NEWS RELEASE
REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK
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York Region Chair thanks members of council
During the final council meeting of the 2014 to 2018 term, York Region Chair and CEO Wayne Emmerson thanked all members of council for their contributions to our strong, safe and caring communities.
Highlights of this council term include:
- Opened four stations of Line 1 subway extension into York Region
- Established York Net and continued a commitment to improve broadband
- Approved amendments to the 2018 Development Charge Bylaw
- Opened new Forest Stewardship and Education Centre named after York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch
- Developed a Senior Strategy to best support the aging population over the next 10 to 20 years
- Town of Newmarket Mayor Tony Van Bynen; 15 years as Mayor and Regional Councillor
- Town of Aurora Mayor Geoffry Dawe; eight years as Mayor
- Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Justin Altmann; four years as Mayor
- Town of Richmond Hill Regional Councillor Brenda Hogg; 18 years as Regional Councillor
- Town of Richmond Hill Regional Councillor Vito Spatafora; 12 years as Regional Councillor
- City of Markham Regional Councillor Nirmala Armstrong; four years as Regional Councillor
- Town of Georgina Regional Councillor Naomi Davison; two years as Regional Councillor
- City of Vaughan Regional Councillor Sunder Singh; 1.5 years as Regional Councillor
Council requests Buttonville Airport control tower remain open
In response to the planned closure of the air traffic control tower at Buttonville Airport, York Regional Council voted unanimously to request its continued presence at one of Ontario’s busiest airports. Council is advising The Honourable Marc Garneau, MP, Minister of Transport, to share the Region’s stance on the closure with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and local MPs and MPPs.
The air traffic control tower at Buttonville Airport in the City of Markham is set to close on Jan. 3, 2019 due to outdated information showing a decline in operations and an impending full closure of the airport. With the airport now planned to remain open for at least five additional years, air traffic has increased. The safety of York Region’s residents would be at risk if the air traffic control tower shuts down due to lack of planning and communication both in the air and on the ground.
Dr. Alanna Fitzgerald-Husek and Dr. Fareen Karachiwalla appointed as Associate Medical Officers of Health
York Regional Council appointed Dr. Alanna Fitzgerald-Husek and Dr. Fareen Karachiwalla as Associate Medical Officers of Health (AMOH) for The Regional Municipality of York, effective Nov. 15, 2018.
After specializing in public health and preventive medicine, Dr. Alanna Fitzgerald-Husek worked for over a year at Public Health Ontario and has co-authored various reports on emerging diseases and outbreaks.
Dr. Karachiwalla has worked as a family physician in various settings. Most recently she was an Associate Medical Officer of Health at the Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington Public Health Unit.
Under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, the AMOH will increase the Region’s capacity to effectively respond to emerging diseases, outbreaks, infection control lapses and provide direction in the management of infections diseases.
York Region receives an A for budget reporting
York Region received an A in the recently released CD Howe report, Show Us the Numbers: Grading the Financial Reports of Canada’s Municipalities, a measure of the clarity of budget information presented to the public.
York Region is committed to equity, fairness and transparency, including the budget process and how it is presented to residents.
Milestone Date for start of York University Markham Centre Campus construction extended
York Regional Council has approved an extension to the milestone date for the start of York University Markham Centre Campus construction to Dec. 31, 2019.
In September 2014, Council approved a memo of understanding with York University, providing $25 million in financial support for a new campus with start of construction by Dec. 31, 2018.
It is the intent of York University to try to proceed with the Markham campus with the support of York Region, the City of Markham and Seneca College, despite the current loss of provincial funding. This extension will allow York University to retain eligibility for the Region's funding as they work toward replacing the provincial funding share.
York Region remains committed to take action on climate change
York Regional Council reaffirmed its commitment and municipal perspective on climate change in light of the provincial cancellation of the Cap and Trade Act, 2018.
York Region has a significant stake in addressing climate change given the Region’s role in delivering services directly to residents. The Region is committed to work with the province and supports the development of provincial climate change policies through a municipal advisory group that can provide practical solutions.
Recommendations for a policy framework include:
- Identify long-term emission reduction targets
- Commit to annual reporting of results in the Climate Change Action Plan
- Support and build municipal efforts to mitigate climate change
- Explore ways to support innovative technology
- Assess Ontario’s key vulnerabilities, provide future climate information and encourage resiliency
- Continue engagement on both the developments and monitoring of the plan
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