Halton – A Snapshot
Halton Region is home to 570,000 residents in four communities— Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville. Halton with its Local Municipalities is an effective two-tier government recognized for its strong financial position, safe communities, natural environment, progressive approach to urban development and reliable services. Halton uniquely combines vibrant agricultural communities with major urban centres.
98%
of residents rate their quality of life very high
97%
of residents are satisfied with the quality of Regional services
12 years
of keeping taxes at or below the rate of inflation
AAA
Credit Rating for 29 years
13 years
as the safest municipality in Canada
8 years
as one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers
The Region is strategically located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), close to major markets in Canada and the U.S. which is important to the Ontario economy. Businesses continue to invest in Halton Region because of its proximity to major markets, low taxes and a highly educated and skilled workforce.
Halton is one of the fastest growing communities in Canada and must grow to a population of 1 million by 2041, more than doubling its population since 2008, to meet the expectation of the Provincial Growth Plan.
In a recent poll of Halton residents, the top five issues identified relate to concerns about growth.
To be successful in addressing the concerns of the people of Halton, a strong, collaborative, action-oriented partnership with the Provincial Government is necessary. Keys to success include:
- A multi-year provincial infrastructure investment plan connected to the Growth Plan for schools, hospitals, transit, highways and housing
- Funding formulas that recognize growth and service demand
- Removing legislative and regulatory barriers to economic growth and jobs
- Clarity of accountabilities to eliminate inefficiencies, unnecessary costs and streamline administration
- Open dialogue and collaboration
There is an opportunity to work together in the short-term to take action on key priorities, many of which have been long-standing requests by Halton.
Growth
Provide municipalities the flexibility to use alternate financing and funding tools to account for shortfalls in Development Charges Act (DCA). This includes amending the DCA to address outstanding changes consistent with the principle that growth pays for growth:
- No exemptions of municipal services
- Remove 10 per cent discount for all services
- Provide Councils with the ability to determine exemptions
- Conservation Authority infrastructure development charges
- Apply the same powers under the City of Toronto Act to all municipalities to contribute to cost effective and efficient delivery of services.
Provide municipalities with the flexibility to achieve Growth Plan objectives while responding to local opportunities and priorities.
- Withdraw the provincial appeal to ROPA 47 replacement of employment lands in Halton Hills.
- Recognize that the designation of employment lands as Strategic Mixed Use Areas are not employment land conversions. Such areas reflect the new realities of intensified, urban employment areas and achieve employment targets while also providing for residential and other uses. Opportunities to create jobs in Halton in Strategic Mixed Use Areas exist at:
- The Health Oriented Mixed Use Node in Oakville (at the new Oakville Hospital)
- The Milton Education Village
- The Mobility Hubs at GO Stations in Halton
- Provide transitional provisions for the implementation of Provincial plans that allows for Municipal plans to catch up and achieve conformity.
The application of provincial planning policies and processes have created obstacles to economic growth, job creation and achieving community vision. The pace of growth in Halton has been a key driver of increased costs for the Region and our Local Municipalities. It is essential that the Province provide municipalities the tools necessary to ensure growth does not create a cost burden for growing municipalities. This includes ensuring the Development Charges Act allows municipalities to collect the full cost of growth.
Transportation/Mobility
Traffic congestion continues to be the number one issue for Halton residents. The Region has committed to a $1.7B investment in a 10-year transportation capital program. It is essential that the Provincial Government commit to invest in the provincial transportation system in Halton to address congestion and support economic growth and jobs.
Align investments in transit and provincial highway infrastructure with the Growth Plan.
- Commit to timing and delivery of all day, two-way GO service to Milton and Georgetown to support significant planned population growth.
- Commit to timing and delivery of a new GO station at Trafalgar and 401 which is a key mobility hub in Halton’s Mobility Plan.
- Confirm Quick Wins funding for the Wyecroft bridge to support transit and active transportation connections between the Appleby and Bronte GO stations.
- Commit to continue with and enhance Gas Tax funding for local transit.
- Proceed with tendering for the widening of Hwy 401 from the Credit River in Mississauga to west of Regional Road 25, supporting employment lands in the Halton Hills 401 Corridor and the Trafalgar corridor.
- Provide certainty regarding the GTA West Highway which has frozen key strategic employment lands in Halton Hills and impacts the solution to traffic issues in the Norval community.
- Support solutions through the QEW Prosperity Corridor Block Planning Study to facilitate employment land opportunities in the City of Burlington.
- Participate in the Truck Strategy for Highway 7 to evaluate options for by-pass opportunities around the Acton Urban Area, resulting in re-alignment of the Highway 7 connecting link in Halton Hills.
- Commit to timing for QEW ramp improvements including Trafalgar Road and Royal Windsor Drive in Oakville to support employment opportunities in mid-town Oakville.
Health and Public Safety
Municipalities play an important role in the overall health system in Ontario. Establishing clear accountabilities with all partners fulfilling their obligations will eliminate inefficiencies and unnecessary costs, while ensuring the health and safety of the Halton community.
- Improve performance of the provincially operated Mississauga Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC). Municipalities have long-standing concerns regarding the operation of the Mississauga CACC and with the obsolete technologies and processes used.
- Commit to accelerated timing of the delivery and implementation of new technology and triage tools for the Mississauga CACC.
- Provide formal, enforceable performance agreements to address operational concerns at the Mississauga CACC including significant short staffing.
- Properly align the accountability and funding for the Dedicated Offload Nurse program to the hospitals who are responsible for the operation of Emergency Departments.
- The Provincial Government has underfunded Halton’s Health Department for many years, during which time the population has increased greatly in addition to the expectations for Public Health. Significant needs exist in the growing Halton community for mental health and Long-Term Care services.
$9.6M annual provincial funding shortfall in 2018 for Health Department programs in Halton
- Provide sufficient funding for Public Health programs to keep up with the growth in the Halton community and increased flexibility to focus on local community needs.
- Commit to annual funding for Halton Healthcare Services of $1M needed to provide ongoing critical mental health clinical services in north Halton currently being funded by Halton Region.
- Commit to additional Long-Term Care beds in Halton Region to meet the growing needs of our aging and underserviced community.
- LHIN boundary realignment to ensure Halton is in one LHIN, to promote collaboration, leverage opportunities and streamline administration.
Infrastructure
Halton Region has committed $2.2B over 10 years in an infrastructure program to support growth in the Region however funding this infrastructure continues to be a challenge. The lack of timely delivery of provincial infrastructure, particularly schools and transportation have also made it difficult to create complete communities.
- Provide a coordinated, multi-year provincial infrastructure investment plan and funding connected to the Growth Plan for the delivery of schools, hospitals, transit, highways and housing.
29 new Halton school improvements required
- Provide municipalities with the funding tools to address growthrelated infrastructure requirements ensuring growth pays for growth.
- Provide Halton $7.9M in funding support for necessary social housing improvements previously funded through Cap and Trade.
- Implement Phase 2 of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan.
- Advocate for universal access to broadband internet to ensure small businesses are able to rely on access to broadband internet to effectively compete in a digital world.
Federal Advocacy
Halton Region is eager to work cooperatively with both the Provincial and Federal Governments to build a strong community for the people of Halton. The Provincial Government can assist by advocating with us to the Federal Government on the priority issues below to ensure that Halton continues to have a strong Regional economy and a high-quality of life.
- Support for the Court Application which the Halton Municipalities and Conservation Halton have commenced to assert our jurisdiction with respect to the proposed CN truckrail hub to protect our local vision and ensure economic growth.
- Advocate for universal access to broadband internet to ensure small businesses are able to rely on access to broadband internet to effectively compete in a digital world.
- Advocate for long-term sustainable funding for affordable and assisted housing to ensure the delivery of affordable homes for families in Halton.
- Advocate for the delivery of the Phase 2 Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan.