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There is not much of importance in the decisions of Council at the January 18th meeting. I do have a comment concerning a letter to Council and Council’s decision to kick the issue back to Staff.

4.1 – David Garagan. Concerns with the Town’s partnership with Ontario Service Line Warranty Canada. Acknowledged, and referred to Director of Public Works Mike Kearns.
I certainly can understand Mr. Garagan’s concerns, but suggest that it is a bit of a misdirection.
The issue concerns Ontario Service Line Warranty Canada’s initiative that offers local homeowner insurance for waterline problems outside of a home. This is generally not covered by ‘vanilla’ insurance policies. It may also be something that neither a homeowner nor insurance agent ever discuss. This leaves certain unfortunate homeowners with a problem if the waterlines fail. Although it is a Town service, the Town does not warranty waterlines once they enter private property leaving a homeowner with a significant repair expense if there is problem. It also leaves the Town with an issue because the homeowner will place the blame on the Town and try to recoup the expense from the Town. This not only creates friction, it also takes time for Staff to explain the situation to a very unhappy taxpayer. The best solution for the Town is to encourage homeowners to get appropriate insurance. That is what the Town has done with this initiative.
Mr. Garagan and other local insurance agents have a simple solution. Review all their client’s policies, check if they have the offered coverage, as appropriate contact those that don’t, and offer a similar service at a competitive price. But, this probably is a PITA for these agents. This is a very small premium for something that would probably take hours of staff time to organize and then perhaps an hour to speak with each client and, as appropriate, revise their policy.
The note we received from the Ontario Service Line Warranty Canada was clear in stating that they did not receive any help from the Town in sending out this solicitation. The company acquired the homeowner’s list from private sources and paid for the mailing costs. Presumably they did discuss the policy with the Town to ensure it would be ‘appropriate’ in terms of the coverage offered.
I think Mr. Garagan is barking up the wrong tree. He should be checking his records to make sure all his clients are covered and, if not, reaching out to offer a comparable product. We will probably avail ourselves of the service. We don’t have that coverage and it is more convenient than calling our agent and asking them to quote coverage.
Sheesh! Council reviewed this a couple of years ago. Staff has better things to do than review previous understandings.

Council Meeting Minutes, (Abridged)

Closed Session
c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land for municipal or local board purposes, (Municipal Boundary Negotiations);
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, (Municipal Boundary Negotiations).

Presentation
2021 Year in Review Mayor McGarvey provided an overview of 2021 Highlights.

2021 Order of Parry Sound Mayor McGarvey presented the 2021 Order of Parry Sound to Jason Predie, recognizing his leadership in the Parry Sound District EMS food drive and the annual Parry Sound District EMS Toy Drive.

Questions of Staff
3.2.1 – In response to Councillor Keith’s inquiry, Director of Public Works Mike Kearns reported that the Cascade Street railing‘s functionality for users is complete. Councillor Keith reported that she has spoken with users, and they believe it works well.

Correspondence
4.1 – David Garagan
Concerns with the Town’s partnership with Ontario Service Line Warranty Canada.
Acknowledged, and referred to Director of Public Works Mike Kearns

4.2 – Judy Kovacs
Appreciation for the installation of Cascade Street railing.
Filed

4.3 – Wayne Pearce, General Manager, Bourgeois Ford North Inc.
Request to be permitted to continue to use vacant lot at 7 McMurray St. for overflow parking.
Referred to Director of Development & Protective Services, and By-law Enforcement Officer.

Direction for Staff Follow-up
That staff prepare a report and recommendation to Council regarding whether to continue in partnership with Service Line Warranty Canada.
Carried

Deputations
None

Resolutions and Direction to Staff
9.2.1 – Parry Sound Kinsmen Club-Permission to Sublet Facility to Provincial Drive Test.
Resolution
That Council of the Corporation of the Town of Parry Sound hereby provides permission to the Kinsmen Club of Parry Sound to sublet the Kinsmen Club facility to Provincial Drive Test.
Carried

9.2.2 – Support for Bill 279, Environmental Protection Amendment Act. (Microplastics Filter for Washing Machines, 2021.
Resolution
That Council hereby supports the attached resolution entitled Support Bill 279 Environmental Protection Amendment Act (Microplastics Filters for Washing Machines), 2021, and That the resolution be sent to the Premier, with a copy to MPP Norm Miller.
Carried

9.2.3 – SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) Systems for Water and Wastewater.
Resolution
That Council accept the quotations from Ulteig Engineering for Network and Server Upgrades for the Water Treatment Plant and the Wastewater Treatment Plant SCADA Systems to allow for the migration of those systems to an industry standardized platform that will allow for flexibility and expansion to remote portions of the systems.
Carried

9.2.4 – Informational Report – Kinsmen Park Skate Trail.
Resolution
That Council of the Corporation of the Town of Parry Sound receive the report in response to a request for a Skate Trail to be established at the Kinsmen Park.
Carried
Direction for Staff Follow-up
Anticipating further announcement from the province on the status of COVID-19 related restrictions, Councillor Borneman requested that the issue be referred to the next Council Meeting for direction.

9.4.1 – Reducing “Red Tape” and expediting approvals in the planning process.
Resolution
That the Report on Reducing “Red Tape” and expediting approvals in the planning process through: 1) Removal from the Parry Sound Area Planning Board; and 2) Delegated authority from the Province for Official Plan Amendments, be received for information purposes.
Carried

9.5.1 – Joint and Several Liability Reform.
Resolution
Whereas municipal governments provide essential services to the residents and businesses in their communities; and
Whereas the ability to provide those services is negatively impacted by exponentially rising insurance costs; and
Whereas one driver of rising insurance costs is the legal principle of ‘joint and several liability,’ which assigns disproportionate liability to municipalities for an incident relative to their responsibility for it; and
Whereas, the Government of Ontario has the authority and responsibility for the legal framework of ‘joint and several liability;’ and
Whereas the Premier of Ontario committed to review the issue in 2018 with a view to helping municipal governments manage their risks and costs; and
Whereas the Town of Parry Sound responded in September, 2019 to a consultation process regarding joint and several liability, supportive of the Attorney General’s goal to find meaningful and lasting reform that lessens the cost pressure of rising insurance premiums on property taxation, and
Whereas the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) on behalf of municipal governments has provided recommendations to align municipal liability with the proportionate responsibility for incidents and capping awards;
Now, therefore be it resolved, that the Town of Parry Sound does hereby support AMO’s recommendations per the following:
1. The provincial government adopt a model of full proportionate liability to replace joint and several liability.
2. Implement enhancements to the existing limitations period including the continued applicability of the existing 10-day rule on slip and fall cases given recent judicial interpretations, and whether a 1-year limitation period may be beneficial.
3. Implement a cap for economic loss awards.
4. Increase the catastrophic impairment default benefit limit to $2 million and increase the third-party liability coverage to $2 million in government regulated automobile insurance plans.
5. Assess and implement additional measures which would support lower premiums or alternatives to the provision of insurance services by other entities such as non-profit insurance reciprocals.
6. Compel the insurance industry to supply all necessary financial evidence including premiums, claims, and deductible limit changes which support its, and municipal arguments as to the fiscal impact of joint and several liability.
7. Establish a provincial and municipal working group to consider the above and put forward recommendations to the Attorney General; and
Further be it resolved that the Town of Parry Sound does hereby call on the Attorney General of Ontario to work with municipal governments to put forward a plan of action to address “joint and several liability” before the end of the government’s current term so that municipalities can continue to offer high quality services to their communities; and
That this resolution be forwarded to The Honourable Doug Downey – Attorney General, the Honourable Steve Clark – Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, MPP Norm Miller and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).
Carried

9.5.2 – Proclamation – International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
Resolution
WHEREAS International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is an opportunity to honour everyone— including women, girls, boys, men and gender diverse people—who is actively and courageously working towards an end to this harmful practice, and
WHEREAS 4.1 million girls are still at risk of mutilation each year, including girls in Canada, and
WHEREAS female genital mutilation (FGM) is an issue in more than 90 countries on every continent except Antarctica, and there are at least 200 million FGM survivors in the world, including an estimated 100,000 or more survivors in Canada, and
WHEREAS FGM has no benefits and causes only harm, including death, difficulties with urination, menstruation and sexual intimacy; post-traumatic stress disorder, gender dysphoria and body dysmorphia and increased maternal and child mortality—and is recognized by the United Nations and other global organizations as child abuse and an abuse of a girl’s fundamental human rights, and
WHEREAS International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate all national and international efforts, especially grassroots efforts, to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5, which calls for the elimination of FGM and other harmful practices by 2030, and
WHEREAS the Town of Parry Sound supports the human rights of women and girls so they can live a life free from the violence that is female genital mutilation;
We do proclaim and declare that February 6, 2022, shall be known as International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
Carried

By-laws
10.1.1 – Temporary Borrowing Authorization.
By-law 2022 – 7210
Being a by-law to authorize temporary borrowing to meet the current expenditures of the Town of Parry Sound until taxes are collected and other revenues are received.
Passed Signed and Sealed

10.2.1 – FedNor Funding Agreement: Fitness Trail Revitalization Project.
By-law 2022 – 7211
Being a By-law to authorize the execution of a funding agreement with FedNor to assist with the Fitness Trail Revitalization Project.
Passed Signed and Sealed

10.2.2 – Ryse Service Agreement – Collections of Non-Refillable Pressurized Containers.
Bylaw 2022 – 7212
Being a bylaw to authorize the execution of a Service Agreement with Ryse Solutions Inc. for the collection of non-refillable pressurized containers as part of the Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste (MHSW) program.
Passed Signed and Sealed

10.2.3 – FoodCycler Organics Diversion Pilot Project.
Bylaw 2022 – 7213
Being a by-law to authorize the execution of an Implementation Partnership for Impact Canada Food Waste Reduction Challenge Agreement for a Food Cycler Pilot Project in Parry Sound.
Passed Signed and Sealed