Whitby Council Highlights - April 2026

Council has endorsed a Hotel and Conference Centre Attraction program to incentivize timely development by deferring the Town’s portion of development charges from the time of building permit issuance to the time of occupancy permit issuance.

The program will limit the number of deferrals to two projects -- one hotel and one hotel-conference centre -- on a first approved basis and will include an incentive for timely construction. The Town will launch the program on April 27, 2026, via the Economic Development webpage on the Town’s website.

The website will include the application form and will be updated with information throughout the duration of the program, including the number of applications received and successful applicants.

Mayor Roy has sent a letter on behalf of the Town to federal Transportation Minister Steven MacKinnon requesting formal engagement on the new Alto high-speed rail project. Whitby is not currently identified as a station location, however routing options under assessment may run north of Whitby and could potentially intersect with existing rail or rural areas.

The letter notes that -- without early and transparent engagement – “significant implications” could arise for land use planning, agricultural lands, transportation networks, municipal infrastructure, and long-term growth management. Impacts could include grade separations, road realignments, environmental considerations, and integration challenges with concurrent initiatives like the GO East Expansion to Bowmanville.

Requests in the letter include a detailed technical briefing for Town staff and Whitby Council, and assurance that Whitby will be formally included in engagement activities with municipalities and other stakeholders. The letter was received by Council for information.

Council has voted to support the continued operation of Luther Vipond Memorial Arena (LVMA) in Brooklin for floor-based programming, which reflects what residents asked for during a recent community engagement process. Constructed in 1972-73, LVMA is a key community hub named in honour of Luther Vipond, a lifelong resident and arena manager from 1953 to 1979. Over the decades, the arena has hosted a range of activities, including ice sports, floor sports, and community events.

 In fall 2026, ice programs at LVMA will be relocated to the new Fieldgate Sports Complex, which features twin-pad arenas. Over 1,300 people participated in community engagement on future short-term uses for LVMA. As a result of that feedback, Town staff recommended supporting indoor floor-based activities at the facility, including lacrosse, ball hockey and soccer, until there is greater clarity regarding the volume and nature of user demand.

This approach also enables accommodation of limited community events, such as the Brooklin Spring Fair and Durham Farm Connections. Long-term future use of LVMA will be determined after demand is assessed and will be reviewed as a part of the Brooklin Memorial Park Master Plan, with consultation set to begin in 2029.

Council approved $85,000 to decommission the refrigeration system and make needed roof repairs, with funding coming from the Asset Management Reserve.

Council has approved a motion requesting that the province strengthen sanctions for coercive or politically motivated misuse of office by municipal council members. The Municipal Act and municipal codes of conduct establish ethical expectations for members of Council, but provide limited sanctions -- primarily reprimands, apologies, or temporary suspension of remuneration -- through Integrity Commissioner processes.

The motion calls on the province to create enhanced sanctions for serious ethical breaches involving coercion, intimidation, or the misuse of office for political or personal advantage.  This includes establishing a provincial investigative and adjudicative mechanism, independent of local integrity commissioners, to address allegations of conduct that may constitute abuse of power.

The motion notes the authority of this mechanism should include the ability to impose stronger penalties, such as temporary or permanent disqualification from holding municipal office, where findings of serious misconduct are made.

Council has amended Whitby's Procedure By-Law to tighten the language that prohibits motions from being brought forward to Council that do not have jurisdictional relevance. 

The current rules allow motions to be brought forward if they are on a matter "which has to do with
the welfare of the citizens generally." The updated language says a motion can not be brought forward if it is "beyond the statutory jurisdiction of Council or does not involve a specific municipal interest" as determined by the meeting Chair.

A staff report says this change "will ensure that matters before Council are grounded in the municipality's lawful authority, preserving the agenda for issues where the Town has a defined legal or operational stake in the outcome."

Council has adopted updates to Whitby’s two Heritage Conservation District Plans, one for downtown Brooklin and one for the southwest quadrant of Downtown Whitby.

The plans are policy and guidance documents that help protect cultural heritage resources and manage change. They have been streamlined to make them more user friendly and to achieve conformity with recent changes to the Ontario Heritage Act and alignment with the Town’s Official Plan and Zoning By-laws.

Updates also include simplified and consistent property classifications and an enhanced list of exemptions from the heritage permit process. The review process included public consultation and meetings with the Heritage Whitby Advisory Committee and Technical Advisory Committee. More information can be found at whitby.ca/heritage

A new report highlights the impact of the Mayor’s Community Development Fund in 2025. The fund is financed by the annual Mayor and Council Golf Tournament and Mayor’s Gala.  

The two events raised a combined $247,457 in 2025 and the fund provided $199,694 in monetary grants and silent auction awards. The Grants Review Committee reviewed a total of 109 grant applications, which highlights the significant need in the community. Lead grants in 2025 included: $20,000 for Feed the Need in Durham, $20,000 for Victim Services Durham Region, $25,000 for Lakeridge Health Foundation, $25,000 for Ontario Shores Foundation, and $8,000 for PARA Marine Search and Rescue.

Recurring grants include automatic annual allocations to Whitby’s two legion branches for events like Remembrance Day and the “Honour our Veterans” banner program, and allocations for the Mayor’s Medal Scholarship and Lakeridge Health Foundation. Council voted to receive the report for information.

Council has approved the current construction cost estimate for a new Community, Animal and Enforcement Building and authorized Town staff to issue tender documents to pre-qualified general contractors for bid submissions.

The new facility will replace Whitby’s existing Animal Services building, create space for enforcement staff that are currently located in leased space, and create new community space. A Town report notes the existing Whitby Animal Services Building is aging, and “no longer capable of supporting long-term service delivery for a growing community.”  

The pre-tender cost estimate is $15.8 million and the Town has secured $10 million in Housing Accelerator Funding to help offset construction costs.  The report notes the new building improves efficiency by co-locating enforcement services in one building and centrally locating them next to the Operations Centre. Construction is expected to start in July 2026 and be completed by December 2027.

A new report highlights graffiti trends in Whitby in 2025, noting graffiti was identified at 367 locations, compared with 324 the previous year. Of the 2025 incidents, 87 locations were on Town‑ owned infrastructure, with the rest on third‑ party infrastructure.

The report says graffiti “frequently reappears at the same locations shortly after removal, underscoring the persistent and repetitive nature of the issue.” Commonly targeted surfaces including utility infrastructure, streetlight and hydro poles, mailboxes, buildings, road signs, bridges, and road and sidewalk surfaces. To better understand the extent of the issue and support data‑informed decision making, the Town implemented a structured annual spring graffiti audit beginning in 2024.

During the summer of 2025, all graffiti identified on Town‑ owned infrastructure was removed or painted over. In many cases, graffiti reappeared shortly after removal and was often located on the same surfaces. Graffiti on third‑party infrastructure was documented and referred to the appropriate owners for action.

As part of prevention efforts, the Town applies anti‑ graffiti coatings to select infrastructure to reduce paint adhesion and support more efficient removal. Residents and businesses are encouraged to remove graffiti from private property in accordance with the Property Standards By‑Law.  Members of the public can use the “report an Issue” platform on the Town of Whitby website to report graffiti on Town‑ owned infrastructure.

A new report to Council outlines the success of the Town’s new Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) introduced in July 2024. The four per cent tax on hotel and motel stays creates an alternative revenue source that allows the Town to support tourism initiatives with less impact on property taxes.

The MAT generated $302,021 in revenue in the six months of 2024 that it was in effect, and $636,656 in revenue in 2025, its first full year in effect. In 2024, Council authorized the creation of the Whitby Tourism Development Corporation (WTDC), a non-profit, non-share capital municipal services corporation established to promote and enhance Whitby as a tourism destination, support the growth of the local tourism industry, and implement the objectives of the Destination Whitby Tourism Strategy and related plans.

After reasonable costs are deducted from total MAT revenues collected, 50 per cent of the net MAT revenues are retained by the Town to support tourism projects and the remaining 50 per cent are transferred to the Whitby Tourism Development Corporation for Whitby-focused tourism marketing, promotion and program delivery.

Since its inception, the WTDC has established a board of directors and worked with the Town to establish financial and operational governance models. The WTDC also recently launched the Host in Whitby Grant program which provides grants of up to $5,000 to support events in Whitby that attract and retain visitors. In 2025, five grants were awarded totalling $20,000 including: $5,000 for the Downtown Whitby BIA Christmas Market, $5,000 for the Durham Region International Film Festival, $4,000 for Vivid Vendors, $1,000 for the Curling Ontario Masters Provincial Championship, and $5,000 for the Whitby Girls Hocket Association Tournament of Heroes.

Council has voted to endorse a new Corporate Waste Management Strategy aimed at reducing corporate waste, improving diversion, and supporting the Town’s sustainability and climate action objectives. The Town’s current waste diversion rate across facilities averages 30 per cent, with key challenges including contamination of diversion streams, inconsistent bin types and signage, overflowing bins in public spaces, and limited tracking of waste data.  The strategy establishes a corporate diversion target of 60 per cent by 2040 and includes eight recommendations.

For example, adopting standard three-stream waste receptacles across all Town facilities, and featuring consistent colours and signage aligned with North American and Town household waste standards. This ensures users can easily identify recycling, organics, and garbage streams.

Another recommendation is to enhance public education and outreach. This could include public outreach campaigns, social media messaging, events, contests, using tools like the Waste Buddy App and holding events like book and sports equipment swaps. Capital funding of $310,000 has been allocated for phased replacement of facility waste bins, with additional resources considered for public engagement and education.

Following the recent announcement of the Canada–Ontario Partnership to Build, Council has directed Town staff to prepare a comprehensive report on the potential impacts on the Town of Whitby.  The initiative includes prioritizing funding to municipalities that discount development charges on new homes by up to 50 per cent.

The motion notes development charges “represent a significant revenue tool for municipalities to fund growth-related infrastructure, including roads, water, wastewater, parks, and community services,” and says a reduction in development charges could impact Whitby’s capital planning, infrastructure delivery, and property tax levels. The report prepared by staff will include an analysis of the potential financial impacts of reducing development charges.

Council has approved a motion calling for the province to amend Bill 9, the Municipal Accountability Act, to adjust the vote threshold for Council to remove a member from office to a 2/3 majority, as opposed to a unanimous vote.

Bill 9 would allow the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario to recommend to a Council that a member of Council’s seat be declared vacant. This recommendation could only be made if a member of Council has been found by both the local Integrity Commissioner and the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario to have committed a serious contravention of the code of conduct.  

Bill 9 currently proposes that a Council can only declare a member’s seat vacant if all members -- other than the member subject to the inquiry -- vote in favour.