May is National Foster Care Month, acknowledging children, caregivers, and families in foster care. It’s also Better Hearing & Speech Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, and National Military Appreciation Month. Additionally, May celebrates Jewish, Asian Canadian, and Haitian Heritage.
🌟 Reflecting on the Success of Mental Health Week 🌟
As your councillor, I’m gearing up for Mental Health Week and want to encourage everyone to support Mental Health in Motion, happening on June 9th. While the event hasn’t started yet, your participation will make a real difference in supporting youth mental health. Let’s prepare to come together and prioritize mental well-being in our community! 🌈 #MentalHealthInMotion #CommunitySupport
Richmond Hill News
Prepare for Every Season: Key Steps for Emergency Readiness
May 3, 2024
As Emergency Preparedness Week approaches (May 5 – 11), it’s essential to ready ourselves for any potential crises. This year’s theme, ‘Plan for Every Season,’ highlights the importance of being prepared year-round. Here are key steps to get ready:
- Know the Risks: Stay informed about hazards in your area and how to respond.
- Make a Plan: Create a family emergency plan, including evacuation routes and communication strategies.
- Build a Kit: Prepare essentials like water, food, medications, flashlight, batteries, and first aid supplies for at least 72 hours.
- Stay Informed: Sign up for local alerts.
- Practice Your Plan: Regularly review your plan with family members.
- Help Others: Consider neighbors, family, and pets who may need assistance. Whether it’s extreme heat, severe storms, cold snaps, or health crises, preparedness is key. Review and update your plans and kits, contributing to a safer community. Stay safe and committed to readiness. For more info, visit RichmondHill.ca/EmergencyPreparedness or GetPrepared.ca.
Road Resurfacing Alert – Spring to Fall 2024
Apr 26, 2024
Richmond Hill is set to undergo road resurfacing from May 13 to October 31, 2024. Expect lane restrictions and partial driveway closures. Exercise caution around construction areas. For inquiries, contact Access Richmond Hill at 905-771-8800 or access@richmondhill.ca. Read more on our website.
2023 Achievements: More Trees and Active Transportation Plan
April 25, 2024
Richmond Hill – In 2023, Richmond Hill advanced its sustainability efforts with notable achievements:
- Tree Canopy Expansion: 11,482 trees and shrubs planted, including 9,204 on City property by volunteers and 1,305 on private property through the Healthy Yards Program.
- Transportation Master Plan: Approved and launched to enhance walking, cycling, trails, and road networks.
- New Collective Gardens: Two new gardens on City property for community organizations to grow food for those in need.
- Recreational Trails: Added 1.2 km of trails at David Dunlap Observatory Park.
- Bird Friendly City: Recognized by Nature Canada and established a community Bird Team.
- Litter Clean-Up: 12,000 volunteers cleaned 100 parks and trails, and 145 streets and pathways.
- Energy Upgrades: Enhanced energy efficiency at all City arenas and three community centers.
For more information, visit RichmondHill.ca/Greening.
York Region News
York Region Drinking Water Inspections Earn Top Marks Again!
Friday, May 3, 2024
For the fifth year in a row, York Region has achieved a perfect 100% score in the Ministry of the Environment’s drinking water system inspections. This success reflects the region’s dedication to providing safe, high-quality drinking water to its residents.
Key Highlights:
- 17,309 Samples Analyzed: All tests in 2023 met regulatory standards.
- Outstanding Compliance: The Ontario Chief Drinking Water Inspector’s Report showed a 99.98% compliance rating.
- Significant Investment: In 2023, York Region invested $65 million in water infrastructure, with a $563 million budget planned over the next decade.
“Maintaining these high standards is crucial for the health and well-being of our community,” said York Region Chairman Wayne Emmerson.
York Region operates 15 drinking water systems, ensuring safe, clean, and affordable water for all local cities and towns.
For more information on York Region’s water quality, visit york.ca/DrinkingWater.
Highway 404 Road Crossing Improvement: Construction Notice
Apr 22, 2024
Highway 404 Road Crossing Improvement Project in Markham and Richmond Hill. Expect lane closures and night work until fall 2024. Orlando Avenue, Markland Street, and Cachet Woods will undergo widening and extension. Traffic shifts and lane closures will occur. Noise and disruptions may happen. Access to homes and businesses will be maintained. Weather may affect scheduling.
For more information, please visit Highway 404 Road Crossing Improvement Project | York Region.
King Road from Yonge Street to Bond Crescent in the City of Richmond Hill
Navigating Forward Together: Supporting Seniors in York Region
Apr 2, 2024
🌟 Exciting News! 🌟
York Regional Council just approved the 2024-2027 York Region Plan to Support Seniors: Navigating Forward Together. This plan builds on the success of our 2016 Seniors Strategy and outlines new actions to enhance the health and well-being of our diverse aging population.
Our focus areas:
- Keeping seniors healthier, longer
- Supporting seniors in age-friendly communities
- Connecting seniors to the right programs and services
- Improving coordination and planning services
Join us in ensuring seniors can age in the right place, with the right support. Visit york.ca/PlanForSeniors for more details! 🌟 #SupportingSeniors #NavigatingForward
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
May 6, 2024
Provincial
Bulletins/Decisions
- The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has released a decision regarding the proposed regulatory amendments to encourage greater reuse of excess soil. The proposal amends Ontario Regulation 406/19 (On-Site and Excess Soil Management) and associated soil rules to increase soil management flexibility and support reuse of excess soil from housing, infrastructure, and other construction projects. For more information, please visit the first hyperlink.
- The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has also released a bulletin regarding updates to the RPRA Registry Procedures for Batteries, Electrical and Electronic Equipment, and Tires. The bulletin informs on three administrative updates made by the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority to verification processes and audit procedures, under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act 2016. For more information, please visit the first hyperlink.
- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has released a decision regarding the sale of Jade Perch in Ontario, under Schedule B of Ontario Regulation 664/98 (Fish Licensing). The ministry will not be adding the Jade Perch to species eligible for sale. For more information, please visit the first hyperlink.
- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has also released a decision regarding the transport and movement of bait into and out of Bait Management Zones. The Ministry will allow the direct transport of both live and dead baitfish and leeches into and out of adjacent prescribed zones. For more information, please visit the hyperlink.
May 2, 2024
Provincial:
The government introduced Bill 185, the Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024, which has since been referred to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. The Committee will be holding hearings on the Bill during the first half of May. If it receives Royal Assent as currently presented, Bill 185 will repeal several changes previously made related to development charges and the refund mechanism for application fees, among others. It also sets the date as July 1, 2024, for when York Region becomes an upper-tier municipality with no planning responsibilities. Further, the Bill would remove a municipality’s ability to require a pre-submission process, prohibits the requirement of parking facilities (other than for bicycles) on lands within a major transit station area, and set up opportunities for “use it or lose it” tools. For more detail see the summary at the first link or this backgrounder.
Bill 162, The Get It Done Act, 2024 is in third reading. If passed as written it will make changes the Region of York Official Plan, including deleting the Gormley GO Station as a Major Transit Station Area.
Bill 159, the Preventing Unethical Puppy Sales Act, was referred to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy. The Bill aims to help stop unethical dog breeding operations, often known as puppy mills. If passed it will allow the Province to introduce minimum penalties of $10,000 for bad actors operating a puppy mill and $25,000 if these violations result in the death of a dog. Changes will also allow the Province to help develop regulations to set conditions that must be met when selling or transferring a dog and establish regulations for record-keeping. Further consultation on details is anticipated.
Bill 157, the Enhancing Access to Justice Act, 2023 received royal assent. It amends several pieces of legislation, including:
- The Fire Prevention and Protection Act by enabling future development of an administrative monetary penalty (AMP) framework. Once in place, this will allow for the use of AMPs as a progressive enforcement tool that could be imposed upon anyone including tenants, owners, and corporations in contravention of the FPPA and its regulations such as the Ontario Fire Code;
- The Architects Act to establish a limited licence to engage in the practice of architecture;
- The Evidence Act to add a new section that provides that the sharing of information between public sector bodies on a confidential basis does not affect or constitute a waiver of any privilege that applies with respect to the information.
The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing mentioned Richmond Hill in the legislature (April 11) as part of a comment on the government’s intention to convene “an expert panel which will include municipal partners but will include stakeholders, from engineers, from architects and those who have to interact with our municipal partners on a daily basis, to harmonize those [zoning] regulations so that we can also get shovels in the ground faster.” He specifically cited the differences in building setbacks required between Stouffville, Markham and Richmond Hill.
There are indications that the Province is drafting a bill to address harassment by municipal politicians. The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing said at an event in early April that he is reaching out to Ontario’s integrity commissioner for recommendations and hopes to be able to consult on it with AMO and bring a proposal to their August conference.
Michael Parsa, Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill MPP and Minister of Children, Community and Social Services announced in the legislature (April 10) that the government is looking to declare intimate partner violence (IPV) an epidemic across the Province. There is also a private members bill introduced by the opposition that would do this. Many municipalities, including Richmond Hill, have already done this, calling on the “provincial and federal governments provide the necessary resources to municipalities, regions and their emergency and social services to meaningfully address the gender-based violence and intimate-partner violence epidemic.”
The legislature is in recess until May 6.
Federal:
On April 29, MP Leah Taylor Roy (Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill) rose in the House of Commons to speak about Earth Day, referencing the City’s efforts to support the environment and the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health office opening in Richmond Hill:
“Mr. Speaker, it has been one week since Earth Day and in my riding of Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, the momentum continues. We have had several clean-ups and tree planting events led by community members like Oak Ridges Lions Club, the Aurora Arboretum, LEAF, the City of Richmond Hill, the town of Aurora and the entire York Region community. Last week, we welcomed to Richmond Hill the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health. This is a real testament to the dedication of Richmond Hill to our environment. We are thrilled about the new partnership and leadership on a sustainable transition and innovation, not only in our region but worldwide, under Dr. Kaveh Madani. It is a testament, as I said, to the strong connection and dedication that our riding has to the environment, which makes Earth Day even more special in our riding. A happy Earth Day to everyone, and I thank all the wonderful organizations and communities standing up for environmental protection.”
On April 18, MP Taylor-Roy recognized RHFES in the House:
“Mr. Speaker, this week, I welcomed two of my firefighting friends to Ottawa: Tim Sparks and Jeff Voisin from the Richmond Hill Fire Services. We discussed matters of concern for firefighters across Canada, such as the risk of PFAS exposure and contamination in their gear, and the need for frequent and routine cancer screenings. We explored solutions and innovations being deployed, such as the Vancouver-led, PFAS-free moisture barrier in firefighters’ gear certified by the National Fire Protection Association. We are determined to work with industry to respond to these health concerns, but we need co-operation between provincial and municipal governments, and our government, to ensure that we take care of the firefighters who take care of us. I thank Tim and Jeff, deputy chief Rocco Volpe of Central York Fire Services, chief Bryan Burbridge of Richmond Hill Fire Services, and all the firefighters across Canada for their service.”