Upcoming meeting preview for Committee of the Whole on April 23, 2026 10:15 AM.

This preview is based on the published agenda package and supporting reports.

One-Sentence Summary

On April 23, 2026 at 10:15 AM, the committee evaluates shared service opportunities while examining legislative impacts on rural worker safety and fiscal burdens from provincial mandates. Agenda Items * 4.a Kate Burns Gallagher - Western Ontario Wardens Caucus (WOWC) Update - Priorities and Achievements: The Western Ontario Wardens Caucus (WOWC) outlines its strategic priorities for 2026 and beyond, focusing on infrastructure development, housing affordability, workforce preservation, and mental health support.

Whole Agenda Summary

The Grey County Committee of the Whole convened on April 23, 2026, to consider a slate of infrastructure capital projects and procurement approvals. The session addresses the award of a tender for the reconstruction of Structure 900-363, the purchase of a new motor grader, and the acquisition of three new ambulances. Staff presented a quarterly purchasing report detailing contracts awarded between $75,000 and $500,000, including a joint asphalt paving tender with Owen Sound and roof replacements. A significant portion of the agenda addressed the strategic direction of shared municipal services, specifically opportunities to maximize effective shared use aligned with the Strategic Plan. The committee also reviewed county comments on Bill 98 and a request from AORS to amend provincial legislation regarding unsafe working conditions. Additionally, the Western Ontario Wardens Caucus (WOWC) provided an update on its strategic priorities, and staff sought single-source approval to replace on-premise IT infrastructure with cloud services from Stage 2 Data. The meeting included a closed session to discuss advice under solicitor-client privilege regarding Board of Health appointments and labour relations with OPSEU. - **4.a Kate Burns Gallagher - Western Ontario Wardens Caucus (WOWC) Update - Priorities and

Most Newsworthy Agenda Items

  • 4.a Kate Burns Gallagher - Western Ontario Wardens Caucus (WOWC) Update - Priorities and Achievements The Western Ontario Wardens Caucus (WOWC) outlines its strategic priorities for 2026 and beyond, focusing on infrastructure development, housing affordability, workforce preservation, and mental health support. The caucus aims to act as a unified voice for rural municipalities, providing research and evidence-based solutions to address regional challenges.
  • 6.a TR-CW-19-26 Award of Tender RFT-TS-13-26 for the Reconstruction of Structure 900-363 The agenda item addresses the award of Tender RFT-TS-13-26 for the reconstruction of Structure 900-363.
  • 6.b TR-CW-21-26 Award of Motor Grader The agenda item addresses the award of a contract to purchase a new 224 hp motor grader via the Canoe Procurement Group of Canada program. The procurement is framed as a like-for-like replacement for a 17-year-old unit, with the new equipment including attachments such as a snow package and a one-way Viking plow. The contract is recommended for award to Toromont Cat – Grey County / Owen Sound for a total amount of $643,700.00 excluding HST. The process includes a provision for member municipalities to purchase the replaced unit upon its sale, with a reserve bid set at the quoted trade-in value of $104,000.00. Project expenditures are noted to be under budget, and the estimated sale price of the used equipment is higher than the budgeted amount.
  • 6.c PDR-CW-15-26 Marlane Farms Minor Exemption A minor exemption application was received to clear approximately 1.4 hectares of woodland, primarily Scots Pine, for agricultural purposes. Staff recommend approval, noting the invasive nature of the pine and separation of the remaining deciduous trees from significant woodlands by an active farm lane. The proposal does not impact designated aggregate resources or significant wetlands, and no public comments were received.
  • 6.d FR-CW-09-26 Quarterly Purchasing Report Quarter 1 2026 The quarterly purchasing report for Q1 2026 details contracts awarded between $75,000 and $500,000, including a joint asphalt paving tender with Owen Sound and a design consultant award for Rockwood Long Term Care. Significant expenditures were recorded for roof replacements at Mark and Durham facilities, with multiple bids received for the latter. All financial figures presented exclude HST, and specific funding approvals for the Long Term Care project are noted as separate from this report.
  • 6.e PSR-CW-03-26 Purchase of Three New Ambulances for 2026 The committee recommends awarding the purchase of three new ambulances to TriStar Ambulances for $743,148 plus HST under the 2026 capital budget. This procurement replaces aging fleet vehicles exceeding 275,000 kilometers, addressing maintenance costs caused by recent manufacturer delivery delays. The successful bid is $20,912 under the per-vehicle budget after accounting for HST rebates and proceeds from the sale of used ambulances. All new units must comply with the current Ontario Provincial Land Ambulance and Emergency Response Vehicle Standard.
  • 6.f AORS Request for Provincial Legislation Amendments Unsafe Working Conditions, Oro-Medonte and East Zorra Tavistock The agenda item addresses a request from AORS to amend provincial legislation regarding unsafe working conditions in Oro-Medonte and East Zorra Tavistock.
  • 7.a Joint Municipal Services minutes dated April 16, 2026 Joint Municipal Services minutes from April 16, 2026 are recorded on page 5 of 165.
  • 7.b Whereas the Joint Municipal Services Committee has sought to identify opportunities, aligned with the Strategic Plan, Working Better Together, to maximize effective shared use… The Joint Municipal Services Committee is seeking to identify opportunities for shared use aligned with the Strategic Plan and Working Better Together.
  • 7.c FR-CW-07-26 2025 Year End Transfers The agenda includes a closed session to discuss advice under solicitor-client privilege regarding Board of Health appointments and labour relations with OPSEU. Following this, the committee reviews a tender award for the reconstruction of Structure 900-363, a bridge replacement project on the Euphrasia-St. Vincent Townline affecting Meaford and Grey Highlands. The tender, posted on the County’s Bonfire portal, was awarded to Lancoa Contracting Inc. for $714,413.33 excluding HST, resulting in a projected surplus of $487,735.66 from the Transportation Services Major Capital Reserve. The project scope involves replacing the structure with a single-span SPCSP box culvert, managing earthworks, and ensuring continued access for two property owners during construction.
  • 7.d PDR-CW-18-26 County Comments on Bill 98, Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act Grey County staff report on Bill 98, which proposes standardized official plan structures and timelines for large and other municipalities effective 2028 and 2029. Staff express concern that mandatory updates outside normal review cycles will impose significant financial and staffing burdens, recommending implementation funding and a ‘no appeal clause’ for conformity amendments. The report also notes the omission of a ‘hazard lands’ designation in the proposed list and questions the removal of climate change policy requirements from official plans.
  • 7.e ITR-CW-02-26 Single Sourcing IT Infrastructure as a Service Grey County staff seek single-source approval to replace on-premise data centers with cloud-hosted infrastructure from Stage 2 Data, a Canadian vendor available via the Ontario Education Collaborative Marketplace (OECM). Negotiations with a third-party vendor failed, risking expensive re-licensing fees for current hardware expiring in July. Staff propose purchasing services directly from Stage 2 Data for $175,700 in 2026 plus a $6,000 implementation fee, bypassing the OECM third-party route to avoid delays. This shift addresses rising on-premise hardware costs and aims to secure cybersecurity and uptime benefits comparable to previous collective procurement efforts.

Infrastructure Capital and Asset Replacement The committee is set to approve the award of a tender for the reconstruction of Structure 900-363 with an estimated cost of $714,413. This project represents a direct investment in structural integrity. Concurrently, the agenda includes the approval of a new motor grader to bolster county road maintenance capabilities. These capital decisions underscore a focus on maintaining core physical assets.

Emergency Services Procurement A pressing item involves the purchase of three new ambulances for 2026. This procurement aims to modernize the fleet and ensure emergency response continuity. Additionally, the committee will consider a joint tender with the City of Owen Sound regarding asphalt paving, signaling a move toward collaborative infrastructure spending.

Rural Safety and Legislative Advocacy The Oro-Medonte and East Zorra-Tavistock (AORS) region has submitted a formal request for provincial legislative amendments. The focus is specifically on addressing unsafe working conditions identified within these municipalities. This proposal seeks to reshape regulatory frameworks to better protect rural workers. Separately, the Wardens Caucus provided an update on rural priorities, emphasizing the unique challenges and safety needs of the wider region.

Strategic Sourcing and IT Modernization The committee is considering the single-sourcing of IT infrastructure services from Stage 2 Data. This move aims to replace expiring on-premise hardware without launching a competitive tender. The rationale presented centers on the urgency of the replacement rather than open market competition.

Fiscal Watch: Bill 98 and Financial Burdens Staff raised concerns regarding Bill 98, the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act. The committee is reviewing county comments on the legislation, with specific attention to how new provincial mandates could impose financial burdens on municipalities. This discussion reflects a distributist concern for how costs are distributed between provincial directives and local fiscal realities.

What To Watch

  • Which agenda items move forward to formal recommendations.

  • Whether staff proposals trigger additional public consultation or revisions.

  • Follow-up actions, timelines, and any deferred items.

Read full agenda archive page: https://helpos.ca/agendas/grey-county/committee-of-the-whole/2026-04-23

Transcript will be published here: https://helpos.ca/transcripts/grey-county/committee-of-the-whole/2026-04-23

Share accessibility feedback with Grey County: https://www.grey.ca/government/accessibility

Original Agenda Package Links

Official meeting page: https://pub-grey.escribemeetings.com/MeetingsCalendarView.aspx/Meeting?Id=94c9b4e2-4d24-4756-9479-920f39d9c0cd