Regular Council

THAT this Regular Meeting of Council is hereby called to order at 4:05 p.m.

THAT the agenda be accepted as presented.

THAT the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held January 9, 2024 be adopted as circulated and that same be filed in the Clerk's Office.

THAT Council hereby receives a copy of the Minutes of the Police Services Board for November 20, 2023 and same be filed in the Clerk's Office.

THAT Council hereby receives copies of the OPP Monthly Reports for November & December 2023, and same be filed in the Clerk's Office.

THAT Council hereby receives the report from the Manager of Operations regarding the roadway renaming request and directs the Clerk to forward the following road names to the MTO for recommendation: 1). The naming of the roadway section labelled “Unnamed Road A” on the attached to Silver Lake Avenue. 2). The naming of the roadway section labelled “Unnamed Road B” on the attached to Pearl Station Road. 3). The naming of the roadway section labelled “Unnamed Road C” on the attached to remain as Road No.5 South.

THAT Council receives the following report and directs the Clerk to bring forward a by-law to repeal the Early Retirement Incentives By-law 1976-99; AND THAT the same be filed in the Clerk's Office.

THAT Council agrees that the 2024 Town Hall Meetings will be scheduled on July 10, 2024 and October 24, 2024, at 6pm at the MacGregor Recreation Centre; AND THAT Council hereby directs the Clerk to advertise in the Shuniah News, on our website and social media pages.

THAT Council receives the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority Inventory of Programs; AND THAT the same be filed in the Clerk's Office.

THAT a by-law to set the 2024 tax ratios be read a First and Second time this 30th day of January 2024.

THAT a by-law to set the 2024 tax ratios be read a Third and Final time and numbered 3338-24. AND FURTHER THAT the by-law be engrossed in the By-law Book.

THAT a by-law to set the 2024 rates of taxations and the 2024 budget be read a First and Second time this 30th day of January 2024.

THAT a by-law to set the 2024 rates of taxation and the 2024 budget be read a Third and Final time and numbered 3339-24. AND FURTHER THAT a by-law be engrossed in the By-law Book.

THAT a by-law to Repeal the Early Retirement Incentives By-law 1976-99 be read a First and Second time this 30th day of January 2024.

THAT a by-law to Repeal the Early Retirement Incentives By-law 1976-99 be read a Third and Final time and numbered 3340-24. AND FURTHER THAT a by-law be engrossed in the By-law Book.

THAT Council hereby receives the following correspondence: a. TBDSSAB - Regular Board Meeting Minutes from December 14, 2023 b. City of Mississauga - Resolution re: Landlord & Tenant Board Reforms c. TBDHU - Board of Health Meeting Minutes from December 20, 2023 d. TBDML - Minutes from September 16, 2023 & Minutes from October 18, 2023 e. Town of Mono - Resolution re: Road Safety Emergency and the same be filed in the Clerk's Office.

THAT Council hereby receives and supports the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board's (TBDSSAB) 2024 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference Briefing and Resolution and the same be filed in the Clerk's Office; AND THAT Council directs the Clerk to forward a copy of this resolution to William Bradica, CAO of TBDSSAB.

THAT Council hereby receives and supports the Resolution from the Thunder Bay District Municipal League regarding Flashing Lights on Stop Signs in Highway Construction Zones; AND THAT Council directs the Clerk to forward same to the Northwest Ontario Municipal Association, all municipalities in the Thunder Bay District, and to the Minister of Transportation; AND THAT same be filed in the Clerk's Office.

THAT Council hereby receives and supports the Resolution from the City of Sarnia regarding Carbon Tax; AND THAT Council directs the Clerk to forward same to the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau; Northwest Ontario Municipal Association(NOMA), and Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO); AND THAT same be filed in the Clerk's Office.

WHEREAS, municipal public works departments from across the Province of Ontario provide invaluable services to our communities ensuring the health and safety of all residents; AND WHEREAS, if it was not for our municipal public works employees from across the Province of Ontario maintaining our public roads systems, our communities would not be able to function as emergency personnel could not respond to calls, school buses could not get our children to school, residents would not be able to get to work, school or appointments and many more basic functions would not be able to happen; AND WHEREAS, municipal public works departments are already feeling the impacts of a labour shortage, which will only be exasperated over the next three to five years, which will cause levels of service municipalities are able to provide to ensure the health and safety of our residents to decrease; AND WHEREAS, there is currently no provincial-wide course that properly trains potential municipal public works employees, specifically relating to municipal heavy equipment. THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED, that the Municipality of Shuniah supports the work of the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors to develop a Municipal Equipment Operator Course to address this issue; AND THAT, the Municipality of Shuniah calls on the Province of Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Training, Immigration and Skilled Trades to fully fund the Municipal Equipment Operator Course in 2024

THAT Council hereby receives and supports the Resolution from the Township of White River regarding AV Terrace Bay Shutdown; AND THAT Council directs the Clerk to forward same to the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford; Minister of Natural Resources; Northwest Ontario Municipal Association(NOMA), and Thunder Bay District Municipal League (TBDML); AND THAT same be filed in the Clerk's Office.

WHEREAS current provincial-municipal fiscal arrangements are undermining Ontario’s economic prosperity and quality of life; WHEREAS nearly a third of municipal spending in Ontario is for services in areas of provincial responsibility and expenditures are outpacing provincial contributions by nearly $4 billion a year; WHEREAS municipal revenues, such as property taxes, do not grow with the economy or inflation; WHEREAS unprecedented population and housing growth will require significant investments in municipal infrastructure; WHEREAS municipalities are being asked to take on complex health and social challenges – like homelessness, supporting asylum seekers and addressing the mental health and addictions crises; WHEREAS inflation, rising interest rates, and provincial policy decisions are sharply constraining municipal fiscal capacity; WHEREAS property taxpayers – including people on fixed incomes and small businesses – can’t afford to subsidize income re-distribution programs for those most in need; WHEREAS the province can, and should, invest more in the prosperity of communities; WHEREAS municipalities and the provincial government have a strong history of collaboration; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Province of Ontario commit to undertaking with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario a comprehensive social and economic prosperity review to promote the stability and sustainability of municipal finances across Ontario;

THAT Council hereby receives a copy of the list of Unfinished Business dated January 24, 2024, and that same be filed in the Clerk’s Office.

THAT a By-law to confirm the proceedings of Council be read a First, Second and Third time on this 30th day of January 2024 and Numbered 3341-24 AND THAT the said By-law be engrossed in the By-law Book.

THAT the hour of 5:08 p.m. having arrived this regular Meeting of Council hereby adjourns.