York Media Group

07/01/2022

06/13/2022

Updated bylaw anticipated to recover $10 billion in development charge-eligible costs

Newmarket – York Regional Council has approved the 2022 Development Charges Bylaw, effective Friday, June 17, 2022. This bylaw is updated at least once every five years in accordance with the Development Charges Act, 1997.

Development charges are fees levied on new development to help pay for growth-related infrastructure. Much of this infrastructure is required before development begins, ensuring it is available to service growth when it occurs.

“Updating the Development Charges Bylaw is a complex process involving a great deal of research and consultation to ensure it is fair and equitable to the residential and non-residential sectors,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson. “For the first time, we are including the Yonge North Subway Extension in the updated bylaw as this project remains our number one transportation priority and will provide benefits across our entire Region.”

The 2022 Development Charges Bylaw aligns with Council’s commitment to housing priorities by incorporating:

Exempting additional residential units, in both existing and new buildings
Applying small apartment rate to all development charge-eligible residential dwellings smaller than 700 square feet
Phasing in development charges payments for rental and non-profit housing
Exempting conversions of common spaces in rental buildings into additional new unit(s)
The updated bylaw includes $909 million of gross project costs to facilitate the construction of affordable rental apartments and transitional housing over the next 20 years. Of the $909 million, approximately $181 million is proposed to be funded through development charges.

“Achieving consensus when preparing a development charge bylaw is always a challenging task as we balance infrastructure needs against the funds allocated to pay for them,” said City of Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, Chair of Finance and Administration. “Development charges are major sources of growth-related funding for all of our municipalities as we work to achieve provincially mandated growth.”

01/23/2021

The Government of Ontario declared a second provincewide State of Emergency starting January 12 and for a minimum of 28 days, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, save lives, and to protect healthcare services. Among other enhanced measures, a Stay-at-Home Order will be in effect starting Thursday, January 14 at 12:01 AM.



These new orders require everyone to remain at home and to reduce the number of daily contacts with those outside their immediate household. Essential trips can be made for groceries, medicine, to access healthcare services, for exercise or for essential work. All businesses must ensure that any employee who can work from home, does work from home.

The declaration and related orders amend and reinforce the restrictions currently placed on Markham under the Provincewide Shutdown and the Grey-Lockdown Zone as set out in the Province’s Keeping Ontario Safe and Open COVID-19 response framework.

Ontario’s COVID-19 infections continue to rise at an alarming rate while vaccinations for long-term care and healthcare workers are still taking place, and with the arrival of a new COVID-19 strain, the declaration of a State of Emergency and related orders are needed to help protect your family, friends and loved ones from the coronavirus. They will also protect the healthcare system and hospitals by helping keep ICU beds available and allow them to offer essential non-COVID-19 services such as surgeries and cancer treatments.

Gathering limits and public health measures under the State of Emergency include:
Indoor: 0 (limit interactions to those in your household)
NEW! Outdoor: 5 people maximum (while keeping a safe distance of 2 metres/6 feet)
Weddings, funerals, religious services: 10 people indoors or outdoors (while keeping a safe distance of 2 metres/6 feet)
Other restrictions include:
A mask or face covering is required in indoor public spaces, subject to exemptions.
A mask or face covering is required outdoors when keeping a safe distance of 2 metres/6 feet is a challenge, subject to exemptions.
Restrictions on in-person shopping continue to apply to all non-essential retail stores. In addition, hardware stores, alcohol retailers, and those offering curbside pickup or delivery, must open no earlier than 7 a.m. (9 a.m. for alcohol retailers) and close no later than 8 p.m. The restricted hours of operation do not apply to stores that primarily sell food, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores, and restaurants for takeout or delivery.
Shopping malls remain closed for in-person retail and must open no earlier than 7 a.m. and close no later than 8 p.m., except to provide access to grocery stores/supermarkets, pharmacies, and health care providers that only have public entrances that face the interior of the mall. Existing conditions on shopping mall operations continue to apply.
Discount retailers and big box stores that sell groceries are permitted to open for in-person retail provided that a physical distance of 2 metres/6 feet between individuals can be maintained and occupation capacity does not exceed 25%.
Non-essential construction is further restricted.
All enforcement and provincial offences officers, including the Ontario Provincial Police, York Regional Police, municipal bylaw officers, and provincial workplace inspectors will have the authority to enforce these orders against both businesses and individuals under both the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, (ROA) and Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA). They will also be able to temporarily close premises and disperse gatherings, if required.

Schools in York Region will not return to in-person instruction until at least February 10, 2021. New health and safety measures will be put in place when in-person learning re-starts. For details, please visit the Government of Ontario’s COVID-19: Reopening Schools and COVID-19 school and child care screening web pages.

Enhanced long-term care home visitor restrictions remain in effect. Retirement homes will be on high alert with visitor restrictions as outlined in the Retirement Homes COVID-19 Visitor Policy. In addition, long-term care homes must implement recently enhanced testing requirements.

10/12/2020

Be thankful by staying APART this Thanksgiving

Today the province announced new restrictions in Toronto, Peel and Ottawa to combat the second wave of COVID-19 in Ontario, including the closure of gyms and indoor dining. Provincial health authorities are actively watching York Region’s case data and communicating with our local public health officials on possible next steps.
I applaud the Prime Minister and his government on today’s announcement of a revamped commercial rent-relief and wage subsidy program for businesses impacted by COVID-19. This
continues to be an added lifeline for businesses as they continue to weather the storm. I have been impressed by how our local restaurant and hospitality industry has adhered to public health protocols, and I sympathize with them as the possibility of new restrictions brings more uncertainty and anxiety.
I am urging the federal and provincial governments to find additional ways to assist the hospitality sector. Last month, the City of Markham requested the province work with local municipalities to develop immediate options to assist sectors like the hotel industry. I encourage residents to continue supporting local dining as they shift to take-out and delivery only.
Currently, there are 494 active cases of COVID-19 in the York Region and 114 in the City of Markham. Our hospitalizations have steadily increased and overall daily infections are at levels similar to the
peak of the first wave in April and May. I am concerned by the pandemic modelling and today’s announcement by the provincial government reflects a growing concern from public health officials.
We must continue to work collectively, individuals, businesses and the various levels of government as we have done throughout this pandemic so far. We cannot let out guard down.
Our community has come together like never before and we all need to continue to do our part, respect others by maintaining a safe physical distance and doing everything we can to ensure the
safety of others. Wearing a mask is one of the most important components of that shared responsibility.
As we enter Thanksgiving weekend, I ask that residents show restraint in their gatherings. The best way to be thankful for family members this Thanksgiving is to keep them safe. Please consider a
virtual gathering and limit exposure to only the immediate household. I wish you and your family a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving

10/12/2020

Community News Food Health  Dried fruits and weight management May 15, 2020May 15, 2020 YMG Editorial Dried Fruits, with fiber and natural sugars, healthy fats and zero cholesterol, and an endless list of delicious flavors and tastes, are perhaps the best and easiest source of all essential nutri...

10/11/2020

Toronto police evacuated some homes in an Etobicoke neighbourhood after a possible Second World War-era explosive device was found late Saturday evening. The unknown device was found at Dunning Crescent and Westhead Road, in the area of Brown’s Line and the Gardiner Expressway, police said. The po...

09/17/2020

09/16/2020

New funding helps York Region residents stay housed

Newmarket – The Regional Municipality of York has received $500,000 in funding from the Government of Canada’s Reaching Home COVID-19 Emergency Response to help people who are experiencing homelessness, or at-risk of homelessness, find or keep housing.

This grant is administered by United Way Greater Toronto and will be used to provide additional support through York Region’s Homelessness Prevention Program.

“We know keeping people in their homes or helping them find suitable housing options is an important step in building strong, stable communities,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson. “This is a great example of community partners coming together to work with government to find solutions to benefit some of our most vulnerable residents during unprecedented times.”

The Homelessness Prevention Program supports eligible residents maintain their housing situation by helping cover costs such as rent, mortgage and utility payments. Offering financial assistance and support to people who have a stable income but are experiencing unforeseen impacts to their finances due to the pandemic will help them remain safely in their homes, support community safety and well-being and help with public health measures to contain COVID-19.

“COVID-19 has impacted our community and its most vulnerable people in ways we are only beginning to understand,” said United Way Greater Toronto President and CEO Daniele Zanotti. “United Way Greater Toronto is proud to partner with the federal government and The Regional Municipality of York to keep people safe and housed. Local investments in both immediate and long-term solutions will ensure York Region emerges from this pandemic strong and resilient.”

Visit york.ca/homelessnessprevention to learn more about York Region’s Homelessness Prevention Program or call Access York at 1-877-464-9675 Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information on COVID-19 in York Region please visit york.ca/COVID19

About United Way: As the largest non-government funder of community services in the GTA, United Way Greater Toronto reinforces a crucial community safety net. United Way’s network of agencies and initiatives in neighbourhoods across Peel, Toronto and York Region works to ensure that everyone has access to the programs and services they need to thrive today. Mobilizing the network and other community support, United Way tackles issues linked to poverty. United Way’s work is rooted in ground-breaking research, strategic leadership, local advocacy and cross-sectoral partnerships committed to building lasting solutions to the GTA’s greatest challenges. unitedwaygt.org

The Regional Municipality of York consists of nine local cities and towns and provides a variety of programs and services to 1.2 million residents and 54,000 businesses with over 650,000 employees. More information about the Region’s key service areas is available at york.ca/regionalservices

09/16/2020

York Region updates COVID-19 dashboard to include schools
The Regional Municipality of York has added information on its COVID-19 dashboard to include suspect and confirmed cases in schools at york.ca/covid19data

Providing this data will make it easier for students, parents and teachers to access important information about COVID-19 in their communities.

The interactive dashboard provides information on COVID-19 in a wide variety of ways, helping residents, media and other community stakeholders understand what the pandemic looks like in York Region and its on-going trends.

The added features include school lists and case counts, organized in two categories:

Confirmed outbreak – Outbreaks are declared in a school setting when, within a 14-day period, there are two or more laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases in students, staff or other visitors with an epidemiological link (if cases are in the same class or cohort) or if at least one case could have been infected in the school.

Under Surveillance – Refers to schools with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 case among staff or students where there is currently no evidence of transmission within the school. For example, a school student who acquired a case of COVID-19 through close contact at home.

Information included within the dashboard is extracted from the provincial Case and Contact Management System (CCM) and most recent investigation information. These numbers may differ from other sources, as the data was extracted at different times. In the event of a discrepancy between cases reported, data reported through York Region’s dashboard should be considered the most up-to-date.

The York Region website continues to be one of the most transparent with respect to depth of data presented. Visit york.ca/covid19data to access the interactive dashboard and learn more about the COVID-19 pandemic in York Region.

This information will be updated once daily at 5 p.m. seven days a week.

York Region Public Health reminds parents and guardians to check your child daily for symptoms of COVID-19. For more information and resources, including how to protect yourself and others, visit york.ca/SafeAtSchool

You can download Canada’s COVID Alert in Apple and Google app stores or visit ontario.ca/covidalert

The Regional Municipality of York consists of nine local cities and towns and provides a variety of programs and services to 1.2 million residents and 54,000 businesses with over 650,000 employees. More information about the Region’s key service areas is available at york.ca/regionalservices

York Region's municipal website provides access to information and services including public health, road maintenance, bylaws, recreational activities, Regional plans, permits and community support.