Grey County County Council Meeting Transcript — March 12, 2026

00:00:02 Brian Milne: we go I'm glad that didn't make the tape

00:00:05 Brian Milne: So as you're able please stand and we'll sing O Canada

00:00:32 SPEAKER_237: O Canada our home and native land true patriot love in all of us command

00:00:48 SPEAKER_238: With glowing hearts we see thee rise the true North strong and free from far and wide O Canada we stand on guard for

00:01:04 SPEAKER_238: thee God keep our land glorious and free O

00:01:17 SPEAKER_238: Canada we stand on guard for thee O Canada we stand on guard for thee

00:01:37 Brian Milne: Thank you all and just before we go to roll call I will say that the warden sends her regrets She's at an event in Hamilton I believe with the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Cities Initiative So Madam Clerk would you

00:01:50 Brian Milne: take the roll call please

00:01:54 Tara Warder: Councillor Mackie Councillor McKay Councillor Carleton Councillor Pringle Councillor McQueen Councillor Nielsen

00:02:03 Tara Warder: Councillor Patterson Councillor Dicker

00:02:06 Tara Warder: Councillor Kentner sends his regrets today Alternate Councillor Greenfield

00:02:12 Tara Warder: Councillor Kieveny Councillor Body I believe we're expecting later this morning Councillor Gregg

00:02:19 Tara Warder: Deputy Warden Milne Councillor Dobrine

00:02:22 Tara Warder: Councillor Warden Matrasov sends her regrets today Councillor Bordignon sends his regrets today Alternate Councillor Hope

00:02:30 Tara Warder: Councillor Echoes

00:02:32 Tara Warder: Councillor Hutchinson So we have all members and attendees today with the exception of Matrasov Bordignon Kentner and Body Thank

00:02:46 Brian Milne: you good Thank you Sarah And I will just welcome Councillor Alternate Councillor Greenfield and Holt

00:02:54 Brian Milne: Land

00:02:55 Brian Milne: acknowledgement Before we begin I want to respectfully acknowledge that we are gathering on the traditional territory of the Nishnabek Nation people of the Three Fires known as Ojibwe Odawa and Potawatomi nations And further we give thanks to the Chippewa Saugeen

00:03:11 Brian Milne: and the Chippewa Nechawas known collectively as the Saugeen Ojibwe Nation the traditional keepers of this land and water since time immemorial

00:03:21 Brian Milne: our south lies the traditional territories of the Six Nations of the Grand River We are dedicated to honoring Indigenous history and culture and committed to moving forward in the spirit of truth reconciliation and friendship with all First Nations Métis and

00:03:35 Brian Milne: Inuit people

00:03:39 Brian Milne: So the first order of business this morning is dealing with a couple sets of minutes the open committee and whole council and committee of the whole minutes dated February 26th Someone care to move Do we do the closed session at

00:03:53 Brian Milne: the same time Is that yeah Sure And the closed committee of the same date closed meeting of the same date Someone care to move that please Councillor Hutchison Councillor Nielsen Any discussion All those in favor

00:04:07 Brian Milne: That is carried Thank you

00:04:10 Brian Milne: We have no closed meeting matters no reports We have a couple bylaws The first is to deal with principles integrity to become our closed meeting investigator and a bylaw to confirm all actions and proceedings of the council Councillor Sue

00:04:27 Brian Milne: Councillor Sue Patterson I come on I knew it was going to happen I did practice this on the way up I really did I went around the horseshoe two or three times

00:04:40 Brian Milne: I know I've already been warned about them Councillor Mackey will second that

00:04:45 Brian Milne: All right

00:04:47 Brian Milne: Any discussion on those two bylaws All those in favor That is carried Thank you so much We'll get there

00:04:56 Brian Milne: News and celebrations First of all I want to on behalf of Gray County Council I want to thank everyone who responded to the recent emergency on Georgian Bay outside On Sound Situations like this remind us how much we rely on

00:05:10 Brian Milne: people who are willing to step forward when conditions are difficult and the outcome is uncertain This response brought together many organizations all working with care professionalism and commitment to public safety I want to specifically thank our fire services

00:05:27 Brian Milne: the OPP Grey and Bruce Paramedic Services Orange Air Ambulance and the Ministry of Natural Resources and of course our hospital partners as well The way these services work together reflects the strength of our emergency response system and the relationships that

00:05:43 Brian Milne: support it I also want to recognize paramedic staff who responded from home to make sure emergency coverage continued across Gate Gray County and the paramedic units from Simcoe and Wellington Counties who helped support our community Your willingness to step in

00:05:58 Brian Milne: ensured residents continued to receive care when it was needed That was a response that was extraordinary but honestly it wasn't a surprise or it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone

00:06:11 Brian Milne: To the staff at Cull Beach your hospitality and assistance during the response provided comfort and help at a critical time That kind of support truly matters And again our community steps up like it always does Behind every emergency response are

00:06:25 Brian Milne: people that put themselves first or put others first often without recognition and at personal sacrifice On behalf of Council and the residents of Gray County thank you thank you to everyone involved for your care for our community

00:06:43 Brian Milne: Anyone else have anything for news and celebrations Councillor Nielsen please

00:06:49 Dane Nielsen: Thank you very much Stephanie Warden Mill I just wanted to invite everybody on March 22nd at the Angel United Church We're hosting the annual Agnes McPhail event The Friends of the South Grey Museum sorry Greyhounds Museum will be hosting that

00:07:03 Dane Nielsen: event again and all are welcome I believe it is two to To four o'clock in the afternoon on the Sunday the twentysecond of March

00:07:12 Dane Nielsen: Thank you sir Councillor Decker

00:07:15 SPEAKER_406: Thank you Deputy Warden Milne On March twentyfourth from twelve thirty till four our Hanover Age Friendly Committee with the support of a provincial grant is hosting the Active Aging Expo It includes Linda Crawford a keynote speaker who is focuses on

00:07:29 SPEAKER_406: health and wellness and the second speaker Jenna Wiccans a certified professional consultant on aging The trade show that accompanies this has about twentyfive vendors It's focused on the fiftyfive and older crowd The event will take place at the newly opened

00:07:45 SPEAKER_406: Carriage House which is the Hanover Benteck and Brant Agricultural Society's new event hall located at the Raceway And the best of all the admission is free So come and join us

00:07:56 SPEAKER_415: Excellent thank you sir Now Sir Kibany Thank you Deputy Warden Milne and good morning everyone I wanted to share that TC Energy filed their project description with the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada for their Ontario Pump Storage Project

00:08:12 SPEAKER_415: this past Friday March the sixth So this is a 37page document that can be found on the IAC website So this opens the 30day comment period starting from the March sixth until April the sixth and it's important that everyone who

00:08:26 SPEAKER_415: has an interest in this project takes the time to submit their comments in relation to the project Project description document and I know that Gray County will be submitting comments as well But this is the first of several opportunities But

00:08:41 SPEAKER_415: this is a chance to start sharing with the with the IAC any concerns and comments and questions and so on that you may have Thank you very much

00:08:52 SPEAKER_415: Thank you Shirley Anyone else Councilor Carlton Please

00:08:56 SPEAKER_573: Thank you Deputy Warden I would just like to add my thanks to those that you gave earlier and mentioned that at the polar plunge in Shallow Lake recently with the OPP and Inter Township Fire Department again donating their time they

00:09:10 SPEAKER_573: raised over ten thousand dollars this year for Special Olympics So that was almost three times what they did last year

00:09:18 SPEAKER_573: Excellent thank you Anyone else

00:09:21 SPEAKER_573: Councillor McQueen please

00:09:24 Paul Mcqueen: Well thank you Mr Warden or Deputy Warden and thank morning County Council Just thinking back to what you mentioned it before I get to my announcement about the people that were stranded on the ice and I know it took a

00:09:35 Paul Mcqueen: lot of resources to save those 25 people with their boats It was on the TV One guy was being interviewed He would do it again

00:09:46 Paul Mcqueen: Anyway I just thought that was interesting Not to you know be a little bit more

00:09:52 Paul Mcqueen: conscientious of what you're doing and because I think there was a

00:09:56 Paul Mcqueen: rescue person or maybe it was a paramedic or maybe it was OPP I just can't remember Was saying that you know it did put a lot at risk as well and it's a lot of that stuff So enough said on

00:10:08 Paul Mcqueen: that Just a reminder on is it

00:10:13 Paul Mcqueen: my date here calendar On March the twentyfirst day before Eggman's fail on the Saturday Gray County Federation of Ag will be hosting its politician meeting at Elmwood So if you haven't sent in your request That you wish to do so

00:10:28 Paul Mcqueen: I think he did I heard about it last night Anyway we a meeting last night so just a reminder it's a good event It's you know it's a good opportunity to sort of those that probably have attended maybe those that

00:10:39 Paul Mcqueen: haven't It's an opportunity to learn a bit more about agriculture and it's a great county federation with

00:10:45 Paul Mcqueen: partners with Bruce County Federation Also they have an opportunity for exposing all the up and coming things and concerns around the agricultural part of our Way way of life So anyway if you haven't signed up call up with Jackie or

00:10:59 Paul Mcqueen: whoever and let them know because they want to know for lunch as well And it's a good lunch like if nothing else it's a good lunch right And you know it's all about food sometimes too right Anyway it's all good

00:11:10 Paul Mcqueen: It's friendly and it's Elmwood Community Center there and it's very it hosts very well So thank you

00:11:19 Brian Milne: Thank you Paul Yes it's the best lunch It's the most huge lunch you'll ever get It's best lunch ever

00:11:27 Brian Milne: Anyone else

00:11:30 Brian Milne: Okay All right We need a motion to adjourn this portion of our meeting today Councilor Ackles and Councilor Gregg All those in favor That is carried Thank you

00:11:41 Brian Milne: Just wait for Rob to