WR RELEASES BUDGET FOR 2026

In November, the Region of Waterloo released its 2026 preliminary budget plan, which includes major allocations for local initiatives such as the Ending Veteran Homelessness Initiative and a tree-planting project by the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB).  

The budget lists federal grants among its revenue sources—a sign that recent funding from Ottawa may help support key projects in the region.  

The 2026 budget draft proposes a 4.94 per cent increase in the regional tax levy, which would add around $96 per year to the average homeowner’s bill.  

Meanwhile, the City of Kitchener’s draft budget includes a 2.2 per cent property tax increase, plus utility rate hikes, bringing the total estimated impact for the average household to $117. These increases reflect rising operational costs across housing and homelessness services, transit, infrastructure maintenance and other essential programs.  

In 2025, the region spent $165.2 million on social housing and homelessness initiatives. Across 2024, total spending on affordable housing and homelessness programs reached $245 million, with roughly 23 per cent specifically dedicated to shelters and supportive housing. Without federal and provincial transfers, the Region of Waterloo warns that maintaining current service levels could require even higher taxes or cuts to critical programs.  

“Federal and municipal programs play a critical role in supporting housing and food security locally,” Ke Cao, assistant professor of Strategic Management at Wilfrid Laurier University, said. 

Cao also believes that only the governments can address the crisis we are facing.  

“I teach in business school, and I told my students that the role of government is very important because it handles the business of the whole society,” he said.  

The federal funding announced this year helps relieve some of this financial pressure. The contributions support the Ending Veteran Homelessness Initiative, addressing the gap in local housing services by providing support for veterans, along with other homelessness-response programs.   

This funding helps sustain shelters, outreach teams, and supportive housing while reducing strain on municipal budgets. Additional funds support long-term initiatives such as environmental and infrastructure projects, including the WRDSB’s tree-planting program, which contributes to urban canopy growth and climate resilience.  

According to the preliminary budget, the region plans to increase their spending in 2026 by $11.7 million for housing services and $2.7 million for homelessness-related programs. These increases reflect rising costs for housing and homelessness services, transit, infrastructure and other essential programs. Municipal leaders also welcomed federal contributions, noting that without them, residents would face significantly higher tax burdens and essential services could be reduced.  

“We’re happy to see the $6 billion over 10 years through the Direct Delivery Stream to support regionally significant projects,” Dorothy McCabe, mayor of Waterloo, said.  

In a 2024 public statement, McCabe warned that Waterloo is under structural financial pressure and stressed the need for stable, predictable funding instead of one-time grants to support long-term municipal priorities.   

Advocates, including the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, repeatedly called on Ottawa to expand multi-year funding streams to help municipalities meet growing demands without overburdening residents.  

Federal support combined with municipal budgeting decisions will determine whether services keep pace with community needs or whether tax increases and service pressures continue to rise.   

Although the latest funding provides relief to the Waterloo region community, regional leaders explained that ongoing collaboration between federal, provincial and municipal governments will be essential to sustain programs, stabilize communities and advance long-term priorities such as housing affordability and environmental resilience.  

The Waterloo Region’s annual budget process began on Oct. 22, and regional council plans to review the final 2026 budget on Dec. 16. For more information regarding the preliminary 2026 budgets, visit the Region of Waterloo’s Budget and Financial Statements page. 

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ONTARIO PASSES BILL 33, GRANTS MORE POWERS TO GOVERNMENT

Ontario legislature passed the Bill 33, known as the Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025 on Nov.19, bringing in major changes to how school boards, children’s aid societies, and post-secondary institutions are governed  

The newly passed controversial bill is a piece of legislation that introduces significant changes to the oversight of school boards and post-secondary institutions in Ontario, giving the Minister of Education expanded powers to intervene in local decision-making.   

Under this bill, Paul Calandra, Ontario’s minister of education, can take over school boards, mandate collaboration with local police to implement school resource officer programs where available and even remove school board trustees.  

The government framed it as a necessary intervention to put school boards back on track, strengthen school safety and allow students to succeed. Calandra took over five school boards using earlier versions of these powers, citing financial mismanagement. He has now signalled that more boards are in his sights under Bill 33.  

While the government has framed the bill as necessary for accountability, critics in the post-secondary sector say it increases provincial control without addressing core funding issues.   

“Bill 33 hands the Minister more levers to pull and hands universities more paperwork for their already overworked staff,” Bruce Gillespie, president of Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association (WLUFA), said.   

“It does not fix the basic problem, which is that Ontario’s universities are being asked to do more and more with less and less public funding,” he said.

Gillespie also raised concerns about the impact on post-secondary institutions. Bill 33 adds compliance requirements and administrative workload for universities without increasing provincial operating funding.   

He warned that these new obligations could destabilize student-funded services, such as mental health support, transit and campus media, which directly affect students’ well-being and faculty’s ability to deliver quality education.  

Equity-based admissions initiatives are also at risk.  

“Equity-based admissions do not lower standards. They recognize that grades are produced inside unequal systems,” Gillespie said.   

“Bill 33 gives the government new tools to second-guess those efforts from Queen’s Park, which is exactly the opposite of what we need if we want campuses to reflect the diversity of Ontario,” he said.  

Gillespie warns that preserving the authority of university Senates is critical under the new legislation. Senates play a key role in maintaining academic standards and research independence, and Gillespie argues that provincial intervention in admissions and research priorities could undermine academic freedom.  

This bill not only impacts post-secondary institutions, but also influences primary and secondary school boards, such as the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB).  

“With the passing of Bill 33, the WRDSB will continue to follow the direction and guidance of the Ministry of Education and comply with all provincial legislation,” Scott Miller, director of education at the WRDSB, said.   

“Our commitment to supporting student achievement and the well-being of all students remains the highest priority. We will continue to work closely and collaboratively with students, staff, parents, families, caregivers, and community partners to ensure that all decisions and actions reflect the needs and values of those in WRDSB schools and workplaces,” Miller said.  

He also said more information about Bill 33 and its changes to the school board will be made available on the WRDSB website.  

The government portrays Bill 33 as a measure to improve oversight and student success. Faculty, staff and student representatives across Ontario argue that the legislation prioritizes increased provincial control over the funding crisis, campus services and local governance, leaving many in the education community concerned about its long-term impact.  

This article was cross-published with The Cord.

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WRDSB SOLICITING COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

The Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) accepted community feedback until Oct. 24 as part of its ongoing policy review process, aimed at ensuring its policies reflect community needs, align with legislation and support student well-being.  

The WRDSB seeks community input on policies they are currently reviewing. Individuals interested in providing input, such as parents, teachers, students or concerned citizens, can provide feedback on specific policies through a form on the WRDSB website. Their input is considered by staff, the Board of Trustees and the Policy & Governance Standing Committee (PGSC).  

“The staff, students, parents, caregivers, families, and community members are encouraged to share their feedback on policies currently under review,” Estefania Brandenstein, the Communications Officer at WRDSB, said. “This ensures our policies remain responsive to community needs, aligned with legislation and reflective of our Strategic Plan.”  

The School Board sought public input on the following policies: G500 Director of Education Executive Limitations/Requirements, P1017 – Human Rights Policy, P2009 Board Advocacy, P3005 Expressions of Sympathy, P3008 Use of Board Resources During the Election Campaign, P4006 Parking on School Board Property, P4020 Naming and Renaming of Board Facilities and P6006 Adult and Continuing Education.  

Input from parents and staff previously helped update the Human Rights Policy to better reflect students’ needs and ensure inclusive practices.  

Policy revisions must be approved by the Board of Trustees and align with the WRDSB Strategic Plan and current legislation.  

“Information gathered using this process helps inform and guide updates that strengthen our commitment to student achievement and well-being, enhance communications across the system and ensure our policies reflect the evolving needs of our schools and communities,” Scott Miller, director of education at the WRDSB, said.  

After receiving community feedback, WRDSB staff review and revise the policies on the checklist. They will then share drafts with the committees for consultation, review the policy for additional input and send the drafts to the Leadership Council for final evaluation. The PGSC presents the draft policy at a Board meeting for approval before announcing the finalized policies on the WRDSB website.  

Miller added that engaging the community is not a one-time event but an ongoing commitment.  

“We continue to involve staff, students, parents and community members in policy consultations to ensure that our policies promote learning, inclusion and success for every student,” he said.  

Parents and community members said the process provides a meaningful opportunity to contribute.  

The WRDSB encourages all interested community members to remain engaged and watch for future consultation opportunities. The process demonstrates the board’s dedication to transparency, accountability and policies that support both student achievement and equitable access to education in Waterloo Region.  

Through ongoing consultation and feedback, the WRDSB continues to strengthen policies that promote equitable access to education and foster safe, supportive learning environments for all students. 

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ONTARIO GOVERNMENT INTRODUCES BILL 33, CONCERNS RAISED

On May 29, the Ontario government introduced Bill 33 to legislation. 

The Bill offers more power to the premier’s office over school boards while tightening oversight of children’s aid societies, colleges and universities.  

The Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025, Bill 33, would amend four major laws—including the Education Act and the Child, Youth and Family Services Act.  

First, Bill 33 introduces new administrative and fiscal oversight measures for children’s aid societies, such as providing information about the Ombudsman to children and youth, reviewing by-laws and making them available to the public, obtaining ministerial approval for financial decisions that impact approved budgets, and expanding the definition of “institution” to include maternity homes.  

It also makes changes to the residing Education Act, where there will be more ministerial oversight and new cooperation requirements for Ontario school boards, with requirements such as: submitting to increased ministerial authority, where the education minister has more supremacy to investigate school boards, issue binding directives to the public and establish guidelines on board expenses.   

Other requirements include obtaining ministerial approval for the name of a new school or changing the name of an existing school, collaborating with police services on school programming, and implementing internal audits conducted by the ministry to enhance financial accountability.  

Scott Miller, director of education for the Waterloo Region District School Board, said the board will continue to work with local police and the community if the legislation passes.  

“The Waterloo Region District School Board [WRDSB] prioritizes safe, inclusive and welcoming learning environments for all students,” Miller said. “As a school board, we work closely with the Waterloo Regional Police Service [WRPS] to support the safety and well-being of WRDSB school communities. Bill 33 is still under review but if the bill is passed, we will continue to engage thoughtfully with our community partners, staff, students, parents and families to ensure decisions reflect the needs and values of WRDSB school communities.”  

Beyond K-12 schools, the bill also targets Ontario’s colleges and universities.  

The Bill amends the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities Act, focusing on admissions practices, research security and fee regulations. They plan to implement publicly accessible, merit-based admission standards, with details to be defined through regulation, develop and implement research security plans to safeguard and mitigate the risk of harm to or interference with research activities, and comply with government regulations regarding ancillary student fees, which may restrict fee structures and affect funding for student services.  

The Ministry of Colleges and Universities also received a new name: the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. This change, along with the new requirements for colleges and universities to develop and implement research security plans, reflects heightened governmental focus on research security.  

“At this point, the university, along with our Ontario post-secondary education peers, is closely monitoring the legislative discussion of the proposed Bill 33 and its potential impacts on universities,” Aonghus Kealy, Communications and Media Relations Officer at Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) said.   

Bruce Gillespie, President of the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association (WLUFA), emphasized that there are more risks involved in this bill than benefits.  

“It centralizes control over admissions, enables ministerial directives for research security, and broadens authority over student fees,” Gillespie said. “Universities already publish admission standards and safeguard research; layering new directives and fee controls adds red tape and cost without fixing chronic underfunding.”  

He added that the bill will burden staff and students at post-secondary institutions such as WLU.  

“It increases compliance workload and puts student-funded services at risk, while the real issue-operating funding—goes unaddressed,” Gillespie said.  

He also explains that if provincial rules destabilize student-funded services (from peer supports to transit and campus media), the unmet need doesn’t disappear; it shows up in classrooms and office hours. Faculty across ranks, and especially contract faculty, will end up doing more informal advising, crisis triage and support with fewer resources.  

Gillespie said he opposed the bill, arguing it undermines the autonomy of admissions and fees, risks weakening equity initiatives, and expands oversight that bypasses normal scrutiny, without improving teaching, research, or student supports. He hopes that Bill 33 will either remove or substantially amend the bill to protect equity-based admissions in statute, avoid fee controls that destabilize student services, and provide transparent, consultative research-security guidance.  

“On governance, the province should explicitly preserve Senate authority over academic matters and commit to meaningful consultation with students, not just anonymous surveys,” Gillespie said.  

As Bill 33 moves through legislative debate, its impact on Ontario’s education and child welfare systems remains a central concern for educators, administrators and policymakers alike. 

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