Halton Regional Council unanimously passes 3 resolutions on Regional Government Review, Development Charges and the Paris Galt Moraine Conservation Act

During the Halton Regional Council meeting on March 27, council members from Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills unanimously passed three resolutions to show a united front with regards to the our positions on the Province's Regional Government Review, development charges and Bill 71, to establish a Paris Galt Moraine Conservation Plan.Regional Government ReviewRegional Council endorsed a resolution I moved that would be sent to the Provincial Government stating the two-tier municipal government in Halton Region is effective and any changes to it would be "disruptive and wasteful." Council's position also supports the recent motion we passed at Burlington City Council earlier last month and similar ones at the towns of Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills.To read the full Halton Regional Council Resolution_Regional_Government_Review, click the link.Development ChargesRegional Council endorsed a resolution I seconded calling on the Provincial Government not to reduce the current use of development charges or make changes to Sect. 27 of the Development Charges Act (DCA).As well, the motion called on the Province to improve the DCA to make sure that all growth-related costs of municipal infrastructure and services are recovered through development charges, which would ensure growth pays for growth.In addition, the resolution included a direction to Regional Chair Gary Carr to write a letter to Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark expressing Regional Council’s concerns regarding changes to Sect. 27 of the DCA or a reduction in the use of development charges, and that Halton would welcome the opportunity to work with theProvincial Government to find creative solutions to increase the stock of affordable housing, while ensuring that growth pays for growth.To read the full Halton Regional Council Resolution_Development_Charges, click the link.Paris Galt Moraine Conservation PlanEarlier in February, Guelph MPP and Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner tabled Bill 71, the Paris Galt Moraine Conservation Act, in provincial legislature. The Act would protect the drinking water supply for around 200,000 people in Guelph and the surrounding region.Since the Paris and Galt moraines cut across several municipalities, including in Peel Region, Wellington County, the City of Guelph, Region of Waterloo, Norfolk County, Brant County and Halton Region, and three Conservation Authorities, including Grand River Conservation Authority, Credit Valley Conservation Authority and Conservation Halton, Halton Regional Council unanimously passed a resolution that supports and endorses the passage of Bill 71.This conservation plan for the Paris and Galt moraines would provide an important policy framework to protect the critical ecological and hydrological integrity of the surrounding area.To read the full Halton Regional Council Resolution_Paris_and_Galt_Moraine_Conservation_Act, click the link.