Mayor Bevilacqua reflects upon recent successes
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Significant progress
has been made since inauguration in December
Mayor
Maurizio Bevilacqua delivered the following remarks at the final Vaughan
Council meeting before the summer recess.
“Today
marks the final Council meeting before we break for the summer recess and renew
our efforts of being out in the community meeting with citizens, local
businesses and stakeholders.
“As we
reflect on the amount of business Council has undertaken since December, we
have a lot to be proud of and a lot to look forward to.
“Together,
we are delivering results. We are helping Vaughan reach its unrivalled
potential as an emerging world-class city.
“On
December 4, the inauguration of the 2018-2022 Term of Council took place.
“During
that meeting, Council came together to unanimously endorse the Vaughan Accord –
a pledge that commits all Members of Council to serve in a manner that reflects
a positive image of the City and instills civic pride.
“The
fruits of our labour are best captured in the City’s new Term of Council
Service Excellence Strategic Plan.
“It has
shaped our accomplishments and continues to guide our work.
“We
continue to press ahead with important city-building efforts.
“Since
2010, the City has issued $11 billion in building permits.
“In
January 2019, I announced the arrival of Niagara University to the Vaughan Metropolitan
Centre. This marks the first university in Vaughan and York Region. To
commemorate this important occasion, the Key to the City was presented to
Niagara University President Rev. James J. Maher.
“The VMC
continues to be the largest and most ambitious project in Vaughan’s history.
“In
December, we marked the one-year anniversary of subway ridership. The Vaughan
Metropolitan Centre TTC subway station has 15,000 daily riders.
“Several
mixed-use developments are currently being planned or underway in the downtown.
Of note, the site of the future PwC-YMCA Tower, which will feature a YMCA and a
City of Vaughan Centre for Community.
“Council
approved the continuation of the VMC Sub-Committee which held its first meeting
in March. I am proud to chair this important working group.
“As we
continue to grow, we are doing this in a responsible manner.
“We want
people to have access to housing, we want businesses to invest, grow and
succeed but we are also determined to safeguard our environment.
“We saw
this when the community came together for a Special Committee of the Whole
Working Session on Bill 66. Council and our citizens made it clear to the
provincial government that Bill 66, in its present form, was unacceptable.
“We also
made our voices loud and clear on the proposals outlined in Bill 108 – the More
Homes, More Choice Act.
“Planning
must be done in a responsible and inclusive manner. We are working with all
levels of government to do this.
“In
March, the federal government announced that Vaughan was receiving an
investment of $16 million from Infrastructure Canada’s Disaster Mitigation and
Adaptation Fund to support the City’s ability to better protect residents.
“We face
these natural disasters because the threat of climate change is real.
“I want
to thank the students of Thornhill Woods Public School and their teacher, Ms.
Brianne Whyte, for visiting Vaughan City Hall and delivering a very
well-thought-out presentation to Council at our Committee of the Whole meeting
on June 4.
“With their
support, the City of Vaughan in principle declared a climate emergency for the
purposes of deepening our commitment to protect our economy, environment and
community from the impacts of climate change.
“There
are many other examples of the progress being made on this front.
“We held
another successful 20-Minute Makeover.
“More
than 21,000 trees have been planted across Vaughan as part of the City’s tree
replacement plan to restore the city’s tree canopy.
“We
powered down for Earth Hour and conserved much needed savings.
“Vaughan
reduced its energy consumption by an outstanding 4.2 per cent (13.68
megawatts), outpacing last year’s total of 3.6 per cent (12 megawatts).
“Our
Environmental Days continue to be a complete success. The next one takes place
June 23 at North Thornhill Community Centre.
“And, of
course, North Maple Regional Park continues to be a signature city-building
initiative. Once fully complete, it will be larger than New York City’s very
own Central Park.
“Vaughan
is a green city. It’s also an active, safe and diverse city. In fact, it is one
of the safest communities in Canada.
“Earlier
this year, we held another successful Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service
recruitment graduation.
“Following
a Special Committee of the Whole meeting on January 21, we continued to ensure
community safety remained a priority by opting out from allowing licensed
retail cannabis stores to operate in Vaughan.
“Vaughan
continues to flourish as a diverse, inclusive and welcoming community.
“Celebrations
like the Christmas tree lighting, Lunar New Year and menorah lighting
ceremonies have become annual traditions.
“As have
our Heritage Month Celebrations, such as Black History Month, Jewish Heritage
Month, National Indigenous History Month and Italian Heritage Month – which
have all been commemorated during this new Term of Council.
“Later
this month we will mark National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 and Canadian
Multiculturalism Day on June 27.
“It was
during International Women’s Day that we formally signed the Leadership Accord
on Gender Diversity. Vaughan became the first Canadian municipality to do this.
“We have
already held a number of flag-raising ceremonies, such as:
- World Autism Day
- Cancer Awareness Month
- National Hospice Palliative Care Week
- Israel’s 71st Independence Day
- National Public Works Week
- MS Awareness Day
- Pride Week
- Italian Heritage Month
- Filipino Day
“On June
17, we will mark Recreation and Parks Month with a flag-raising ceremony. And,
of course, we continue to fly the Toronto Raptors flag and welcome fans from
across the city here to Jurassic Park Vaughan!
“We owe
much of this success to our citizens, including four individuals who were
recently invested with the City’s highest civic honour, the Order of Vaughan – Maria
Castro, Michael DeGasperis, Altaf Stationwala and Robert Charles Wilson.
“During
Committee of the Whole in April, we presented the Ward 2 Civic Hero Award to
Deborah McCracken-Nangereke.
“We also
presented the Ward 4 Civic Hero Award to Rabbi Yechezkel Deren in May.
“Just
yesterday, I presented an official Key to the City to Holocaust survivor Max
Eisen.
“Bringing
people together is what we do in Vaughan.
“We also
saw this with the 30th anniversary of Winterfest.
“We are
seeing this with the 25th anniversary of the Concerts in the Park Series that
kicked off last week in Transit Square in the VMC – the first time the series
has ever been held in the VMC.
“A
healthy and thriving city is fundamental to attracting economic opportunities.
“Vaughan
is home to more than 12,000 businesses that employ more than 222,000 people.
“Since
2010, Vaughan has led with an economic growth rate of four per cent – far
outpacing Ontario and Canada – and has seen the creation of more than 60,000
new jobs.
“People
have confidence to live and work in Vaughan because we are a well-run city.
“In
February, we passed the 2019 budget – a financial blueprint that protects
taxpayers and delivers quality public services.
“The
budget includes a three per cent tax rate increase which maintains Vaughan’s
commitment to have one of the lowest tax rates in the Greater Toronto Area.
“Vaughan
signed an MOU to join US Ignite – becoming the first Canadian municipality to
do so.
“US
Ignite is a non-profit organization that promotes international leadership to
develop new applications and to foster an environment for local governments –
and technology partners – to work together to improve the lives of citizens
through cutting-edge solutions.
“It is
allowing us to move forward with our Smart City agenda.
“We are
supporting our thriving tourism industry with new and dedicated funding.
“City
operations are effective, efficient and entirely in line with Council’s
commitment to a governance framework rooted in openness, transparency and accountability.
“We
approved three task forces to address a range of important policy areas and
develop recommendations that continue to elevate the city as a destination of
choice.
“The
2018-2022 Term of Council Priority Task Forces will be chaired by the following
Members of Council:
- Transportation and Infrastructure Task Force: Chair, Ward 3 Councillor Rosanna DeFrancesca and Vice-Chair, Regional Councillor Gino Rosati
- Governance Task Force: Chair, Ward 2 Councillor Tony Carella and Vice-Chair, Ward 5 Councillor Alan Shefman
- I am proud to once again chair the Smart City Task Force joined by Ward 4 Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco, who will serve as Vice-Chair.
“Ward 1
Councillor Marilyn Iafrate, Regional Councillor Mario Ferri and Regional
Councillor Linda Jackson, will have important roles with future task forces
that will be launched later in the Council term.
“These
task forces will address issues such as: Economic Prosperity, Investment and
Social Capital; Environmental Leadership; and Diversity and Citizen Engagement.
“Council
has also voted to renew the mandate of the Older Adult Task Force, which will
have its inaugural meeting later this year.
“We have
a lot to be proud of and a lot to look forward to.
“Staff
continue to be recognized for their thought leadership by winning province-wide
and national awards for their work and commitment to Service Excellence.
“We can
take great pride in knowing that the most recent Citizen Satisfaction Survey
found that 97 per cent of residents are happy with their quality of life here
in our city.
“There
is more work to be done.
“As we
continue our journey towards building a world-class city, we do so with the
knowledge that great communities are built by great people who work hard to
create a meaningful life for their families.
“People’s
happiness matters, and it brings great pride to everyone in our city – from our
public works professionals to senior administration – to know that our efforts
are making a positive difference to people’s lives.”
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