February Celebrations: Embracing Black Excellence and Heritage
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/black-history-month.html
Celebrating Black History Month in February! The 2024 theme is ‘Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; a Future to Build.’ Let’s honor the legacy and contributions of Black Canadians, promoting and protecting their human rights in alignment with the International Decade for People of African Descent.
211 Support: Tackling Affordability and Emergencies
Navigating Challenges Together: Use 2-1-1 for Support in Affordability and Emergencies. Canada’s largest database connects you to shelter, food, mental health, financial counseling, and safety information during crises. Call 2-1-1 or visit https://211ontario.ca/search/ for assistance.
Richmond Hill News
Sign Up for E-Billing in Richmond Hill Today
Did you know? Richmond Hill now offers e-billing for your water bill. Sign up today to view current and past bills.
🚗🚦 Traffic Safety Public Education Sessions – Join Us! 🚦🚗
Discover and discuss traffic safety measures for your neighborhoods at our upcoming Education Sessions this February. Your input matters, and we want to hear your thoughts! No registration is required.
Dates and Locations:
- Tuesday, February 6, 6 – 8 p.m
- Bayview Hill Community Centre
- Thursday, February 8, 6 – 8 p.m
- Elgin Barrow Arena
- Thursday, February 15, 6 – 8 p.m
- Elgin West Community Centre
- Tuesday, February 20, 6 – 8 p.m
- Richvale Community Centre
- Thursday, February 22, 6 – 8 p.m
- Oak Ridges Community Centre
- Thursday, February 29, 6 – 8 p.m
- Langstaff Community Centre
Your presence matters! Let’s make our streets safer together. See you there!
Join us in giving Richmond Hill a spring cleaning!
We’re thrilled to invite all members of our community to participate in Clean Up, Green Up Weeks from April 19 to May 3. It’s an opportunity for us to come together and protect our natural environment by volunteering to tidy up our neighborhoods.
Residents, businesses, community groups, and schools are encouraged to join hands during this period to help clear away litter that has accumulated over the winter in parks, trails, boulevards, and other public spaces.
When you register your group, we’ll provide you with gloves, garbage and recycling bags, and ensure the collection of filled bags. Let’s work together to surpass last year’s achievements, where 12,000 volunteers cleaned up 145 streets and pathways, along with over 100 parks and natural areas in our community!
Let’s make 2024 another landmark year for our community by keeping Richmond Hill safe and clean for everyone. Register online at RichmondHill.ca/CleanUpWeeks before Sunday, April 7.
For more information, visit RichmondHill.ca/CleanUpWeeks. Together, let’s make a difference!
Enhance Your Waste Management Practices Today!
Before tossing items in the garbage or recycling bin, consider these eco-friendly practices to minimize waste and maximize recycling efforts in your home:
• Prioritize Reducing and Reusing: By reducing our consumption and reusing items whenever possible, we can significantly decrease the volume of waste produced.
• Sort Your Waste Efficiently: Ensure that food scraps and paper products like tissue and paper towels are properly disposed of in the organics container. Before tossing recyclables, remember to empty and lightly rinse food containers to enhance the recycling process.
• Say No to Single-Use Plastics: Take a stand against single-use plastics by avoiding banned plastic items. Opt for reusable alternatives such as refillable water bottles and travel mugs for your beverages. .
Ready to make a positive impact on waste management? Visit our city’s waste disposal guide to learn more: Richmond Hill Waste Management Guide
Notice of Special Council Meeting – Development Charges By-laws
Jan 25, 2024
Dear Residents,
I would like to bring your attention to a significant event in our community. The Richmond Hill City Council will be holding a Special Council meeting on:
Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Council Chambers, Municipal Offices, 225 East Beaver Creek Road, 1st Floor, Richmond Hill, Ontario.
This meeting is in accordance with Section 12 of the Development Charges Act, 1997. Its purpose is to present and gather public input on the City’s proposed development charges by-laws and the underlying background studies.
Meeting Agenda:
- Presentation of proposed development charges by-laws.
- Public input on the proposed by-laws.
- Council’s consideration of representations made by the public.
Access to Proposed By-laws and Background Studies: The proposed by-laws and background studies are available for review on the City’s Development Charges website: Development Charges Website
Your Participation Matters: This meeting provides an opportunity for residents to voice their opinions on the proposed by-laws. Council will hear from any person who wishes to make representations regarding the proposed development charges.
Your engagement is crucial, and your input will help shape the decisions made by the City Council. Let’s work together to ensure the best outcomes for our community.
Thank you for your involvement in the civic process.
Sincerely,
Joe DiPaola
Summer Camp Registration is Open!
 Our fun Summer Camps are full of adventure. We welcome children and youth ages 4-18 with a wide range of themed-camps, including sports, crafts, theatre, and outdoor activities. Browse through our online camp guide and choose the camps and locations that work best for your family. >> See the online camp guide and register today |
Sign Up for our Arts and Crafts Workshops
 |
| Join us for seasonal activities, workshops and events happening this winter in Richmond Hill. Take part in workshops on Expressive Collage, Gilded Glass: Painting with Gold Leaf, Picture Perfect Pastels and creating your own Whimsical Wood-Carved Bunny. >> View the complete list of winter workshops |
Make a Splash with our Wave Pool
 We’re gearing up to reopen the Wave Pool for Summer 2024 and we need more aquatics staff to make it possible. Did you know it’s the only indoor wave pool in York Region? It features a warm water small pool and a thrilling 100 ft water slide with rainbow effect, translucent sections and a step out finish. Spread the news – we’re hiring! >> Apply today to join this awesome team |
The City Clears Your Snow Windrow
 |
| The City clears snow windrows – the pile of snow left behind by road plows – from the end of 44,000+ residential driveways. We aim to clear a minimum of one car width at the curb. Windrow clearing starts 2 hours after road plowing begins and takes 12 hours to complete after the snow stops. >> Three things to do to get your windrow cleared |
York Region News
Ontario’s One Fare Program: Seamless Transit Connections
Starting February 26, 2024, experience free transfers connecting TTC, YRT, GO Transit, Brampton Transit, Durham Region Transit, and MiWay. Utilize your PRESTO card, credit, debit, or PRESTO in Google Wallet.
This initiative supports the collective goal of the province, municipal transit systems, and Metrolinx for integrated fares, enhancing affordability and simplifying your transit experience.
Participating systems encompass TTC, YRT, GO Transit, Brampton Transit, Durham Region Transit, and MiWay, addressing double fares for cross-boundary TTC trips.
How It Works:
- Use PRESTO card, credit, debit, or PRESTO in Google Wallet.
- PRESTO applies a 100% discount.
- Enjoy a two-hour transfer window on YRT and three hours on GO Transit.
Note: Complete your trip within the specified time to avoid fines or charges.
Join the Centennial Celebration of York Regional Forest!
Celebrating 100 Years of York Regional Forest! Join us in a year-long festivity with free activities like exhibits, a photo contest, guided walks, and Family Day events. Embrace nature’s beauty and our commitment to conservation. Learn more at https://www.york.ca/newsroom/campaigns-projects/celebrating-100-years-york-regional-forest.
Provincial Regulatory Updates
Feb 26, 2024
Provincial:
During a news conference on February 22, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra referenced that the government is consulting but will “definitely be moving forward” with legislation to compel developers to move forward with building if water/sanitary allocation has been approved (dubbed “use it or lose it”). He further said that the government is bringing forward the “5th installment of the Housing Supply Action plan next month.” (see around 35 minutes of the video linked above for this part of the discussion)
The Minister of Transportation introduced Bill 162, the Get it Done Act which carried on first reading. The Bill, if approved, would amend the Environmental Assessment Act, the Highway Traffic Act, the Official Plan Adjustments Act, the Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act, and the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act. More specifically, it would make changes such as:
- Prohibiting road tolls on provincial highways.
- Requiring a currently valid vehicle permit and that an expired, cancelled or suspended permit is not a currently valid permit and is an offence.
- Requiring that, before a carbon pricing program can be established there must be a referendum authorizing it. (Note, as with most legislative changes, this does not bind future governments or even the current government who can choose to repeal if they wish)
- Restore a number of changes previously rolled back by Bill 150 and provide for a number of urban boundary expansions, including York Region (see here for details).
The government announced that it repealed Bill 124, the Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, by Order in Council. Bill 124 capped salary increases for broader public sector workers and was recently found to have violated collective bargaining rights by the Ontario Court of Appeal.
Bill 149, the Working for Workers Four Act, was debated on third reading. The Bill, which is expected to receive royal assent shortly, makes changes to the Digital Platform Workers’ Rights Act, the Employment Standards Act, the Fair Access to Regulated Professionals and Compulsory Trades Act and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act. For more detail follow the hyperlink above. Daisy Wai, MPP, Richmond Hill asked the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development about the feedback he has received from firefighters on the bill. The Minister replied that he “value(s) the advocacy of the OPFFA” for helping to ensure the bill addresses the needs of injure workers.
The Speaker recognized new legislative pages, including Colin Niu from Richmond Hill and Max Wen from the riding of Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill.
Federal:
The House of Commons continues debate on Bill C-29, An Act to provide for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation, considering the amendments made by the Senate during their review of the bill. The Act sets out a national council for reconciliation as an independent, non-political, permanent and Indigenous-led organization whose purpose is to advance reconciliation with Indigenous (and non-Indigenous) peoples. Per the Senate, the “context behind the establishment of the council is the devastating intergenerational effects of assimilationist policies promoted by the federal government, including Indian residential schools, which have had significant negative impacts on Indigenous peoples’ well-being and highlight the need for an independent, Indigenous-operated body that can measure progress on eliminating disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Elders, survivors and their descendants must inform and guide this work.”
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General introduced Bill C-63, the Online Harms Act. If passed, the bill would require services to provide clear and accessible ways to flag harmful content and block users, create a definition of “hatred” in the Criminal Code, increasing penalties for existing hate propaganda offences, creating a standalone hate crime offence and creating an additional set of remedies for online hate speech in the Canadian Human Rights Act, and establish a new Digital Safety Commission to oversee and enforce the Online Harms Act’s regulatory framework and a new Digital Safety Ombudsperson to act as a resource and advocate for the public interest with respect to systemic issues related to online safety, among other things. The bill itself has not yet been posted, but the news release provides a summary of the bill’s content.
Feb 25, 2024
Open for Comment
- The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing released a proposal regarding the Get It Done Act (2024) – Amending the Official Plan Adjustments Act (2023). The proposal would retroactively update official plans in response to municipal feedback while protecting the Greenbelt, and safeguarding public health and safety. For more information, or to submit a comment, please visit the hyperlink. Comments can be submitted until March 21.
- The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has released a proposal regarding new regulations to focus municipal environmental assessment requirements. The proposal creates regulations that streamline municipal infrastructure projects which focus on certain water, shoreline and sewage systems. This approach aims to eliminate unnecessary burdens on lower-impact projects and reduce duplicative requirements. For more information, or to submit a comment, please visit the hyperlink. Comments can be submitted until March 18.
- The Ministry of Energy is proposing amendments to the Ontario Energy Board Act (1998) to provide the government with the authority to ensure fair and informed decision-making at the OEB, to foster affordable communities. The proposal has several elements:
- 1. Proposing legislative amendments to ensure mechanisms are in place to facilitate broad stakeholder participation in OEB proceedings.
- 2. Proposing legislative amendments which would give the Minister of Energy the authority to issue directives requiring the OEB to hold a generic hearing on any matter respecting natural gas or electricity.
- 3. Proposing legislative amendments which would provide the government with time-limited authority to prescribe the “revenue horizon” over which natural gas utilities calculate the upfront cost required for new natural gas connections for residential, small commercial and other customers.
- 4. Proposing legislative amendments which would provide the Minister of Energy with authority to issue directives requiring the OEB to accept certain cost allocation conditions in reviewing a leave to construct application for a natural gas transmission project.
- For more information, or to submit a comment, please visit the hyperlink. Comments can be submitted until April 7.
Bulletin/Decisions
- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry updated a proposal regarding legislative and regulatory proposals affecting conservation authorities, to support the Housing Supply Action Plan 3.0. The proposed changes would further focus conservation authorities on their core mandate, support faster and less costly approvals, streamline conservation authority processes and help make land suitable for housing available for development. For more information, please visit the hyperlink.
- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry released a decision regarding updates to the regulation of development for the protection of people and property from natural hazards in Ontario. The proposal makes associated regulatory changes to support streamlined and consistent conservation authority permitting decisions. For more information, please visit the hyperlink.
- The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks released a decision regarding the movement to a project list approach under the Environmental Assessment Act. For more information, please visit the hyperlink.
- The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks released a decision regarding the proposed project list for comprehensive environmental assessments under the Environmental Assessment Act. For more information, please visit the hyperlink.
- The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks released a decision regarding the implementation of modernizing Ontario’s environmental assessment program. These changes follow a discussion paper the Ministry received in April 2019. For more information on these changes, please visit the hyperlink.
- The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks released a bulletin regarding a notice of amendment to the seven class Environmental Assessments. These amendments came into effect immediately upon the publication of this bulletin. For more information, please visit the hyperlink.
Feb 16, 2024
Open for Comment
- The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has released a proposal regarding new regulations that focus municipal environmental assessment requirements. The Ministry is proposing to revoke the Municipal Class EA and create a streamlined EA regulation for municipal infrastructure for higher-risk projects. This would help deliver critical public works to support housing infrastructure for Ontario’s rapidly growing population. For more information, or to submit a comment, please visit the hyperlink. Comments can be submitted until March 17, 2024.
- The Ministry of Infrastructure has released a proposal regarding the creation of regulation to support implementation of the GO Transit Station Funding Act, 2023. This proposal would allow the Minister to approve the use of an optional funding tool called the Station Contribution Fee, to allow prescribed municipalities within the GO rail service network to fund the design and construction of new GO stations. This investment can then be recovered through a charge on new development in specified areas surrounding those new stations. For more information, or to submit a comment, please visit the hyperlink. Comments can be submitted until March 29, 2024.
- The Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility has released a proposal which would allow more organizations to be contributors to the health and well-being of seniors in Ontario through their participation in Senior Active Living Centre programs. The proposed regulation, if approved, would prescribe additional organizations that can provide the 20% contribution. For more information, or to submit a comment, please visit the hyperlink. Comments can be submitted until March 22, 2024.
Bulletins/Decisions
- The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has released a decision regarding the evaluation of the municipal class environmental assessment requirements for infrastructure projects. This proposal will revoke the Municipal Class EA and create a streamlined environmental assessment process, as set out in the Municipal Project Assessment Process Regulation. The proposal will allow municipalities to move ahead with some water, sewage, and shoreline works projects sooner while maintaining environmental oversight of higher-risk municipal infrastructure projects. For more information, please visit the hyperlink.
- The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has also updated their proposal regarding flare modelling guidance under the local air quality regulation. The ministry is proposing to update the Flare Modelling Technical Bulletin to include an approach for modelling a phenomenon known as stack tip/flame downwash, which can occur under certain flare operating conditions. For more information, please visit the hyperlink.
- The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has also released a bulletin regarding a request for scientific/Indigenous/community knowledge to be considered in preparing recovery strategies for three species at risk. The species include the Davis’s Shieldback, the Lesser Yellowlegs, and the Chimney Swift. For more information, please visit the hyperlink. If you wish to provide species information, please submit comments to Recovery.Planning@ontario.ca by March 16th, 2024.
Additionally, please see below for information regarding the latest federal public engagement:
- The Government of Canada is launching their public engagement on the 2035 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Target, as mandated under the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act. To help inform the government’s work in setting the 2035 target the government has launched an online platform, which can be found here. Submissions will be accepted until March 28, 2024. For more information, please visit the first hyperlink.
Feb 4, 2024
Bulletins/Decisions
- The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has released a bulletin regarding Amendments to the Species at Risk in Ontario List in response to COSSARO’s 2022 Annual Report. This required amendment made six new species classifications, four reclassifications, scientific name changes to four species, and a change to one species under the “special concern” designation. For more information, please visit the hyperlink.
- The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has also released a decision regarding the development of government response statement for Black Ash under the Endangered Species Act, 2007. This is the finalized response document that outlines the policies to support protection and recovery of Black Ash in Ontario. For more information, please visit the hyperlink.
- The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has also released a decision regarding regulations surrounding Black Ash under the Endangered Species Act, 2007. These new regulations that identify how Endangered Species Act protections apply to Black Ash and its habitat. For more information, please visit the hyperlink.