Whitby Council Highlights - November 2024

Council highlights gives an overview of important decisions, discussions, and agenda items from Whitby Council meetings. The goal is to give residents a snapshot of the meetings. More information, including Council meeting minutes, can be found at whitby.ca/CouncilCalendar

Council endorses new Parks and Recreation Master Plan

Council has endorsed the Town of Whitby’s new Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which will guide future recreational services, infrastructure, and investments through 2031. The plan will ensure the Town meets the needs of a rapidly growing population that is also changing demographically. More than 4,700 residents were engaged in the development of the plan. Examples of recommendations include:

- Undertake a Marina Master Plan to guide future enhancements to Port Whitby Marina

- Investigate the feasibility of updating and modernizing the Luther Vipond Memorial Arena and Heydenshore Pavilion

- Construct a lit cricket field at a future sports field complex

- Construct multi-use courts to serve growth areas of Brooklin and West Whitby and in established areas including Brooklin Memorial Park, Hannam Park, Bradley Park, Prince of Wales Park, Peel Park, D’Hillier Park, and Guthrie Park.

- Augment splash pads with small-scale spray features and cooling stations in strategic locations, including local parks and public spaces within intensification areas

- Identify opportunities for an off-leash dog area in central Whitby, south of Taunton Road and north of Dundas Street

- Provide a refrigerated outdoor skating rink or trail at a town or district park, potentially at Cullen Park, Brooklin Memorial Park, or along the waterfront

Recommendations in the plan will be prioritized in the Town’s long-term financial plans and staff will report annually on progress. Visit https://connectwhitby.ca/parksandrecreation for more information.

Council calls on federal government to enhance support for survivors of intimate partner violence

On Nov. 4, Council endorsed a motion calling on the federal government to create a permanent fund, open to local governments and community organizations, for the construction of shelters and transitional housing for women and survivors of intimate partner violence. This would include housing appropriate for Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and people with disabilities, with a dedicated rural, remote, and northern funding stream. The motion also calls on the federal government to work with provinces and territories to provide permanent operational funding, open to local governments and community organizations, for shelters, transitional housing, and supportive housing for women and survivors of intimate partner violence. The motion notes there is a “nationwide intimate partner violence crisis,” in which more than four in 10 (6.2 million) women and one in three men have experienced intimate partner violence, and rates increased 19 per cent between 2014 and 2022.

Public art piece commissioned for Whitby Sports Complex

The budget for the new Whitby Sports Complex, which is currently under construction, includes $150,000 in funding for a landmark public art piece from a professional Indigenous artist. An information report received by Council provides an update on the commissioning of this art piece. In September 2023 a call-to-artist was issued to all professional Indigenous artists and artist teams in Canada, with local artists encouraged to apply. In September 2024 the selection panel reviewed the proposals and selected Kathryn Corbiere as the successful candidate. Her piece, “We come from the stars – Anangoong Nidonjibaamin” considers the network of corridors in the building’s design as a constellation of pathways leading to a gathering place under a constellation of stars.

Call for federal government to help municipalities support asylum claimants

Council has endorsed a motion calling on the federal government to immediately provide financial support and reimbursements directly to municipalities to address the short-term needs of asylum claimants and refugees through top-ups to the Canada Housing Benefit and the Interim Housing Assistance Program (IHAP). The motion further requests an ongoing commitment of IHAP funding to address annual costs for refugees in 2024, commit to future funding until the demand for shelter returns to sustainable levels, and collaborate with municipal governments to develop a long-term strategy to support asylum claimants and refugees. The motion calls for additional funding through National Housing Strategy programs and the Canada Housing Benefit to support asylum claimants and asks the federal government to broaden the eligibility for federally funded settlement services to include asylum claimants who currently can only access provincially funded services. There is also a request to make the Rapid Housing Initiative permanent, with another intake in 2024-25 to enable municipalities to invest in supportive housing on an urgent basis.

Enhanced federal support requested for food banks

A motion approved by Council on Nov. 4 calls on the federal government to address Canada’s food insecurity crisis by providing emergency funding to food banks, food rescue agencies, and farmers markets that offer emergency food. The motion notes the majority of support received by food banks is through community fundraising and donations – however, donations are declining due to financial pressures. The motion cites a Food Banks Canada report from March 2023, which indicates a 32 per cent increase in food bank use in Canada from March 2022 to March 2023 -- and a 78.5 per cent increase from March 2019, which is the highest year-over-year increase ever reported. An “Emergency Food Security Fund” was established by the federal government to address urgent food needs during the pandemic, however, the motion notes this is no longer available, even though food insecurity has worsened.

Council calls for measures to protect local politicians from harassment

A motion approved by Council on Nov. 4 calls on the federal government to work with provinces and territories to implement measures to protect elected local government officials, their family members, and staff, from harassment, intimidation, and threats. The motion cites “an alarming rise in incidents of harassment, intimidation, and acts of violence aimed at elected local government officials,” in recent years and says women -- particularly Black and racialized women -- are disproportionately targeted. The motion notes harassment impacts retention and can discourage people from underrepresented groups from joining and remaining involved in local politics.