April 6, 2019
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange

Our Provincial Government has been making many changes on a number of different files. Among the changes being considered is revamping Regional and possibly local municipal government. Who knows what local and regional government will look like when they are finished!

Will York South consist of an amalgamation of Markham, Vaughan and Richmond Hill and York North be an amalgamation of the towns to the north? Will Markham annex Whitchurch-Stouffville? Will regional government disappear? Will City government disappear?

A big concern for Markham residents should be what happens to our very healthy reserve funds. Our past fiscal prudence may all be for not if an amalgamation forces a sharing of our reserves with other municipalities.

Feel free to connect with the Province and voice your opinion on this very important matter. See the article and links below.

As always, I can be reached at dhamilton@markham.ca
In this issue
- Regional Government Review
- York Region Council Update
- Election Rebate Deadline
- Replace Your Ash Tree
- What's New at the Varley Gallery
- Jane's Walk - May 4 & 5
- Thursday Night at the Bandstand
- Happenings at Rouge National Park
- Transportation Public Meeting
- Potholes, Potholes, Potholes
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Have your say...your input is requested
The Provincial Government is seeking input on potential changes to how municipalities are governed. As noted in the last edition of The Deputy Mayor's Exchange, the City of Markham is a part of York Region and there could be changes to both of these governments. The Province is reviewing 8 regional governments in total (including York Region) to determine if there should be changes made to how these regions are governed.

There is an opportunity for individuals and organizations in the City of Markham to provide input to the Provincial representatives conducting the regional governance review.

In the link below, there is more information on this review process and the 3 ways to participate in this review process:
  • Speak in person in Newmarket on May 6
  • Submit written comments by mail or email
  • Complete an online survey before May 21

Did you know you can listen to York Region meetings on line? Most meetings are on Thursday but the full schedule is available here. The details from past meetings are also available online.

Details of the March meetings are highlighted on this video and more detail can be found here. Some of the items covered include:
  • York Region Transit improvements
  • Water and Waste Water reports
  • growth of over 15,000 jobs in 2018
  • affordable housing

This is a reminder to submit your rebate application to the City.


Who is eligible for a rebate? 
  • Donors who contribute $50 or more
  • Residents of Ontario only
How to apply
  • Online at markhamvotes.ca/rebate
  • Paper applications are also available by calling 905.477.7000 x8683 (VOTE)
The fine print
  • the maximum rebate a donor may receive is $350
  • donors are eligible for one rebate, regardless of how many campaigns they contributed to
  • rebate cheques will be issued starting July 2019
  • all details of the rebate program can be found here
Do you need to replace a dying, dead or removed ash tree? There is a program to help you choose the best replacement tree for your yard and plant it for you too for as little as $50.

Have you been to this cultural treasure at the top on Unionville Main Street? There are various coming attractions and events to check out. Attend the new exhibit opening on April 14 or find out more about summer camp. There's always lots going on:

Jane’s Walk is an annual festival of free, citizen-led walking conversations inspired by Jane Jacobs. Jane’s Walks encourage people to share stories about their neighbourhoods, discover unseen aspects of their communities, and use walking as a way to connect with their neighbours.

Walks take place in hundreds of cities around the world including Markham.




This year there are 2 community walks in the City:
  • Saturday May 4 - Early Thornhill: An Immigrant's Perspective
  • Sunday May 5 - New Insights into Old Markham Village

There is no registration required for these free walks. More detail and meeting places can be found here.
Thursday Night at the Bandstand on Unionville Main Street is back for its 11th season. The popular free summer music series kicks off on May 30 at the Millennium Bandstand. Come out and listen to talented Canadian, international and local performers bringing familiar music to the street. The series runs 14 consecutive weeks from 7:30pm to 9:oopm.

This year's performers will include many of the familiar tribute bands from prior years but will also feature 5 new first time performances. More information about the upcoming series can be found on their website.
Have you been to the Park? Now that the weather is getting nicer it is a great time to plan a trip to the park.


The Park is open 365 days a year and their calendar of events is available here . While there are many places to enjoy in the park, for most Markham residents this is the easiest way to access the Park .
Have you ever wanted to go camping but not know where to start? The Park is offering a Learn to Camp program which introduces visitors to camping in a fun and safe way. Learn more here
There are many ways to explore and enjoy Canada's first national urban park right in Markham's backyard. There is an interactive app to help you learn more about the park and to enhance your visit.
Here are some things to do in the Park:
York Region Transportation Services is hosting a Public Engagement Forum in Markham on Monday, April 15, 2019, from 4:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. at the Aaniin Community Centre located at 5665 14th Avenue. This information session will help to build an innovative, reliable and customer based transportation system.

  • York Region Transit service adjustments and initiatives for 2019 and 2020
  • Electric Bus Pilot Program, transit technology and greening initiatives
  • Traffic signal installations, timings, technology and safety features
  • Active transportation initiatives and improvements for pedestrians and cyclists
  • Current road maintenance and construction projects
  • Future construction projects and plans

For York Region Transit feedback, email:  transitinfo@york.ca  
For roads and construction feedback, email:  transportation@york.ca
Community Meetings

All City of Markham meetings are listed on the City's website at Upcoming Council and Committee Meetings . Unless noted differently on the link above, meetings are held at the Markham Civic Centre and are open to the public. If you aren't able to attend in person, meetings are live streamed.

The calendar of York Region meetings is available here. You can listen to meetings on line. The details from past meetings are available online.

  • Unionville Villagers Association - April 8 at 7pm - Unionville Train Station
  • YR Transit Services - April 15 4:00 to 8:00pm - Aaniin Community Centre - details in article above

I'd be pleased to highlight other community meetings in future newsletters. Please forward the details to dhamilton@markham.ca
Frequently Asked Questions...
 As an ongoing section in these email updates, I would like to provide answers to some commonly asked questions by residents.
If you have a question that you would like answered, please send me an email with your question.
Question: Is there any way to report potholes that need to filled? Also, is there a way to find out about upcoming road construction?
Answer: Spring means potholes on our roads and while crews have already been out repairing roads, if my driving around the City is any example, there are still more potholes to fix. To report a pothole on a Regional road, call roads dispatch at 1-877-464-9675 x75200, use the York Region mobile app or visit york.ca/reportaproblem. If the pothole is on a City road, it can be reported to the City's Contact Centre here.

Perhaps you are now wondering who owns the road and you can find those details here.

Upcoming road construction on Regional roads can be found here. Details about upcoming roadworks on City roads can be found here .
Working together to make Markham better!
Don Hamilton - City of Markham
Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor
905- 415-7549
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