Council Meeting Highlights: May 23, 2023

Council endorses request to establish a Provincial Short Term Rental System

Pickering Council endorses Ajax’s request to establish a Provincial Short Term Rental System and will circulate the motion to The Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
On April 17, 2023, Ajax Town Council passed a resolution to help ensure that new and existing housing units serve their intended use, which is to provide stable and affordable housing options to the people of Ontario.
The resolution highlights short term rental issues, including being prone to nuisances and impacting others’ enjoyment of their properties (notably due to noise, waste, parking needs, and violence) and locals being priced out of the housing market due to landlords finding it more profitable to list as a short term rental.
As part of this resolution, Ajax Council is requesting that the Province of Ontario establish a short term rental licensing and enforcement system.

Council endorses request for Provincial support of community-driven home care services

Pickering Council endorses Stratford’s request for provincial government support of community-driven home care services  and will forward a copy of the resolution to The Honourable Premier Doug Ford; The Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Long-Term Care; Matthew Rae, Member of Provincial Parliament; Perth-Wellington, The Honourable Peter Bethlenfalvy, Member of Provincial Parliament, Pickering-Uxbridge; the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO); and all Ontario municipalities.
On April 11, 2023, Stratford City Council adopted a resolution that requested the Provincial government support community-driven home care services through the redirect of ministry beds in abeyance funding.

Council approves amendments to Nuisance By-law

Council has approved amendments of the City’s Nuisance Bylaw 7773/20, which will help better equip the City to stop nuisance activities. The amendments (which can be viewed on page 12 of Report BYL 05-23) will also prohibit disruptive parties, obnoxious behavior, littering, loitering, causing a disturbance, public intoxication, fighting, remaining in a public place after being asked to leave, destruction of property, carrying open liquor in public, and causing a disturbing by yelling and/or swearing.
With these amendments, a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer or a DRPS Officer will be able to order nuisance activity to stop.
Staff will now seek the approval of the Ministry of the Attorney General to set fine amounts for tickets.

Council receives 2022 Year End Reports & 2023 Work Plans from Advisory Committees

Council received 2022 Year End Reports and 2023 Work Plans from the Accessibility Advisory Committee, Cultural Advisory Committee, and Heritage Pickering Advisory Committee.
These reports and work plans provide Council with an in-depth look at the meaningful efforts being undertaken by these committees.
The Year End Reports and 2023 Work Plans can be viewed in the May 23, 2023 Council Agenda (pages 65 to 80).

Council passes motion in support of Pride events & Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives

Council passed a motion in support of Pride events and all Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives across the City of Pickering and Durham Region, in honour of Pride Month.
The City recognizes June as Pride Month, and will continue to promote inclusion for all LGBTQIAS2+ citizens.

• View the May 23, 2023 Meeting Video
• View the May 23 Meeting Minutes