2020 COMMUNITY REPORT HIGHLIGHTS For the year ended December 31, 2020 The Regional Municipality of York Ontario, Canada york.ca 2020 COMMUNITY REPORT HIGHLIGHTS For the year ended December 31, 2020 The Regional Municipality of York Ontario, Canada Prepared by Corporate Services and Finance york.ca OUR VISION Strong, Caring, Safe Communities OUR MISSION Working together to serve our thriving communities – today and tomorrow OUR VALUES Integrity Commitment Accountability Respect Excellence TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Regional Council . .1 Organizational Structure . 2. Message from the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer . 3. Message from the Chief Administrative Officer . .4 Who are we? . .5 Strategic Planning Framework . 7. 2019 to 2023 Strategic Plan Year 2 (2020) Progress Report . .9 Responding to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic . 11. Economic Vitality . 11. Community Health, Safety and Well-being . .12 Building Sustainable Communities and Protecting the Environment . 12. Delivering Trusted and Efficient Services . 1. 2 2020 Awards and Highlights . .13 Message from Commissioner of Finance & Regional Treasurer . .15 2020 Financial Information . 22 Chairman & CEO Wayne Emmerson Mayor Mayor Mayor Regional Councillor Mayor Tom Mrakas Virginia Hackson Margaret Quirk Robert Grossi Steve Pellegrini Town of Aurora Town of East Gwillimbury Town of Georgina Town of Georgina Township of King Mayor Regional Councillor Regional Councillor Regional Councillor Regional Councillor Frank Scarpitti Don Hamilton Jack Heath Joe Li Jim Jones City of Markham City of Markham City of Markham City of Markham City of Markham Mayor Regional Councillor Mayor Acting Mayor Regional Councillor Acting Regional Councillor John Taylor Tom Vegh David Barrow Joe DiPaola Carmine Perrelli Godwin Chan Town of Newmarket Town of Newmarket City of Richmond Hill City of Richmond Hill City of Richmond Hill City of Richmond Hill Mayor Regional Councillor Regional Councillor Regional Councillor Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua Mario Ferri Gino Rosati Linda Jackson Iain Lovatt City of Vaughan City of Vaughan City of Vaughan City of Vaughan Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville 1 THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK | 2020 COMMUNITY REPORT REGIONAL COUNCIL YORK REGION ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE One of six regional governments in Ontario, The Regional Municipality of York (York Region) is an upper-tier municipal government that provides common YORK REGIONAL COUNCIL programs and services to residents and businesses in nine cities and towns . The area municipalities are represented by Mayors and Regional Councillors WAYNE EMMERSON on York Regional Council . York Region Chairman and CEO LINA BIGIONI York Region Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Chief of Staff to York Region Chairman The York Region Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the head of Council . The Chairman and CEO is elected by the members of Regional Council BRUCE MACGREGOR Chief Administrative Officer at the first meeting of each term and serves a four-year term . The 21-member Council sets policies, direction and budgets for York Region KATHERINE CHISLETT through Committee of the Whole and Council meetings that include the Commissioner Community and Health Services following reports: • Audit DR. KARIM KURJI • Community and Health Services Medical Officer of Health Community and Health Services • Environmental Services • Finance and Administration KATHY MILSOM • Planning and Economic Development General Manager of Housing • Transportation Services LAURA MIRABELLA During Committee of the Whole, Council members receive public input, Commissioner review policies, consider staff reports and have discussions prior to making Finance and Regional Treasurer recommendations to be considered at Regional Council meetings . DINO BASSO The following boards and corporations oversee and operate with varying Commissioner degrees of Council oversight: Corporate Services • York Region Rapid Transit Board of Directors PAUL FREEMAN • York Regional Police Services Board Chief Planner • Housing York Inc . Board of Directors Planning and Economic Development • York Net Board of Directors LAURA BRADLEY General Manager Chief Administrative Officer YorkNet The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) oversees the senior management team SHARON KENNEDY responsible for providing programs and services to residents and businesses Executive Director in addition to providing financial, technical, property, legal, administrative Human Resource Services and human resource services . The following positions include the Region’s senior management team and senior staff responsible for advising ERIN MAHONEY Commissioner Council and/or its Boards: Environmental Services • Commissioner of Community and Health Services PAUL JANKOWSKI • Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer Commissioner • Commissioner of Corporate Services Transportation Services • Commissioner of Environmental Services • Commissioner of Transportation Services DAN KUZMYK Acting Regional Solicitor • Regional Solicitor Legal and Court Services • Executive Director of Strategies and Initiatives • Executive Director of Human Resources MARY-FRANCES TURNER • Medical Officer of Health President York Region Rapid Transit Corporation • Chief Planner • President of York Region Rapid Transit Corporation DAVID RENNIE • General Manager of Housing Services Executive Director • General Manager of York Telecom Network Strategies and Initiatives 2 A MESSAGE FROM THE YORK REGION CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER to support core Regional services . Throughout year one of the pandemic, In 2020, capital spending included Regional Council remained supportive an investment of more than $448 of the health and well-being of million in our Regional transportation residents and the economic vitality of network, including the acceleration the local business community . To slow of 14 roads capital projects . In the spread of the virus, while also December 2020, Regional Council also reopening the economy, York Region approved the creation of a Pandemic was among the first municipalities Management Reserve Fund to support to introduce the mandatory wearing any future tax-supported expenditure of masks on York Region Transit and Wayne Emmerson, Chairman and CEO or revenue shortfall due to COVID-19 . later in all indoor public spaces . Beyond the budget, 2020 proved to Regional Council strongly advocated The 2020 Community Report be one of the most challenging in York to senior levels of government for a highlights the combined efforts of Region’s history . balanced approach to health York Regional Council, York Region In early 2020, Regional Council and and safety measures, focusing staff and community partners, shining many areas of the organization on the mental and physical health a spotlight on our collaborative efforts began to turn attention to the rapidly of residents and the interest of to make our communities strong, evolving COVID-19 global pandemic . small businesses . caring and safe places to live, work, On February 29, York Region reported As COVID-19 vaccinations continue play and visit . the first positive case of COVID-19 in to be administered across our The report also highlights York the community, followed by the first communities, Regional Council Region’s critical response to the pandemic-related death on March 22 . looks to 2021 with an eye on COVID-19 global pandemic and This led to the official declaration of post-pandemic recovery . 2020 was efforts to balance the health and a state of emergency in The Regional a fast-changing and challenging year safety of residents with the economic Municipality of York on March 23 . for all, but through collaboration, York interests of local businesses . By year end, York Region had Region, the local business community The accomplishments over the responded to 17,737 cases of COVID-19 and our 1 .2 million residents have past year lay the foundation for in the community, including 1,369 demonstrated our collective strength . the post-pandemic recovery of confirmed and suspected outbreaks Together, we will continue to ensure our communities, residents and and regrettably 359 fatalities . A York Region remains the best place to businesses and will be essential to response of this magnitude was only live, work, play and visit . build the kind of communities future possible through a collaborative generations will want to call home . approach, and Regional Council In 2020, York Regional Council continues to thank our partners at approved a $3 3. billion budget, all levels of government, community Wayne Emmerson which included $826 million for new stakeholders and residents for their Chairman and CEO infrastructure and $2 5. billion support and commitment to the health and safety of all . The Regional Municipality of York 3 THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK | 2020 COMMUNITY REPORT A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER 2020 was a year unlike anything The programs and services featured we have experienced in the 50-year represent the dedication and history of York Region . The corporate commitment of York Regional response to the COVID-19 global Council, staff, municipal counterparts, pandemic saw more than 1,800 staff stakeholders and partners in redeployed to ensure the health and responding to the pandemic, while safety of residents while also ensuring also maintaining the quality of life essential programs and services were we are most proud of in York Region . uninterrupted . We also relied on the As we work towards post-pandemic support of