Burlington senior’s wellness hub, Oakville Trafalgar Road work highlight Regional Council term

Exceeding a 10-year housing target ahead of schedule is just one of the key achievements being highlighted by Halton Regional Council as its term nears an end.

In a recently released staff report, the creation of an additional 191 new assisted housing opportunities since 2019 in the Region was listed among the important accomplishments from the 2019-2022 Strategic Business Plan.

Despite slowdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Halton Region grew by an additional 15,000 housing units from 2019, finishing ahead of schedule in its Comprehensive Housing Strategy Update 2014-2024,

Other progress Regional Council highlighted included the addition of three new paramedic stations to improve service levels in Halton’s growing community.

Other key achievements in priority areas from the staff report included:

Planning and Growth Management

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• Established a framework to accommodate the provincial growth target for Halton Region of 1.1M people and 500,000 jobs by 2051 that minimizes urban boundary expansion by supporting intensification in strategic growth areas through the adoption of Regional Official Plan Amendment (ROPA) 48 and 49.
• Financed $1.5 billion of water, wastewater and transportation infrastructure through the 2020 Allocation Program to support growth including more than 26,000 new units of housing supply in approved greenfield areas.

Community Well Being

• Responded to the COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency.
• Modified and expanded the Region’s emergency shelter program. Provided homelessness prevention supports to 5,982 households since 2019.
• Partnered with Burlington Ontario Health Team and 12 health agencies to implement a new Seniors’ Community Wellness Hub at Halton Community Housing Corporation’s 410 John Street property.
• Invested approximately $13M since 2019 through the Halton Region Community Investment Fund to enhance the health, safety and well-being of residents through funding to non-profit human service programs and initiatives.
• Supported over 10 Community Safety and Well-Being action tables to implement responses to key issues such as older adult isolation, youth mental health and homelessness.
• Expanded the Community Paramedicine program in partnership with Ontario Health with a goal to enhance service to the public and reduce demand on the Health Care system.
• Launched the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program in Halton, supporting low income seniors to access care close to home through community dental providers.
• Participated in the Connected Care Halton Ontario Health Team and the Burlington Ontario Health Team to support the interests of Halton residents as the Province’s healthcare transformation continues.
• Developed a new Early Learning and Child Care Plan 2022-2025.

Transportation and Infrastructure

• Invested over $900 million in transportation infrastructure since 2019 to maintain the state-of-good repair and to accommodate growth. Some significant projects undertaken include the Wyecroft Road Extension and Bridge Project, improvements to Trafalgar Road, Dundas Street and Britannia Road, and completion of William Halton Parkway (new road).
• Invested almost $1 billion in water and wastewater infrastructure, including facility, water mains and wastewater mains since 2019 to maintain the state-of good repair and to accommodate growth. Some significant projects undertaken include the New Mid-Halton Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent Outfall, Acton Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion and Milton Wastewater Treatment Plant Decommissioning.
• Maintained a “good” or “very good” average condition rating for Regional Infrastructure. Implemented the Reliability Centered Maintenance Program to extend the life of Regional infrastructure assets.
• Implemented the Construction Ambassador program to support the community and ensure disruptions are minimized for major infrastructure programs.

Environmental Sustainability And Climate Change

• Declared a Climate Change Emergency and committed to establishing long and short term goals for the organization and to further engage the community
• Entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Halton Environmental Network to assist in coordinating climate change initiatives in Halton and enhance community engagement.
• Achieved a 5.1 per cent decrease in Corporate GHG emissions since 2019. Supporting this decrease was a 9.3 per cent decrease in hydro consumption per square foot and a 17.5 per cent decrease in heating consumption per square foot.
• Saved more than $3 million annually in energy costs related to LED streetlights, treatment plants and other initiatives.
• Updated the Region’s Solid Waste Management Strategy with a focus on increasing diversion rates from the current 58 per cent to between 64 per cent and 70 per cent over the next 10 years.

Effective Government

• 97 per cent of residents surveyed were satisfied with Regional services.
• Achieved highest credit rating (AAA) each year from independent credit rating agencies.
• Kept tax rate increases at or below the rate of inflation.
• 90 per cent of residents surveyed were satisfied with their customer service experience with the Region.
• Received the Greater Toronto’s Top Employers award and was selected as one of Canada’s Best Employers for Recent Graduates for 2022.

For more about the Strategic Business Plan 2019-2022. visit halton.ca.