Council Meeting

THAT the draft agenda presented to Council and dated the 22nd of October, 2024 be adopted as prepared.

THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of September 24th, 2024 and the Special Council Meeting of October 16th, 2024 be adopted as circulated.

WHEREAS the Emergency Management Program Committee recommends to Council that authorization be granted to the CAO/Treasurer to apply for the Emergency Preparedness Grant available through Emergency Management Ontario in order for the Municipality to be better prepared in emergency situations; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT Council approves of this recommendation.

WHEREAS the Parks, Recreation and Culture Committee recommends to Council that the annual tree-lighting event, “Light Up the Park” take place at Memorial Park on November 21 st , 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT Council approves of this recommendation.

WHEREAS Council for the Municipality of East Ferris deems it expedient to pass three readings of the following by-law at this session; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT a By-law to amend By-law No. 2023-55 being a by-law to govern the proceedings of Council, Local Boards and Committees of either, the conduct of its members, the calling of meetings and to establish rules of order, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2024-38; AND THAT said by-law be signed by the Mayor and Clerk and sealed with the Seal of the Corporation.

WHEREAS Council for the Municipality of East Ferris deems it expedient to pass three readings of the following by-law at this session; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT a by-law to close and convey a part of the original shoreline road allowance along Lake Nosbonsing, described as Part 1 to 5, PLAN 36R-15286, East Ferris, District of Nipissing, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2024-39; AND THAT said by-law be signed by the Mayor and Clerk and sealed with the Seal of the Corporation.

WHEREAS Council for the Municipality of East Ferris deems it expedient to pass three readings of the following by-law at this session; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT a by-law to close and convey a part of the original shoreline road allowance in front of CON 2 PT LOT 19 RP 36R7230 PART 1 PCL 16971 WF (73 SOUTH SHORE ROAD) AND PLAN M445 LOT 20 PCL 15700 WF (130 PARGETER DRIVE), described as PARTS 1 & 2, PLAN 36R-15294, East Ferris, District of Nipissing, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2024-40; AND THAT said by-law be signed by the Mayor and Clerk and sealed with the Seal of the Corporation.

THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris supports the letter received from the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury and endorses the expansion of the Ontario Deposit Return Program to included nonalcoholic beverage containers; AND FURTHER THAT a copy of this resolution be provided to Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Andrea Khanjin, Minister of Finance, Peter Bethlenfalvy, and Nipissing MPP, Vic Fedeli.

THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris supports the resolution received from the Town of Cobourg regarding supporting the BC government's approach to providing secure, involuntary care for individuals with severe mental health and addictions challenges, as a compassionate and necessary intervention for those unable to seek help on their own; AND FURTHER THAT the Municipality of East Ferris urges the Province of Ontario to implement similar measures to ensure that individuals with severe mental health and addictions issues in Ontario have access to secure, involuntary care when necessary; AND FURTHER THAT a copy of this resolution be provided to Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and Vic Fedeli, MPP.

WHEREAS, the success of the forest sector is critical to the economic and social prosperity of Ontario communities, employing 137,000 people; AND WHEREAS, the forest industry has invested over $3.8 billion in Ontario since 2018; AND WHEREAS, Ontario has an opportunity to market global investment in the bioeconomy, similar to critical minerals and electric vehicle manufacturing, and become a leading international jurisdiction; AND WHEREAS, over the last 20 years, the North American pulp and paper sector has seen a significant rationalization in production capacity, with investment dollars going to competing international jurisdictions; AND WHEREAS, in the last year, Ontario has seen three pulp, paper, and containerboard mills idle or close, negatively impacting communities and the solid wood mills that depend on these facilities as markets for mill by-products and pulpwood; ANDWHEREAS, U.S. tariffs on softwood lumber are expected to double in 2025, to approximately 30%; AND WHEREAS, Ontario should work with federal colleagues to pursue a softwood lumber settlement that works in the best interests of Ontario lumber producers and advocate for a financial backstop; AND WHEREAS, Ontario has an opportunity to procure greater amounts of energy (i.e., electricity, heat, fuels, biochar, etc.) from forestry by-products and forests to assist in heavy industry decarbonization and Ontario’s forecasted electricity demands; AND WHEREAS, Ontario’s successful and oversubscribed Forest Biomass

THAT Council approve the Correspondence and Information as circulated with the agenda of October 22nd, 2024.

WHEREAS the 2025 Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference is being held at the Sheraton Centre Toronto January 19th - 21st, 2025; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that Mayor Rochefort and Councillors Kelly, Trahan and Champagne are approved to attend the 2025 ROMA Conference.

WHEREAS the 2025 Good Roads Conference is being held at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto March 30th - April 2nd, 2025; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that all members be approved to attend the 2025 Good Roads Conference; AND FURTHER that staff be directed to register and book accommodations accordingly.

WHEREAS the owners (1851477 Ontario Inc.) of the lands described as Part of Lots 11, 12, 13 and 14, Concession 15, Township of East Ferris, District of Nipissing, has applied for approval of a draft plan of subdivision for the purpose of creating 12 new lots; AND WHEREAS this application is a resubmission of phase 2 a previously approved application under file SB-2018-02, which has lapsed; AND WHEREAS no additional lots or changes have been made to the proposed development from the approval that was given for file SB-2018-02; AND WHEREAS the application has regard for the criteria of Section 51(24) of the Planning Act ; AND WHEREAS the application is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020) and the Provincial Planning Statement (2024); AND WHEREAS the application is in conformity with the policies contained within the Official Plan for the Municipality; AND WHEREAS the conditions contained in the letter dated September 12, 2024 from Marcel Degagne and Dan Degagne (1851477 Ontario Inc.) reflect the previously approved municipal conditions of approval for application SB-2018-02 and should be applied to this application; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that Council for the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris approves Application No. SB-2024-01 for a draft plan of subdivision together with the conditions as set out in the previously referenced letter dated September 12, 2024.

WHEREAS the owners (1851477 Ontario Inc.) of the lands described as Part of Lots 11, 12, 13 and 14, Concession 15, Township of East Ferris, District of Nipissing, has applied for approval of a draft plan of subdivision for the purpose of creating 12 new lots; AND WHEREAS this application is a resubmission of phase 2 a previously approved application under file SB-2018-02, which has lapsed; AND WHEREAS no additional lots or changes have been made to the proposed development from the approval that was given for file SB-2018-02; AND WHEREAS in their letter dated September 12th, 2024, Tulloch Geomatics, on behalf of 1851477 Ontario Inc. requested Council for the Municipality of East Ferris waive the $2,000 application fee as it was previously collected for this application; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that Council approves of this request.

THAT the preceding resolution regarding the fee waiver for subdivision application SB-2024-01 be brought forward for reconsideration.

THAT Council approve the general accounts for the Municipality of East Ferris as indicated in the cheque register(s) dated October 22nd, 2024 in the amount of $765,564.49.

WHEREAS Council for the Municipality of East Ferris deems it expedient to pass three readings of the following by-law at this session; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT a By-law to confirm the proceedings of Council from September 24th, 2024 to October 22nd, 2024, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2024-41; AND THAT said by-law be signed by the Mayor and Clerk and sealed with the Seal of the Corporation.

THAT we do now adjourn at 7:27 p.m. and meet again on November 12th, 2024.