Minutes

Committee of the Whole

Thursday, September 25, 2025, 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 10:19 a.m. with all members present with the exception of Councillors Bordignon, Mackey, and McQueen.

Declaration of Interest

There were no declarations of interest. 

Business Arising from Minutes

There was no business arising from the minutes. 

Delegations

There were no delegations.

Determination of Items Requiring Separate Discussion

Councillor Eccles requested that item 6.c regarding The Future of Natural Gas Expansion on the consent agenda for this meeting be pulled for further discussion. 

Consent Agenda

• CW113-25
  Moved by: Councillor Hutchinson
  Seconded by: Councillor Milne

  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

Correspondence Regarding Grey County's Concern on Childcare Spaces in Grey County

• That the correspondence received from Stephanie Vallon, Director Federal Secretariat on Early Learning and Child Care; MPP Paul Vickers and the Early Years Support Team regarding the letter sent on the Recalibration of Directed Growth Spaces in Grey County be received for information.

Township of Southgate Resolution - Resolution of Support for the City of St. Catharines regarding the Elect Respect Pledge

• That the Township of Southgate resolution passed at the September 3, 2025 meeting of the Council of the Township of Southgate be supported by Grey County Council.

TR-CW-19-25 Award of Motor Grader

• That report TR-CW-19-25 containing the quotation results for the award of a motor grader be received; and

   

  That the contract be awarded to Toromont Cat – Grey County / Owen Sound for a total amount of $628,444.00, excluding HST.

Items For Direction and Discussion

PDR-CW-57-25 Surplus Lands for Housing - Site Preparation and Derisking Activities

• CW114-25
  Moved by: Councillor Nielsen
  Seconded by: Councillor Dobreen

  That staff report PDR-CW-57-25 regarding Surplus Lands for Housing – Site Preparation and Derisking Activities, be received; and,

  That $130,000 be included in the proposed 2026 budget and funded from the One Time Funding Reserve to fund select site preparation and derisking activities for two County-owned properties in Markdale and Durham.

  Carried

CAOR-CW-15-25 Court Security Contribution Agreement and Costing Implications

• CW115-25
  Moved by: Councillor Dobreen
  Seconded by: Councillor Boddy

  That CAOR-CW-15-25 regarding a Court Security Contribution Agreement and Costing Implications be received; and

  That staff be directed to fund the anticipated 2025 budget shortfall from surplus realized in the overall Corporate Services budget or, if none exists, be financed from the One-Time-Funding Reserve; and

  That the Warden and Clerk be authorized to sign the Court Security Contribution Agreement; and

  That staff be directed to prepare a letter under the Warden’s signature to the Ministry of the Solicitor General and the Ministry of the Attorney General advocating for additional Provincial funding to support municipalities adhering to security directives required by the Province.

  Carried

LTCR-CW-19-25 Capital Funding Program and Ministry Survey

Councillor Milne left the meeting at 11:21 a.m. and returned at 11:24 a.m.

Council took a brief recess from 11:31 a.m. to 11:42 a.m.

• Moved by: Councillor Nielsen
  Seconded by: Councillor Carleton

  That report LTCR-CW-19-25 Capital Funding Program and Ministry Survey be received; and

  That staff be directed to complete the Ministry of Long-Term Care survey by September 29, 2025, indicating Grey County’s readiness to potentially develop the approved 62 long term care beds at Grey Gables and that action be taken prior to County Council approval, as per Section 26.6 (b) of the Procedural By-law; and

  That staff be directed to undertake updated cost forecasts and any other applicable studies for the potential development of a 128-bed new home at Grey Gables to be funded from the One Time Funding Reserve; and,

  That staff be directed to bring forward a report before March 2026 outlining the updated budget impacts, and a draft Development Agreement for Council’s consideration.
• CW116-25
  Moved by: Councillor Greig
  Seconded by: Councillor Eccles

  That the motion be divided into four separate clauses.

  Carried

  Clause 1 

  
  
• CW117-25
  Moved by: Councillor Nielsen
  Seconded by: Councillor Carleton

  That report LTCR-CW-19-25 Capital Funding Program and Ministry Survey be received.

  Carried

  Clause 2

  
  
• Moved by: Councillor Nielsen
  Seconded by: Councillor Carleton

  That staff be directed to complete the Ministry of Long-Term Care survey by September 29, 2025, indicating Grey County’s readiness to potentially develop the approved 62 long term care beds at Grey Gables and that action be taken prior to County Council approval, as per Section 26.6 (b) of the Procedural By-law.

• Primary Amendment to Clause 2

  CW118-25
  Moved by: Councillor Greig
  Seconded by: Councillor McKay

  That the motion be amended to strike out the words “Grey County’s readiness to potentially develop the approved 62 long term care beds at Grey Gables” and insert:

  "That staff request the Ministry to maintain the 62-bed allocation and that staff provide further information to the Ministry in 2027."

  Carried

  A recorded vote was requested on the amendment to Clause 2 of the divided Long-Term Care motion, to hold the bed allocation and respond to the survey, denoted as "Option 3" in the corresponding staff report.

  In Favour:

  T. McKay 3; W. Dickert 3; R. Kentner 6; S. Keaveney 5; I. Boddy 8; S. Greig 8; B. Milne 4; K. Eccles 6; T. Hutchinson 6

  Opposed:

  S. Carleton 6; G. Pringle 5; T. Allwood 6; D. Nielsen 5; S. Paterson 4; B. Dobreen 3; A. Matrosovs 7; P. Hope 7

  The motion was Carried 49 to 43.

  
  

• Main motion, as amended

  CW119-25
  Moved by: Councillor Nielsen
  Seconded by: Councillor Carleton

  That staff be directed to complete the Ministry of Long-Term Care survey by September 29, 2025, indicating That staff request the Ministry to maintain the 62 bed allocation and staff provide further information in 2027 and that action be taken prior to County Council approval, as per Section 26.6 (b) of the Procedural By-law.

  Carried

  The remaining two motions, denoted as Clauses 3 and 4 were Tabled by Unanimous Consent.

  
  

EDTC-CW-11-25 Industrial Development Charges Holiday

• CW120-25
  Moved by: Councillor Boddy
  Seconded by: Councillor Eccles

  That report EDTC-CW-11-25 Industrial Development Charges ‘Holiday’ be received; and,

  That staff be directed to prepare the relevant amending by-law(s) that incorporate a reduction on the industrial portion of non-residential development charges to zero for 2025 and 2026 and bring it forward for Council’s consideration; and

  That staff be directed to return any funds collected since January 2025 in payment for industrial development charges which as of July 30, 2025 was estimated to be less than $25,000; and,

  That staff be directed to start the 2026 development charges by-law review process before year-end and to fund any expenditures in 2025 from the Development Charges – General Government Reserve.

  Lost
• CW121-25
  Moved by: Councillor Eccles
  Seconded by: Councillor Nielsen

  That Clause 4 of the previous motion regarding proceeding with the review of the Development Charges by-law in 2025 be reconsidered and that notice of reconsideration be waived.

  Carried

  The above was Carried by a two thirds vote.

  
  
• CW122-25
  Moved by: Councillor Dobreen
  Seconded by: Councillor Carleton

  That staff be directed to start the 2026 development charges by-law review process before year-end and to fund any expenditures in 2025 from the Development Charges - General Government Reserve.

  Carried

EDTC-CW-09-25 Ontario Transit Investment Funding

Committee took a brief recess from 12:29 p.m. to 1:14 p.m.

Councillor Nielsen left the meeting during this time.

• Moved by: Councillor Hutchinson
  Seconded by: Councillor Keaveney

  That report EDTC-CW-09-25 regarding Ontario Transit Investment Funding (OTIF) Grant be received; and

  That staff include the anticipated 2026 County levy requirement of $145,000 in the 2026 draft budget for Council consideration; and

  That the Warden and Clerk be authorized to sign the Transfer Payment Agreement (TPA); and

  That the Warden and Clerk be authorized to sign the applicable partnership agreements with partners Bruce County, Dufferin County, and Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit (SMART).

Closed Meeting Matters

Councillor Milne left the meeting at 1:25 p.m. and returned at 2:01 p.m.

Council proceeded into closed session at 1:26 p.m.

• CW123-25
  Moved by: Councillor Dobreen
  Seconded by: Councillor Carleton

  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:

  1. 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 (#1 - Negotiations regarding investment readiness and #2 - negotiations with the Province of Ontario)
  Carried

• Councillor Eccles left the meeting at 2:20 p.m. and returned at 2:26 p.m.

  Council returned to open session at 2:21 p.m. 

  The Warden confirmed that only the items stated in the resolution to move into closed session were discussed and that direction was provided to staff on the investment readiness matter.

  CW124-25
  Moved by: Councillor Hutchinson
  Seconded by: Councillor Keaveney

  That report EDTC-CW-09-25 regarding Ontario Transit Investment Funding (OTIF) Grant be received; and

  That staff include the anticipated 2026 County levy requirement of $145,000 in the 2026 draft budget for Council consideration; and

  That the Warden and Clerk be authorized to sign the Transfer Payment Agreement (TPA); and

  That the Warden and Clerk be authorized to sign the applicable partnership agreements with partners Bruce County, Dufferin County, and Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit (SMART).

  Carried

Items for Discussion (continued)

The Future of Natural Gas Expansion in Ontario

• Main Motion 

  Moved by: Councillor Dobreen
  Seconded by: Councillor Hutchinson

  That the correspondence received from Enbridge Gas Inc. regarding the future of natural gas expansion in Ontario be received for information.

• Primary Amendment

  CW125-25
  Moved by: Councillor Eccles
  Seconded by: Councillor Kentner

  That the motion be amended to request staff to provide a follow up report on natural gas expansion in Ontario with the possibility of providing comment to the Province.

  Carried

• Main Motion, as amended

  CW126-25
  Moved by: Councillor Dobreen
  Seconded by: Councillor Hutchinson

  That the correspondence received from Enbridge Gas Inc. regarding the future of natural gas expansion in Ontario be received and that staff provide a follow up report on natural gas expansion in Ontario with the possibility of providing comment to the Province. 

  Carried

Other Business

There was no other business. 

Notice of Motion

Councillor Greig presented a notice of motion for the next meeting of the Committee of the Whole regarding advocating against the banning of automated speed cameras by the Province.

Adjournment

On motion of Councillor Dobreen and Councillor Milne, Committee of the Whole adjourned at 2:33 p.m. to the call of the Chair.