Minutes

Committee of the Whole

Thursday, February 26, 2026, Following Council

Council Chambers - Grey County Administration Building

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Call to Order

Grey County Council met on the above date at the County Administration Building. Warden Matrosovs assumed the Chair and called the meeting to order at 10:14 a.m. with all members present with the exception of Councillor McQueen. Alternate Councillor Allwood participated in place of Councillor McQueen. Councillor Dickert and Councillor Pringle participated electronically.

Declaration of Interest

Councillor Carleton declared a declaration of interest on item 6f: CCR-CW-05-26 Vacancy - Agricultural Advisory Committee Appointment.

Business Arising from Minutes

There was no business arising from the minutes. 

Delegations

Bruce Power - Site Activities and Ongoing Initiatives

James Scongack, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice-President for Bruce Power, took a moment to thank Grey County municipalities and staff for their ongoing partnership with Bruce Power.

Mr. Scongack recognized the refurbishment program being at its halfway mark. He noted that the program will be fully finished in 2033 which will have all eight units on the site operational through to the 2060's to 2070's. The province relies heavily on Bruce Power to generate electricity, so the sequencing of the refurbishment of each site is important.

Bruce Power is continuing to expand their isotope program. He noted that Bruce Power recently completed the cobalt harvest on Unit 8 which will provide enough cobalt to sterilize over 3 billion pieces of personal protective equipment around the world. He further shared that Bruce Power recently did another harvest for cobalt for treatment of brain tumours and breast cancer.

He noted that Bruce Power will be meeting with a number of Ministers from the Ontario government and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation on Friday to discuss continued partnership.

Lastly, he noted the Canadian at Our Core Campaign where Bruce Power has committed to 95% of their spending to stay in Canada.

Councillor Boddy left the meeting at 10:41 a.m. and returned at 10:44 a.m.

Determination of Items Requiring Separate Discussion

Councillor Carleton requested that item 6f regarding CCR-CW-05-26 Vacancy - Agricultural Advisory Committee Appointment on the consent agenda for this meeting be pulled for further discussion due to a declaration of interest.

Consent Agenda

• CW28-26
  Moved by: Councillor Hutchinson
  Seconded by: Councillor Dobreen

  That the following Consent Agenda items be received; and

  That staff be authorized to take the actions necessary to give effect to the recommendations in the staff reports; and

  That the correspondence be supported or received for information as recommended in the consent agenda. 

  Carried

TR-CW-07-26 Award of Tender RFT-TS-14-26 - Grey Road 14 Rehabilitation

• That report TR-CW-07-26 containing the tender results for RFT-TS-14-26 regarding the Grey Road 14 Rehabilitation project be received; and

  That Cox Construction Limited be awarded the tender for a total amount of $1,588,919.18, excluding HST.

FR-CW-04-26 Ontario Regulation 284 09 - 2026 Budget

• That report regarding Ontario Regulation 284/09 – 2026 Budget be received for information.

EDTC-CW-05-26 Unbudgeted Capital Projects

• That report EDTC-CW-05-26 regarding Unbudgeted Capital Projects – 2026 EDTC Department be received;

  That the Grey Roots Caulking of Exterior Control Joints and Windows project at a cost of $36,600 be approved and funded from the Grey Roots Main Building Improvements Reserve; and

  That the Grey Roots Road Sign project increase of $10,500 be approved and funded from the Grey Roots Main Building Improvements Reserve; and

  That the replacement of Boilers and Hot Water Tank at Sydenham Campus at a cost of $85,000 be approved and funded from the Sydenham Campus Reserve.

PDR-CW-08-26 County Official Plan Amendment 29, Pulford Merit Report

• That report PDR-CW-08-26 regarding an overview of County Official Plan Amendment 29 (‘Pulford’) on lands described as Plan 813, Block 68, geographic Township of Glenelg, now in the Municipality of West Grey, which would have the effect of redesignating a portion of the subject lands from ‘Rural’ to ‘Rural with Exceptions’ to permit additional Rural lot creation, be received for information.

CCR-CW-04-26 Grey County Closed Meeting Investigator

• That Report CCR-CW-04-26 regarding Grey County’s Closed Meeting Investigator be received; and

  That Grey County terminate its agreement with LAS for closed meeting investigator services effective immediately due to the program ending in 2026; and

  That a by-law be brought forward for County Council’s consideration to appoint Principles Integrity as the closed meeting investigator for Grey County.

Items For Direction and Discussion

PDR-CW-07-26 County Development Charges Update

Councillor Milne left the meeting at 10:44 a.m. and returned at 10:46 a.m.

• CW29-26
  Moved by: Councillor Keaveney
  Seconded by: Councillor Carleton

  That report PDR-CW-07-26 regarding a Development Charges Update be received;

  That staff be directed to continue work on updating the County’s Development Charges Background Study and By-laws, in order to have a new Background Study and By-laws for Council’s consideration in 2027; and

  That staff be directed to prepare by-laws for Council’s consideration to extend the length of the current County Development Charges By-laws 5127-22 and 5128-22.

  Carried

PDR-CW-06-26 Growth Management Strategy Update - Final Report (with Hemson Consulting)

Liz Buckton, Senior Policy Planner, noted updates to the report affecting only the Employment Growth forecasts for the local municipalities and Grey County overall. The overall County impact is very minor, within 20 jobs, but this does shift the relative allocations for each of the local municipalities.

• CW30-26
  Moved by: Councillor McKay
  Seconded by: Councillor Bordignon

  That report PDR-CW-06-26 regarding final report on the County’s Growth Management Strategy Update, be received; and

  That Council directs staff to incorporate the 2026 Growth Management Strategy forecasts into the Grey County official plan via the County’s official plan review, scheduled to commence in 2027.

  Carried

Community Services meeting minutes dated February 5, 2026

Committee of the Whole took a brief recess from 11:12 a.m. to 11:22 a.m.

Councillor Eccles returned to the meeting at 11:23 a.m.

• CW31-26
  Moved by: Councillor Dobreen
  Seconded by: Councillor Dickert

  That the Community Services meeting minutes dated February 5, 2026, be adopted as presented and the following resolutions contained therein be endorsed:

  1. That Councillor Nielsen be elected as Chair of the Community Services Committee for 2026; and
  2. That Councillor Dickert be elected as Vice Chair of the Community Services Committee for 2026; and

  3. That report CSR-CS-05-26 regarding the updated Housing and Homelessness Plan be received for information; and

  4. That report CSR-CS-08-26 regarding Short Term Housing and Homelessness Update February 2026 be received for information; and

  5. That report CSR-CS-06-26 regarding an update on the Rowe's Lane redevelopment be received for information; and

  6. That the correspondence received from the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association regarding their submission for the Ontario's Consultation on the Poverty Reduction Strategy be received for information.

  Carried

Planning and Economic Development Advisory Committee meeting minutes dated February 19, 2026

• CW32-26
  Moved by: Councillor Carleton
  Seconded by: Councillor McKay

  That the Planning and Economic Development Advisory Committee meeting minutes dated February 19, 2026, be adopted as presented and the following resolutions contained therein be endorsed:

  1. That Councillor Keaveney be elected as Chair of the Planning and Economic Development Advisory Committee for 2026; and
  2. That Councillor Hutchinson be elected as Vice-Chair of the Planning and Economic Development Advisory Committee for 2026; and
  3. That report CAOR-PEDAC-05-26 regarding an update on the Green Development Program be received for information; and

  4. That report EDTC-PEDAC-03-26 regarding the 2025 Economic Development, Tourism and Culture (EDTC) Annual Report be received; and

  5. That the 2025 EDTC Annual Report be distributed to County Council and Member Municipalities for information; and

  6. That report EDTC-PEDAC-04-26 regarding 2026 Economic Development, Tourism and Culture Priorities be received for information.

  Carried

CCR-CW-05-26 Vacancy - Agricultural Advisory Committee Appointment

Councillor Carleton left the meeting at 11:36 a.m. due to her declaration of interest.

Councillor Carleton returned to the meeting at 11:37 a.m. once the item was carried.

• CW33-26
  Moved by: Councillor Keaveney
  Seconded by: Councillor Milne

  That Report CCR-CW-05-26 regarding an appointment to the Grey County Agricultural Advisory Committee be received; and

  That Emily McKague of Grey Agricultural Services be appointed as a member to the Agricultural Advisory Committee for the remainder of the 2022-2026 appointment term.

  Carried

Closed Meeting Matters

Council proceeded into closed session at 11:38 a.m.

• CW34-26
  Moved by: Councillor Paterson
  Seconded by: Councillor Nielsen

  That the Committee of the Whole does now go into closed session pursuant to Section 239 (2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, to discuss:

  i. a position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the municipality or local board (investment readiness).

  Carried

  Council returned to open session at 11:58 a.m. 

  
  The Warden confirmed that only the items stated in the resolution to move into closed session were discussed.

  
  

Other Business

There was no other business. 

Notice of Motion

There were no notices of motion.

Adjournment

On motion of Councillors Milne and Alternate Councillor Allwood, Committee of the Whole adjourned at 12:00 p.m. to the call of the Chair.