That Council approve the following resolution requesting federal funding for the Yonge North Subway Extension:
Whereas, The Yonge North Subway Extension (YNSE) is a Council Strategic Priority 2020-2022 for the City of Richmond Hill, and
Whereas, The YNSE is a leading transportation priority for the City of Richmond Hill and York Region, and
Whereas, The YNSE has been identified as a critical infrastructure investment with the current York Region and City of Richmond Hill Transportation Master Plans, and
Whereas, The YNSE will support a growing population, generate economic opportunity, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Richmond Hill and surrounding communities; and
Whereas, Developing a comprehensive transit network is a crucial infrastructure issue in the City of Richmond Hill and throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA); and
Whereas, The YNSE is an integral part of the rapid transit priority projects that would strengthen connection within the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area, and
Whereas, The business cases completed to-date for the YNSE are compelling – affirmed in successive Regional Transportation Plans completed for the GTA in 2008, and again in 2018, and
Whereas, The project will create skilled jobs and lasting social infrastructure critical to the recovery from the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic; and
Whereas, The YNSE is included among the five major transit priorities the Province of Ontario has identified, which require federal funding to move forward: and
Whereas, A project of this size and scope requires investment from all levels of government; and
Whereas, the City of Richmond Hill welcomes the federal government’s recent commitment to invest in public transit, which includes permanent funding of $3 billion per year for Canadian communities beginning in 2026-27.
It is therefore recommended:
1. THAT the City of Richmond Hill reaffirms its long-standing commitment to advancing the successful completion of the Yonge North Subway Extension; and
2. THAT the City of Richmond Hill calls on the Federal Government to commit to broad and substantial municipal funding for the Yonge North Subway Extension to provide immediate stimulus to the local, provincial and the federal economies to emerge stronger from the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic; and
3. THAT the Federal Government’s financial commitment be made as soon as possible; and
4. THAT this resolution be forwarded to the Prime Minister of Canada; the Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; the Federal Minister of Transportation; the Federal Minister of Finance, the Premier of Ontario; the Ontario Minister of the Finance; the Ontario Minister of Infrastructure; the Provincial Minister of Transportation; the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO); the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM); the Local Members of Parliament (MPs); the Local Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) as well as York Region and its member municipalities.