Wayne Emmerson returns for third term as York Region Chairman and CEO
Newmarket – At the inaugural meeting of the 2022 to 2026 term of York Regional Council, Wayne Emmerson was re-elected to a third term as Chairman and CEO for The Regional Municipality of York.
In an election that included City of Markham Regional Councillor Joe Li, Members of Council returned Chairman Emmerson for a third term, citing the need for strong leadership and collaboration over the next four years.
Chairman Emmerson’s nomination was brought forward by Township of King Mayor Steve Pellegrini and seconded by Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt. The affirming motion supporting Chairman Emmerson taking office was unanimously approved by Council.
“It is an honour to once again be entrusted with the responsibility of leading York Regional Council,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson. “I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made over the past eight years, and I remain committed to working with each and every member of Regional Council to continue building a strong, caring, safe York Region for today’s residents and future generations.”
Chairman Emmerson has served as York Region Chairman and CEO since 2014. Highlights of the 2018 to 2022 term of York Regional Council include:
- The COVID-19 pandemic response to support the health and well-being of residents, the community and local economy
- Approval of the Yonge North Subway Extension, a top transportation project
- Approval of the 2022 Development Charges Bylaw to help fund infrastructure needed to service planned growth
- Support for the York University Markham Centre Campus, which will bring 4,200 new student spaces to York Region in the 2023/2024 academic year
- Expansion of the YorkNet dark fibre network to bring reliable internet to more residents and businesses
- Updated Regional Official Plan, which helps coordinate infrastructure delivery to meet the demands of a growing population
- A commitment to address housing affordability challenges through public and private partnerships
“Excellent progress was made during the last term of Council, in part due to Council’s deep commitment to working together to support our communities,” added Chairman Emmerson. “Issues like affordable housing, broadband connectivity, economic development, transportation and growth continue to be top priorities for our residents. We will continue to work towards these critical issues, thanks to strong collaboration with Regional Council, our staff and with other levels of government to address the post-pandemic recovery of our communities, global economic inflation and other important areas of focus.”
Chairman Emmerson’s full biography and a copy of his inaugural address are available at york.ca/RegionalChair
Members of York Regional Council are elected in a double direct election, meaning elected representatives serve on two councils. In York Region, representatives elected as Mayor or Regional Councillor earn a seat on both their local municipal council and Regional Council for a four-year term.
With 22 members, York Regional Council sets policies, direction and budgets for The Regional Municipality of York. Council meets through Committee of the Whole, where members consider public input, review policies and consider staff reports before making recommendations to Regional Council for approval.
The next meeting of York Regional Council is Thursday, December 8, 2022, at 9 a.m. The meeting will be streamed on york.ca/live
The Regional Municipality of York consists of nine local cities and towns and provides a variety of programs and services to more than 1.2 million residents and 54,000 businesses with over 650,000 employees. More information about the Region’s key service areas is available at york.ca/regionalservices
Media Contact
Corporate Communications, The Regional Municipality of York
Phone: 1-877-464-9675, ext. 71234 @email
