Halton Regional Council November 2023 Highlights: Support for National Basic Income Program; Update on Homelessness & Encampments in Halton; Yard Waste Program & more

Halton Regional Council
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Halton Region Council Highlights — November 2023The November 2023 edition of Council Highlights includes key public information and materials on significant program updates related to this month’s regular meeting of Regional Council and other key areas of interest to Regional Council.November 2023 Content

  • November 2023 Council Meeting
    • Corporate Climate Action Plan and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Target
    • Update on Homelessness and Encampments in Halton Region
    • Paramedic Support for Palliative Care Patients
    • Halton's High Quality Drinking Water
    • Halton Region Community Investment Fund - 2023 Funding
  • Motions
    • Support for a National Basic Income Program
  • Key Areas of Interest
    • Online Waste Collection Tools and Calendar
    • Yard Waste Program
    • Respiratory Illness Season and Ways to Get Vaccinated Community Advertising

NOVEMBER 2023 COUNCIL MEETINGCorporate Climate Action Plan and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction TargetHighlights

  • Halton Region continues to respond to the climate emergency.
  • Halton Region’s Corporate Climate Action Plan is a significant milestone in our climate response. It sets a clear target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and outlines a path to accelerate our collective action.
  • Halton is on a mission to achieve net zero corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.
  • Key actions identified include:
    • tracking and reporting on progress toward our goal;
    • advancing renewable energy technology at the Region’s largest wastewater plants, including Skyway and Mid-Halton;
    • electrification of the Region’s fleet vehicles;
    • exploring the advancement of a carbon budget; and
    • establishing effective partnerships that align with Regional initiatives.
  • Establishing this target and an action plan achieves milestones two and three set by the Partners for Climate Change Protection, which Regional Council had identified as a key goal in our Strategic Business Plan.

Please use the links below to access additional information about the Halton Corporate Climate Action Plan:

Update on Homelessness and Encampments in Halton RegionHighlights

  • Preventing homelessness and responding to encampments continue to be a priority for the Region and are being addressed through a Community Safety & Well Being Action Table.
  • In Halton, a human-rights based approach is taken for encampments on public property ensuring necessary supports are available.
  • If you see someone who may be homeless or in need of help, please contact us by emailing outreach@halton.ca or calling 1-866-442-5866. We will assist as soon as possible.
  • Women, couples and families in need of shelter can call 311 or 365-292-3554. Men in need of shelter can call 311 or 905-339-2918.
  • To help an individual experiencing a mental health crisis, contact Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST) at 877-825-9011. COAST will send a team of experts to meet a homeless individual to provide immediate support.
  • The Region’s outreach workers are always ready to assist individuals experiencing homelessness and to offer shelter supports, for those willing to accept help.

Please use the links below to access additional information about the Update on Encampments in Halton region and related documents.

Paramedic Support for Palliative Care PatientsHighlights

  • Halton Paramedics are now able to provide additional supports to palliative care patients, and will be available by the end of 2023.
  • The Ministry of Health has approved providing palliative care patients the option to receive care and remain at home in some situations, if that is their wish.
  • This new para-medicine program supports palliative patients by allowing them to receive treatment at home without being transported to hospital, if they choose.

Please use the links below to access additional information about Paramedic Services in our community and related materials.

Halton's High Quality Drinking WaterHighlights

  • Providing reliable access to safe, clean drinking water is a top priority for Halton Region.
  • Halton treats and delivers over 65 million cubic metres of drinking water to homes and businesses every year.
  • The results of the 2023 Audit confirm Halton Region continues to meet Ontario’s Drinking Water Quality standards and ensure our growing population has access to the highest quality drinking water whenever they need it.

Please use the links below to access additional information about Halton’s High Quality Drinking Water and related documents.

Halton Region Community Investment Fund - 2023 FundingHighlights

  • The Halton Region Community Investment Fund enhances the health, safety and well-being of Halton residents by providing grants to non-profit community agencies.
  • In 2023, Halton Region provided $4 million in grants to 70 non-profit community agencies. This includes 44 new grants in 2023 and 26 continuing grants from previous multi-year funding commitments.
  • A complete list of the 2023 grants can be found on halton.ca.

Please use the links below to access additional information about the Halton Region Community Investment Fund – 2023 Funding and related materials.

MOTIONSSupport for a National Basic Income ProgramHighlights

  • Basic Income refers to an unconditional payment from a level of government to individuals or families to ensure a minimum level of income.
  • Halton region is one of Canada’s fastest-growing communities, resulting in increased demands for essential social and community services such as Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program.
  • Halton invests significant Regional funding into community public health and social services, including addressing homelessness, food security, and providing public transportation subsidies.
  • Improved financial stability for vulnerable populations can lead to better health, social and economic outcomes.
  • The Ontario Basic Income Pilot project provided a group of residents with a minimum income in Hamilton, Brantford and Brant County from 2017 to 2019. The results of the project identified positive outcomes for recipients, including improved physical and mental health, housing stability and labour market participation when receiving a basic income from the government.
  • Halton Regional Council is requesting the Provincial and Federal governments look into ways to create a Basic Income Program.

Please use the links below to access additional information about Support for a Basic Income Program and related materials.

KEY AREAS OF INTERESTOnline Waste Collection Tools and CalendarHighlights

  • Stay connected to your waste information using Halton’s easy-to-use online tools.
  • Your 2024 Waste Collection Calendar will be available online this year.
  • There are no changes to your curbside pick-up day in 2024.
  • Eliminating the printing of almost 180,000 calendars for 2024 is one way Halton is reducing its carbon footprint and paper use—we are offsetting over 14 tonnes of paper!
  • Never miss a collection day and stay up-to-date on what is collected each week. Visit halton.ca/waste to:
    • view your online waste collection calendar;
    • sign up for weekly waste collection reminders sent to your computer, phone or
    • tablet;
    • sync your schedule to your personal calendar (iCal, Google Calendar,
    • Microsoft Outlook); and
    • download and print your one-page waste collection calendar.
  • You also have the option to print a one-page calendar or ask Halton to mail it to you by emailing accesshalton@halton.ca or calling 311.

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

Yard Waste ProgramHighlights

  • Halton’s seasonal yard waste program runs until the second week of December.
  • Yard waste is collected every other week on the same day as garbage in urban areas.
  • Here are some tips on how to properly dispose of your yard waste:
    • Use paper yard waste bags or rigid reusable containers with a yellow yard waste label for curbside collection.
    • Do not place grass, sod or dirt in your yard waste. Leaving clippings on your grass provides valuable nutrients to your lawn.
    • Do not place plastic pots in your yard waste. Completely remove dirt from black plastic plant pots and trays and place in your recycling.

Please use the links below to access additional information about the Yard Waste Program and related documents:

Respiratory Illness Season and Ways to Get Vaccinated Community AdvertisingHighlights

  • Staying up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccinations is the best way to protect against severe outcomes from infection.
  • The National Advisory Committee on Immunization and the Ministry of Health recommend vaccination with a COVID-19 XBB vaccine this fall for better protection against the Omicron XBB variant.
  • The COVID-19 XBB vaccine and annual flu shots are available to all eligible individuals aged 6 months and older.
  • It is safe and convenient to receive both the COVID-19 and annual flu shots at the same time, reducing the need for multiple visits to a doctor, nurse practitioner or local pharmacy.
  • To find out where to get the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit halton.ca/COVIDvaccines.

Please use the links below to access additional information about the Respiratory Illness Season & COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics and related documents.

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