contributing to a greener York Region, including:

Becoming the first municipality in the world to achieve certification under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standards as certified by Preferred by Nature, demonstrating leadership in forestry and sustainability management and best practices

  • Planting 123,823 trees and shrubs in schoolyards, backyards, parks, private forests, conservation areas, along streets and in the York Regional Forest; up by over 7,600 trees and shrubs from 2023
  • Celebrating the 100th year anniversary of the York Regional Forest, marking York Region’s strong commitment to protecting and restoring the natural environment
  • Taking part in 159 outreach events and engaging 16,752 participants to foster environmental stewardship and action
  • Maintaining over 77,000 trees along Regional roads and recently acquiring the 65-hectare (161-acre) Sylvestre Woodlands in the Town of East Gwillimbury to grow public green spaces

Regional Council approved a new Street Tree Removal Offsetting Policy to support sustainability goals and standardize offsetting practices. The number of replacement trees is determined based on size, health condition and species of the removed tree.

Learn more about York Region’s Greening Strategy at york.ca/Greening

York Region using collaborative project delivery model for Sewage Works Project to increase innovation and flexibility  

Regional Council approved the ‘Construction Manager at Risk’ (CMAR) contract model to deliver components of the York Region Sewage Works Project. The CMAR approach assists with meeting the 2028 implementation timeline by supporting overlapping design and construction phases and allowing construction to advance with early material procurement.

Twenty-two project components are identified in the York Region Sewage Work Project Report for the York Durham Sewage System North Expansion. Traditionally, York Region would use a Design-Bid-Build (DBB) contract to deliver most small-scale infrastructure projects; however, larger scale infrastructure projects in the Region’s 10-Year Capital Plan pose an opportunity to explore more innovative and collaborative contracting methods like CMAR.

The York Region Sewage Works Project will expand and improve the existing York Durham Sewage System, including new or expanded wastewater sewers, pumping stations and enhancements to the Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant on the shore of Lake Ontario in the City of Pickering.

Learn more about the York Region Sewage Works Project at york.ca/SewageProject

Economic Development Action Plan continues strengthening York Region business community

Regional Council received a 2024-2027 Economic Development Action Plan update, highlighting the activities and outcomes throughout 2024 to support York Region businesses.

The plan focuses on business support, building innovation, talent attraction and marketing and awareness. 2024 achievements and initiatives underway include:

While actions in the Council-approved plan are progressing well, York Region continues to adapt to changing economic conditions and incorporate tailored business supports in collaboration with local municipalities and industry partners. This includes reestablishing the Business

Recovery Support Partnership, delivering a range of tariff and trade supports and continuously building resources at YorkLink.ca/Trade

Key facts about York Region’s economic landscape:

  • Ontario’s third largest manufacturing hub; 5th largest in Canada
  • Three of GTA’s five largest corporate Research and Development investors
  • Canada’s largest independent auto parts and electronics manufacturing industry cluster
  • One of Canada’s largest technology sector hubs with over 4,900 Information and Communications Technology companies
  • Ontario’s second largest food and beverage processing sector and fourth largest in Canada

For more information on local business supports and resources, supporting the local economy and navigating the economic impacts in response to tariffs, visit york.ca/Tariffs

For more information on economic development in York Region and available resources to grow a business, visit YorkLink.ca

Year 2 Strategic Plan Progress Report shows positive results

Regional Council received the Year 2 (2024) Progress Report on the 2023 to 2027 Strategic Plan. The report shows 71% of performance measures are trending in the desired direction, reflecting strong progress in advancing Council’s four priority areas: Economic Vitality, Healthy Communities, Sustainable Environment and Good Government.

Key Strategic Plan achievements include record-high transit ridership, advancement of 675 new community housing units, planting over 122,000 trees and shrubs and recognition by Forbes as one of Canada’s Best Employers for the fourth consecutive year.

To support long-term planning, Council also approved a Special Meeting on Council’s Vision for September 4, 2025, which will help shape the next Strategic Plan for 2027 to 2031.

Collection of Provincial Offences Fines Update

Regional Council received an update on the collection of defaulted fines under the Provincial Offences Act.

Key highlights include:

  • By improving processes and enforcement options, York Region successfully collected $7.4 million in default fine revenue in 2024, a 10% increase in default fine revenue
  • Throughout 2025, York Region will continue advancing modernization strategies to further optimize the collections program; this includes a more targeted approach to collection practices, improving defendant contact information and further streamlining enforcement processes
  • Effective January 1, 2026, York Region’s default fine fee will increase by $23 to support collections program cost recovery; this adjustment will bring York Region’s total default fine fees to $88, which includes the provincially legislated $40 default fee and aligns with the fee structures of several other Provincial Offences Act courts across Ontario  

The Provincial Offences Act gives defendants charged with an offence three options: pay the fine, dispute the charge through walk-in guilty process or request a trial. If a defendant fails to choose one of these options or fails to pay the fine imposed by the court, the fine goes into default.

In rare instances - and in accordance with Ministry directives and guidelines - certain defaulted fines may be deemed uncollectable and appropriate for administrative write-off. In such cases, a defendant is never absolved from the requirement to pay a fine as debts to the Crown are owed in perpetuity. Accordingly, collection activities related to written-off accounts can be reinstated if conditions change.

Information regarding the payment of fines can be found online at york.ca/Courts

York Region approves property tax policies to help address housing affordability

Regional Council received the 2025 Property Tax Policy Report and approved the following changes to help address housing affordability challenges in York Region:

  • Introducing 35% municipal tax rate discount for new multi-residential/purpose-built rental developments
  • Eliminating the municipal property tax rate discount for vacant and excess properties to support development objectives and improve tax equity
  • Updating the property tax deferral program eligibility for low-income seniors and low-income persons with disabilities to better align with other municipalities and legislated requirements

Visit york.ca/DevelopmentChargeImpacts for more details on how York Region is working to support housing affordability initiatives.

York Region considering allocation of additional $25 million for York University School of Medicine

Regional Council received an update on the York University Markham Campus following the Region’s initial funding commitment of $25 million, authorized in 2014. Through the update, Dr. Rhonda Lenton, York University President and Vice-Chancellor, shared this potential added investment would be allocated to support the York University School of Medicine, opening by 2028.

This additional funding in the York University School of Medicine would help encourage expansion of health care, specifically in the primary care area. Funding would support the training and supply of physicians and expand research, training and technological innovation, contributing to the vibrant economy and work force in York Region.

The York University School of Medicine is also collaborating with hospital partners, including the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, to produce the next generation of health care talent.

York Region will consider the investment contribution as part of the 2026 budget and business planning process.

Mackenzie Health and Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital update

Regional Council received an update from Mackenzie Health, which operates Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital.

Both hospitals have experienced high volumes during the recent respiratory season with 14,500 more emergency department visits this respiratory season compared to last year. First opened in 2021, Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital is currently experiencing the second highest emergency department volumes in the province.

Mackenzie Health continues to build capacity to support growing communities, including:

  • Supporting a Family Practice Navigation clinic, which connects hundreds of patients with family doctors
  • Making progress on seniors’ village, including a 256-bed long-term care home
  • Launched a community stroke rehab program
  • Opened a 12-bed transitional care unit
  • Sharing Epic electronic medical record expertise

CEO and president, Altaf Stationwala, also announced he will be leaving his role after 14 years of dedicated and transformative work at Mackenzie Health to join Unity Health in the City of Toronto as CEO. Mary-Agnes Wilson will act as Mackenzie Health’s interim President and CEO.  

To date, York Region has contributed $109.2 million to the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital project

Paramedic Services Week 2025

Paramedic Services Week, May 18 to 25, 2025, recognizes the critical role paramedics play across Canada to care for people in their communities. This year’s theme is “We Care for Everyone.”

In addition to Paramedic Services Week, York Region Paramedic Services is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. Following the provincial download of land ambulance services to upper-tier municipalities in 2000, York Region consolidated the six previously independent and government-run ambulance services into a unified system.

Today, York Region Paramedic Services employs nearly 800 staff members, including 550 frontline paramedics, community paramedics and special operations paramedics, who have demonstrated bravery, dedication and service to the Region’s communities during times of emergency or crisis.

Learn more at york.ca/Paramedics

York Region Extends Condolences Following Vancouver Tragedy

Regional Council recognized the tragic events that occurred at Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day Festival on April 26, 2025, where a vehicle attack claimed 11 lives and injured many others. In emphasizing its unwavering commitment to fostering inclusive and safe communities where cultural celebrations can be enjoyed without fear, Regional Council also extended condolences to the victims, their families and the Filipino community in York Region, Vancouver and across Canada.

May Observances

Regional Council recognized the following observances in May 2025:

Next meeting of York Regional Council

The next Meeting of York Regional Council will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at 9 a.m. in the York Region Administrative Centre Council Chambers, located at 17250 Yonge Street in the Town of Newmarket. Both meetings will be streamed on york.ca/Live

The Regional Municipality of York consists of nine local cities and towns and provides a variety of programs and services to 1.29 million residents and 57,000 businesses with approximately 624,000 employees. More information about York Region’s key service areas is available at york.ca/RegionalServices 

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Media Contact:

Barbara Schnier, Corporate Communications
The Regional Municipality of York
Cell: 905-505-5775
Email: @email