County of Brant Council Minutes — June 23, 2026

Agenda

1. Approval of Agenda
2. Delegation – Kate Burns Gallagher, Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus – Strategic Priorities Update
3. Delegation – Travis Welch, Brant Civic Accountability Association – Proposed Municipal Boundary Adjustment
4. Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings
5. Consent Items to be Received
6. Administration and Operations Committee Report – June 16, 2026
7. RPT-0255-26 – Brant Sports Complex Expansion Update
8. RPT-0237-26 – Downtown Paris Master Plan: Progress Update and Next Steps
9. Proclamation Request – Ontario Disability Employment Network – National Disability Employment Awareness Month
10. Proclamation Request – Darmont GivesBack – Afro-CariBrant Festival
11. Proclamation Request – Paris, Ontario Riverside Runway
12. Resolution – Proposed Municipal Boundary Adjustment – Councillor Kyle
13. Resolution – Changes to Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) – Councillor Oakley
14. Other Business – Notice of Work on Public Parks – Councillor Miller
15. Other Business – Veterans Crosswalk – Councillor Oakley
16. In Camera – RPT-0246-26 – Supplementary Report to Options Analysis for the Future of the Bawcutt Centre
17. By-laws 75-26 to 81-26

Votes at a Glance

#	Motion	Result	Tally
1	Receive WOWC delegation from Kate Burns Gallagher re: strategic priorities update as information	Passed	11–0
2	Receive delegation from Travis Welch, Brant Civic Accountability Association, re: Proposed Municipal Boundary Adjustment as information	Passed	11–0
3	Receive consent items 8.2.1 through 8.2.18 as information	Passed	11–0
4	Support County of Prince Edward Resolution re: Better Regional Governance Act and circulate resolution of support	Passed	11–0
5	Approve Administration and Operations Committee Report of June 16, 2026 with ten recommendations including infrastructure contracts, fees, playground surfacing, parkette construction, CIP grant, traffic by-law amendments, drain abandonment, and BIA contribution	Passed	11–0
6	Receive RPT-0255-26 Brant Sports Complex Expansion Update; delegate CAO authority to award construction if grant applications successful	Passed	11–0
7	Endorse Downtown Paris Master Plan Progress Update and Next Steps; direct staff to continue community engagement and reporting	Passed	10–1
8	Grant proclamation request from Ontario Disability Employment Network for National Disability Employment Awareness Month, October 2026	Passed	11–0
9	Grant proclamation request from Darmont GivesBack for Afro-CariBrant Festival, September 5–6, 2026	Passed	11–0
10	Grant proclamation and dam lighting request from Paris Ontario Riverside Runway for July 17, 2026	Passed	11–0
11	Oppose proposed FIPPA changes excluding premier/minister records from public access; call on Province to maintain accessibility and consult IPC	Passed	9–2
12	Approve RPT-0246-26 Bawcutt Centre: negotiate two-year agreement with Wingbury Properties; reallocate $10,067,000 with $9.5M for partnership costs	Passed	11–0

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Full Minutes

3. Approval of Agenda

Council approved the agenda for the June 23, 2026 meeting with one amendment: Councillor Miller requested the addition of a notice regarding work on public parks under Other Business. The agenda was approved unanimously by the 10 members present.

5.2. Delegation – Kate Burns Gallagher, Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus – Strategic Priorities Update

Kate Burns Gallagher, Executive Director of the Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus (WOWC), presented a strategic priorities update to Council. Discussion covered topics including grant funding allocation, public transportation for migrant farm workers, inter-city public transit, and the success of the SWIFT broadband program. Council received the presentation as information.

5.3. Delegation – Travis Welch, Brant Civic Accountability Association – Proposed Municipal Boundary Adjustment

Travis Welch, Founder and Board Member of the Brant Civic Accountability Association, addressed Council regarding the proposed municipal boundary adjustment involving the City of Brantford. Discussion touched on the City of Brantford's Open House related to the boundary proposal. Council received the delegation as information.

6. Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings

Council approved the minutes from four previous meetings: the regular Council meeting of May 26, 2026, and Special Council meetings held on May 26, June 2, and June 4, 2026. All 11 members voted in favour.

8.2. Consent Items to be Received

Council received 18 information items including treasurer's reports on development charges and parkland reserves, meeting minutes from various boards (OPP Detachment Board, Library Board, Grand Erie Board of Health, Grand River Conservation Authority, South Central Ontario Region Economic Development Corporation, Long Point Region), and resolutions from several other municipalities on topics including policing grants, heritage registers, firefighter certification, school board governance, and provincial grant funding for fire services. Several items were pulled for discussion before being received. Additionally, Council voted to formally support the County of Prince Edward's resolution regarding the Better Regional Governance Act and directed staff to send that resolution of support to Prince Edward County.

9.1. Administration and Operations Committee Report – June 16, 2026

Council approved ten recommendations from the Administration and Operations Committee. Key decisions included awarding major construction contracts for Grand River Street North roundabouts ($6.35 million) and Broadway Street West reconstruction ($8.81 million) to Regional Sewer and Watermain Ltd., extending the asphalt paving contract with GIP Paving Inc. ($643,698), adding new fees for seniors recreational programs, awarding contracts for rubberized playground surfacing at two parks ($271,734), approving construction of a new parkette in Burford ($345,733), approving a Community Improvement Plan grant for a property at 138 Grand River Street North ($24,318), implementing various traffic and parking changes across the County (including speed limit reductions, heavy truck restrictions, and new signs in new subdivisions), passing a by-law to abandon Branch C of the Bishopsgate Road Municipal Drain, and approving a $30,000 contribution to the Downtown Paris Business Improvement Area for a media campaign to boost local economic activity.

10.1. RPT-0255-26 – Brant Sports Complex Expansion Update

Staff presented an update on the proposed expansion of the Brant Sports Complex, including details on the funding model and grant applications. Council authorized the Chief Administrative Officer to award the construction contract if the County's applications under the Building Communities Strong Fund and/or the Ontario Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Funding are successful, and directed staff to report back on any grant outcomes and updated financial impacts.

10.2. RPT-0237-26 – Downtown Paris Master Plan: Progress Update and Next Steps

Staff presented a progress update on the Downtown Paris Master Plan, which was originally approved in 2019 to guide streetscape and infrastructure improvements in the downtown core. Council discussed topics including the Community Improvement Plan, future parking plans, heritage storytelling, design timelines, and accessible parking. Council endorsed the progress update to frame ongoing work, directed that it be made publicly available, and asked staff to continue reporting back and engaging the community. The motion passed 10 to 1, with Councillor MacAlpine opposed.

12.1. Proclamation Request – Ontario Disability Employment Network – National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Council approved a proclamation request from the Ontario Disability Employment Network to recognize National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October 2026. The motion passed unanimously.

12.2. Proclamation Request – Darmont GivesBack – Afro-CariBrant Festival

Council approved a proclamation request from Darmont GivesBack for the Afro-CariBrant Festival, scheduled for the weekend of September 5 and 6, 2026. The motion passed unanimously.

12.3. Proclamation Request – Paris, Ontario Riverside Runway

Council approved a proclamation and dam lighting request from Paris Ontario Riverside Runway for an event on July 17, 2026. The motion passed unanimously.

12.4. Resolution – Proposed Municipal Boundary Adjustment – Councillor Kyle

Councillor Kyle withdrew her notice of motion regarding the proposed municipal boundary adjustment. She explained that the motion had already achieved its goal of formally acknowledging constituent concerns, and that withdrawing it would preserve the opportunity for residents to participate in the Statutory Public Meeting scheduled for July 6, 2026, which could have been cancelled if the motion to defer had passed and the Province did not respond in time.

12.5. Resolution – Changes to Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) – Councillor Oakley

Councillor Oakley brought forward a resolution opposing proposed provincial changes to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) that would exclude records of the Premier, cabinet ministers, and their staff from public access requests. Council voted to oppose the changes, call on the Province to keep government records publicly accessible, and urge consultation with the Information and Privacy Commissioner before proceeding. The resolution was directed to be sent to Premier Doug Ford and local MPPs. The motion passed 9 to 2, with Councillors Miller and Chambers opposed.

13.1. Other Business – Notice of Work on Public Parks – Councillor Miller

Councillor Miller raised a concern after a constituent reported being unaware of work being done at a local park. He questioned what process exists for notifying the public about work planned for public parks and asked that this be reviewed.

13.2. Other Business – Veterans Crosswalk – Councillor Oakley

Councillor Oakley acknowledged and thanked staff for their work in collaboration with local Legions on the Veterans Crosswalk initiative. Councillor Chambers also shared remarks about a Cathcart Legion event he had attended.

15. In Camera – RPT-0246-26 – Supplementary Report to Options Analysis for the Future of the Bawcutt Centre

Council met in closed session to discuss the future of the Bawcutt Centre, involving land disposition and negotiation strategy. Upon returning to open session, Council approved a two-year agreement with Wingbury Properties to renovate the Bawcutt Centre for use as an event space and community uses, with an option to extend by one year. Council also directed staff to develop a long-term commercial operation framework and reallocated $10,067,000 from the Main Branch Library/Bawcutt Centre capital project, with $9,500,000 approved for partnership costs related to the Bawcutt Centre. Any costs beyond $9.5 million must return to Council for approval.

16. By-laws 75-26 to 81-26

Council gave three readings to and passed seven by-laws covering: the final cost levy for the Bennett Municipal Drain; abandonment and final cost levy for Branch C of the Bishopsgate Municipal Drain; appointment of a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer; amendments to the Traffic By-law (stop signs, heavy truck restrictions, speed limits, community safety zones, half-load restrictions); amendments to the Parking By-law (pedestrian crossover definitions and new subdivision parking rules); amendments to the Fees and Charges By-law for recreational programs; and a by-law confirming the proceedings of Council. All by-laws passed unanimously.

This post was automatically generated by BrantVotes from the official County of Brant council minutes. Always refer to the official minutes for authoritative records.