Whitby Council Highlights - May 2026

Council has received a report that includes the 2026 annual report and final results for Whitby’s 2023-2026 Community Strategic Plan. The plan was approved by Council in 2023, following extensive community consultation that helped shape 62 action items.

The report notes 52 of the action items will be fully completed, while the remaining 10 are in progress and are tracking to be an average of 75 per cent complete by the end of the year. “Overall, the results achieved through the 2023–2026 Community Strategic Plan reflect strong leadership, organizational alignment, and ongoing collaboration with the community, demonstrating the power of a clear plan, sustained focus, and shared commitment to Whitby’s future,” the report says.

All action items have resulted in tangible community outcomes, including significant investments in community safety, recreation facilities, housing initiatives, climate action, economic development, customer service modernization, and public engagement.

Lakeridge Health representatives provided an annual healthcare update at Council’s May 11 Committee of the Whole meeting. CEO and President Cynthia Davis shared that, over the past three years, Lakeridge Health has achieved about $20 million in savings by finding efficiencies, with no service impacts. Lakeridge Health has eliminated agency nursing, hired more nurses, and now boasts one of the lowest vacancy rates in the province.

Davis said significant work has taken place to improve emergency department efficiency and patient experience, including reducing the total length of stay by 36 per cent over the past year, as well as reducing ambulance offload times by 50 per cent from 42 minutes to 21 minutes.

Lakeridge Health is now in the third year of its family medicine program with Queen’s University, with 60 current students training to become family doctors. When the program is at full capacity, it will have 120 students, which Davis says will make a “tremendous” difference in access to family physicians in Durham. 

Council has approved a pilot program that will allow up to four hours of free parking in Municipal Lots #5 and #6 in Downtown Whitby from June 1 to Sept. 30, 2026.

Council has directed Town staff to analyze the usage rates for the lots with the free parking program compared with other parking lots in the downtown, as well as feedback from businesses, residents, and visitors, and any financial or operational implications. Staff will report back by the end of 2026 with recommendations on whether to continue the program.

The motion notes downtown businesses “continue to face economic pressures in a challenging climate and benefit from measures that improve accessibility and customer convenience.”

Council has directed Town staff to investigate two parking-related matters –the possibility of transferable parking permits that would allow people to utilize multiple municipal parking lots based on availability, and a “loading permit program” for business owners in need of short term-parking to load and unload goods and equipment.

Town staff will report back to Council with recommendations for both requests, including any by-law amendments that would be required.

Council has approved a Community Benefits Charge (CBC) strategy, as well as a new bylaw set to take effect in January 2027 and a new CBC reserve fund.

A CBC is a growth financing tool that allows municipalities to collect funds from higher‑ density developments to help pay for growth‑ related community amenities. It applies to projects with five or more storeys and at least ten residential units, with the charge capped at four per cent of land value. Whitby’s approach is consistent with most GTA municipalities, the majority of which also use the four per cent rate.

CBCs fund a wide range of capital needs not covered by development charges or parkland dedication, such as parks, recreation facilities, cultural spaces, parking infrastructure, and growth-related administrative space. In Whitby’s case, these funds can also support the Town’s future hospital contribution.

Whitby’s CBC is expected to generate approximately $2.6 to $3.1 million in revenue between 2027 and 2036, with all funds required to be deposited into a dedicated reserve fund and used solely for eligible growth‑ related capital costs.

Council has authorized the appointment of Boghosian + Allen LLP as the Town of Whitby’s integrity commissioner for the 2026–2030 Council term.

The appointment of an integrity commissioner is a statutory requirement under the Municipal Act. The Region of Durham led a competitive procurement process with participation from Whitby and other area municipalities.

Boghosian + Allen LLP was a top-ranked applicant and was selected by Region of Durham Council as its integrity commissioner for the 2026–2030 term. A report notes Town of Whitby staff recommend aligning with the Region and appointing Boghosian + Allen LLP based on “demonstrated expertise, service capacity, and a strong reputation in municipal governance and accountability.”

The firm currently provides Integrity Commissioner services to 13 municipalities across Ontario and has experience in code of conduct and Municipal Conflict of Interest Act matters, complaint investigation and adjudication, advisory services to members of Council, and municipal governance and accountability frameworks.

Council will request that the Region of Durham install courtesy signage discouraging truck drivers from using engine brakes along portions of Thickson Road and other regional roads where there is residential frontage.

Whitby residents living along arterial and regional roads have raised concerns about noise related to engine brakes, also known as Jake brakes. The request will specifically include consideration of areas identified by Town staff, including Thickson Road from the lakeshore to Wentworth Street, the rail line north of Stellar Drive to Nichol Avenue, Crawforth Street to Glengowan Street, and Winchester Road East to Columbus Road.

Council has directed Town staff to investigate the options and associated costs of requesting that Transport Canada’s Office of Boating Safety designate the shoreline waters from the west side of Iroquois Beach to the east side of Heydenshore Park as a Schedule 2 Vessel Restricted Zone.

The motion notes there has been a “notable increase in unauthorized and unregulated personal watercraft rentals and operations in and around Whitby Harbour over the past year.” Neighboring jurisdictions, including the City of Toronto, are implementing increased restrictions on personal watercraft use near public beaches, which is anticipated to further increase personal watercraft activity along Whitby’s waterfront.

The motion notes that current federal regulations restricting vessel speeds within 30 metres of a shoreline have proven difficult to enforce. 

Council has directed Town staff to report back on the current dog ownership limits included in Whitby’s Responsible Pet Ownership By-law, and how this compares to neighbouring municipalities. 

The report will also look at policy considerations on the maximum number of dogs permitted per household -- including implications for different housing forms -- and any recommendations with respect to the maximum number of dogs provision within the Responsible Pet Ownership By-law.

In an effort to speed up permit approvals for minor projects like decks and sheds, Council has directed Town staff to assess the feasibility of a pilot program to expedite the review and approval of certain minor building permits.

The assessment will include consideration of the types of building permit applications that may be included; eligibility criteria and screening processes, and look at similar programs offered in other municipalities. Staff will report back to Council with findings, options, and recommendations.

Council has voted to amend the Town’s recently approved Hotel and Conference Centre Attraction Program to permit up to two enrolled applicants for each of the two opportunities – a stand-alone hotel and a hotel and conference centre -- to be able to receive the incentive.

The program was recently approved by Council, and intake opened on April 27. Applications for both opportunities were approved within the first week of intake. The motion notes the “immediate response to the program demonstrates strong market interest and reinforces the identified demand for hotel and conference centre developments to support Whitby’s economic development and tourism objectives.”

The program provides targeted financial incentives, including the deferral of Town of Whitby development charges from building permit to occupancy permit stage and relief from interest on deferred development charges for a period of up to 24 months following building permit issuance. The goal is to reduce financial barriers and encourage timely development.