I would like to take a moment to thank you for subscribing to my
eNewsletter and being a part of the conversation. Your comments and concerns are meaningful to me, and I enjoy forming connections with all of our wonderful residents, in this beautiful city we call home!
I love to hear from you and chat about new ideas and changes you would like to see in our community. Should you wish to reach me, you may use my contact information provided below in the "Stay Connected" section of this eNewsletter.
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Monthly Town Hall Meetings |
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We are excited to host our fourth Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 7:30 pm in the Helen Paris Room Room of the George Ashe Library & Community Centre, located at 470 Kingston Road. Mark your calendars and join us!
A big thank you to staff and all the supporting residents who attend our Monthly Town Hall Meetings. Because of you, they have yielded much success, and we look forward to your continued support. We are honoured to have the support of the City in bringing us expert guest speakers to share their knowledge and enthusiasm, on topics that are most important to you!
For future Town Hall Meeting information, including dates & locations, please contact the Council Office by email at council@pickering.ca or by telephone at 905.420.4605. |
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Hop On Out To The Easter Parade
Saturday, April 8 - 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
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Join us on Saturday, April 8, 2023 at 10:00 am to 12:00 pm as the Bay Ridges Royal Canadian Legion Branch 606 will be hosting their annual Easter Parade along the usual Bay Ridges parade route.
The parade theme is “The Legion’s Last Bunny Hop.”
Following the parade, the Legion will host a free lunch at their branch sponsored by Triple Properties and provide free family fun activities.
The parade travels east on Annland Street from Liverpool Road to Krosno Boulevard then east on Krosno to Bayly Street. The parade ends at Bayly Street however the procession continues on to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #606 located at 1555 Bayly Street (one block west of Brock Road).
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Council Updates - March 27, 2023 |
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Council authorizes donations of $10,000 to support Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and $10,000 to support earthquake recovery efforts in Turkey and Syria
The City of Pickering joins municipalities throughout the Region to support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people through a $10,000 donation to support the provision of generators to ease the pressure on Ukraine’s electric grid.
Council also approved a $10,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross to support recovery efforts in areas impacted by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
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Council approves recommended changes to the City’s Waterfront Permit Parking Program
In 2021, the City introduced paid waterfront permit parking for May 1st to October 1st annually. Following the end of the program’s first season, staff completed a review and prepared a number of recommendations, with the community’s input, to improve the program for 2023. These recommendations were outlined in Report BYL 02-23 and included actions such as (but not limited to) the following:
- Reduce the hourly rate from $5.00 to $2.50 per hour, Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at all program locations.
- Provide two hours of free parking Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm within the waterfront permit parking area, except for Beachpoint Promenade, Front Street and the municipally-operated waterfront parking lots (in addition to the two hour free parking already allowed in the Liverpool Road lay-by spaces).
- Provide non-resident seniors, age 65 years and older to park at no cost at the waterfront (amendment made to the Staff Report at the Executive Committee Meeting and then ratified at the Council Meeting).
- Provide residents the ability to obtain a no-charge daily permit for visitors parking on their street.
Please refer to Report BYL 02-23 for more details, including a full list of recommendations.
Council approves staff to implement Lobbyist Registry
Council approved By-law No. 8003/23, being a by-law to establish and maintain a Lobbyist Registry for The Corporation of the City of Pickering. The Lobbyist Registry will provide transparency about people who lobby the City of Pickering’s Public Office Holders. "Lobby" or “Lobbying” means any communication with a Public Office Holder by an individual who is paid or who represents a business or financial interest with the goal of trying to influence any legislative action including development, introduction, passage, defeat, amendment or repeal of a by-law, motion, resolution or the outcome of a decision on any matter before Council, a Committee of Council, or a staff member acting under delegated authority.
Out of the 444 municipalities in Ontario, 9 currently have a lobbyist registry framework in place.
City Council provides pre-budget approval for the installation of a Hopes Cradle in a Pickering Fire Hall
Hopes Cradle is a non-profit organization that is managed and operated under the larger charitable organization – Gems for Gems based in Calgary, Alberta. The mission of Hope’s Cradle is to provide collaborative support to new mothers in need and to save new born infants from unsafe abandonment. Hopes Cradle provides the safe surrender process for infants through specialized drop-off installations of which the majority are situated in municipal fire halls across North America.
Given its proximity to the Pickering/Toronto border, the access to bus routes, and the adaptive and suitable design of the building, Fire Station 2 located at 553 Kingston Road in Pickering was identified as the best suited location for an installation of a Hopes Cradle.
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Council approves enhancement to the City’s Seniors and Persons with Disabilities Snow Clearing Program
The enhancements include an increase to the registration capacity from 500 to 750 annually, changes to registration fees according to net income, and enhanced promotions, targeted to seniors and persons with disabilities and their families.
This great initiative will provide assistance to a wider group of residents in our community. I will continue to pursuit additional measures targeted at further expansions of the program to the very best of my ability. I'd like to thank staff and all involved in this process for their tremendous efforts!
Enhanced Blue Box and Green Bin Availability motions
The closest blue and green bin exchange/purchase location is the Durham Region Depot in Whitby. As such, staff have been directed to work with Region of Durham Waste Management to explore opportunities for more local and convenient locations for Pickering residents to have access to the blue and green bin replacements. Staff will report back to Council by end of second quarter 2023.
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My Notices of Motion That Passed in March 2023 |
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- Delegates will no longer have to release their private information in an open forum during Council Meetings. Registration will remain the same.
- To honour our Veterans who have served and demonstrated the ultimate sacrifice, a Veterans flag will now be raised on November 11 and remain flown until sunset on November 30 in perpetuity.
- The Urban Farming pilot project including backyard chickens and vertical farming has passed and is moving into the next steps of public consultation.
Meetings are open to the public and we encourage you to follow along. Details are posted on the City of Pickering Council Calendar, found here.
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My Upcoming Notices of Motion to be Discussed at Council |
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I have a few upcoming Notices of Motion I wish to address at Council:
- Transportation of hazardous materials.
- Transport Canada air quality.
- Notice of Motion regarding the Tree Protection By-law on private property, including the protection of Urban forests and address maximum pavement coverage on private property.
- Notice of Motion to increase current minimum circulation radius for planning applications.
- Notice of Motion to make public consultation process more accessible by removing the requirement to input personal information on a survey.
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What's Happening for Earth Month |
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Puppies & Kittens Available for Adoption:
Looking for Their Forever Home
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Pickering Animal Services has a number of pets they care for in their shelter that are ready for adoption! Their website is routinely updated with available pets, so take a peak if you're looking for a furry companion who needs a forever home. |
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Federal Legislation Updates |
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I have a few noteworthy updates to federal legislation that I would like to share. Follow the links below if these topics are of importance to you:
- Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)
- An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts (C-11)
- Firearms (Bill C-21)
- An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Regulation Adapting the Canada Elections Act for the Purposes of a Referendum - voting age (Bill S-201)
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Have Your Say in the 2023 Pickering Budget |
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Thank you for taking the time to read this eNewsletter. I welcome your feedback and comments. For more information on what's happening in Ward 1 and our city, you may wish to visit my Facebook. You can also reach me directly by calling 613.318.LISA (5472) or by email at lrobinson@pickering.ca. You may also contact the Council Office by emailing council@pickering.ca or calling 905.420.4605.
Feel free to forward this eNewsletter to other Pickering residents, who may find this information helpful. To subscribe to future eNewsletters, visit pickering.ca/eNews and selecting the checkbox for Councillor Lisa Robinson Newsletter.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of my own and do not necessarily reflect the views or official position of the City of Pickering Council or Corporation.
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City of Pickering Council Office | 905.420.4605 | www.pickering.ca |
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