October 16, 2024 Newsletter | |
Find your Ward here and your Council Members here | |
Community Safety Webinar tonight | |
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Tonight's community safety webinar is open for registration. The webinar is scheduled for 7 pm on Zoom. Click here to register.
Officials from police and all levels of government will participate on the panel and answer questions about plans by the police to cut auto theft by 50% through partnerships and collaboration.
Participants include Federal Minister of Transportation and President of the Treasury Board, MP Anita Anand, Associate Minister of Mines, MPP Stephen Crawford, and members of the HRPS to discuss current safety issues and solutions the community can implement together. Register today to share your concerns and be part of the work to keep Oakville safe.
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State of Town Oct. 22
features reception and speech
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Residents are invited to attend Mayor Rob Burton’s annual State of the Town Address at Town Hall on October 22 at 5:30pm. This is the chance to hear firsthand how our town has evolved over the past year and get a glimpse of what’s in store for the future.
Before the address, join the reception to chat one on one with the mayor and council members, meet and mingle with fellow residents, community leaders, and town staff. It’s a unique opportunity to discuss what matters most to you in a casual, friendly atmosphere—complete with light refreshments.
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General registration for Windrow Snow Clearing Program open | |
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The Town of Oakville is offering its windrow snow clearing program from December 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, to assist residents with clearing the snow left by plows at the base of their driveways. Registration is open to 1,100 driveways on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fees are $102 plus HST for priority registration and $118 plus HST for general public registration. Service is provided once per snow event, and program updates are available via text message.
For details, visit the Town of Oakville’s website.
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Oakville prepares for 2025 Budget | |
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As Oakville prepares to release the staff-prepared draft of the 2025 Budget for public review next week on October 22 and 24, the community is encouraged to engage in discussions that will shape the town’s future.
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Mark your calendar with key dates available on the Budget Process page
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Familiarize yourself with the Budget Decision Flowchart (pdf) as this is the second town budget that follows this process based on the Bill 3, Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022
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Visit the Strategic Plan page for priorities that form the focus of the 2025 Budget
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Browse the Oakville Data Hub page for a snapshot of growth trends and how the town is performing on various key metrics
Ward 5 Town Councillor Marc Grant has been appointed as Chair of the 2025 Budget Committee, with Ward 6 Town and Regional Councillor Tom Adams as Vice Chair. Their leadership will guide public consultations on key priorities, including transit enhancements and strategic plan goals.
The draft budget will reflect up to a 4% increase. Council endorsed a mayoral direction to combine a 3.5% rise to maintain existing services with up to an additional 0.5% to fund priorities outlined in Council's strategic plan. This balanced approach aims to keep the total tax increase trend aligned with inflation trends. In 2022 inflation in Canada hit its headline high of 8.1%. In anticipation of how challenging 2022 would be for taxpayers, Council had set the total 2022 tax increase at just 1.5%. The Town had the ability to wait and blend in the necessary catch-up when inflation was lower.
Burlington is anticipating a 5.25% property tax increase for 2025, while Milton's proposed operating budget includes an estimated 6.5% property tax increase. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens recently announced that, without spending cuts, the city's taxes could rise by 12.9%.
Last year, the City of Toronto implemented a 9.5% increase—the highest since amalgamation, with other 2024 tax changes as shown in the table.
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Public input is vital to ensure a balanced approach to delivering high-quality services. Residents are encouraged to share their thoughts and questions at budget@oakville.ca.
Visit oakville.ca for more information and key resources to get involved.
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2024-2029 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan | |
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At the upcoming Council meeting, staff will present the 2024-2029 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan, reaffirming its commitment to creating an inclusive and accessible community.
This plan outlines actions the town will take to meet and exceed the requirements set by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005. It builds on the achievements of previous plans and continues to prioritize removing barriers to ensure that all residents can enjoy equal access to town services, programs, and facilities.
Key Highlights of the Plan:
- Building on Success: The town has already met most of the AODA’s requirements, and this new plan focuses on enhancing accessibility across customer service, information and communication, employment, transportation, and public spaces.
- Community Input: Extensive public consultation was held with residents, community partners, organizations, and the Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) to ensure the plan reflects the diverse needs of the community. Over 100 responses were collected from public surveys.
- New Focus Areas: While maintaining past accomplishments, the plan introduces new initiatives to further improve accessibility, such as refining town services, enhancing accessible design in public spaces, and addressing specific community concerns identified in consultations.
Ongoing Commitment:
- Annual Updates: The town will provide regular updates on the progress of the plan’s initiatives and any changes to AODA regulations, ensuring transparency and ongoing improvements.
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Public Engagement: Oakville continues to engage residents in shaping accessibility policies, with opportunities for ongoing feedback as the plan is implemented.
Residents are encouraged to read the full 2024-2029 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan. Oakville remains dedicated to creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong and can participate fully in community life.
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Federal Government announces update on combatting Auto Theft | |
Federal Government says 19% decline in 2024 | |
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Oakville Town Councillors attended a federal announcement by the Honourable Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport, and MP Pam Damoff provided an update on the National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft.
The Action Plan, designed to dismantle organized crime groups involved in vehicle theft, has achieved key milestones, including legislative changes to the Criminal Code, expanded intelligence sharing, and increased use of scanning technology at ports and railyards. Despite these efforts, auto theft remains a persistent issue affecting communities like Oakville, and further action is needed to protect citizens.
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Oakville Transit Five-Year Plan | |
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Oakville Transit’s Five-Year Business Plan will be presented to Council next week. After two rounds of public consultation, the plan outlines the future of transit in Oakville, offering guidance to transit staff and proposing a "Family of Service" transit network.
It also updates transit service design, bus stop guidelines, and recommends improved communications and programming.
The plan is a key part of Oakville's Transportation Master Plan (TMP) update, which aims to shape the town's future transportation network.
E-scooters are also being reviewed as part of the TMP.
For more details, visit the Transportation Master Plan page on oakville.ca.
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Fall loose-leaf collection program starts October 28 | |
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The Town of Oakville’s annual fall loose leaf collection is set to take place from Monday, October 28, to Friday, December 6, in designated neighbourhoods.
Residents can find detailed information on collection zones, schedules, and an interactive map to track collection progress on the Loose Leaf Collection page of oakville.ca.
To ensure efficient leaf collection, residents are reminded to follow the town’s guidelines:
- Collection Timing: Leaves should be placed out by 7 a.m. on the first day of collection in your zone, as collection may occur any time during the scheduled week.
- Timing of Leaf Placement: To prevent leaves from blowing around, do not put them out more than seven days before the first day of the scheduled week for your zone.
- Placement of Leaves: All loose leaves should be placed on the boulevard or shoulder, avoiding catch basins, bicycle lanes, and ditches. Residents should clear any leaves blocking catch basins or storm drains.
- Cleanliness: Ensure that leaf piles are free of garbage and other yard waste, including brush, branches, and stones. Contaminated piles or leaves placed out after pickup dates will not be collected.
For those with bagged leaves and yard waste, Halton Region collects these on the same day as regular garbage pickup. This service operates separately from Oakville's loose-leaf collection.
For more information on waste collection schedules, residents can call 311 or visit the Halton Region website.
For additional details about Oakville’s fall loose leaf collection, visit oakville.ca or contact ServiceOakville at 905-845-6601 or service@oakville.ca.
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Upcoming at Town Council - October 21, 2024 | |
Share your feedback on the Stormwater Fee Feasibility Study
Participate in upcoming Stormwater Fee Feasibility Study engagement opportunities! The public survey will be open until October 18.
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Coronation Park playground renewal
We want your feedback on how we can improve the park playground structures to ensure we are delivering the amenities our park users are looking for and benefit from. Survey closes October 18.
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Road closure on George Street on October 19, 2024
Closed temporarily for the Downtown Oakville BIA Tails and Treats event
George Street will be closed between Church Street and Lakeshore Road East on Saturday, October 19, 2024.
The closure will begin at 7 a.m. and will end at 6:30 p.m.
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Iroquois Ridge pool closed on October 19 and 20, 2024
The Iroquois Ridge Community Centre Pool is hosting an Oakville Aquatic Club Swim Meet on Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20, 2024. All registered swimming and drop-in programs are cancelled.
To browse other swimming options, visit the Swimming page.
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Ontario Celebrates the Opening of The Village of Winston Park
The Ontario government is celebrating the opening of The Village of Winston Park, a 288-bed home in Kitchener. This is part of the government’s commitment to build 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds across the province. The Village of Winston Park will add a total of 109 new and 179 redeveloped safe, modern, long-term care beds to the region.
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Ontario Breaks Ground On New Battery Storage Project in York Region
The Ontario government has broken ground on a new battery energy storage project in York Region that will provide affordable, reliable, and clean electricity to power new homes and the province’s growing economy. Once completed, the new York Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) will store and release 120 MW of electricity, enough to power 120,000 homes.
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Ontario Increasing Wildland Firefighting Capacity
The governments of Ontario and Canada are investing $64 million to strengthen the province’s wildland fire program. The funding program will enhance Ontario’s firefighting abilities, allowing the province to hire and train key personnel and fund the purchase of new support equipment and technology, including fuel systems, tankers, trucks and software systems.
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Ontario Building More Supportive Housing in Durham
The Ontario government has provided over $8 million through the Social Services Relief Fund (SSRF), and more than $3 million in partnership with the Government of Canada through the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) for supportive housing in the Regional Municipality of Durham. This funding will help create 27 transitional housing units in Beaverton to support individuals at risk of homelessness as well as 18 affordable housing units in Whitby for seniors and adults with disabilities, addictions, or mental health conditions.
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Government of Canada invests in retraining opportunities for workers
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, while hosting Workforce Summit 2024 in Montreal, announced the launch of the Canada Retraining and Opportunities Initiative call for proposals. This $30 million fund will be provided to projects that bring together community-based organizations, that provide new skills training opportunities for workers.
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Shifa Gala - November 24th, 2024
Join Muslim community members and friends of the community for the 3rd annual Shifa Gala on November 24th, 2024, at the Oakville Legacy Banquet to support Oakville Hospital Foundation. Like last year, this event is expected to be attended by over 400 individuals and will be an evening filled with great food and enjoyable entertainment to recognize, celebrate and appreciate all that Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital does for our community and the region.
Please go to www.shifagala.com to buy the tickets or find more information on how you can support the cause. You can also contact Shifa Gala team at info@shifagala.com
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Food Banks experiencing record demand
Oakville's food banks are in record-breaking demand. If you can donate anything, please do. Your help is needed.
Fareshare Food Bank Oakville:
905-847-3988
oakvillefoodbank@gmail.com
Kerr Street Mission
905-845-7485
kerrstreet.com
The Salvation Army Oakville
salvationarmy.ca
Food 4 Kids Halton
food4kidshalton.ca
Oak Park & Neighbourhood Centre Food Bank
opnc.ca
Nourishing Neighbours Food Bank
Date: Every Thursday from 4:00pm to 5:30pm
Location: St. Luke's Anglican Church & Community Centre (3114 Dundas St W, L6M 4J3)
- All clients need to call 905-825-3364 to register
- All clients must be a resident of Oakville
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Town of Oakville
1225 Trafalgar Road,
Oakville, Ontario
mayor@oakville.ca
905-845-6601
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