Advocating For Our Town

Financial sustainability for municipalities means predictable and reliable funding. Rising operating and capital costs and limited revenue streams, however, make this a challenge, particularly as growth continues.

Whitby faces many complex budget challenges including aging infrastructure, the need to invest in Council-approved initiatives like the Whitby Sports Complex, and a new fire hall and 20 new firefighters to support growth in the community. Provincial policy changes and downloading, such as the loss of over $5 million to-date in developer payments to the Town for future purchase of parkland due to Bill 23, further impact the Town’s bottom line. In addition, data shows nearly a third of municipal spending now goes to services that are the Province’s jurisdiction, resulting in a funding gap of $4 billion annually across Ontario (source: Association of Municipalities of Ontario). Municipalities, however, are responsible for about 60 per cent of all public infrastructure (source: Federation of Canadian Municipalities).

For every residential property tax dollar collected, 35 per cent (or approximately one-third) stays with the Town of Whitby. The balance of property taxes are collected on behalf of the Region of Durham (52 per cent of the property tax bill) and the School Boards (13 per cent of the property tax bill) and sent to them accordingly.

In the Town’s recent Community Survey, when asked about the single most important issue facing Whitby today, participants listed taxes as one of their top three.

This is why we are advocating for:

• a review of existing funding arrangements with the provincial and federal governments to ensure predictable and ongoing funding modes support residents’ quality of life (source)
• continued grant programs from other levels of government that align to municipalities' need for infrastructure funding to enabling growth
• new and innovative funding initiatives to share the cost of growth across all levels of government (source)
• new Tri- Government Funding Models to support infrastructure, both new and existing (source)
• the redistribution of the Provincial Land Transfer Tax, HST, and GST to better support municipalities in building to support growth (source)

Whitby is currently one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Canada, with a population expected to grow from about 140,000 to 190,000 by 2031. As rapid growth continues, more healthcare infrastructure and services are needed today to support residents of today and tomorrow, including a new hospital, family doctors, and mental health supports.

In fact, by 2041, Lakeridge Health will need about 1,793 beds. That’s more than double the current count. A new hospital takes 10 years to build.

An estimated 230,000 Durham residents are without a family doctor practicing in the region and over 1,500 babies born in Durham Region are discharged without a primary care physician.

Three-quarters of Durham Region adults are also worried about their own or a household members’ mental health.

In the Town’s recent Community Survey, when asked about the single most important issue facing Whitby today, participants listed the need for a hospital as one of their top three. Residents also prioritized securing land for a new hospital as a top action item in Whitby’s Community Strategic Plan.

This is why we are advocating for:

• provincial support to dispose of Ministry of Transportation land to move forward on the construction of the future Whitby hospital to serve all of Durham (source)
• continued inter-governmental collaboration to increase the number of family physicians graduating and providing primary care across Ontario
• better inter-governmental collaboration on a coordinated strategy to address mental health and addiction (source)
• provincial support to implement a new funding model for hospitals that reduces reliance on the local share and ensures more sustainable, long-term funding solutions (source)

There’s a homelessness crisis happening in our communities and municipalities can’t solve it alone.

According to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario report released January 9, 2025, more than 80,000 Ontarians were known to be homeless in 2024, a number that has grown by more than 25 per cent since 2022; municipal spending on homelessness and housing programs has sky-rocketed since 2020, growing to more than $2.1 billion in 2024; and while the majority of those experiencing homelessness are adults, nearly one quarter of chronically homeless Ontarians are children (0-15) or youth (16-24).

As Whitby continues to rapidly grow, more people and families are experiencing homelessness than ever before and the need for shelter is outpacing available community supports. Right now, there are more than 830 people in the Region of Durham’s homelessness “byname list,” up from about 209 in December 2021. This list keeps track of those experiencing homelessness and includes seniors and families. In fact, across Ontario, cities and towns saw at least 1,400 homeless encampments in their communities in 2023, according to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).

Addressing homelessness was identified as a priority in Whitby’s Community Strategic Plan, with one of the action items being to “work with partners to support and connect individuals experiencing homelessness with shelter and support services.” More community supports are needed.

This is why we are advocating for:

• continued conversation and partnerships at all levels of government to help address the homelessness crisis, including supports for the operation of the Regional facility 1635 Dundas (source)
• a federal homelessness strategy, including funding tied to immigration and refugee claimants (source)
• inter-governmental collaboration on a coordinated strategy to address mental health and addiction (source)
• work with AMO and a broad range of community, health, Indigenous and economic partners to develop, resource, and implement an action plan to end homelessness (source)
• the federal Reaching Home Program to be made permanent with increased funding

Trade between Ontario and the United States is very important to Whitby residents and businesses. Ontario's strong economic ties with the U.S. make it one of the largest trading partners, supporting millions of jobs on both sides of the border. The Ontario government estimates that the impact of the tariffs on Canadian goods by the U.S. government could mean 450,000 – 500,000 Ontario jobs lost. (source: Ontario’s Big City Mayors motion)

According to data from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, across Ontario municipalities are expected to spend approximately $290 billion on infrastructure in the next 10 years. Municipalities have traditionally been prevented by trade agreements from giving preference to Buy Canadian. In the light of tariffs, this must change.

For these reasons and more, the Town is actively working with its community, regional, provincial, and federal partners to prevent trade tariffs, protect the local economy, and keep jobs. Read Mayor Roy’s motion on tariffs for more information on how.

We are also advocating for:

• the federal and provincial governments to remove any impediments to municipalities preferring Canadian companies for capital projects and supplies
• continued provincial and federal governments efforts to strike a trade deal with the United States that will see a win for all involved when it comes to strengthening our economy and keeping jobs
• the federal government’s newly established Canada-U.S. relations council to take any and all measures to protect the interests of Ontario in any upcoming trade negotiations

Learn more

Tariffs

Ontario Big City Mayors resolution on tariffs

Invest Durham Tariff Response - information and resources for local businesses and consumers, including a link to the Canada Tariff Finder, which enables businesses to check import or export tariffs for specific goods and markets

Downtown Whitby BIA ‘SHOPLOCAL’ campaign for the month of March – customers can upload their receipts from Downtown Whitby businesses for the chance to win cash prizes. Participate and share on social media using the hashtag #shoplocalwhitby

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time. Whitby Town Council has declared climate change as an emergency requiring immediate action to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure our community is resilient.

This is why we are advocating for:

• ongoing funding to support Whitby’s Zero Carbon Whitby Plan

• accelerated adoption of electric vehicles, including funding for infrastructure, incentives, and policy measures to promote sustainability and reduce emissions
• the provincial adoption of the tiered National Building Code model to enhance energy efficiency across all building types, coupled with updates to the Ontario Building Code to increase sustainability standards and provide funding support for net-zero carbon facilities, ensuring a pathway towards net-zero emissions

A strong local economy is crucial for municipalities, supporting our ability to provide essential services to residents and invest in required infrastructure as we grow.

An innovative and competitive economy is a focus of Whitby’s Community Strategic Plan, with key action items focused on improving our waterfront, attracting new businesses, and advancing our Economic Development Strategy to support local businesses and thriving downtowns.

This is why we are advocating for:

• the Ministry of Transportation to release employment lands along 407 and 412 to support economic growth and more local jobs
• funding to support expanded and more reliable broadband infrastructure for local businesses and the community

Food insecurity is a growing and urgent concern in Whitby and Durham Region. In fact, food bank visits in Durham have surged by more than 250 per cent since 2020 (source: Durham Community Foundation Report).

Feed the Need in Durham reported that between April 2022 and March 2023 there were 68,000 visits to food banks in Whitby (a 46% increase); and 7,200 Whitby food bank clients (a 36% increase), 31% of which were first time food bank users.

A “Emergency Food Security Fund” established by the Federal Government to address urgent needs during the pandemic is no longer available, but food insecurity has worsened and donations to food banks are declining.

Working with partners to address food security concerns is a key action item of Whitby’s Community Strategic Plan.

This is why we are advocating for:

• federal and provincial recognition of the systemic issues involved in food bank usage, including affordability, inequality, core housing need and insufficient social supports, to end food insecurity
• increased federal and provincial support to address the food insecurity crisis by providing emergency funding to food banks, food rescue agencies, and farmers’ markets providing emergency food assistance
• support Food Banks Canada’s call for the introduction of a Groceries and Essentials Benefit to provide increased income support for Canada’s lowest income households

Housing is a fundamental human right and the foundation of liveable and thriving communities. Yet, as rapid growth continues, finding safe and affordable housing options is increasingly difficult for many.

Municipalities are also at the forefront of supporting a growing number of asylum claimants and refugees to Canada. Supports provided to municipalities are often short-term and focused on emergency response and shelter, but do not ensure permanent settlement and housing options for asylum claimants.

In the Town’s recent Community Survey, residents listed affordable housing as one of their top three priorities and recent national polling indicates that nearly half of Canadians feel housing affordability is their biggest worry (source)

This is why we are advocating for:

• continued federal support for municipalities through the Housing Accelerator Fund
• the continuation of the provincial Building Faster Fund, providing further understanding and transparency around the process and housing count
• the Rapid Housing Initiative to be extended and made permanent to enable municipalities to invest in supportive housing on an urgent basis and relieve pressure on the shelter system
• immediate and ongoing financial support to address the short- and long-term needs of asylum claimants and refugees through the Canada Housing Benefit, Interim Housing Assistance Program, National Housing Strategy programs, and other funding opportunities (source)
• inter-governmental collaboration to strengthen local government capacity for supporting asylum claimants and refugees, including expanding federal settlement service eligibility to cover asylum claimants currently limited to provincial services (source)

Residents rely on municipalities for the construction and maintenance of local roads, bridges, recreational facilities, and more. In fact, local governments build and maintain approximately 60 percent of the public infrastructure (source: Federation of Canadian Municipalities) that support resident’s quality of life.

Through our Community Strategic Plan, we heard that infrastructure is one of our community’s top priorities, however rapid growth and a lack of predictable funding sources are creating significant challenges in how we pay for and maintain our infrastructure.

This is why we are advocating for:

• a predictable and ongoing funding model to support necessary infrastructure and resident’s quality of life (source)
• continuation of grant programs to support the construction of new growth-related infrastructure, like the future Whitby Sports Complex
• continued provincial and federal support for investments in municipal infrastructure
• the Province to permanently reduce or eliminate tolls on Highway 407 East from Brock Road in Pickering to Highway 35/115 (source 1 , source 2)

Having a safe and secure community is a top priority for Whitby residents (source: Whitby’s Community Strategic Plan).

Municipalities and local partners like the police are increasingly being called on to respond to complex situations involving mental health crisis, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking.

There is a nationwide intimate partner violence (IPV) crisis, in which more than 4 in 10 (6.2 million) women and 1 in 3 men have experienced intimate partner violence, and rates increased 19% between 2014 and 2022.

The Violence Prevention Coordination Council of Durham, which represents 35 local agencies, has seen a significant increase in demand for assistance from local IPV support providers. In one year (2021-2022) Durham Victim Services supported 4,438 victims of IPV – up 32% over four years. Human trafficking in Durham Region alone has risen by more than 320% since 2018.

This is why we are advocating for:

• all levels of government to join Whitby Council in expressing the belief that all acts of hate, racism, and discrimination, including antisemitism and islamophobia, have no place in society (source)
• support in implementing the initiatives identified in the Region of Durham’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan
• the declaration of an intimate partner violence epidemic and increased funding for the Victim Quick Response fund to better support those experiencing IPV (source)
• a Safe-Arrival Policy be developed, required, and implemented by provincially licensed childcare providers (source)
• inter-governmental collaboration to develop policies, programs, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate all acts of hate, racism, and discrimination (source)
• increased funding for agencies providing programming and shelter for victims of IPV