Strategic Business Plan
The term in review: 2023-2026
Over the past four years, Halton Region has delivered real results: supporting residents, planning for growth, protecting the environment, and strengthening the services people rely on every day.
With every new term, Halton Regional Council and staff develop a Strategic Business Plan that sets priorities and determines actions required to deliver on issues that matter to you. The 2023-2026 Strategic Business Plan identified four key themes with proposed goals, actions and outcomes for the 2023-2026 term of Council.
This Term in Review report provides an overview of the 2023-2026 Strategic Business Plan. It highlights key outcomes, advancements and measures of success achieved toward the goals. To bring progress to life, the report also features in-depth profiles of key feature projects under each theme, offering deeper insight into how strategic priorities are being translated into action across the organization.
Summary of achievements
Supporting a healthy, safe community
Halton Region is committed to protecting and enhancing the health and safety of the community. Our programs and services continue to evolve in response to changing demographics and diverse needs of residents.
We are strengthening the supports residents rely on to stay healthy, safe, and housed:
- Added 339 new assisted and supportive housing opportunities, helping more residents access safe, stable housing close to home.
- Reached over 26,700 youth through the Building Safer Communities initiative, supporting positive development and community safety.
- Paramedic Services responded to over 66,000 calls in 2025, transporting 38,000 patients and providing essential, timely care.
- Invested over $15 million through the Community Investment Fund, supporting programs that enhance health, safety and quality of life.
- Expanded access to child care with nearly 20,000 licensed Canada‑Ontario Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) spaces by the end of 2026.
What this means for you
More support, when and where it matters most:
- A more coordinated, prevention-focused, and long-term approach to housing and homelessness in Halton.
- More people in Halton have access to supportive and assisted housing, and essential community support programs.
- Emergency medical response is maintained as fast and reliable.
- Licensed child care is more accessible and affordable for families in Halton.
Building for growth
Halton Region is committed to ensuring that the infrastructure and services required to support a high quality of life are in place as the community continues to grow. We are planning and building ahead to support growth while keeping communities livable.
- Identified $5 billion in infrastructure needs to support growth from 2031 to 2051.
- Developed a growth-related financing program that will support the delivery of approximately 30,000 housing units.
- Completed over 30 km of trunk water and wastewater mains, connecting Georgetown to reliable lake-based services.
- Maintained 80% of Regional infrastructure in good or very good condition, protecting long-term assets residents rely on.
- Modernized traffic management systems to improve travel efficiency and safety for residents.
What this means for you
Planning for today, and for the Halton of tomorrow:
- Growth is planned and aligned with provincial housing and growth objectives, ensuring coordinated infrastructure delivery across all Halton municipalities.
- Strengthened system resiliency and flexibility by maximizing capacity, extending asset life, and maintaining reliable service as growth evolves.
- Sustainability is supported through groundwater protection, balancing lake-based and groundwater systems.
- Active transportation and transit infrastructure is prioritized to support climate resilience.
- Reliable water, roads, and services as communities grow.
Taking action on climate and the environment
Halton Region is committed to protecting the environment and taking action to address climate change. We are making measurable progress to protect the environment and reduce emissions.
- Endorsed a Corporate Climate Action Plan with a net-zero emissions target for 2045.
- Diverted 132,101 tonnes of material from landfill in 2024 through recycling, organics and reuse programs.
- Upgraded Halton Community Housing buildings, improving safety and energy performance while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 28%.
- Secured $3.5 million in federal funding to strengthen ecological connections and natural systems across Halton.
What this means for you
Protecting the environment we all depend on:
- A cleaner environment.
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
- Protected natural spaces.
Strong, responsible government
Halton Region is committed to strong financial management, advancing Truth and Reconciliation and being an employer of choice focused on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. We are managing growth and services responsibly, while keeping costs stable and delivering essential services residents depend on every day.
- Maintained top credit ratings: AAA (S&P) and Aaa (Moody’s), reflecting financial stability and helping tax dollars go further.
- Kept Regional property tax increases as low as possible, averaging 2.0% from 2014 to 2026, while maintaining or enhancing core services.
- Introduced digital tools such as online flood reporting and grant applications, improving response times and service efficiency for residents.
- Expanded 24/7 digital services, making it easier to access programs and services anytime.
- Recognized as a Greater Toronto Top Employer (2026) for the 15th year, demonstrating a strong, high-performing workforce.
What this means for you
You may not always see it, but we are working for you:
- Long-term financial planning in place.
- Tax dollars are managed responsibly.
- Services remain sustainable long-term, and are faster, easier, and more responsive.
- Support is there when you need it.
Looking forward
As this term of Regional Council concludes, the achievements under the 2023-2036 Strategic Business Plan serve as an important foundation for future planning. Lessons learned, changing needs, and community impacts realized over this term will help inform decision-making and set the context for emerging opportunities and challenges. The term review provides both a look back at progress made as well as a reference point for continued efforts and improvement.
Looking forward, our focus will shift to development of the 2027-2030 Strategic Business Plan, to be established by Regional Council in 2027. Building on the momentum of this term, the next Strategic Business Plan will define new and continued priorities and actions to guide Halton Region in delivering high-quality, sustainable and inclusive services – today and into the future.
About the 2023-2026 Strategic Business Plan
With every new term, Halton Regional Council and staff develop a Strategic Business Plan that sets priorities and determines actions required to deliver on issues that matter to you.
To support the development of the Plan, residents, businesses and community partners as well as Indigenous People, Communities and First Nations were engaged in a public consultation process. Public engagement activities included an online survey, virtual public meetings and a community partner meeting. Input received helped to inform the Plan and ensure it reflects what matters most to the community.
The 2023-2026 Strategic Business Plan identifies four key themes with proposed goals, actions and outcomes for the current term. The Plan will continue to support the delivery of Regional programs, services and infrastructure to residents in Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville, as our community continues to grow, reaching 1.1 million residents by 2051.
Vision and mission
- Vision: A welcoming and inclusive community that is sustainable, economically strong, equitable and safe.
- Mission: To enhance the quality of life in Halton for all – today and into the future.
Guiding principles
Halton Region and its Local Municipalities (City of Burlington, Town of Halton Hills, Town of Milton, and Town of Oakville) work together to provide effective and efficient programs and services to all. The Region also works with community partners and agencies to deliver important services. These relationships are essential to address community needs and contribute to the high quality of life in Halton.
Halton Region’s commitment to each of the following important initiatives will inform the implementation of the priorities detailed in the plan:
- equity, diversity and inclusion;
- advancing Truth and Reconciliation;
- taking action to address climate change; and
- protecting the environment.
The 2023-2026 Strategic Business Plan (PDF file) outlines the Region’s support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and demonstrates the alignment between those goals and the Region’s strategic initiatives.
Strategic themes for 2023-2026
- Expand assisted housing, supportive housing and emergency shelter options in partnership with the Federal and Provincial Governments.
- Prevent illness and improve the health of residents while reducing health inequities.
- Improve Paramedic Services response times.
- Advance community safety and well-being.
- Align key human services with new Provincial policy directions.
Learn about the actions and measures for Community Well-Being (PDF file)
- Deliver Regional infrastructure required to support housing growth and economic development in the Halton municipalities.
- Maintain the Region’s infrastructure in state of good repair.
- Promote enhanced broadband services including 5G technology in both rural and urban areas as a key socio-economic driver.
- Improve access to transit, cycling and other active transportation on Regional roads.
Learn about the actions and measures for Infrastructure and Growth (PDF file)
- Take action to achieve a corporate target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions prior to 2050.
- Partner with the Local Municipalities and other Halton stakeholders to advance a collective community climate change response.
- Maximize residential waste diversion in Halton.
- Partner with Conservation Halton, the Local Municipalities and other stakeholders to protect the environment.
Learn about the actions and measures for Climate Change and the Environment (PDF file)
- Ensure continued financial sustainability through effective financial planning and risk management.
- Enhance service delivery by increasing access to digital services and modernizing the Region’s technology platforms by 2026.
- Partner in advancing Truth and Reconciliation through meaningful relationships with Indigenous People, Communities and First Nations.
- Be an employer of choice committed to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Learn about the actions and measures for Excellence in Government (PDF file)
Monitoring and reporting
Consistent with Halton Region’s continued commitment to public accountability and transparency, progress on the Strategic Business Plan goals and actions are reviewed and reported to Regional Council on an annual basis. In addition, the measures can be updated as needed to reflect developments in program strategies and plans to ensure progress is made toward achieving Council’s priorities.