Council Meeting

THAT the Middlesex County Public Works Association - AORS Municipal Trade Show - June 7-8, 2023 presentation be received for information.

THAT the minutes of the regular meeting of Council, held on March 27, 2023, and special meeting held on March 29, 2023, be approved as circulated.

THAT Consent Agenda Items 6.3 through 6.14 be received as information.

THAT Report CAO-004-23 entitled ‘County of Middlesex Mutual Aid Plan Update’ be received for information; AND THAT the Council authorize the continued participation of the Thames Centre Fire Department in the County of Middlesex Mutual Aid Plan.

THAT Report No. PDS-018-23 entitled, “Proposed Processing Fee for Community Infrastructure and Housing Accelerator Order (CIHAO) Requests” be received for information; AND THAT a processing fee, in the amount of $3,500.00, be established for any future CIHAO request received by the Municipality.

WHEREAS the homeless crisis is taking a devastating toll on families and communities, undermining a healthy and prosperous Ontario; AND WHEREAS the homelessness crisis is the result of the underinvestment and poor policy choices of successive provincial governments; AND WHEREAS homelessness requires a range of housing, social service and health solutions from government; AND WHEREAS homelessness is felt most at the level of local government and the residents that they serve; AND WHEREAS municipalities and District Social Administration Boards are doing their part, but do not have the resources, capacity or tools to address this complex challenge; and, AND WHEREAS leadership and urgent action is needed from the provincial government on an emergency basis to develop, resource, and implement a comprehensive plan to prevent, reduce and ultimately end homelessness in Ontario; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Municipality of Thames Centre calls on the Provincial Government to urgently: a. Acknowledge that homelessness in Ontario is a social, economic, and health crisis; b. Commit to ending homelessness in Ontario; c. Work with AMO and a broad range of community, health, Indigenous and economic partners to develop, resource, and implement an action plan to achieve this goal; AND FURTHER THAT a copy of this motion be sent to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services; the Minister of Health; and to the Association of Munici

THAT the Council of the Municipality of Thames Centre supports the Township of Warwick's resolution regarding CN Railway Contribution Requirements under the Drainage Act and Impacts on Municipal Drain Infrastructure in Ontario; AND THAT this resolution be forwarded to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, local MP, local MPP, CN Rail's Manager of Public Affairs for Ontario & Atlantic Canada, President and CEO of CN Rail, and Director of Government Relations for the Railway Association of Canada.

WHEREAS Enbridge recently made an announcement of their intention to begin charging third-party contractors and other utilities $200 CAD (plus applicable taxes) for utility locates where a field locate is required; AND WHEREAS third-party contractors include Ontario municipalities; AND WHEREAS these locate requests are only required as Ontario municipalities have allowed utilities to use municipal right of ways at no charge to the utilities; AND WHEREAS this announcement of new downloaded costs will negatively impact the budgets of Ontario municipalities which are already burdened; AND WHEREAS if Enbridge is successful in implementing this new charge, a precedence is set for other utility companies to also begin charging for locates; THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Municipality of Thames Centre strongly opposes these utility locate costs being downloaded to Ontario municipalities by Enbridge Gas or other utilities; AND THAT the Province of Ontario’s Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery make it clear that these costs must be borne by the utilities themselves; AND THAT this decision be forwarded to Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery Kaleed Rasheed, Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma, Minister of Energy Todd Smith, Premier Doug Ford, local MPP, the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

THAT By-laws 28-2023 through 34-2023 be adopted as presented.

THAT Council adjourn to closed session at 5:43 p.m. pursuant to: Section 239(2)i of the Municipal Act, being technical and financial information supplied in confidence to the municipality, which if disclosed could reasonably be expected to prejudice significantly the competitive positions or interfere significantly with the contractual or other negotiations of a person, group of persons, or organization.

THAT the Closed Meeting of Council adjourn at 6:20 p.m. to continue with deliberations.

THAT By-law 35-2023, being the Confirmatory By-law, be approved.

RESOLVED THAT the meeting adjourn at 6:24 p.m.