May 11, 2023 Meeting Highlights

Grey County Council met on May 11, 2023, in the Council Chamber and virtually on Zoom. The meeting was immediately followed by a session of Committee of the Whole. Recordings of the meetings can be found on Grey County’s YouTube Channel.

County Council

• Council accepted the minutes of the April 27 Grey County Council and Committee of the Whole meetings.  Council   Committee

Committee of the Whole

• Council heard a presentation from Dr. Wayne Caldwell regarding the future of agriculture in Ontario. Dr. Caldwell outlined recent changes to provincial planning policies and the potential impact of increased residential lot creation on agricultural land.  Presentation
• The Province recently released a new draft Provincial Policy Statement with a goal of accelerating housing development. Council approved sending comments to the Province on the proposed changes, citing concerns about the impact on agricultural land, natural heritage policies and more.   Report
• Changes made through Provincial Bill 23 removed the ability of Conservation Authorities to provide natural heritage reviews for development applications. In March, Council directed staff to hire a planning ecologist for natural heritage reviews. After further consultations with local municipalities, Council voted to hire a second planning ecologist to provide this service to the County and all nine local municipalities. Staff will work with municipalities to ensure the second position is paid for through cost recover from developers and landowners undertaking planning applications.  Report
• Council approved the Information Technology Five-Year Strategic Plan. Grey County’s IT department supports around 200 unique software applications and 60 technology-enabled locations. This strategy will guide continuous improvement of IT services and will maximize the value of investments made in new and ongoing technology.  Report
• Council approved updates to the Code of Conduct and guidelines for electronic and hybrid meetings.   Report
• Council ratified a settlement with OPSEU Local 299 representing Lee Manor.  Report
• Council received correspondence from Bruce County about the IESO Pathways to Decarbonization Study. Grey County will prepare a letter confirming Grey’s Net-Zero emissions target, the importance of non-emitting electricity generation in that goal, and the importance of Provincial investments in renewables. The letter will be sent to the Ministry of Energy.  Correspondence  Study

The Clerk’s Department maintains the official record for Grey County. This publication is intended to provide meeting highlights only. For official records, please refer to the meeting minutes, or contact the Clerk’s Department at 1-800-567-4739.