Making Decisions That Matter – March 25 edition
This is a summary of Regional Council’s decisions from its March 25, 2026 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.
Region supports new housing with tax grant
Regional Council has approved a $115,000 grant to support new housing units at 161 Ottawa Street South in Kitchener. This former industrial property was historically used for tool-and-die manufacturing, but has now been redeveloped into a 20-unit low-rise residential building. The Region’s Tax Increment Grant program supports projects like this one, by reimbursing eligible clean-up costs when a contaminated industrial site is transformed into something new and valuable for the community.
New building standard will help achieve Region’s climate goals
The Region will continue investing in climate resilience by adopting the Zero Carbon Building – Design (ZCB-Design) standard for new building construction. The new ZCB-Design, created by the Canada Green Building Council, replaces the LEED™ Silver which had been the Region’s guide for sustainable buildings since 2005. The new standard will guide construction of new Region of Waterloo facilities and help achieve our goal of becoming a net-zero organization by 2050. ZCB-Design is focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by making buildings more efficient to operate and by reducing the carbon embodied in construction materials. Using these standards makes us more resilient to extreme weather events and can lead to lower long-term costs.
Updated Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan supports a better Waterloo Region
Waterloo Region has a refreshed Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan to help build a community where every person feels safe, cared for, and has the opportunity to thrive. This updated plan for 2026-2030 sets out how we can work together to address existing and emerging community safety priorities. The Ontario Community Safety and Policing Act requires municipalities to develop and refresh their Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan every four years. This plan was developed in consultation with over 90 CSWP partners, including grassroots organizations, systems partners, and area municipalities. The Plan will continue to evolve, with updates in the coming months to include additional topics highlighted by Regional Council.
Request to pause new water taking permits
Regional Council is requesting the Province to pause on issuing or expanding private sector water-taking permits within the Mannheim Service Area. This is a precaution to protect groundwater and municipal and private water supplies while the Region develops and evaluates recommendations to meet future water supply needs. This request is part of the ongoing Water Supply Strategy Update, which is a long-term planning process for providing safe, secure and sustainable drinking water.
Work set to begin on new wastewater pumping station
A key piece of the wastewater system is ready for renewal. Regional Council has chosen a contractor to complete the $20.7 million project to build a new sewage pumping station in the City of Kitchener. This station will replace the existing Spring Valley pumping station, which is nearing the end of its life. Funds for this project have already been approved as part of the 2026 Capital budget. Work will begin this spring and last about two years.
Charles Street Terminal will be reshaped with multi-phase development approach
Plans are moving ahead to create affordable housing and community space in the heart of downtown Kitchener. Regional Council has approved a multi-phase approach to redevelop the Charles Street Terminal with more flexibility, quicker timelines and less up-front investment. The Region and City of Kitchener have engaged and consulted with residents and interest-holders for several years to develop a vision for the site. The long-term vision for the block includes community-oriented spaces, public areas, connections to transit and Victoria Park, and new affordable and market rate housing. The Region is moving ahead with pre-construction environmental approvals and early planning work.
The Region is also declaring the Charles Street lands as surplus so the land can be available for new use.
Read the full report here and here
Council calls for improved accessibility in Ontario Building Code
Regional Council is calling for changes that would make buildings and public spaces more accessible. Council has asked the Province of Ontario to incorporate the Canadian Standards Association’s latest accessibility standards into the Provincial Building Code to improve the accessibility of new public spaces built in Ontario. Council is also calling for the provincial government to commit to achieving gold certification from the Rick Hansen Foundation’s accessibility program on all its newly constructed buildings.
Council requests addition to federal bill to combat hate
Regional Council is acting to support community safety and well-being by asking the Government of Canada to amend its Bill C-9 to include the noose as a prohibited hate symbol. The federal government’s Bill C-9 strengthens tools to address hate-motivated offences, including the public display of certain hate symbols. Regional Council is requesting the noose be added, as it is a widely recognized symbol of racial terror, violence, and intimidation.
Guidelines to ensure fair election campaigns
The Region is preparing for the upcoming 2026 municipal election by passing a new set of rules to guide Regional Councillors who are campaigning for office – whether seeking re-election to Regional Council, or another position. This is a routine policy that the Region of Waterloo passes for each election period, and is required by Ontario’s Municipal Elections Act. The Region of Waterloo policy prohibits candidates from using Regional facilities or communication resources to benefit their campaigns. It also confirms the appropriate conduct that Regional staff follow to avoid supporting any candidate. This protects fairness and ensures equal access to every political candidate. This year’s policy has been updated and enhanced from past versions.