Parry Sounds ~ Ideas and Opinions, In and Around Parry Sound

The items on the agenda are largely procedural or administrative in nature. Item 9.4.1 concerns the budget calendar. A copy of the calendar is pasted at the end of the agenda. My sense is that the schedule really doesn’t give the Public much opportunity to review the budget before final deliberations. Council and Staff of course will be aware of the budget recommendations prior to the first official meeting. The Public previously had access to the budget prior to the New Year. I hope the budget documents will be available before the first meeting and include both operational and capital budgets. The operational budget often is ignored in favour of the capital budget.

Council Agenda (Abridged)

Closed Session
b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees, (Waterfront Advisory Committee Applicants);
c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land for municipal or local board purposes, (proposed property exchange);
f) advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose, (Status of Geewadin Road);
k) a position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the municipality or local board, (proposed property exchange)

Correspondence
4.1 – Will Bouma, Parliamentary Assistant to Minister of Finance.
Appreciation for Delegation at AMO re: Relief of the Poor legislation and insurance premiums.

Deputations
5.1 – Chair Tom Lundy, CEO Rita Orr, Parry Sound Public Library Board.
Parry Sound Public Library 2020 Annual Report

5.2 – John Jackson.
Proposed Zoning By-law Amendment Z/20/02 – Oastler Park Dive, Waltmar Inc.

Resolutions and Direction to Staff
9.1.1 – Municipal Modernization Program – Intake 3.
Resolution
THAT Council authorize staff to submit an Expression of Interest for a digital work order system and further digital integration to improve service integration under the Municipal Modernization Program – Intake 3.

9.4.1 – 2021 Budgeting Schedule.
Resolution
That Council hereby approves the 2022 Budgeting Schedule as set out in the attached Schedule “A”.

9.5.1 – Robinson Huron Treaty Annuities Litigation.
Resolution
Whereas the Robinson-Huron Treaty 1850 is a political and economic agreement between First Nations signatories and the Crown; and
Whereas the Ontario Superior Court has found that the Crown has a mandatory and reviewable obligation to increase the Treaties’ annuities when the economic circumstances warrant reflecting a fair share of the value of the net Crown resource- based revenues generated from the territory; and
Whereas the Canadian Federal Government has confirmed that it is prepared to enter into negotiations to settle ongoing annuities litigation out-of-court, contingent upon the provincial government committing similarly to negotiations and settlement; and
Whereas the Ontario Provincial Government has entered an appeal against the Ontario Superior Court’s decision; and
Whereas the Town of Parry Sound resides within the boundaries of the Robinson-Huron Treaty and values its relationships with First Nations neighbours;
Now Therefore the Town of Parry Sound does hereby request the Ontario Provincial Government to withdraw its appeal, enter into good-faith negotiations and commit to settle out-of-court the ongoing annuities litigation; and
That this resolution be forwarded to the Attorney General of Ontario and the following organizations and individuals requesting their support: municipalities of West Nipissing, Greater Sudbury, Espanola, North Bay, Northeastern Manitoulin, Blind River, and Sault Ste Marie within the Robinson-Huron Treaty Area; municipalities within the West Parry Sound District; District of Parry Sound Municipal Association; Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO); MPP Norm Miller.

9.5.2 – Municipal Land Transfer Tax/Land Transfer Infrastructure Support.
Resolution
THAT the Town of Parry Sound does hereby support the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities’ (FONOM’s) resolution as attached requesting that the Association of Municipalities of Ontario lobby the Province of Ontario to grant Ontario municipalities the same municipal revenue tools as the City of Toronto, including a Municipal Land Transfer Tax, to be renamed Land Transfer Infrastructure Support; and
THAT this resolution be forwarded to the Provincial Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy, the Leaders of the Provincial Opposition parties, the Ontario’s Big City Mayors, ROMA, OSUM, FONOM and NOMA.

9.5.3 – Support for Agency to address Mental Health, Addictions, and Homelessness.
Resolution
WHEREAS communities across the province are responding to an intensified social crisis regarding mental health, addictions, and homelessness, made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic;
WHEREAS Northern Ontario of which Parry Sound is a part, has significant challenges when it comes to accessing mental health and addictions services for people in our communities;
WHEREAS, the defined area of Northern Ontario is over 800,000 square kilometres, which includes annually over 500 Social Services staff providing financial and employment assistance to over 15,000 families in 37 delivery sites; over 300 Community Housing staff providing safe and affordable housing to over 17,000 families; many Police Officers and over 900 paramedics who responded to 200,000 medical emergency 911 calls;
WHEREAS the Town of Parry Sound appreciates the efforts of all the agencies that are working to help and support those addicted to opioids and believes that a consolidated agency designated to deal with mental health, addictions and homelessness, with input provided by Municipalities/DSSABs and local stakeholders would be better positioned to put combined funds to better use;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Parry Sound requests that our Northern Ontario Health Teams, in consultation with Municipalities/DSSABs and local stakeholders, support a province-wide strategy that supports such consolidation;
FUTHER BE IT RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be shared with Premier Ford, Minister of Health Christine Elliott, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Michael Tibollo, leaders of the provincial opposition parties, and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).

By-laws
10.1.1 – Transfer Payment Agreement for the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream – Local Government Intake.
By-law 2021 – 7175
Being a By-law to authorize the execution of an agreement with Her Majesty the Queen in right of Ontario as represented by the Minister of Infrastructure for the transfer of funds required for the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP): COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream – Local Government Intake.

10.2.1 – Zoning By-law Amendment – Z/20/02 – Oastler Park Dive (John Jackson Planner Inc. on Behalf of Waltmar Inc.).
By-law 2021 – 7176
Being a By-law to amend By-law No. 2004-4653 (The Zoning By-law), as amended, for Z20-02 – 2 Oastler Park Drive (John Jackson Planner Inc. for Waltmar Inc.).
Direction (applicable if By-law 2021-7176 is defeated)
That Council hereby directs staff to bring forward an application to legalize Premium Docks on an on-going basis.
Being a By-law to stop up and close a portion of the Ashwood Drive Road Allowance (60a Seguin Street – Themer).