Regular Council Minutes

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Council Chambers
Whitby Town Hall
Present:
  • Mayor Roy
  • Councillor Bozinovski
  • Councillor Cardwell (Virtual Attendance at 4:30 p.m., In-Person Attendance at 5:02 p.m.)
  • Councillor Leahy
  • Councillor Lee
  • Councillor Lundquist
  • Councillor Mulcahy
  • Councillor Shahid
  • Councillor Yamada
Also Present:
  • M. Gaskell, Chief Administrative Officer
  • G. Green, Deputy Fire Chief
  • S. Klein, Director of Strategic Initiatives
  • J. Long, Head of Organizational Effectiveness
  • C. Bridgeman, Director of Facilities
  • F. Santaguida, Commissioner of Legal and Enforcement Services/Town Solicitor
  • R. Saunders, Commissioner of Planning and Development
  • F. Wong, Commissioner of Financial Services/Treasurer
  • M. Dodge, Executive Advisor to the Mayor
  • C. Harris, Town Clerk
  • K. Narraway, Sr. Manager of Legislative Services/Deputy Clerk (Recording Secretary)

1.
Call To Order: The Mayor

 

2.
Call of the Roll: The Clerk

 

3.
Declarations of Conflict of Interest

 

There were no declarations of conflict of interest.

4.
Adoption of Minutes

 

Regular Council - June 24, 2024


Special Council - August 12, 2024


Special Council - September 16, 2024 (Confidential Minutes Under Separate Cover)


Special Council - September 23, 2024 (Confidential Minutes Under Separate Cover)

  • Resolution #172-24
    Moved byCouncillor Cardwell
    Seconded byCouncillor Yamada

    That the Regular Council Minutes of June 24, 2024 and the Special Council Minutes of August 12, September 16, and September 23, 2024 be approved.

    Carried

5.
Presentations

 

5.1
Cynthia Davis, President and CEO, Lakeridge Health

 

Re: Lakeridge Health Community Update 

Cynthia Davis, President and CEO, and Christopher Squire, Chief Financial Officer, Lakeridge Health provided a presentation regarding a community update about Lakeridge Health. Highlights of the presentation included:

  • Lakeridge Health's 2024 and 2025 annual priorities, including improving access and experience, zeroing in on safety, supporting their people, and healthy finances; 
  • details about the Queen's-Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program including the number of family physicians in training in the program and the expected growth of the program over time; 
  • recent investments in technology at various healthcare facilities in the Region, including securing Durham Region's first PET CT scanner; 
  • information about recently constructed healthcare facilities in the Region, and planned future facilities, including a new hospital for Durham Region located in Whitby; 
  • Lakeridge Health's commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and anti-racism and details about their multi-year action plan; 
  • information about the Central Connect model, a centralized referral model that makes it easier to access mental health and addictions services in Durham Region; and, 
  • a future vision for a coordinated system of mental health and addictions care, including the creation of an urgent care centre, emergency department, and after-care team focused on addressing mental health and addictions challenges in the Region. 

A question and answer period ensued between Members of Council, Cynthia Davis, and Christopher Squire regarding:

  • how Durham Region can help attract medical professionals from other countries; 
  • how the Queen's-Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program will help to retain medical professionals in Durham Region who have completed their training through the program while spending time in the Region; and, 
  • how Lakeridge Health is addressing urgent care wait times, where members of the public can find information about wait times, and how Lakeridge Health wait times compare to provincial averages.

6.
Delegations

 

6.1
Gary Dunsmuir, Resident (In-Person Attendance)

 

Re: Correspondence # 2024-571 received from Mayor Roy, dated September 20, 2024, regarding the Appointment of Deputy Mayor for 2024


Refer to Item 7.2

Gary Dunsmuir, Resident, appeared before Council and indicated that he had concerns about the prospect of Councillor Lundquist being appointed Deputy Mayor, noting a potential for a poor culture being established for Council.

6.2
Windhy Susanto, Resident (In-Person Attendance)

 

Re: Correspondence # 2024-571 received from Mayor Roy, dated September 20, 2024, regarding the Appointment of Deputy Mayor for 2024


Refer to Item 7.2

Windhy Susanto, Resident, appeared before Council and expressed concerns about Members of Council changing their positions on various issues throughout the term of Council. He indicated that Council needs to work together more efficiently, rather than debating the process to appoint a Deputy Mayor. 

6.3
Deborah Schroeder, Resident (In-Person Attendance)

 

Re: Correspondence # 2024-571 received from Mayor Roy, dated September 20, 2024, regarding the Appointment of Deputy Mayor for 2024


Refer to Item 7.2

Deborah Schroeder, Resident, appeared before Council and highlighted the previous process for the appointment of a Deputy Mayor, noting that she felt it was fair and balanced. She noted a concern about a lack of respect being shown to some members of the public from certain Members of Council and indicated that the new policy for the appointment of a Deputy Mayor allows for favouritism.

6.4
Denise Boudreau, Resident (Virtual Attendance)

 

Re: Correspondence # 2024-571 received from Mayor Roy, dated September 20, 2024, regarding the Appointment of Deputy Mayor for 2024


Refer to Item 7.2

Denise Boudreau, Resident, appeared for Council and expressed concern about the Mayor selecting the Deputy Mayor. She indicated that the selection of the Deputy Mayor was now a political consideration rather than contemplating the best interests of the community. She advised that the Mayor and Council may face scrutiny about the appointment of a Deputy Mayor, indicating that Councillor Lundquist has previously stated that she's not interested in the position.

7.
Correspondence

 

7.1
Correspondence

 

That the following request be endorsed:

  • World Homeless Day - Flag Raising - October 10, 2024
  • World Polio Day - Flag Raising - October 21 to 24, 2024
  • World Polio Day - October 24, 2024
  • Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day - October 24, 2024
  • Resolution #173-24
    Moved byCouncillor Bozinovski
    Seconded byCouncillor Leahy

    That the proclamations for Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day and World Polio Day and the flag raisings for World Homeless Day and World Polio Day be endorsed.

    Carried

7.2
Correspondence # 2024-571 received from Mayor Roy, dated September 20, 2024, regarding the Appointment of Deputy Mayor for 2024

 

  • Councillor Cardwell indicated that Councillor Lundquist was a strong candidate for the position of Deputy Mayor, having served as Chair of General Government throughout 2024, noting that she has a strong grasp of meeting decorum. 

    Councillor Leahy indicated that he would like to suspend the Rules of Procedure to introduce a motion to remove additional remuneration for the position of Deputy Mayor, being an increased car allowance. He then read a statement about Councillor Yamada's experience as Deputy Mayor in 2024, alleging that Councillor Yamada had experienced a number of microaggressions from Members of Council while serving as Deputy Mayor due to his ethnic background.

    At this point in the meeting, Mayor Roy requested that Councillor Leahy apologize to Council for his remarks or leave the Council Chambers for the duration of the meeting. Councillor Leahy indicated that he would not apologize or leave the Council Chambers.

    It was the consensus of Council to take a brief recess at this time.

    Council recessed at 5:15 p.m. and reconvened at 5:29 p.m.

    Following the recess, Mayor Roy reiterated her request to Councillor Leahy that he either apologize to Council for his remarks or leave the Council Chambers for the duration of the meeting. Councillor Leahy indicated that he would not apologize or leave the Council Chambers. Mayor Roy then requested a motion to adjourn the meeting.

    Moved byCouncillor Cardwell
    Seconded byMayor Roy
    1. That Council receive Correspondence #2024-571 from Mayor Roy, dated September 20, 2024, regarding the Appointment of a Deputy Mayor for 2024 for information; and,
    2. That Council confirm the appointment of Councillor Lundquist as Deputy Mayor through December 31, 2024.

    Note: Further consideration of this item, including consideration of the recommendation did not occur as the meeting adjourned during this portion of the meeting. This item will be deferred to a future meeting.


  • Moved byCouncillor Mulcahy
    Seconded byCouncillor Shahid

    That the meeting adjourn.

    VotersForAgainstConflict
    Mayor RoyX
    Councillor BozinovskiX
    Councillor CardwellX
    Councillor LeahyX
    Councillor LeeX
    Councillor LundquistX
    Councillor MulcahyX
    Councillor ShahidX
    Councillor YamadaX
    Results630
    Carried on a Recorded Vote (6 to 3)

    The meeting adjourned at 5:31 p.m.

    Note: Consideration of the remaining items on the October 7, 2024 Council Agenda did not occur as the meeting adjourned during consideration of Item 7.2 on the meeting agenda. All remaining items will be deferred to a future meeting. 


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