Ontario Pre-Budget Consultation 2024

On November 10, 2023, Regional Chair and CEO John Henry met with Provincial Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy to share the Region of Durham’s priorities for provincial investment. 

Good afternoon, Minister and MPPs.

I was so pleased to see the Station Contribution Fee highlighted in the Fall Economic Statement. This is a great example of how, by working together and thinking outside the box, we can achieve exceptional results for Durham Region.

I’m excited about our vision for transit-oriented communities. It will unlock vibrant, walkable communities around the four stations. Communities where people will want to live, work and play.

I look forward to seeing continued momentum on GO East in this year’s budget.  

Increasing housing supply is also the goal of the Region of Durham. We are working with area municipalities to support their housing targets of 84,000 new homes by 2031. We welcome this growth. Work is already underway to make the goal a reality through planning major investments in growth infrastructure like major roads, water, and sewer infrastructure. We have never planned for expansion on this scale before.

Durham needs to be financially equipped to deliver growth infrastructure in an accelerated manner.  We are forecasting almost $900 million in lost revenue over ten years due to Bill 23. The biggest impact is lost revenue from the up-to 20 per cent discount on for-profit builds.

We welcome the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund as a step to making municipalities whole so that we can advance our shared goal without unfairly passing costs onto businesses and homeowners.

We ask that the province honour its commitment to make municipalities whole from the impacts of Bill 23 so that we can be real partners.

I encourage the province to answer AMO’s call for a Social and Economic Prosperity Review. The landscape in which municipalities deliver services has changed and we need to work together to create sustainable provincial-municipal relationships.  

The Region is doing its part to address the homelessness crisis. We are opening a 45-bed shelter with wrap-around-supports, planning for revitalization of our community housing stock and exploring mixed-use affordable housing on regional land at 650 Rossland Rd. We also operate 1,291 housing units through the Durham Region Local Housing Corporation. This is in addition to the 1,196 units provided through the Durham Region Non-Profit Housing Corporation.

I applaud the government for permanently increasing the Homelessness Prevention Program funding. But the need continues to outpace our investments.

In line with our previous conversations and the Region’s policy paper on homelessness, we are requesting increased funding for affordable and supportive housing as well as wrap around supports including mental health and addictions services. We also request that the province increase Ontario Works rates, stagnant since 2018. Increased rates would help over 12,000 Durham residents and their families, to meet the rising cost of living.

Finally, I ask the province to provide a hospital planning grant to Lakeridge so that we are ready to support the healthcare needs of all of the people who will call Durham home over the next decade.  

Thank you for your time.