HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil - 2013-11-18 SSPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES
NOVEMBER 18, 2013 CITY OF KITCHENER
A special meeting of City Council was held at 2:18 p.m. this date, chaired by Mayor C. Zehr with all
members present except Councillor P. Singh.
Notice of this meeting had been previously given to all members of Council by the City Clerk pursuant
to Chapter 25 (Council Procedure) of the Municipal Code.
1. NOTICE OF MOTION — LONG -TERM FEDERAL HOUSING PLAN
Councillor B. Vrbanovic had given notice that he would introduce a motion endorsing the Federation
of Canadian Municipalities' housing campaign for consideration this date.
Moved by Councillor B. Vrbanovic
Seconded by Councillor S. Davey
`WHEREAS a stable and secure housing system that creates and maintains jobs and allows for a
range of living options is essential to attracting new workers, meeting the needs of young families and
supporting seniors and our most vulnerable citizens; and,
WHEREAS the high cost of housing is the most urgent financial issue facing Canadians with one in four
people paying more than they can afford for housing, and mortgage debt held by Canadians now
standing at just over $1.1 trillion; and,
WHEREAS housing costs and, as the Bank of Canada notes, household debt, are undermining
Canadians' personal financial security, while putting our national economy at risk; and,
WHEREAS those who cannot afford to purchase a home rely on the short supply of rental units, which
is driving up rental costs and making it hard to house workers in regions experiencing strong economic
activity; and,
WHEREAS an inadequate supply of subsidized housing for those in need is pushing some of the most
vulnerable Canadians on to the street, while $1.7 billion annually in federal investments in social
housing have begun to expire; and,
WHEREAS coordinated action is required to prevent housing issues from being offloaded onto local
governments and align the steps local governments have already taken with regard to
federal /provincial /territorial programs and policies; and,
WHEREAS, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has launched a housing campaign,
"Fixing Canada's Housing Crunch," calling on the federal government to increase housing options for
Canadians and to work with all orders of government to develop a long -term plan for Canada's housing
future; and,
WHEREAS FCM has asked its member municipalities to pass a council resolution supporting the
campaign; and,
WHEREAS our community has continuing housing needs, demonstrated through the work of Kitchener
Housing and other community housing agencies, that can only be met through the kind of long -term
planning and investment made possible by federal leadership;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener endorses the FCM housing campaign and
urges the minister of employment and social development to develop a long -term plan for housing that
puts core investments on solid ground, increases predictability, protects Canadians from the planned
expiry of $1.7 billion in social housing agreements and ensures a healthy stock of affordable rental
housing for Canadians;
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to Minister Jason Kenney, the
Minister responsible for CMHC, to the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs, to local area MPs and
MPPs, to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and
to the Regional Municipality of Waterloo and local area municipalities."
Carried.
2. IN- CAMERA MEETING AUTHORIZATION
Mayor C. Zehr noted that the land acquisition / disposition matter would not be considered this
date and that Council would be dealing with two matters subject to solicitor - client privilege.
SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES
NOVEMBER 18, 2013 -244- CITY OF KITCHENER
Moved by Councillor B. loannidis
Seconded by Councillor S. Davey
"That an in- camera meeting of City Council be held immediately following this special meeting to
consider a personal matter and two matters subject to solicitor - client privilege."
Carried.
3. BY -LAW FOR THREE READINGS
Moved by Councillor K. Galloway - Sealock
Seconded by Councillor B. Vrbanovic
"That leave be given the Mover and Seconder to introduce a by -law to confirm all actions and
proceedings of the Council and that the same be taken as read a first, second and third times, be
finally passed and numbered 2013 -140 by the Clerk."
Carried.
On motion the meeting adjourned at 2:20 p.m.
MAYOR CLERK