York Regional Council

York Regional Council is the political body for the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario, Canada. Created in 1970, it consists of 21 elected representatives plus the Regional Chair. The elected members are the mayors of each of its nine municipalities (Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King, Newmarket, Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and Whitchurch-Stouffville), as well as an additional eleven Regional Councillors from the more populous municipalities—four from Markham, three from Vaughan, two from Richmond Hill and one each from Georgina and Newmarket. These members are elected via double direct election.

The Regional Chair is elected at large by the members of Regional Council at their inaugural meeting and serves a four-year term. The first Regional Chair, Garfield Wright, was appointed by the provincial government upon the creation of York Region and served for two terms (1971-1978). The current Regional Chair is Wayne Emmerson

Regional Council usually meets on the third Thursday of each month at 9:30am at the York Region Administrative Centre offices in Newmarket.

2022-2026 Regional Council
Elected in the 2022 York Region municipal elections.

The chairman and CEO for this term is Wayne Emmerson.

2018-2022 Regional Council
The chairman and CEO for this term is Wayne Emmerson.

2014-2018 Regional Council
The chairman and CEO of York Regional Council is Wayne Emmerson, who was elected by a majority of York Region Councillors on December 11, 2014.

2010-2014 Regional Council
The chairman and CEO of York Regional Council was Bill Fisch.

Regional Committees
There is no executive committee, instead ideas are brought forward in Regional Committees and voted upon by the council.


 * Accessibility Advisory Committee
 * Audit Committee
 * Community Services and Housing Committee
 * Environmental Services Committee
 * Finance and Administration Committee
 * Planning and Economic Development Committee
 * Transportation Services Committee

Boards, Subcommittees and Task Forces

 * Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)
 * Character Community Foundation of York Region
 * Don Watershed Regeneration Council
 * Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA)
 * Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance
 * GTA Agricultural Action Committee
 * Housing York Inc
 * Human Services Planning Board
 * Humber Watershed Alliance
 * Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
 * Markham Stouffville Hospital
 * Rouge Park Alliance Executive
 * Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
 * Southlake Regional Health Centre
 * Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
 * York Region Abuse Program
 * York Region Community Partnership Council
 * York Region Rapid Transit Corporation
 * York Regional Police Services Board

Services
Services under the region's scope include:


 * Children Services
 * Community Planning
 * Construction
 * Corporate Services
 * Economic Strategy and Tourism
 * Emergency Medical Services - York Region EMS - downloaded from the Province of Ontario
 * Environmental
 * Financial Department
 * Forestry
 * Housing
 * Infrastructure Planning Branch
 * Legal Services
 * Long Term Care and Seniors
 * Public Health and Safety
 * Real Estate
 * Planning Services
 * Regional Property Taxes
 * York Region Tourism
 * Transportation Services - regional roads only
 * Sewers
 * Employment and Financial Support
 * Transit - York Region Transit and VIVA
 * Water - water source via Toronto Water
 * Waste management (garbage, recycling, hazardous waste; excludes curbside collection)
 * Policing - York Regional Police

Regional Chairs
The Regional Chair is the CEO of the Region and serves, ex officio, on all Committees. The position replaced the former Warden of York County (1850-1970) and is selected by the other members of Regional Council.

York Region Administrative Centre
York Regional Council main operations are located at 17250 Yonge Street in Newmarket. The four-floor complex was designed by Canadian architect Douglas Cardinal and opened in 1992. It features an organic building shape with various towers located at the end. The main entrance features two clock towers.

Before 1992, Council sat at 50 Eagle Street, which is now home of the Newmarket Courthouse. The administration offices were located at 62 Bayview Parkway, which was built from 1954 to 1957 for York County and used by the region from 1971 to 1994. The old regional offices are being demolished in 2022.

A new 8 storey glass annex by WZMH Architects has been built to consolidate several rented facilities and also to house the Newmarket Courthouse.