Halton Regional Council May 2024 Highlights: 2024 Community Investment Fund; Funding Reduction under the National Housing Strategy; Support for Midwifery Care & Services; & more

Halton Regional Council
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Halton Region Council Highlights — May 2024The May 2024 edition of Council Highlights includes key public information, messages and marketing materials on significant program updates related to regular meetings of Regional Council, ongoing communications campaigns and other key areas of interest. These Council Highlights provide a summary of actions taken at the Council meeting this month and are not an official record of that meeting. For the official minutes of meetings, please visit the Council and Committee Meetings webpage.May 2024 Content

  • May 2024 Council Meeting
    • Halton Region Community Investment Fund - Update on 2024 Funding
    • Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 2024 Budget & Business Plan from the Government Finance Officers Association of the U.S. and Canada
    • Funding Reduction under the National Housing Strategy
    • Support for Midwifery Care and Services
  • Key Areas of Interest
    • Paramedic Day 2024
    • Celebrating the Work of Regional Staff This May
  • Ongoing Communications Campaigns
    • Special Waste Drop Off Day

MAY 2024 COUNCIL MEETINGHalton Region Community Investment Fund - Update on 2024 FundingWhat does this mean for Halton?

  • The Halton Region Community Investment Fund (HRCIF) contributes to the health, safety and well-being of Halton residents by providing grants to non-profit human service agencies. Funding of $2,356,051 has been approved for 44 new programs and initiatives to date in 2024.
  • The Region is investing $4.5 million in funding through the Halton Region Community Investment Fund to help non-profit human services agencies provide programs and services that help make Halton a healthy and safe community.

Highlights

  • Applications to the HRCIF must contribute to the objectives of Community Safety and Well-Being – a healthy, safe and vibrant community where residents are supported, engaged, connected and free from harm.
  • Funding includes one-year grants up to $30,000 for non-profit or charitable organizations for short-term or small capital requests, or long-term funding up to three years for new or established services and initiatives.
  • To date in 2024, $2,356,051 in funding has been approved for 44 new programs and initiatives. The 18 multi-year grants approved already will continue into 2024.
  • This brings total funding for HRCIF in 2024 to $4.5 million dollars with $760,485 still available for additional investments this year.

Please use the links below to access additional information about the Halton Region Community Investment Fund:

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Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 2024 Budget & Business Plan from the Government Finance Officers Association of the U.S. and CanadaWhat does this mean for Halton?

  • For the 20th consecutive year, Halton Region has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting which demonstrates Halton’s budget satisfies nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation.
  • Halton Region has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its 2024 Budget and Business Plan. The award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting and demonstrates that the budget is clear and easy to understand.

Highlights

  • Halton Region has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its 2024 Budget and Business Plan.
  • A budget must meet the highest principles of governmental budgeting, satisfying nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation, to receive the award.

Please use the links below to access additional information about Halton Region’s 2024 Budget and Business Plan:

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Funding Reduction under the National Housing StrategyWhat does this mean for Halton?

  • The Federal Government announced a $355-million reduction in National Housing Strategy funding, which Halton Region has used to create new assisted and supportive housing, maintain and repair existing assisted housing stock and support low-income households with housing benefits and rent supplements. Without this funding, Halton will be challenged in meeting the growing need for assisted and supportive housing.
  • This reduction in National Housing Strategy funding which could impact Halton Region’s ability to provide safe and supportive housing for its low-income residents. Halton Region is advocating to keep this funding in place.

Highlights

  • On March 25, 2024, Halton Region received notification that the Federal Government is reducing National Housing Strategy funding to Ontario by $355 million for April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.
  • This funding reduction will directly impact the planned construction of new supportive housing for low-income Halton residents as well as much needed capital repairs and accessibility upgrades to existing assisted and supportive housing buildings.
  • The Regional Chair will write to the Provincial Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities requesting:
    • the Federal and Provincial governments meet to resolve the National Housing Strategy funding agreement to preserve funding for low-income Halton residents who are dependent on it;
    • continued financial support for Halton residents receiving a monthly Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit or an Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative funded housing allowance to reduce the risk of eviction and/or homelessness; and,
    • a commitment to flow Halton Region’s Year-6 National Housing Strategy allocation until a longer-term federal-provincial National Housing Strategy agreement can be reached to ensure Halton residents dependent on this funding are not unnecessarily disadvantaged.

Please use the links below to access additional information about assisted and supportive housing:

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Support for Midwifery Care and ServicesWhat does this mean for Halton?

  • Halton Region is committed to protecting and enhancing health and safety and encourages local midwifery organizations to continue working with their local Transfer Payment Agency to identify any pressures and service demands in the community.
  • As part of Halton Region’s commitment to health and safety, the Regional Chair will write to the Provincial Minister of Health to help ensure Halton midwifery organizations have adequate provincial funding.

Highlights

  • Midwifery is a primary maternal health care service for pregnant women in Halton as part of the broader Ontario public healthcare system.
  • Midwifery practice groups in Ontario work with their local Transfer Payment Agencies to provide annual budget requests outlining pressures and service demands which are then provided to the Ministry of Health’s Ontario Midwifery Program.
  • Some midwifery organizations in Halton have expressed challenges in meeting increased community demand due to population growth and limitations on their provincial allocations for billable care.
  • The Regional Chair will write a letter to the Provincial Minister of Health reiterating the importance of ensuring Halton midwifery organizations have adequate provincial funding of billable courses of care to meet the increasing service demand in the growing Halton community.

Please use the links below to access additional information about the Midwifery in Halton notice of motion:

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KEY AREAS OF INTERESTParamedic Day 2024Highlights

  • Everyone is welcome to attend as we celebrate Paramedic Day on Saturday, May 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Woodlands Operations Centre, 1179 Bronte Road in Oakville.
  • This free event takes place rain or shine.
  • There will be activities for people of all ages:
  • meet members of our Paramedic Services team;
  • check out our emergency vehicles and equipment;
  • learn the basics of CPR;
  • enjoy children’s activities including bouncy castles, face painting and crafts; and
  • get a bite to eat from local food vendors ($).
  • To learn more about Paramedic Day and Halton’s Paramedic Services, visit halton.ca

Please use the links below to access additional information about Halton’s Paramedic Services:

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[gallery columns="2" ids="35855,35856"][gallery ids="35857,35858,35859"]Celebrating the Work of Regional Staff This MayHighlights

  • Each May, we recognize Regional staff who deliver valuable services that support our community every day:
  • May is Museum Month: Our Heritage Services team helps educate and inspire our community to learn about Halton’s past.
  • Emergency Preparedness Week (May 5 to 11): Our Emergency Management team ensures we are ready to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies.
  • National Nursing Week (May 6 to 12): Our incredible nurses provide the highest quality compassionate care to residents and their families when they need it most.
  • National Paramedic Services Week (May 19 to 25): Our Paramedic Services team provides life-saving emergency care and keeps our community safe and healthy.
  • National Public Works Week (May 19 to 25): Our team in Public Works help maintain our high quality of life as our community grows by providing critical services: waste diversion and collection programs, roads, and water and wastewater treatment.
  • Thank you to these teams for all they do to make our community better every day.

Please use the links below to access additional information about weeks of recognition in May:

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ONGOING COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGNSSpecial Waste Drop Off DayHighlights

  • Need to dispose of household hazardous waste or electronics?
  • Halton residents can stop by our Special Waste Drop Off Day in Burlington on Saturday, June 22 at 4015 Mainway, from 8 a.m.-2p.m.

Please use the links below to access additional information about Online Waste Collection Tools and Calendar and related materials:

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