● While originally planning to retire in 2026 at the end of the current term, York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson stepped down on Friday, Nov. 29.
- After serving in the role since 2014, Emmerson expressed pride in fostering collaboration between York Region Staff and regional council.
- Emphasizing the importance of succession planning, he stressed that effective leadership transitions are essential for maintaining momentum on key initiatives and addressing future challenges.
- He highlighted critical regional priorities and identified the province’s potential regional governance changes as a factor in his decision to retire early.
- Emmerson also stated that the next chair must proactively engage representatives at every level of government, particularly with election cycles approaching.
- This interview took place on Emmerson's final day in office and was consolidated for clarity and readability.
Over more than three decades of public service, Wayne Emmerson has not missed a council meeting. When asked about his accomplishments, he declined to take personal credit for any of the major projects completed during his 10 years leading York Region. Instead, Emmerson highlighted his success in fostering comradery and collaboration among regional staff and council.
“I was a very small part of it all, and I think my biggest accomplishment is making sure that staff and regional council are recognized for the great job they are doing and have done,” he said. “I’ve always been very supportive of staff. Council can set the policy, we can make the decisions, but staff carry out the work and ensure it gets done.”
During a farewell coffee event last Friday, staff expressed their appreciation for Emmerson’s leadership and openness. “They came down and thanked me for being the person I am and for always having their back. I think they liked how I’ve brought humour to what I do while still bringing the team together and helping to make sure we make the right decisions.”
“I’m patient, and I’ve always been a good listener to my fellow council colleagues,” he added. “I’ve received great advice from staff over the years, and when all of that comes together, we can do a lot.”
“Roads don’t get built in a couple of weeks. These things take a lot of planning, time, and work from many people,” Emmerson said. “We have more to do here in York Region, but I can’t get over what we’ve achieved together over the last decade.”
Emmerson highlighted priority projects that he views as essential to both managing regional growth and fulfilling commitments made to residents. These include commencing tunnelling for the TTC’s Yonge North subway extension to Richmond Hill, providing final connections throughout the YorkNet broadband network, and ensuring delivery of additional sewage servicing capacity to support future development in East Gwillimbury, Newmarket, and Aurora.
“The next chair and future councils will need to keep plugging away at all of this to see the progress we require,” he said, emphasizing the importance of securing additional project funding from the provincial and federal governments. He also stressed the need to continue expansion of York Region’s Viva bus rapid transit system, including the unfunded Highway 7 East and Jane Street corridors.
The Jane Street route would serve Vaughan’s Metropolitan Centre, which is projected to house over 30,000 people and provide more than 64,000 jobs by 2051.
“The people are coming. Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti tells me 50,000 people are coming to the east end of Markham, so both projects really need to get done sooner rather than later,” Emmerson said.
While noting he can’t speak for each agency, Emmerson suggested the Ontario government should assume transit operations across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. “I wish they would do more and just take over transit, because we need seamless trips from Durham all the way out to Waterloo and Niagara. Growth is coming, and we can’t keep building wider roads. Let’s make sure the transit is in place and get people out of their cars.”
Looking ahead, Emmerson sees significant changes and challenges on the horizon, particularly with the province’s proposed regional governance alterations in Peel Region, which he believes could soon extend to York Region.
In 2023, Ontario’s Bill 112, the Hazel McCallion Act, originally aimed to dissolve Peel Region entirely. However, ballooning tax implications prompted the Ford government to revise its approach, which they announced last December.
Bill 185, the Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, received Royal Assent in June. It amended Bill 112, abandoning the plan to dissolve Peel’s regional government. A transition board established to facilitate the planned dissolution saw its mandate shifted to focus on “reducing duplication and removing layers of bureaucracy from the administration of services.”
“They’re talking about downloading all regional roads to local municipalities, creating a new water and sewer utility, and potentially modifying waste management services,” Emmerson explained. “The province wants to make sure Peel is on the go first, but I don’t think similar changes to York Region are too far off.”
“That was a big part of my thinking when I decided to retire early,” he said. “I was planning to step down in 2026, but this way I can give the new chair two extra years to get ready.”
Emmerson also had to consider upcoming elections at every level of government through 2026.
“Whoever is elected next year, whoever is holding power at both the federal and provincial levels, the chair needs to be ready and in front of them. They also need to engage York Region municipalities and work with them leading up to and through their election year in 2026,” he said. “Then, in 2027, with new councils in place, they will already be up and running.”
Part of that work includes addressing homelessness and expanding affordable housing. “Those needs are always at the top of the list, but they are big challenges to tackle. We need to keep building homes and try to find some level of affordability for everyone.”
Ultimately, Emmerson views his decision to step down as a form of succession planning. “People tend to overlook how important that is. Whether it’s a mayor, council, CAO, or department commissioners, you need to ensure there’s someone ready to step up. I didn’t want any dead years; I want the work to continue, and I want a regional chair and CEO prepared for what’s ahead.”
“It’s time for me to move on. I’m retiring at the right time for me, my family, and York Region,” Emmerson concluded. “This is a good council. They unanimously passed a $4.7 billion budget and have set the table for 2025. Whoever becomes chair and joins council next will be well positioned to continue the good work already happening across the region.”
On Monday, Dec. 2, MPP Paul Calandra, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, announced that former York Regional Police chief and Peel Region transition board member Eric Jolliffe will be appointed to succeed Emmerson.
Newmarket Mayor John Taylor will serve as interim chair until the appointment process is finalized and Jolliffe is sworn in, which is expected in early January.
Randy Barba is a federally funded Local Journalism Initiative reporter at Bullet Point News Stouffville
