Ontario Pre-Budget Consultation

On January 31, 2022, 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.  

Check against delivery.

Good afternoon Minister Bethlenfalvy. Thank you for the opportunity to share the Region of Durham’s priorities for provincial investment.  

The Region of Durham continues to adapt and adjust our service delivery to better support residents and businesses through the pandemic. We are planning for recovery and we know that the Durham Region of the past isn’t the Durham Region of the future. We are one of the fastest growing municipalities in Canada and want to ensure Durham is positioned for continued growth and prosperity.

To stimulate post-pandemic economic recovery, the Region of Durham requests that the GO Lakeshore East Extension to Bowmanville be approved in the provincial spring budget. The Extension has been a priority for businesses and residents in Durham for almost 30 years and there are many reasons why this project is ready to move forward now:

• The Extension is central to our vision for an integrated transit system that will better connect people to jobs and students to education opportunities. It is a signature project in the Region’s Recovery Framework and Action Plan.
• The frequent, reliable, and accessible transit option will help residents optimize their time so they can spend less time travelling and more time with family and friends
• The Region and our local municipalities are committed to the project. The Extension has been embedded in the Regional Official Plan and we have accelerated our Official Plan policies for Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs)
• The Extension provides an opportunity to increase housing supply, including affordable and supportive housing units
• Strong ridership projections will provide much needed congestion relief along the 401, allowing for higher productivity and more efficient movement of goods
• We continue to work collaboratively with Metrolinx to advance the Extension and the Transit Oriented Communities Program
• There is little more that the Region can do to advance the Extension and future stations in the absence of a funding announcement

Approval of the GO Lakeshore East Extension to Bowmanville is critical for stimulating Durham’s economy and getting people moving after the pandemic. Minister, we would appreciate your support and any leverage you might have with Metrolinx to ensure this remains their top priority. We look forward to provincial approval this spring We look forward to provincial approval of this important priority.

Also critical to the recovery efforts is the continued support for the Region’s less privileged. Especially those experiencing homelessness and at risk of homelessness. The impacts of the pandemic have been softened by provincial funding that allowed us to increase supports available to those in need. There will be a major funding gap for the Region’s homelessness programming if these supports are discontinued in the coming year. The number of people experiencing homelessness is significantly higher than before the pandemic and the impacts of the pandemic on our most vulnerable is anticipated to be long-lasting. The Region of Durham requests that Province extend the COVID-related funding and transition to long-term, stable funding to ensure the continuation of homelessness prevention and support programming. The funding will be utilized for homelessness prevention programs, shelter programs, professional street outreach programs, housing programs and case management programs.

Thank you for your time today. We look forward to inclusion of the Region of Durham’s key priorities in the provincial spring budget.