Whitby Council Highlights - March 2026

Council has approved a motion requesting assistance from the province and the Ontario Integrity Commissioner to implement a framework for members of Council to mandatorily disclose any political, strategic, or communications services provided to them by consultants, advisors, or lobbyists outside of formal election periods.

The motion requests that disclosure include whether compensation for services is provided directly by a member of Council, indirectly by another individual or campaign, or provided in‑kind. The intent is to create a public registry available on the Town's website, listing all disclosures. 

As part of the motion, Whitby Council is also formally requesting that the province utilize the current legislative window provided by Bill 9 to establish a province-wide standard for the disclosure of third-party consultants and advisors. 

The integrity commissioner and Town staff have been directed to report back no later than the end of this Council term with a framework to fulfill the disclosure requirements, including the opportunity to more broadly define lobbyists beyond those providing support to members of Council. 

Council has approved a motion calling on the province to fix Ontario’s municipal-provincial funding model. The motion notes property taxes are being used to cover billions in provincial responsibilities, which places strain on municipal budgets.

Data from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario indicates a $4 billion annual funding gap faced by municipalities as a result of provincial downloading.  The motion urges the province to address this annual shortfall, as well as the $1.5 billion annual burden of downloaded social housing costs.

It also calls for the province to re-evaluate the requirement for municipalities to pay 10 per cent of hospital capital costs, and share housing-related revenues, like the Land Transfer Tax and HST, with municipalities to support local infrastructure.

Council has directed Town staff to provide a report on the feasibility of removing the registration deadline requirement for the Town of Whitby’s snow clearing program for seniors. The report will include a review of how the deadline is communicated and the financial and operational impacts of removing it.

The Town provides the program at no cost for seniors over the age of 65 and those with disabilities, and it includes snow clearing on the Town-owned portion of the property -- specifically, the ridge of snow left by the plow and any public sidewalks next to the property. Registration for the upcoming winter is typically closed in the late fall. The last day to register for the 2025-26 season was Oct. 31, 2025.  

Whitby Council has received a report outlining the Town’s new Inclusive Futures program, a six-stage framework designed to identify and remove barriers to employment and foster inclusion for people with disabilities.

As part of the program, the Town has partnered with the Abilities Centre to provide two placement opportunities for the Pathways to Employment Program in Spring 2026. This free program is for youth ages 16-29, who have a disability and are facing barriers to finding or maintaining meaningful employment. It includes an in-class component and on-the-job experiential learning. The Town will also create one to two development opportunities for those who self-identify as a person with a disability for a six-month assignment.

According to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, 15.4 per cent of Ontarians, ages 15 and over, report having a disability, and people with disabilities are underrepresented in the Canadian labour market. Many are unemployed or under-employed with barriers to employment including a lack of access to skills training and development opportunities and inaccessible workplaces.

Council has approved a motion directing Town staff to report back on the development of a program to help attract a hotel/conference centre to Whitby.

The motion notes the program should include a payment deferral of the Town of Whitby’s portion of development charges from the time building permits are issued, to the time occupancy permits are issued. The motion also requests that the mayor and regional councillors advocate to the Region of Durham for the establishment of a reciprocal regional development charge deferral program for hotel and conference/convention centre developments as a way to align incentive tools.

A 2025 staff report endorsed by Council identifies that Whitby lacks sufficient hotel and conference/convention centre capacity to meet current and future tourism, business travel, and sport tourism needs. Securing a hotel/conference centre is also one of 62 action items in Whitby’s Community Strategic Plan.

Council has directed that a review of recreation pricing that is currently underway, include an assessment of pricing options for seniors to use the indoor walking track at the new Fieldgate Sports Complex. The motion notes that the review should include the option for free use of the walking track by seniors.

The Fieldgate Sports Complex is currently under construction and is expected to open in mid-2026. In addition to the walking track, the facility will house Durham’s largest swimming pool, a twin-pad arena, and multi-purpose gymnasium. The outdoor park will feature lit pickleball, tennis and basketball courts; Whitby’s first multi-purpose artificial turf field, a skatepark, pump track, and playground.