Council and Committee of the Whole Meetings

That the agenda of the January 13, 2026 meeting of Council be confirmed as circulated.

That Council now move into closed session to consider  Personal matters about an identifiable individual relating to tax billing and utility issue at 125 MacDougall Drive; and  Labour relation matters and security of municipal property relating to the IT & GIS Master Plan pursuant to Section 239 (2)(a), (b) and (d) of the Municipal Act .

That the report from the Finance Department dated January 13, 2026, re: 125 MacDougall Drive - Outstanding Taxation and Utility Issue, be received; That Council authorize a 12-month repayment plan on the outstanding balance provided that: all payments are made on time by the property owner all current and future billings during the repayment period are paid by the applicable due date; and That Council directs staff to charge interest on any remaining outstanding amount if the property owner fails to make the regularly scheduled monthly payments.

That the presentation from Ian Shelley and Yash Melwani from Blackline Consulting on the IT and GIS Master Plan for Loyalist Township, be received.

That the delegation from Peter Paz, Senior Director of Government and Public Relations from Alto High Speed Rail regarding a proposed new passenger rail service, be received.

That the report from the Finance Department, dated January 13, 2026 re: 2026 Temporary Borrowing By-law, be received; and By-law 2026-2 being a by-law to approve temporary borrowing measures, be enacted and passed.

That the following clause be added: That staff be directed to bring this matter in 2027 for Council's consideration and direction.

That the report from the Clerk's Division re: Ward Boundary Review OLT Decision and Next Steps dated January 13, 2026 be received; That the 2025 budget for the Ward Boundary Review be increased by $40,000 to be funded from the Working Fund Reserve; and That staff be directed to bring this matter in 2027 for Council's consideration and direction.

That the report from the Information Technology & GIS Division, dated January 13th, 2026 re: Information Technology & GIS Strategic Plan, be received; and That the Information Technology and Geographic Information Systems Master Plan (IT & GIS Master Plan) be adopted; and That Council authorize the recruitment of an IT Business Analyst in 2026.

That the report from the Corporate Services, Strategy & Innovation Department, dated January 13, 2026 re: Green Municipal Fund Grant Agreement, be received; That Council authorize a revenue increase for the Green Municipal Funding Grant in the amount of $162,023 and a similar budget increase of $162,023 in the 2026 Capital Budget for the Condition Assessments & Energy Audits Project (cc250001); and That the Mayor and CAO be authorized to execute the Green Municipal Fund Grant Agreement CBR 24-0514 with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

That the report from the Engineering & Environment Division, dated January 13, 2026 re: Durham St Design Alternatives, be received; That Council approve Design Alternative #2; That Council direct staff to bring back a revision to Parking By-law 2007-031 permitting on-street parking on North St; and That Council authorize staff to obtain an easement from the School Board for winter control operations as necessary.

WHEREAS the Conservation Authorities Act (1946) enables municipalities to establish local conservation authorities, and when municipalities choose to form such authorities, they assume responsibility for governance and funding through the appointment of a Board of Directors and the provision of an annual levy; AND WHEREAS local municipalities currently provide over 50% of total conservation authority funding, while the Province of Ontario provides less than 5%; AND WHEREAS municipalities have governed their respective conservation authorities for decades, tailoring programs and services to local watershed needs, maintaining accountable services standards, and ensuring fair and predictable costs for ratepayers; AND WHEREAS Bill 68 (Schedule 3) and ERO posting 025-1257 proposes to consolidate Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into seven regional authorities and create the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency, a Crown agency that would assume oversight over conservation authorities and have the ability to levy authorities to cover its costs; AND WHEREAS the Province already possesses the authority to establish overarching legislation, regulations, standards and policies across all conservation authorities through the Conservation Authorities Act and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks; Loyalist Township calls on the Government of Ontario to maintain local, independent, municipally governed, watershed-based conservation authorities to ensure strong local rep

WHEREAS the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) Pension Fund serves over 1,000 employers and over half a million employees and retirees from diverse groups including: municipal governments, school boards, libraries, police and fire departments, children’s aid societies, and electricity distribution companies; and WHEREAS the long-standing jointly-sponsored governance model with two corporate boards has provided stability, accountability, and fairness for both plan members and employers for more than two decades; and WHEREAS the Government of Ontario has passed legislative changes to OMERS’ governance structure through Bill 68; and WHEREAS these changes would replace the current OMERS Sponsors Corporation with a new Sponsors Council that would lose its corporate status and independent resources; and WHEREAS the proposed model could allow pension decisions affecting municipal employers and employees to be made without meaningful municipal oversight, increasing financial risk for municipalities and local taxpayers; and WHEREAS municipalities are already under significant financial strain and cannot absorb additional pension costs without consequences for property taxes or local services; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Loyalist Township does not support the legislative changes to the OMERS Act contained in Bill 68 and requests that the Government of Ontario reconsider the advisability of proceeding with these changes; FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Corporation o

That Council now resolve into Committee of the Whole.

That the report from the Heritage, Culture and Tourism Division, dated Tuesday, January 13, 2026, re: Arts, Culture and Heritage Master Plan – Existing Conditions and Engagement Summary Report, be received; and That staff be directed to incorporate any comments provided at this Committee of the Whole meeting into the development of the Arts, Culture and Heritage Master Plan.

That Committee of the Whole now adjourn at 8:39 p.m.

That all items in the Consent Agenda dated January 13, 2026 be approved as presented and that the necessary action be taken.

That By-law 2026-3 to confirm the proceedings of Council of Loyalist Township be enacted and passed and that the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to sign and seal.

That the meeting now adjourn at 8:42 p.m.