Former mayors Geoff Dawe and Tim Jones have issued a rare joint statement urging the Town of Aurora, Ontario, to restart negotiations with York Region over emergency and transitional housing. The former leaders called for the town to invite regional partners back to the table on January 28, 2026, to address a growing need for local shelter beds.
The push for cooperation follows Mayor Tom Mrakas’s use of Strong Mayor powers in early 2025 (Mayoral Decision #2025-006) to veto a council motion that would have allowed a proposed men’s transitional shelter at 14452 Yonge Street. While the mayor has said the site was not a good fit for the neighbourhood, the Ontario Human Rights Commission warned in a March 14, 2025 letter that rejecting the project may be discriminatory under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Because of the local deadlock, York Region has signalled it may redirect millions in capital funding—reported in dossier materials as $15M+—to other municipalities such as Newmarket. Former mayor Geoff Dawe says the town cannot afford to work alone because the regional government holds the budget and expertise needed to fund and operate these facilities.
The former mayors are suggesting the town create a new Housing Task Force to find a compromise and identify a better location for a housing centre that meets regional siting criteria. They argue that repairing the relationship with the Region is the only way to ensure Aurora residents who are struggling with homelessness can find help within their own community.
