Council Meeting

THAT the draft agenda presented to Council and dated the 13th day of August, 2024 be adopted as prepared.

THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of July 9th, 2024 be adopted as circulated.

WHEREAS at their Regular Council Meeting of July 9th, Council supported a request from Dianne Armatage to donate a bench to the Municipality; AND WHEREAS Council

WHEREAS the Parks, Recreation & Culture Committee recommends to Council that the Sports Hall of Fame Program be revamped to consolidate the two current programs (Sports Hall of Fame and Recognition Awards) for unification and clarity; and that staff be directed to recreate the policy; 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 appoint a Chief Building Official, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2024-31; 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 appoint a Municipal Weed Inspector, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2024-32; 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 appoint a Livestock Valuer, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2024-33; 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 resolution received from the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury regarding the creation of a province-wide long-service medal for police and for paramedics, modelled after the existing such awards for firefighters; AND THAT this resolution be sent the Premier, Minister of Health, Solicitor General, Minister of Citizenship and local MPP.

THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris supports the resolution received from the Town of Plympton-Wyoming regarding requesting the Federal Government and ISED to make it their priority to push forward with their commitment to provide crucial infrastructure in a meaningful and timely manner and provide action and enforcement of the regulations that mandate timely installation of approved Cell Tower Installations; AND THAT this resolution be sent the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), Government of Canada, local MP and local MPP.

WHEREAS employers across Northern Ontario are experiencing a critical shortage of skilled workers, contributing to a shrinking labour market with an estimated 50,000 newcomers needed by 2041 to sustain current Northern Ontario population levels; AND WHEREAS, the labour shortage is causing significant economic hardship for Northern Ontario communities, including reduced productivity and business closures; AND WHEREAS population and migration trends to 2021 suggest that Northern Ontario needs 100,000 newcomers by 2041 to sustain current population; AND WHEREAS the success of the federal Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) demonstrates the effectiveness of allocating nomination spots to address regional labour shortages in attracting newcomers to Northern Ontario; AND WHEREAS, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program has been expanded from 9,750 nominees in 2022 to a goal of 21,500 nominees in 2024; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris urges the Government of Ontario to address the critical market shortage of skilled labour in Northern Ontario by allocating 3,000 Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program spots to support the region's economic growth and development; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Ontario Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, local Members of Provincial Parliament; the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, and the North Bay and District Chamber of Commer

WHEREAS the state of health care in Ontario is in crisis, with 2.3 million Ontarians lacking access to a family doctor, emergency room closures across the province, patients being de-rostered and 40% of family doctors considering retirement over the next five years; AND WHEREAS it has becoming increasingly challenging to attract and retain an adequate healthcare workforce throughout the health sector across Ontario; AND WHEREAS the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University says communities in northern Ontario are short more than 350 physicians, including more than 200 family doctors; and half of the physicians working in northern Ontario expected to retire in the next five years; AND WHEREAS Ontario municipal governments play an integral role in the health care system through responsibilities in public health, long-term care, paramedicine, and other investments; AND WHEREAS the percentage of family physicians practicing comprehensive family medicine has declined from 77 in 2008 to 65 percent in 2022; AND WHEREAS per capita health-care spending in Ontario is the lowest of all provinces in Canada; AND WHEREAS a robust workforce developed through a provincial, sector-wide health human resources strategy would significantly improve access to health services across the province; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Municipality of East Ferris urge the Province of Ontario to recognize the physician shortage in East Ferris and Ontario, to fund health care approp

WHEREAS Rail Safety Week is to be held across Canada from September 23 to 29, 2024; AND WHEREAS 229 railway crossing and trespassing incidents occurred in Canada in 2023; resulting in 66 avoidable fatalities and 39 avoidable serious injuries; AND WHEREAS educating and informing the public about rail safety (reminding the public that railway rights-of-way are private property, enhancing public awareness of the dangers associated with highway rail grade crossings, ensuring pedestrians and motorists are looking and listening while near railways, and obeying established traffic laws) will reduce the number of avoidable fatalities and injuries cause by incidents involving trains and citizens; AND WHEREAS Operation Lifesaver is a public/private partnership whose aim is to work with the public, rail industry, governments, police services, media and others to raise rail safety awareness; AND WHEREAS CN and Operation Lifesaver have requested the Municipality of East Ferris adopt this resolution in support of its ongoing efforts to raise awareness, save lives and prevent injuries in communities, including our municipality; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that Council for the Municipality of East Ferris support national Rail Safety Week to be held from September 23rd to 29th, 2024.

THAT Council approve the Correspondence and Information as circulated with the agenda of August 13th, 2024.

WHEREAS Joanne Rodgers has made a request to the Municipality for an exemption under Section 4 of Municipal By-law 2015-33; a By-law to Prohibit Excessive Noise; AND WHEREAS with Joanne Rodger’s request, the exemption would only apply from Friday, September 6 th , 2024 at 11:00 p.m. to Sunday, September 8 th , 2024 at 2:00 a.m. for the purpose of a backyard family reunion to be held at 747 Derland Road; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that Council for the Municipality of East Ferris approve the request received from Joanne Rodgers and grant an exemption of Municipal By-law No. 2015-33 for Friday, September 6 th , 2024 at 11:00 p.m. through Sunday, September 8 th , 2024 at 2:00 a.m..

THAT Council approve the general accounts for the Municipality of East Ferris as indicated in the cheque register(s) dated August 13th, 2024 in the amount of $1,524,217.18.

THAT this meeting proceeds to In-Camera session at 6:07 p.m., under Section 239(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25 in order to address a matter pertaining: (c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board regarding the potential donation of land for housing development; and (c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board regarding the potential purchase of land for municipal use; and (b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.

THAT we do now adjourn this In-Camera meeting at 6:45 p.m. and return to our regular session.

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 July 9th, 2024 to August 13th, 2024, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2024-34; 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 6:46 p.m. and meet again on September 10th, 2024.