Making Decisions That Matter - October 22, 2025
With input from the community, Regional Council sets the direction for the Region as an organization and makes decisions that help improve the lives of Waterloo Region residents every day. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.
Pausing future expansion of Municipal Speed Cameras
Regional Council is halting further expansion of the automated speed enforcement program until the provincial government provides more direction for the program. In late September, the province announced that it intends to ban speed cameras across Ontario. Until official legislative changes are made, the Region of Waterloo will continue to operate its automated speed enforcement program in 28 school zones across Waterloo Region. Speed cameras have proven to slow down drivers in school zones, helping reduce the risk of collisions and making neighbourhoods safer for people walking, rolling and cycling. The Region of Waterloo will not expand automated speed enforcement to additional school zones or hire new staff for the program until the province’s decision is made clear.
New pedestrian crossing makes road safer in New Hamburg
Regional Council has approved a new pedestrian crossover to help people safely cross Huron Street near Milton Street in New Hamburg. Installation will start later this fall for a crossover with signs, pavement markings and lights to advise motorists they must stop and yield the right-of-way to any pedestrians crossing the roadway. Both Holy Family Catholic School and Grandview Public School are near this intersection. This new addition will help both drivers and pedestrians use the road safely and easily.
Council requests expanded recycling service
Regional Council is asking the provincial government to expand Ontario's new recycling system to include recycling collection from all sources, including groups that are not currently covered. This includes business improvement areas, places of worship, daycares and not-for-profit organizations. Ontario’s new recycling program makes the industries who produce products responsible for recycling them. These producers, however, are only responsible for residential Blue Box recycling. Municipalities would need to pay the full cost to continue offering recycling services to other groups. Council is also asking the provincial government to provide more information about the province’s estimate that municipalities will save an estimated $171 million from these 2026 changes.
Update on the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness
Council received an update about work underway by the Region and community partners to advance the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. Regional Council approved this plan in spring 2024 and the investments are having an impact. Twenty-one of the Plan’s 30 actions are in progress. Although chronic homelessness continues to rise, overall homelessness has decreased by eight per cent over the last year. With Council's total investment of $14.8 million in 2025, the Plan is supporting rent supplements, eviction prevention programs and other initiatives that prevent homelessness. Increased and sustained funding from the provincial and federal governments, and community partners, is needed to augment Council’s anchor investment and reach the Plan’s goal of functional zero chronic homelessness by 2030.
Project will improve traffic flow on Erb Street West
The Region is preparing to expand Erb Street West near Ira Needles in Waterloo to better accommodate current users and future growth. The proposed improvements will help people move through the area by extending the four-lane portion of Erb Street farther west of Ira Needles. A roundabout will also be added at the intersection of Erb Street and Bordeaux Place. This project will help create continuous sidewalks and cycling routes along Erb Street, plus improved stormwater management. Regional Council is expropriating a small piece of land on the north side of Erb Street to enable these improvements. Construction is expected to start in spring 2026.
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