York Regional Council Highlights - March 26, 2026

March 31, 2026

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

York Region Transit celebrates 25 years of service

York Regional Council recognized the 25th anniversary of York Region Transit (YRT), marking a quarter-century of connecting people and places across the Region. Since its launch, YRT has grown into a key service that supports safe, reliable and accessible mobility for residents while helping build more connected communities.

Council acknowledged the contributions of transit staff and the vital role YRT continues to play in supporting growth, sustainability and quality of life across York Region.

Throughout 2026, YRT is hosting special events, displays, community open houses and a “Transit Memories” contest that invites riders to share meaningful transit stories for a chance to win anniversary prize packs.

More information about the York Region Transit’s 25th anniversary celebration can be found at YRT/Celebrate25

Public health assessment supports community well-being

Regional Council received the Public Health Assessment and 2025 Key Trends Report, which provides an overview of residents’ health and well-being and identifies emerging trends to support future public health planning and service delivery.

While York Region remains among the healthiest communities in Ontario, with high life expectancy and a strong sense of community belonging, the report highlights where inequities persist and where focused action is required.

Key findings include:  

  • Chronic diseases remain the leading cause of death
  • Mental health concerns are rising, particularly among youth
  • Health behaviours such as physical activity, nutrition and sleep fall below recommended levels
  • Food insecurity has nearly doubled since 2019
  • Vaccine-preventable diseases have increased significantly
  • Extreme heat is an emerging risk linked to climate change

The report also identifies opportunities to better support populations facing inequities related to income, housing instability and access to services. By combining data, insights and an interactive dashboard. York Region is strengthening evidence-based decision-making to improve health outcomes and reduce inequities across the community.

For more information or to explore the interactive Public Health Assessment Dashboard, visit york.ca/HealthData

York Region supports efforts to strengthen Ontario’s economy and supply chains through contributions to proposed Buy Ontario policies  

Regional Council received an update on The Regional Municipality of York's submission to the Province of Ontario on proposed Buy Ontario policies under the Buy Ontario Act (Public Sector Procurement), 2025.

The Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement requested public input on proposed procurement directives under the act. The updated policies would require public sector entities to give preference to Ontario-made goods and services in areas such as light duty fleet vehicles and major goods and services for capital infrastructure and construction projects.

York Region supports the Province’s efforts to strengthen Ontario’s economy, build a resilient domestic supply chain, create jobs and support local industries. Through its submission, York Region is requesting clarity on feasibility, exemptions, applicable trade treaty compliance and timelines on proposed directives to ensure successful implementation and to continue delivering critical infrastructure and Regional services.

York Region is committed to working collaboratively with the Province and aligning Regional procurement procedures once policies are finalized.

Updated Vision will guide growth and strengthen communities

Regional Council has approved a refreshed Vision that reaffirms York Region’s commitment to building strong, caring and safe communities, while reflecting the evolving needs of the Region’s 1.29 million residents. The update provides clearer direction by emphasizing resilience, inclusion and accessibility.

Vision continues to focus on four key areas: economic vitality, healthy communities, a sustainable environment and good government, with greater emphasis on priorities such as affordability, innovation, mobility and trust in government. Council will align strategic planning and budgeting to support long-term value and respond to growth.

Progress will be tracked through community indicators and organizational performance measures, aligned with global standards, ensuring accountability and measurable results for residents.

To learn more about the Region’s Vision, visit york.ca/Vision

York Region enhanced emergency readiness and resilience

Regional Council received the 2025 Emergency Management Annual Report, outlining continued progress in strengthening emergency preparedness and maintaining full compliance with provincial legislation, including the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, 2024 and Ontario Regulation 380/04.

The report highlights key activities undertaken to support emergency readiness, including hazard identification and risk assessments, updates to the Regional Emergency Management Plan, staff and partner training, emergency exercises and public education. More than 760 staff and partners received training in 2025, and Council approved updates to the emergency management bylaw to reflect current requirements and clarify roles and responsibilities.

York Region identified severe weather, cyber attacks, infectious diseases, tornadoes, flooding and telecommunications disruptions among its top risks. The Region continues to work with municipal and community partners to strengthen coordinated response capabilities across all nine cities and towns.

Learn more about how to prepare for an emergency by visiting york.ca/BePrepared

Expanding access to life-saving AEDs across York Region

Regional Council supported a motion from City of Richmond Hill Regional Councillor Joe DiPaola to strengthen emergency preparedness and improve survival outcomes for residents experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.

Recognizing timely access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) can save lives, Council directed staff to ensure all publicly accessible AEDs in Regional facilities are registered with AED Foundation Ontario, the province’s official AED registry.

Council also directed staff to develop and promote awareness initiatives to encourage private businesses and community organizations to register their AEDs and help educate residents on their importance and use. These efforts aim to improve response times in cardiac emergencies and enhance community safety across York Region.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Advisory Committee presented with EDOC Award of Excellence

York Region Chairman and CEO Eric Jolliffe joined Town of Georgina Regional Councillor Naomi Davison and formally presented York Region’s Agriculture and Agri-Food Advisory Committee with the Economic Developers Council of Ontario’s (EDCO) 2025 Award of Excellence. The award was received in the Planning and Strategic Development category for York Region’s 2024–2027 Agriculture and Agri-Food Sector Strategy.

The award recognizes innovative and collaborative economic development initiatives across Ontario. York Region’s agriculture and agri-food sectors continue to play a vital role in the regional economy, contributing $3.8 billion annually to GDP and supporting 67,000 jobs.

Developed in partnership with all nine local municipalities, the Agriculture and Agri-Food Advisory Committee and industry stakeholders, the strategy is advancing key priorities, with more than 60% of planned actions underway. Implementation will continue through 2027, with ongoing monitoring to ensure continued impact and responsiveness to emerging needs.

March Observances

Regional Council recognized the following observances in March 2026:

Next meeting of York Regional Council

The next Meeting of York Regional Council will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 9 a.m. in the York Region Administrative Centre Council Chambers, located at 17250 Yonge Street in the Town of Newmarket. Meetings are 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 1.3 million residents and 54,000 businesses with over 624,000 employees. More information about the Region’s key service areas is available at york.ca/RegionalServices

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Compiled by:

Kylie-Anne Doerner, Corporate Communications,
The Regional Municipality of York
Phone: 905-806-7138
Email: @email