Committee of the Whole

That the agenda be adopted as distributed by the Clerk.

a) That the minutes of the Capital Sustainability Steering Committee meeting CSSC#02-20 held June 22, 2020 be adopted.

a) That the minutes of Heritage Richmond Hill meeting HRH#06-23 held September 14, 2023, be adopted.

a) That the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan attached as Appendix A to staff report SRCM.24.02, be approved.

Whereas current provincial-municipal fiscal arrangements are undermining Ontario’s economic prosperity and quality of life; Whereas nearly a third of municipal spending in Ontario is for services in areas of provincial responsibility and expenditures are outpacing provincial contributions by nearly $4 billion a year; Whereas municipal revenues, such as property taxes, do not grow with the economy or inflation; Whereas unprecedented population and housing growth will require significant investments in municipal infrastructure; Whereas municipalities are being asked to take on complex health and social challenges – like homelessness, supporting asylum seekers and addressing the mental health and addictions crises; Whereas inflation, rising interest rates, and provincial policy decisions are sharply constraining municipal fiscal capacity; Whereas property taxpayers – including people on fixed incomes and small businesses – can’t afford to subsidize income re-distribution programs for those most in need; Whereas the province can, and should, invest more in the prosperity of communities; Whereas municipalities and the provincial government have a strong history of collaboration; Therefore, Be It Resolved that Council for the City of Richmond Hill requests that the Province of Ontario commit to undertaking with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario a comprehensive social and economic prosperity review to promote the stability and sustainability of municipal finances across O

Whereas, on January 8, 2020, Flight PS-752 was shot down by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel and claimed the lives of 176 innocent souls that day; and, Whereas, January 8, 2020, will live on as day of great mourning and great sadness for a large number of families in our community; Whereas, the loss had a profound impact on the citizens of Richmond Hill where a number of families learned that they had

Whereas, for more than 25 years, the 47 Small Business Enterprise Centre’s (SBEC’s) across Ontario have supported entrepreneurs and small businesses by providing the essential fundamentals, tools, and contacts they need to start and grow their businesses; Whereas, the Small Business Enterprise Centre’s, or SBEC’s, are often the first stop on an entrepreneur’s journey; and Whereas the Richmond Hill Small Business Enterprise Centre serviced 1200 inquiries in 2023, representing a 98% increase from 2022; and Whereas, in addition to working with entrepreneurs at the start of their journey, SBEC’s are called upon to support existing businesses, typically with 10 or less employees; and Whereas, this support comes in the form of supporting them with growth plans, succession planning, and with recovery during difficult times; and Whereas, operating funding has stagnated, impacting the ability to maintain services, diminishing the time spent with clients, time spent in the community, and involvement in local events and programming; and Whereas, the short-term duration of the Transfer Payment Agreements, makes budgeting and long-term planning difficult; and Whereas, SBEC’s Transfer Payment Agreements with the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, expires on March 31, 2025; Now Therefore Be It Resolved That the City of Richmond Hill request that the Province of Ontario continue to fund SBECs and increase annual amounts in line with inflation and population growth; And

That the meeting be adjourned.