RECEIVED CLERK'S DEPT. mat 2 7 2013 Office of the Chair REG.NO.; FILE NO.: 100-2012 May 23, 2013 BRAMPTON CITY COUNCIL Bruce McCuaig, PATE- Ju*«. 5,2013 President and CEO Metrolinx 20 Bay Street, Suite 600 Toronto, Ontario M5J 2W3 Dear Mr. McCuaig, Subject: Metrolinx Investment Strategy Update Iam writing to advise that Peel Regional Council approved the following resolution at its meeting held on May 23, 2013: "That the proposed direction as set out in the report of the Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Corporate Services, dated May 8, 2013, titled "Metrolinx Investment Strategy Update" be approved; And further that the Region of Peel supports regional transportation expansion in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) given transportation importance to economic growth and the quality of life in Peel; And further that the Government of Ontario in partnership with the Federal Government fund Metrolinx's GTHA Transportation Plan, the Big Move through dedicated transportation funding; And further that the Region of Peel does not support the use of municipal finance tools such as property tax, development charges and land value capture to fund Metrolinx's GTHA Transportation Plan; And further that the revenues from the determined revenue tools be equitably collected across various groups (e.g. businesses and residents) and across the Province of Ontario; And further, that following the release of Metrolinx's Investment Strategy the Government of Ontario consult extensively with municipalities in the GTHA on how to fund Metrolinx's Transportation Plan; And further, that a copy of the subject report be fowarded to Metrolinx, the Ontario Ministries of Finance, Transportation and Infrastructure and Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Federal Ministries of Finance and Transportation Infrastructure and Communities, Peel area MPPs and MPs and the Cities of Brampton and Mississauga and the Town of Caledon." The Regional Municipality Of Peel 10 Peel Centre Dr., Brampton, ON L6T 4B9 905-791-7800 Fax 905-791-2567 Website: peelregion.ca L.l-2 Acopy ofthe report is attached for your information. Yours truly, (&^JLP^JL. Emil Kolb Regional Chair EK:js End: Copy of Report: "Metrolinx Investment Strategy Update" L\~l Also sent to: The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance The Honourable Glen Murray, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure The Honourable Linda Jeffrey, MPP, Brampton-Springdale, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Charles Sousa, MPP, Mississauga South, Minister of Finance The Honourable Bal Gosal, MP, Bramalea-Gore-Malton Eve Adams, MP, Mississauga-Brampton South Stella Ambler, MP, Mississauga South Brad Butt, MP. Mississauga-Streetsville Bob Dechert, MP, Mississauga-Erindale Parm Gill, MP, Brampton-Springdale Wladyslaw Lizon, MP, Mississauga East-Cooksville Kyle Seeback, MP, Brampton West David Tilson, MP, Dufferin-Caledon Dipika Damerla, MPP, Mississauga East-Cooksville Bob Delaney, MPP, Mississauga-Streetsville Vic Dhillon, MPP, Brampton West Sylvia Jones, MPP, Dufferin-Caledon Amrit Mangat, MPP, Mississauga-Brampton South Jagmeet Singh, MPP, Bramalea-Gore-Malton Harinder Takhar, MPP, Mississauga-Erindale Crystal Greer, City Clerk, City of Mississauga; Peter Fay. City Clerk, City of Brampton; Carey deGorter, Clerk, Town of Caledon; U-4 Reaoncf Ped report ^ WMfa^tafMllll?„ fc,f^ Meeting Date:Regional May 23, Council 2013 DATE: May 8, 2013 REPORT TITLE: METROLINX INVESTMENT STRATEGY UPDATE FROM: Norma Trim, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Corporate Services RECOMMENDATION That the proposed direction as set out in the report of the Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Corporate Services, dated April 24, 2013, titled "Metrolinx Investment Strategy Update" be approved; And further, that the Region of Peel supports regional transportation expansion in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) given transportation importance to economic growth and the quality of life in Peel; And further, that the Government of Ontario in partnership with the Federal Government fund Metrolinx's GTHA Transportation Plan, the Big Move through dedicated transportation funding; And further, that the Region of Peel does not support the use of municipal finance tools such as property tax, development charges and land value capture to fund Metrolinx's GTHA Transportation Plan; And further, that the revenues from the determined revenue tools be equitably collected across various groups (e.g. businesses and residents) and across the Province of Ontario; And further, that following the release of Metrolinx's Investment Strategy, the Government of Ontario consult extensively with municipalities in the GTHA on how to fund Metrolinx's Transportation Plan; And further, that the subject report be forwarded to Metrolinx, the Ontario Ministries of Finance, Transportation and Infrastructure and Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Federal Ministries of Finance and Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities, provincial and federal MPPs and MPs in Peel region and the Cities of Brampton and Mississauga and the Town of Caledon. V-01-002 2013/03 2­ May8, 2013 METROLINX INVESTMENT STRATEGY UPDATE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS • Metrolinx is mandated to develop and release an investment strategy to fund its Greater Toronto Region transportation plan, the Big Move, by June 1, 2013. » In April, Metrolinx released a short list of revenue tools to fund its plan, including municipal finance tools such as property tax, development charges and land value capture. • Municipal finance tools such as property taxes, development charges and land value capture should not be used to fund the Big Move. These tools are required to fund municipal operations, capital maintenance and growth related infrastructure and local transportation priorities not covered by the Metrolinx Plan. • Government of Ontario in partnership with the Federal Government fund Metrolinx's GTHA Transportation Plan, the Big Move through dedicated transportation funding. DISCUSSION 1. Background Focus GTA Survey results routinely show that transportation gridlock is the most important issue for Peel residents. A recent Toronto Dominion Economics report identified gridlock in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) as one of the key challenges that needs to be addressed to sustain the economy during a period of slower economic growth. Gridlock costs the GTHA roughly $6 billion in lost productivity annually and could rise to $15 billion by 2031 if nothing is done. It is also detrimental to the environment and to the quality of life. The Region has identified transportation as one of its top priorities during this term of Council. Specific transportation priorities include: • Increasing active transportation (TOCP#9); « Completing the arterial road review (TOCP#13); » Updating the Long Term Transportation Plan (TOCP#14); • Improving the efficiency of goods movement in Peel (TOCP#15); and • Increasing capacity through accessible transportation services (TOCP#16). In 2006, the provincial government created Metrolinx, an agency legislatively mandated to develop and implement a regional transportation plan (RTP) to improve the coordination and integration of all modes of transportation in the GTHA and to ease congestion. Metrolinx launched its RTP known as the Big Move in 2008. a) Investment Strategy Metrolinx is also legislated to develop an Investment Strategy that outlines how the Big Move will be financed and implemented. Metrolinx must provide the Investment Strategy to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and the Mayors and Regional Chairs of GTHA municipalities by June 1, 2013. The Big Move is a 25 year, $50 billion plan that is being implemented in two waves. The first wave of the Big Move ($16 billion) has been funded mostly through provincial government allocations and some federal infrastructure dollars. Several first wave projects are currently underway. The second wave, which requires $34 billion or $2 billion a year over a 17 year period (2016 - 2033), is currently unfunded. Metrolinx has been developing an investment strategy to propose how to fund its second wave. 3­ May8,2013 METROLINX INVESTMENT STRATEGY UPDATE On February 14, 2013, Regional staff presented a report to Council titled "Status Update on Metrolinx Initiatives in Peel", which provided information on Metrolinx projects in Peel, attached as Appendix I. On April 2, 2013, Metrolinx released a short list of investment tools to fund the Big Move and encouraged municipalities, stakeholders and the public to provide feedback by May 1, 2013. The list has also formed the basis of public discussions Metrolinx has been holding with key community and business groups through April and May before its release of the final Investment Strategy. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has partnered with local chambers of commerce in the GTHA hosting business roundtable discussions on the investment tools. Mississauga and Brampton Boards of Trade hosted discussions on April 4, 2013 and April 17, 2013 respectively. The OCC is collecting the feedback from the various sessions in the GTHA to develop a position oh the investment strategy. The Mississauga Board plans to formulate its own position, based on its consultation. The Metrolinx Board of Directors will meet on May 27, 2013 to approve the recommendations in the final Investment Strategy. Metrolinx will then provide the Investment Strategy to the Province by June