Date: June 24, 2025
Location: Council Chambers, 7 Broadway Street West, Paris, ON
Present: Mayor Bailey, Councillors Kyle, MacAlpine, Howes, Oakley, Bell (joined at 9:02 p.m.), Peirce, Miller, Chambers, Coleman, and Garneau
Agenda
- Approval of Agenda
- Delegation – Michaela Kargus – Bill 5
- Delegation – Joan Faux – Comments on Bill 5 and Support for Councillor Oakley's Motion to Oppose Bill 5
- Adoption of County of Brant Council Minutes of May 27, 2025
- Business Arising from the Minutes – 2025 Community Grant Program
- Consent Items to be Received
- RPT-0267-25 – Request for Additional Funding for John Noble Home Bell Court Redevelopment Project
- Administration and Operations Committee Report – June 17, 2025
- RPT-0268-25 – Community Safety and Well-Being Plan 2025-2029
- RPT-0269-25 – All-Way Stop at Keg Lane and Brant-Oxford Road
- RPT-0252-25 – Final Housing Needs Assessment Report and Strategic Road Map
- RPT-0271-25 – 2025 Lieutenant Governor Visit
- RPT-0195-25 – Budget to Actual at April 30, 2025
- Communication – Kari Raymer Bishop – Bill 5
- Resolution – Bill 5, Protecting Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025 – Councillor Oakley
- Resolution – Government Relations Committee Terms of Reference – Councillor Garneau and Councillor Kyle
- Resolution – Reporting to Council on Government Relations Activities – Councillor Garneau and Councillor Kyle
- Resolution – Councillors' Conference Travel Expenses – Councillor Garneau and Councillor Kyle
- Proclamation Request – Lili Petrella – World Suicide Prevention Day
- Other Business – Councillor Peirce – Committee of Adjustment
- Other Business – Councillor Garneau – Brantford Airport Board
- Other Business – Councillor Bell – Update on Grand Erie Public Health Unit
- In Camera Session – Administration and Operations Committee In Camera Report of June 17, 2025
- By-laws
Votes at a Glance
Full Minutes
3. Approval of Agenda
Council approved the agenda for the June 24, 2025 meeting, as amended. Councillor Chambers noted an additional item to be added under Other Business.
Discuss Community Grants process at the September 2, 2025 Policy Development Committee meeting
5.1. Delegation – Michaela Kargus – Bill 5
Michaela Kargus and Carolyn Proulx-Wootton, President of the Grand Erie Elementary Teacher's Federation, appeared before Council to express their opposition to Bill 5, the Protecting Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025. Council received the delegation as information.
Receive consent items including board minutes, resolutions, and correspondence as information
5.2. Delegation – Joan Faux – Comments on Bill 5 and Support for Councillor Oakley's Motion to Oppose Bill 5
Joan Faux appeared before Council to voice concerns about Bill 5 and to express support for Councillor Oakley's motion opposing the legislation. Council received the delegation as information.
Approve additional funding of $902,248 (County share $250,825) for John Noble Home Bell Court Redevelopment Project
6.1. Adoption of County of Brant Council Minutes of May 27, 2025
Council approved the minutes from the previous Council meeting held on May 27, 2025.
Approve Administration and Operations Committee Report of June 17, 2025 including all recommendations
7. Business Arising from the Minutes – 2025 Community Grant Program
Council discussed the results and application criteria of the 2025 Community Grant Program. Staff noted that the Brant Community Foundation offers educational resources on grant writing. Council directed that a further discussion of the grants process take place at the September 2, 2025 Policy Development Committee meeting.
Approve Community Safety and Well-Being Plan 2025-2029 and direct staff to implement and develop evaluation framework
8.2. Consent Items to be Received
Council received a large package of informational items including meeting minutes from the OPP Detachment Board, Public Library Board, John Noble Home Committee of Management, and Downtown Paris BIA, as well as various resolutions from other municipalities and organizations on topics such as Strong Mayor Powers, Bill 5, Ontario Works and ODSP rates, and other advocacy matters. Item 8.2.3 (John Noble Home Committee of Management Approved Resolution and Report) was pulled for discussion, with staff providing an explanation of additional funding requests and project progress.
Endorse final Housing Needs Assessment and adopt Roadmap to Housing Needs in Brant as strategic framework
Receive RPT-0195-25 Budget to Actual at April 30, 2025 as information
10.6. RPT-0267-25 – Request for Additional Funding for John Noble Home Bell Court Redevelopment Project
Council considered a request for $902,248 in additional funding for the John Noble Home Bell Court Redevelopment Project, which includes 40 long-term care beds, a Day and Stay expansion, and sprinkler system work. The County's share of $250,825 would be funded through debt, to be repaid from development charges and the tax levy. The motion carried 8 to 2.
Amendment to Bill 5 resolution: replace fourth therefore clause with endorsement of AMO's submission
9.1. Administration and Operations Committee Report – June 17, 2025
Council approved the Administration and Operations Committee report from June 17, 2025, covering a wide range of items including naming of two new parks in Paris for public feedback, two Community Improvement Plan grants for facade and signage improvements in St. George and Burford, awards of contracts for bridge design and road resurfacing, engineering services for Cainsville water and wastewater infrastructure, parking and traffic bylaw amendments across several County locations, a St. George infrastructure front-ending agreement in principle, a St. George Water and Wastewater Servicing Allocation Policy in principle, a new Road Safety Reserve Fund funded by automated speed enforcement revenue, additional funding for the Scotland-Oakland Master Environmental Servicing Plan including addressing elevated nitrate levels in drinking water, an overview of Bill 5, approval of Brant Connects Joint Committee minutes, Brant Heritage Committee minutes, Biggars Lane Landfill Liaison Committee minutes including a mattress diversion program, and appointment of two new members to the Brant Heritage Committee.
Amendment to Bill 5 resolution: strike and replace distribution list with reduced set of provincial recipients
10.1. RPT-0268-25 – Community Safety and Well-Being Plan 2025-2029
Council approved the updated Community Safety and Well-Being Plan for 2025 to 2029. Discussion touched on community engagement, resources for newcomers, and how the plan aligns with County priorities. Staff were directed to implement the plan's strategies and develop an annual evaluation framework starting in 2026.
Adopt Bill 5 opposition resolution as amended opposing provisions reducing environmental protections and overriding municipal planning
10.2. RPT-0269-25 – All-Way Stop at Keg Lane and Brant-Oxford Road
This staff report regarding a proposed all-way stop at Keg Lane and Brant-Oxford Road was withdrawn from the agenda and will be brought forward at a later date. No vote was taken.
10.3. RPT-0252-25 – Final Housing Needs Assessment Report and Strategic Road Map
Council endorsed the final Housing Needs Assessment report prepared by Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. and adopted the 'Roadmap to Housing Needs in Brant' as a strategic framework to guide short, medium, and long-term housing goals. Staff were directed to begin work on the 2025 action items identified in the roadmap. Discussion focused on housing approvals, mixed housing types, and Official Plan policies.
Incorporate a Government Relations component into Policy Development Committee meetings
10.4. RPT-0271-25 – 2025 Lieutenant Governor Visit
Council received a staff report regarding a planned 2025 visit by the Lieutenant Governor as information. No further action was required.
Direct staff to update procedural by-law to include standing agenda item for Councillors to provide updates
10.5. RPT-0195-25 – Budget to Actual at April 30, 2025
Council received the County's budget to actual financial report as of April 30, 2025, as information. This report provides an update on how the County's spending compares to the approved budget partway through the year.
Direct staff to review all policies related to Councillors' conference travel expenses and report back by December 31, 2025
11.1. Communication – Kari Raymer Bishop – Bill 5
Council received a written communication from Kari Raymer Bishop regarding Bill 5, the Protecting Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025, as information.
Proclaim September 10, 2025 as World Suicide Prevention Day
12.1. Resolution – Bill 5, Protecting Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025 – Councillor Oakley
Council debated and passed a resolution opposing key provisions of Bill 5, including those that would reduce environmental protections, override local planning authority, and limit consultation with Indigenous nations. The resolution was amended twice: first to replace the call for Bill 5's repeal with an endorsement of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario's submission on the matter, and second to narrow the distribution list to provincial officials and local MPPs. The final amended resolution passed unanimously.
Ratify in-camera recommendations including property acquisitions, CIO appointment, Heritage Committee appointments, and landfill land purchase
12.2. Resolution – Government Relations Committee Terms of Reference – Councillor Garneau and Councillor Kyle
Council discussed options for formalizing government relations work. An initial motion to establish a standalone Government Relations Committee was withdrawn after discussion. Council unanimously approved a substitute motion to incorporate a government relations component into the existing Policy Development Committee meetings.
12.3. Resolution – Reporting to Council on Government Relations Activities – Councillor Garneau and Councillor Kyle
Council directed staff to update the procedural bylaw to add a standing agenda item allowing Councillors to share timely and relevant updates from their work and external roles. The motion passed unanimously.
12.4. Resolution – Councillors' Conference Travel Expenses – Councillor Garneau and Councillor Kyle
Council directed staff to review all policies related to Councillors' conference travel expenses to ensure they align with current best practices in the broader public sector, with a report back to Council by December 31, 2025.
12.5. Proclamation Request – Lili Petrella – World Suicide Prevention Day
Council approved a proclamation request to officially recognize September 10, 2025 as World Suicide Prevention Day in the County of Brant.
13.1. Other Business – Councillor Peirce – Committee of Adjustment
Councillor Peirce raised a discussion regarding the decision-making powers and responsibilities of the Committee of Adjustment. No formal vote was taken on this item.
13.2. Other Business – Councillor Garneau – Brantford Airport Board
Councillor Garneau provided an update on the Brantford Airport Board, noting that a resolution was passed directing City of Brantford staff to prepare a business case for capital investment at the Brantford Municipal Airport.
13.3. Other Business – Councillor Bell – Update on Grand Erie Public Health Unit
Councillor Bell provided an update on the Grand Erie Public Health Unit, advising that Dr. Jason Malenfant has been recruited as the new Medical Officer of Health and that a search for a new Chief Executive Officer is underway.
14. In Camera Session – Administration and Operations Committee In Camera Report of June 17, 2025
Council moved into a closed (in camera) session to discuss confidential matters including proposed land acquisitions, municipal property security, and personal matters related to identifiable individuals. Following the in camera session, Council ratified recommendations to acquire land for road widening on Grand River Street North, appoint a Chief Information Officer for Cyber Security and add a new IT support position, appoint two new members to the Brant Heritage Committee, and support development of a business case for purchasing lands near the Biggars Lane Landfill.
15. By-laws
Council passed eleven by-laws on three readings, covering appointments to the Brant Heritage Committee and Public Library Board, amendments to the Parking and Traffic by-laws, road closures and dedications for public road purposes in various subdivisions, and the confirming by-law for the meeting proceedings.
This post was automatically generated by BrantVotes from the official County of Brant council minutes. Always refer to the official minutes for authoritative records.
