Making Decisions That Matter – August 27 edition
This is a summary of Regional Council’s decisions from its August 27, 2025 meeting. 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.
Affordable housing planned for Region-owned property in Wilmot
Regional Council is supporting a proposed affordable housing development in New Hamburg. The Region-owned property at 34 Peel Street (formerly a police station) will be leased for $1 per year to Love Your Neighbourhood Communities, a non-profit organization. This group is working to create new affordable and market rent units and community spaces for people in the Township of Wilmot.
Region to consider red light changes
The Region of Waterloo will look at the possibility of prohibiting right turns on red lights on some Regional roads as a way to improve safety. Staff will investigate options for intersections with a history of collisions. Staff will also look at options for advanced pedestrian crossing signals, which allow pedestrians to cross before vehicles.
Region planning ahead for new community hospital
Regional Council are requesting more information from the local hospitals to help prepare for a new hospital that will be built over the coming decade, as well as potential future expansions. Staff will seek a report from Waterloo Region Health Network (WRHN) on how the new hospital will impact key Region of Waterloo services such as paramedics, public health, transit and water. Staff will also develop a policy to inform and guide Regional Council as they consider any future funding requests for the new hospital or hospital expansions. Regional Council is also seeking an update from the WRHN on plans, costs and community engagement.
Council seeks coordinated speed cameras across Ontario
Regional Council is asking Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation to improve Automated Speed Enforcement cameras with more consistency across the province.
Standard signage and public data reporting across municipalities will help people better understand and trust these safety programs. Regional Council is requesting the provincial government work collaboratively with municipalities to coordinate how they use automated speed enforcement to protect all road users.
Council calls for civility and safety in politics
Regional Council has adopted the Elect Respect pledge and affirmed its commitment to respectful, accountable civic engagement. Respect and diverse voices can lead to stronger democracy and better decisions, while harassment and intimidation towards politicians makes democratic participation harder for many people. Regional Council passed a motion that calls for constructive discussion and appropriate protection and responses when threats are made against elected officials.
New boundary between Cambridge and North Dumfries sets up development
Regional Council has approved a minor change to municipal boundaries between the Township of North Dumfries and the City of Cambridge, to enable development of new homes. These lands will become part of Cambridge and are a logical extension of the city’s urban development. The change could add 430 to 656 new homes to the Westwood Subdivision, once municipal services like water and wastewater are installed. Other lands will be used to extend McQueen Shaver Boulevard. The new boundary also fixes an issue where seven homes straddled both municipalities. The final decision on this boundary change will be made by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
New modular buildings will add 176 child care spaces
The Region of Waterloo is using a new strategy to add much-needed child care spaces for local families. Regional Council is investing in two modular buildings to be located on Waterloo Region District School Board school sites and leased to not-for-profit child care providers. Each building will add 88 new spaces in a priority neighbourhood. Modular construction makes the building more affordable for non-profit operators, allowing them to invest more in staff wages and other supports. The new child care spaces are expected to open by the end of 2026.