York Region is launching new safety plan engagement sessions. Critics say past consultations felt performative and lacked real impact
York Region is launching new safety plan engagement sessions. Critics say past consultations felt performative and lacked real impact. its Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan — a long-term strategy focused on improving safety through collaborative, community-driven solutions. Through initiatives such as the Resident Engagement Network and Community Action Tables, the Region says these sessions will bring residents together to share lived experiences and help shape priorities around issues like mental well-being, housing stability, and economic opportunity. Officials describe the forums as part of an ongoing consultation process meant to guide programs, services, and resource allocation.
However, some residents remain skeptical. In past years, similar public input sessions have drawn criticism for not being truly interactive. Attendees have complained that meetings were often not held in real time, were organized and moderated by third-party public relations firms, and functioned more as structured presentations than open dialogue. Critics argue the process felt like a “check-box exercise” — designed to demonstrate consultation had occurred, without clear evidence that community feedback meaningfully influenced final decisions.
With the Region once again seeking resident participation, community members say the success of the new sessions will depend on transparency, direct exchange, and demonstrable policy change that reflects what residents actually say at the table.