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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCD-34-98 THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON REPORT Date: File #=Do;;;). .GE. SPECIAL GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Res. # GOR - 4'i 1- 9'? Meeting: Report #: July 13,1998 CD-34-98 By-law # Subject: LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH A GREATER TORONTO SERVICES BOARD It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council: 1. THAT Report CD-34-98 be received; and 2. THAT the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing be advised that the Municipality of Clarington would give its full support to the legislation outlining the proposed Greater Toronto Services Board composition and mandate should the review to take place in the year 2001 include consideration of redefinition of boundaries to exclude a municipality. Report On June 1, 1998, following two meetings with the Greater Toronto Area Moderator, Mr. Alan Tonks to review the proposed Greater Toronto Services Board Act, Council passed Resolution #C-506-98 pertaining to the formation of a Greater Toronto Services Board (GTSB). A copy of that resolution is attached hereto as Attachment No.1. At the Council meeting of June 29, 1998, Council considered correspondence dated June 25, 1998 from AI Leach, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing advising that legislation had been introduced that day to establish a GSTB. At that time, the correspondence was referred to staff for review of the legislation in relation to the earlier resolution passed by Council. The Council resolution states that the Municipality is diametrically opposed to the Municipality being part of a GTSB unless Clarington is guaranteed a voting representative to the Board and Clarington is given a three-year grace period for study purposes in order to fully appreciate the ramifications of the Municipality being a member of the GTSB. 703 Report CD-34-98 -2- July 13, 1998 Composition The initial composition of the proposed Board is 40 members, including at least one member from each municipality in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), plus 'a chair, plus one member from Hamilton-Wentworth, appointed only for the purposes of GT Transit. The chair would be elected by the GTSB members and would not be a member of any municipal council within the regional transit area. All GT A regional chairs and Mayors and the regional chair of Hamilton-Wentworth would be members. The City of Toronto would have 10 additional members and the City of Mississauga would have one additional member. Following each national census, the GTSB would be required to review the composition of the board to reflect population change in the GT A. Each municipality would still continue to have at least member. All GTSB members would have at least one vote, with the votes weighted to achieve representation by population on a regional basis. The composition of the proposed board addresses the concern of Council in that it provides for Clarington to have one member. Three-Year Grace Period The legislation provides that prior to December 31, 2000, the GTSB will review its size and composition, the number of votes assigned to members, powers and boundaries. It will report to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing on or after January 1, 2001 and the review might consider redefining boundaries to exclude a municipality, but could not consider an expansion of the current GTSB boundaries. The municipality is pleased that the legislation provides for a review of the composition and boundaries of the GTSB, however, it is opposed to the inclusion of the word "might" in response to the review to consider redefining the boundaries. Conclusion It is respectfully recommended that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing be advised that the Municipality of Clarington would support the legislation to create a Greater Toronto Services Board if the review to take place in the year 2001 includes consideration of redefining boundaries to exclude a municipality. Reviewed by W.H.StL~ Chief Administrative Officer Attachment 704 Greater Toronto Services Board D02.GE ATTACHMENT #1 Resolution #C-506-98 Moved by Councillor Novak, seconded by Councillor Young WHEREAS the Municipality of Clarington has closely monitored and participated in, when asked, the numerous studies carried out by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing pertaining to the establishment of a Greater Toronto Services Board; and WHEREAS the Municipality of Clarington has participated in the recent review of the proposed Greater Toronto Services Board Act under the guidance of the Greater Toronto Area Moderator, Mr. Alan Tonks; and WHEREAS the Municipality of Clarington has carried out preliminary studies surrounding the issue of Clarington's role in the proposed Greater Toronto Services Board; and WHEREAS the Council of the Municipality of Clarington, along with the Rural Mayors of the Greater Toronto Area, requested a three-year grace period to carry out necessary studies in order to assess Clarington's role either as part of a Greater Toronto Services Board or as a non-member of a Greater Toronto Services Board; and WHEREAS the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has not responded to Clarington's request for a three-year grace period; and WHEREAS the Council of the Municipality of Clarington is of the opinion that the establishment of a Greater Toronto Services Board is to take place by way of Provincial legislation; and WHEREAS the Municipality of Clarington is still of the opinion that in order to properly represent the constituents of Clarington it is imperative that in-depth studies be carried out and that the results of those studies be taken to the residents of the Municipality of Clarington so that they may appreciate the ramifications of any legislation that would place the Municipality ofClarington as a member of the Greater Toronto Services Board against the will of the electorate; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOL VED THAT: a) without the guarantee of a voting represc::ntative from the Municipality of Clarington to the Greater Toronto Services Board, and b) without the guarantee of a three-year grace period following passage of the legislation in order to carry out the necessary studies as referred to above, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing be advised that the Municipality ofClarington's elected members of Council are diametrically opposed to the Municipality of Clarington being part of a Greater Toronto Services Board. However, should Clarington be guaranteed a voting representative to the Greater Toronto Services Board and should Clarington be given a three-year grace period for study purposes, the Municipality of Clarington would give its full support and co- operation to the establishment of a Greater Toronto Services Board; and THAT a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Alan Tonks, Greater Toronto Area Moderator, The Honourable Michael Harris, Premier of Ontario, The Honourable Allan Leach, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, John O'Toole, MPP, all MPPs representing the Greater Toronto Area and all member municipalities of The Greater Toronto Area. /C5