Middlesex County Council Meeting Highlights – May 9, 2023
County Council honours Community Emergency Response Volunteers (CERV) members
Council recognized over 20 CERV members for their long-term service and dedication to making Middlesex County a safer place. CERV Middlesex has been actively working in the community since 2007 and has made a significant impact on community safety during events like the H1N1 flu outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic. CERV Middlesex trains volunteers to help within their own communities by preparing for emergencies based on local risks. The volunteers are well-trained in emergency and disaster response, first aid, and reception centre operations. The County is currently recruiting CERV members for 2023. For more information on recruitment and to learn how to become a CERV volunteer, check out the CERV Middlesex – Make a Difference application.
Upcoming Changes to County Connect Routes
Council approved updates to the provincially funded intercommunity transit service, Middlesex County Connect, which was first launched on September 21, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The service currently connects Thames Centre to London and Oxford County. Based on an internal analysis of County Connect’s ridership data and recommendations from the Transportation Needs Assessment Study, changes were recommended to the existing transit routes. A new route will be added providing transit connection between London, Lucan, Ilderton and Arva and the current routes will be combined to form Route 2. The service will continue to be provided by Voyago, and fares will remain the same at $5 for all trips. The new routes are scheduled to be launched on May 29, 2023. For more information, see Changes to County Connect Routes and check out Community Transportation to stay up to date on County Connect.
Provincial Planning Reform – Bill 97 & Proposed 2023 Provincial Planning Statement
The Committee of the Whole received an update from staff on recent and upcoming planning reform in the Province, including Bill 97 and the proposed Provincial Planning Statement. On April 6, 2023, the provincial government released its most recent proposal in support of the “Housing Supply Action Plan”. The Province will be completing a review of proposed policies adapted from A Place to Grow and Provincial Policy Statement to form a new provincial planning policy instrument. The proposal also includes various legislative amendments with the goal of achieving the construction of 1.5 million new homes in Ontario by 2031. The proposed changes are foundational and if approved would represent a fundamental shift in how municipalities undertake planning. The County has submitted comments to the Ministry on May 5, 2023 on the proposed Provincial Planning Statement and the proposed Bill 97 and how it may impact planning and services in the County. For more information, see the Planning Reform report.
Economic Development Council Update
The Committee of the Whole heard from the County’s Economic Development and Tourism team about its current and upcoming projects for 2023, as well as the many successes of 2022. Staff reported on a number of exciting projects, including a revamped business directory for investors and developers, the Middlesex Workforce Development Partnership, Dress Your Downtown, Employer/Business Workshops, Tourism Initiative Sponsorships, Young Entrepreneurs Contest and many more. Follow along for more information about ongoing projects at Invest in Middlesex, Visit Middlesex and Work in Middlesex.
Emergency Management Program Update
The Committee of the Whole received an update on the ongoing projects for emergency management in the County. The Community Emergency Management Coordinator and the County Emergency Management Program Committees are responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining proactive emergency management programs, which are geared towards prevention, preparedness, response and recovery from major emergencies that could have disastrous impacts on our communities. Check out the Middlesex County website to learn more about Emergency Management in Middlesex County.
Support for Bill 5 – Stopping Harassment and Abuse by Local Leaders Act
Following a motion from Women of Ontario Say No, the Committee of the Whole expressed support for Bill 5 – Stopping Harassment and Abuse by Local Leaders Act. The Act would require the Code of Conduct for municipal Councillors and members of local boards to include a requirement to comply with workplace violence and harassment policies. It would also permit municipalities and local boards to direct the Integrity Commissioner to apply to the court to vacate a member’s seat if the Commissioner’s inquiry determines that the member has contravened this requirement.
Recommendations made by the Committee of the Whole at the May 9, 2023 meeting will be considered by County Council at its next regular meeting on May 23, 2023. The Legislative Services Department maintains the official record for all County government proceedings.
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