Council Highlights - December 2024

Dec 17, 2024

Council highlights gives an overview of important decisions, discussions, and agenda items from Whitby Council meetings. The goal is to give residents a snapshot of the meetings. More information, including Council meeting minutes, can be found at whitby.ca/CouncilCalendar

Whitby’s 2025-2027 Budget was adopted following a special Council meeting on Nov. 28.

The final budget amendment, unanimously approved by Council, results in a 3.99 per cent budget tax levy increase for 2025, 2026, and 2027. The numbers for 2026 and 2027 will be reviewed annually with continued efforts to find efficiencies and new revenue opportunities.

The 2025 budget focuses on delivering action items in Whitby’s Community Strategic Plan, and investing in Council-approved initiatives like the Whitby Sports Complex, a new fire hall, and additional firefighters to support growth.

The $186.5 million operating budget supports the continued delivery of programs and services such as fire services, waste collection, parks and trails, maintenance of roads and community facilities, recreation, and libraries. The budget also includes $50.8 million in capital investments like:

  • continued construction of the Whitby Sports Complex
  • land purchase, design, and construction to support a new Fire Hall in West Whitby, as well as 20 new firefighters to staff it
  • playground redevelopments at multiple park locations, including Vipond, Sato, Powell, and D’Hillier
  • waterfront improvements, including around the Historic James Rowe House
  • new and improved multi-use path and cycling connections
  • new traffic safety and calming measures, including pedestrian crossings and traffic signal replacements/signage; and, road maintenance, resurfacing, and reconstruction

A report received for information by Council on Dec. 16 notes the Town is working with Paradigm Transportation Solutions Limited to develop a Traffic Calming Guide and Policy. The goal is to create a framework for initiating, assessing, implementing, and monitoring traffic calming measures. Three stakeholder workshops will take place between November 2024 and January 2025 and public consultation is planned for March 2025. A report to Council is expected in April 2025. The Town is currently installing traffic calming elements on 10 streets annually. Examples include speed humps, speed cushions, radar message speed feedback signage, in-road flexible bollards, area-specific speed limits, and a raised crosswalk. Public consultation will be a key component of the new guide and policy with a standardized public engagement process incorporated into how future traffic calming projects are developed.

Aird and Berlis LLP has completed an investigation into allegations that a closed Council meeting took place Oct. 7, 2024, in violation of the Municipal Act. The investigation report notes that “while a quorum of Council was present at the recess” that took place during the Oct. 7 meeting, “no members of Council had any discussions that materially advanced Council business and Council did not make any decisions.” The report, which was received by Council for information on Dec. 16, further notes “we find Council did not contravene the open meeting requirements of the Municipal Act, 2001 during the Recess. The discussion did not constitute a ‘meeting’ as Council did not materially advance any business or decision-making.”

On Dec. 16, Council endorsed a motion calling for the provincial government to consider redistributing a portion of the Land Transfer Tax collected on property transactions to municipalities; and the federal government to allocate a percentage of the GST collected on property sales to municipalities. The motion notes current courses of municipal revenue such as property taxes and user fees are insufficient to meet increasing infrastructure needs including roads, bridges, public transit, water systems, and other critical services. Redistributing a portion of the Provincial Land Transfer Tax and GST to municipalities “would provide a predictable and sustainable source of funding for local infrastructure projects without creating a new tax burden on residents or homebuyers” the motion says. Copies of the resolution will be forwarded to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Doug Ford, the Ontario Minister of Finance, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, local MPs, and MPPs. Copies will also be sent to local municipalities in Durham Region, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario for endorsement and advocacy.

Council has approved an amendment to the Whitby Official Plan to permit up to three additional residential dwelling units as of right for a total of four on parcels of urban residential land. In 2023, Council directed Town staff to complete work to permit four residential units as of right in support of the Town’s Housing Accelerator Fund application. In January 2024, the Town was allotted $24.9 million in federal Housing Accelerator funding. In part, this funding will support additional housing units in Whitby through the permission for up to four dwelling units on parcels of urban residential land subject to zoning compliance. Whitby Council has pledged to facilitate the development of 18,000 new dwelling units by 2031. Allowing up to four dwelling units on parcels of urban residential land subject to zoning compliance will help the Town meet this target.

On Dec.16, Council endorsed a motion calling on the province to reduce or eliminate tolls on Hwy. 407 East from Brock Road in Pickering to Highway 35/115. The motion requests that the mayor write a letter on behalf of Council that outlines the motion and direct it to Premier Doug Ford, the Minister of Transportation, all Durham Region MPPs, all Durham municipalities, the City of Kawartha Lakes, the Township of Cavan Monaghan, the City of Peterborough, the Ontario Trucking Association, and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Whitby Council has previously advocated for the removal of tolls on Hwy. 407 East through Resolution # 60-24 adopted at the March 18, 2024, regular Council meeting in order to boost economic development, improve travel times, and alleviate traffic impacts in Durham Region. The Dec. 16 motion notes that, at a media appearance on October 25, 2024, Premier Ford said he has asked the Minister of Transportation to review reducing or eliminating tolls on the provincially owned portion of the highway, including doing a feasibility study.
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