Council cancels planned water and wastewater increases

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and Members of Council voted to defer the annual stormwater charge for 60 days and to cancel the planned 2020 water and wastewater rate increases. This marks the latest in a series of actions taken by the City to support the community in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

Enacting these proposals will help provide immediate relief to citizens and businesses. The Council-approved recommendations also call on York Region to cancel or defer the 2020 planned regional nine per cent combined wholesale water and wastewater increases. Regional costs for water and wastewater treatment account for approximately 75 per cent of the City’s annual costs for water and wastewater services. 

As documented in the public staff report, deferral of the Stormwater Charge will have minimal impact to the City’s fiscal position and stormwater reserves. This year’s Stormwater Charge remains at the same rate as the 2019 charge, amounting to a zero per cent increase. Deferring the 2020 Stormwater Charge billing for 60 days will have minimal impact on the stormwater program. 

The decision came during the City’s first ever electronic-participation Committee of the Whole and Council meetings held on March 30. The public was encouraged to participate by watching proceedings live online at vaughan.ca/LiveCouncil and by submitting written communications about agenda items via email to the Office of the City Clerk. 

The City continues to support the community during this global pandemic. Additional supports include waiving the late penalty charge on interim tax bills. Payments for the March 26, April 27 and May 27 due dates will not be subject to any late payment fee or interest until June 1. Further extensions may be granted thereafter. As well, the deadline for the Elderly Home-Owners Tax Assistance 2020 program has also been extended to April 30, and the deadline remains Sept. 30 for the Seniors, Low-Income Seniors and Low-Income Disabled Persons Property Tax Deferral program. Further information is available at vaughan.ca/PropertyTax. 

A grace period of 90 days was recently established for business licence renewals. Licensees may defer renewal of their existing business licence up to 90 days past the expiry date of their licence. New businesses are still required to be licensed. New licence applications may be submitted by email to bylaw@vaughan.ca, along with scanned copies of required documentation. Payments can be made by cheque and mailed to Vaughan City Hall at 2141 Major Mackenzie Dr., Vaughan, ON, L6A 1T1. 

On March 17, the City launched the Vaughan Business Action Plan – which includes a series of temporary measures to support businesses, consumers and all citizens. 

York Region is also asking local businesses to donate any unused, unopened and unexpired supplies of personal protective equipment. The Region will work with Vaughan’s community health partners and share where the need is required. If you have items to donate, contact COVID19@york.ca to confirm. 

In addition to what the City and Region are doing, the Ontario government has launched a toll-free line at 1-888-444-3659 to provide support to Ontario businesses that have questions about the province's recent emergency order to close at-risk workplaces following recommendations by Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health. 

Through the Ontario Together initiative, the provincial government is calling on businesses and organizations that can supply emergency products and innovative solutions to support the response to COVID-19. 

The Government of Canada launched the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). This is a taxable benefit that would provide $2,000 a month, for up to four months, to workers who lose their income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the CERB news release, please visit the Government of Canada's website. 

QUOTE 

“The City of Vaughan is committed to protecting the health and well-being of citizens, consumers and local business owners. We continue to implement a series of measures to provide much needed relief to our city’s hardworking taxpayers, ratepayers and the older adult community. By deferring stormwater payments and cancelling water and wastewater increases, we are helping families better manage their household budgets during these uncertain times. Despite the challenges cities around the world are facing because of the evolving COVID-19 global pandemic, I want to remind everyone that we are in this together and we will emerge stronger.”

- Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua 

QUICK FACTS

• For upcoming electronic-participation committee and council meetings, members of the public can email their written communications to the Office of the City Clerk at clerks@vaughan.ca.  
• To stay up to date on the latest updates as they happen, residents are encouraged to sign up for the City Update eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate and follow the City’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels.
• Those who feel unwell and believe they have symptoms related to COVID-19 should contact York Region Public Health or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. For additional information and resources on COVID-19, visit York Region's website at york.ca/COVID19. 

LEARN MORE 

• Reports from the March 30 electronic-participation council meetings
• Property tax webpage
• Water rates and billing webpage
• Economic and Cultural Development department webpage
• City of Vaughan’s COVID-19 webpage
• York Region’s COVID-19 webpage 

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