A Whitby delegation led by Mayor Don Mitchell met individually with provincial ministry leaders on local issues of importance, including the impact of growth, removal of tolls on Highway 412, and the need for a new hospital.
The meetings took place during the 2019 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference held August 18 to 21 in Ottawa.
Whitby delegation met with Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott, Minister of Infrastructure Laurie Scott, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark, and Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney, as well as with New Democratic Party Leader Andrea Horwath.
Key asks from the Town included:
- Changes to the regulations set out in Bill 108 (More Homes, More Choice Act) to ensure that growth pays for growth and essential services delivered to residents are not compromised.
- Help to improve traffic flow and the transportation network in Whitby, particularly through the removal of tolls on Highway 412, lease or ownership of Baldwin Street (from Winchester Road East to Brawley Road West) to the Town, and reduction of tolls on Highway 407.
- Funding support for a new, full-service hospital for Lakeridge Health in Whitby; and,
- Consistent and predictable funding and grant programs to support the development of growth-related municipal infrastructure, such as a new North Whitby Sports Complex.
“As a Town, we are committed to making Whitby the best place to live, work, play and visit,” said Mayor Don Mitchell. “Partnership at all levels of government is critical to enabling us to continue to build the kind of community we all love to live in. Provincial support of these four priorities will make a true and positive difference to Whitby and its residents.”