Council Meeting

THAT the draft agenda presented to Council and dated the 26th day of November, 2024 be adopted as amended by adding the Notice of Motion from the previous meeting regarding reclassifying Highway 94 from a Secondary to a Primary Cycling Route under Action Items.

THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of November 12th, 2024 be adopted as circulated.

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 authorize an agreement between the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris and Bell Canada for Next Generation 9-1-1 Service, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2024-43; AND THAT said by-law be signed by the Mayor and Clerk and sealed with the Seal of the Corporation.

THAT the Council of the Municipality of East Ferris supports Resolution No. 2024-328 received from the Township of Papineau-Cameron regarding amendments to the Ontario Building Code to include provisions for pre-approved affordable housing plans specifically aimed at supporting low income and homeless individuals; AND FURTHER THAT a copy of this resolution be sent to the Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario; Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Hon. Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services; Hon. Vic Fedeli, MPP Nipissing-Temiskaming; AMO and the Ontario Building Officials Association.

THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris supports the resolution received from the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit regarding recommending that the Ministry of Health develop a provincial oral health strategy that includes a remuneration model for dentists designed to promote equitable access to basic preventive and treatment dental services throughout the province (whether delivered privately or in concert with public organizations) and that the Ministry of Health undertake an evaluation of the current funding model for Oral Health services to inform the above-recommended provincial oral health strategy; AND FURTHER THAT a copy of this resolution be sent to the Honourable Doug Ford (Premier), the Honourable Sylvia Jones (Ontario Minister of Health), Dr. Kieran Moore (Chief Medical Officer of Health), Victor Fedeli, MPP (Nipissing), Graydon Smith, MPP (Parry Sound-Muskoka), John Vanthof, MPP (Timiskaming-Cochrane), Michael Sherar (President and CEO of Public Health Ontario), Ontario Boards of Health and the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa), Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the District of Parry Sound Municipal Association.

THAT Council approve the Correspondence and Information as circulated with the agenda of November 26th, 2024.

THAT Council for the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris directs staff to submit the following requests for delegations at the 2025 ROMA Conference: Minister of Infrastructure, Kinga Surma – Permanent, non-application-based funding for municipal road infrastructure Solicitor General, Michael Kerzner – Significant cost increases to OPP services Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones - Unaffordability of 1% increase from the Province.

THAT Council for the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris authorizes staff to submit a funding application to the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development’s Skills Development Fund: Capital Stream for the construction of a new East Ferris Fire & Emergency Services Fire Hall and Firefighter Training Facility.

WHEREAS the Municipality of East Ferris has been involved in the regional effort led by Discovery Routes to develop safe cycling infrastructure while establishing the region as a cycling tourism destination; AND WHEREAS Discovery Routes has developed a series of self-guided cycling routes around the Voyageur Cycling Route and the Trans Canada Trail that are attracting more and more cyclists north and to Highway 94 and other rural roads in East Ferris, including the Red Toque Tour Bike Ride, Spirit of the Bay Cycling Route, and Corbeil-Callander Cycling Loop; AND WHEREAS these cycling routes and itineraries are promoted with tourism partners Tourism North Bay, Northeastern Ontario Tourism, Destination Nord Ontario, and Destination Ontario through various media; AND WHEREAS Discovery Routes reports that Highway 94 is a favourite with cyclists as it provides looping opportunities around Lake Nipissing, Trout Lake, Lake Nosbonsing and their surrounding communities; AND WHEREAS the Municipality of East Ferris has been an active and supportive partner as demonstrated by the following list of actions. Investments: paving of shoulders on Lake Nosbonsing Road and parts of Village Road paving of shoulders on MacPherson Drive and parts of Centennial Crescent maintenance of outdoor bicycle repair stations at several parks installation and maintenance of bicycle route signs, racks, and benches Actions: attracting the Ontario Cycling Championships to East Ferris for its annual races, which

THAT Council approve the general accounts for the Municipality of East Ferris as indicated in the cheque register(s) dated November 26, 2024 in the amount of $217,689.47.

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 November 12th to November 26th, 2024, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2024-44; 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 6:36 p.m. and meet again on December 10th, 2024.