The Small Urban GTHA Mayors met on April 14 at the Kingbridge Centre in the Township of King where they heard from Ontario’s Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery Kaleed Rasheed and Deputy Chief Alvaro Almeida from the York Regional Police and their teams.
Province of Ontario
The Mayors welcomed Minister Rasheed, MPP for Mississauga East-Cooksville. The Minister and his team presented information about changes to Service Ontario, including a greater focus on online services, where 56 per cent of transactions now take place, and more in-person support for people who are visiting one of Service Ontario’s 274 locations. The Minister’s team also described increased consumer protection through changes to the New Home Construction Licensing Act as part of the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022. Changes were made to strengthen consumer protection for new homes buyers and to deter unethical behaviour through higher financial penalties. The Provincial representatives asked the Mayors to share information from the presentations with constituents in the each of their municipalities. The Mayors agreed.
York Regional Police
Deputy Chief Almeida and his team from York Regional Police shared some statistics on the upward trend of vehicle thefts across the GTHA, including an 86-per-cent increase in vehicle thefts in the GTHA from 2018 to 2022, with 2,317 vehicles stolen a month in 2022. The YRP representatives asked for assistance in reaching out to vehicle owners to provide them with tips on vehicle theft protection, to the Province to advocate for increased penalties for those convicted of vehicle theft, and to the federal government to ask for increased oversight at Canada’s borders where stolen vehicles are being exported. The Small Urban GTHA Mayors agreed to support the police forces in the GTHA as they work together to increase awareness and advocacy. The GTHA Mayors look forward to receiving a resolution that all can share with their respective Councils and communities.
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Contact
Mayor Steve Pellegrini
mayor@king.ca
905-833-4029
Chair Small Urban GTHA Mayors