Whitby Council has voted to opt into the Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build – Development Charges Reduction Program, committing to a 30 per cent cut in residential development charges for three years and requesting more than $100 million in grant funding for three priority projects. The program, announced in March 2026, is an $8.8-billion federal-provincial partnership that delivers housing infrastructure funding, with money prioritized for municipalities that reduce development charges on all residential types by 30 to 50 per cent or more. A Town report recommends participation to help increase housing supply by incentivizing builders to proceed with local residential construction, and to encourage possible price reductions for homebuyers. The report also says the move would support local jobs in residential construction and municipal infrastructure delivery. If the three projects are approved at the 90 per cent grant funding level, staff will have the authority to amend Whitby's Development Charges By-law to implement the 30 per cent reduction, retroactive to March 30, 2026. Council also directed the mayor to write to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Doug Ford, requesting dialogue among all three levels of government on refining the program so municipalities do not face financial strain from the charge reductions.
New traffic calming policy approved
Council has also approved a new Traffic Calming Policy and Guidelines intended to standardize how the Town responds to concerns about speeding, excessive traffic volumes and other road safety issues on neighbourhood streets. Until now, streets were chosen for traffic calming based on community requests, discussions with ward councillors and Fire Services input. According to a Town of Whitby staff report, the current approach "has led to dissatisfaction among some residents regarding the placement of traffic calming measures with requests for removal at some locations." The new policy will set out how staff assess requests and the criteria used to prioritize locations. Measures can include lower speed limits, speed humps, flexible bollards and raised crosswalks. The policy was developed after a scan of practices in other Ontario municipalities and community engagement that drew more than 650 residents in its first phase.
Durham Meadoway design study funded
Council endorsed a funding framework to complete a preliminary design of the Durham Meadoway at a cost of $335,000, paid from the Growth Capital Reserve Fund. The regional trail network is proposed to link Greater Toronto Area communities between the Don River and Oshawa, and is being co-ordinated by Durham Region's planning division with Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa. The trail would create an east-west active transportation route in Whitby, connecting existing trails, parks, neighbourhoods and the waterfront, while addressing gaps under Highway 412 and within the hydro corridor. Staff were authorized to sign a shared services agreement with the Region, though the funding covers only the design study — construction would require future Council approval through the capital budget process.
Other council decisions
Council also: - Directed staff to report on the feasibility, legal authority and cost of sound camera technology, which can identify and ticket owners of excessively loud vehicles. Staff will monitor a City of Toronto study on the technology. - Formally called on the federal government to proclaim February as Chinese Canadian Heritage Month, noting the motion "does not fully reflect the distinct history and experiences of Chinese Canadians" under the existing Asian Heritage Month. The motion will go to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Durham Region's MPs, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. - Called on the province to review the Ontario Land Tribunal's role to ensure greater respect for municipal planning decisions, including requiring "clear and detailed reasoning" when decisions are overturned and measures to reduce the financial burden on municipalities defending them. - Directed staff to report on a possible 50 to 100 per cent development charge discount for applicants in the Hotel and Conference Centre Attraction Program — which has enrolled three applicants since launching in late April — who obtain building permits within 14 months of enrollment. The Town posts meeting minutes and more detail on its Council Calendar page.
