Body: EOWC Type: Agenda Meeting: Regular Date: November 28, 2024 Collection: Council Agendas Municipality: Frontenac County
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EOWC CAOs’ Special Meeting Agenda Thursday, November 28, 2024 – 8:30 a.m. Virtual Zoom
Agenda Page 1.
Call to Order/Welcome
Approval of Agenda 2.1 Agenda of the November 28, 2024 EOWC CAOs’ Special Meeting Recommended Motion: “That the agenda for the November 28, 2024 EOWC CAOs’ Special Meeting be adopted as circulated.”
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Approval of Minutes 3.1 Minutes of the EOWC CAOs’ Special meeting held on July 10, 2024 Recommended Motion: “That the minutes of the EOWC CAOs’ Special meeting held on July 10, 2024 be approved as circulated.” 2024-07-10 - CAOs Special Planning Meeting - Minutes
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New / Other Business 4.1 EOWC Election Campaign Update - Brian Teefy, Vice President and Richard Ositashvili, Senior Consultant,StrategyCorp Based on feedback during the last EOWC CAOs’ meeting on November 15, 2024, StrategyCorp and the EOWC staff have developed the below draft election campaign handout following the three priorities. We are looking for CAO verbal and/or written feedback by Monday, December 2 (end-of-day). EOWC Provincial Framework - Final - November 26, 2024 For reference: 2022 Party Platforms Progressive Conservative NDP Liberal
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Next Meeting EOWC 2025 Inaugural Meeting January 9-10, 2025 Kingston, ON
Adjournment Recommended Motion: “That the EOWC CAOs’ Special Meeting be adjourned.”
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Minutes EOWC CAOs’ Planning Meeting 2:00 PM - Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Present:
Maureen Adams, Kevin Farrell, Gary Dyke, Kurt Greaves, Brenda Orchard, Marcia Wallace, Connor Dorey, Jennifer Moore
Regrets:
Stephane Parisien, Sheridan Graham, Craig Kelley, Ron Taylor, Ray Callery, Jason St. Pierre
Guests:
Meredith Staveley-Watson, Lauren Wilkinson
Call to Order / Welcome The EOWC’s Manager of Government Relations and Policy, Meredith Staveley-Watson, called the meeting to order at 2:03pm.
Approval of Agenda 2.1. Agenda of the July 10, 2024 EOWC CAOs’ Special Meeting Motion “That the agenda of the July 10, 2024 EOWC CAOs’ Special Meeting be adopted as circulated.” Moved by: Brenda Orchard Seconded by: Kurt Greaves Carried
Approval of Minutes 3.1. Minutes of the EOWC CAOs’ Special meeting held on January 21, 2024 and May 24, 2024 Motion “That the minutes of the EOWC CAO’s Special Meeting held January 21, 2024 and May 24, 2024 be approved as circulated.” Moved by: Kevin Farrell Seconded by: Gary Dyke Carried
Page 3 Special of 14 meeting held on July 10, 2024 Minutes of the EOWC CAOs'
4.
New / Other Business
Page 4 Special of 14 meeting held on July 10, 2024 Minutes of the EOWC CAOs'
4.1.
Infrastructure - Marcia Wallace / Meredith Staveley-Watson / All •
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Meredith gave an update that there will no longer be multi-ministry meetings at AMO 2024, and as a result, staff are looking to consolidate the multi-ministry request into a single delegation with the Ministry of Infrastructure which is pending approval Discussion ensued around the new Ministry of Rural Affairs and requesting a single delegation to discuss the infrastructure paper Proposed having four separate meetings, splitting the caucus among them so everyone can attend at least one meeting - groups of three, pending acceptance The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) is setting up individual meetings. EOWC staff directed to move ahead asking the EOWC for a delegation with the OMA regarding the healthcare strategic priority and physician recruitment and retention EOWC AMO 2024 Multi-Ministry Presentation Meredith discussed the presentation that was developed for a multi-ministry meeting, noting that it focuses on key topics and challenges. Meredith recommended using this presentation later, and instead develop a one-pager with main points for the Ministry of Infrastructure delegation Brenda Orchard led a discussion around infrastructure strategies to frame conversation o Protecting transportation links to Canada and border crossings – discussed researching commerce traffic on local bridges compared to Windsor/Niagara Falls to highlight the significance of protecting Trans Canada routes o On the housing front, emphasized the need for housing to support industrial recruitment and talent attraction for these investments o Highlighted the uniqueness of communal servicing due to council collaboration, making it a standout feature
‘Mind The Gap’ Infrastructure Paper Key Takeaways Document Meredith shared the updated one-pager (“Mind the Gap”) as a refreshed handout and asked for feedback The group highlighted the 28% total debt capacity, pointing to the fact that it might be misinterpreting how much debt we are taking out when municipalities are
Page 5 Special of 14 meeting held on July 10, 2024 Minutes of the EOWC CAOs'
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much closer to using up their debt capacity Discussion ensued about funding implications for municipal services corporation model AMO draft ministry speaking notes Discussed that it would be beneficial to give elected officials a single, focused question which should provide a more directed and useful answer CAOs to send any additional feedback to Meredith Meredith will have preparation meetings for each delegation Resolution template for municipalities Discussed that the resolution template to municipalities has gone out and has received three responses Meredith encouraged members to nudge elected officials to promote it at the local level
4.2. Housing - Connor Dorey / Meredith Staveley-Watson / All • The group discussed providing a range vs. a specific number of housing units, with a range based on population and growth projections related to housing needs • The group proposed not to rush, but to work with the ministry to determine accurate numbers, suggesting asking ministries how they determine numbers for other municipalities • It was also discussed that our numbers differentiate from developers because they cover the entire spectrum of housing 4.3. Long-Term Care - Kurt Greaves / Meredith Staveley-Watson / All •
Meredith gave an update on long-term care (LTC)
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With staffing agencies, new hires are coming from the city where there is plenty of work
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Meredith is currently gathering data on staffing costs to understand the financial impact
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A major concern is continuity of care, highlighting issues of falsified credentials and loose rules
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Marcia pointed out that Prince Edward County is addressing the issue of interest rates and their impact, highlighting that interest rates are doubling or tripling the cost of a project
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The group agreed on the importance of addressing interest rates and financing issues and having this as an area of focus
Page 6 Special of 14 meeting held on July 10, 2024 Minutes of the EOWC CAOs'
4.4. Indwell Flourish Follow-Up Discussion - Ray Callery / All • 5.
Discussion deferred until a future CAOs’ meeting
Next Meeting Thursday, July 18, 2024 EOWC Meeting Virtual
Adjournment Motion “That the EOWC CAOs’ Special Meeting be adjourned at 2:59pm.” Moved by: Kevin Farrell Seconded by: Kurt Greaves Carried
Page 7 Special of 14 meeting held on July 10, 2024 Minutes of the EOWC CAOs'
Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) Election Campaign Preparation To: From: Date: Re:
Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus StrategyCorp Inc. 2024/11/19 Election Campaign Priorities and next steps
Background The EOWC needs to narrow down their key regional priorities and funding asks to inform their pre-election campaign going into Q1 2025. After the close results of the Bay of Quinte byelection, Eastern Ontario has the attention of the Premier. The EOWC needs to leverage this opportunity to advance key asks. These asks should align with the EOWC 20242027 Strategic Plan and be communicated in a manner that reinforces the EOWC’s collaborative, partnershipbased approach to engagement with the Ontario Government.
Draft Content Introduction With Ontario communities resurging and new global challenges on the horizon, 2025 is shaping up to be an important year for Canada, Ontario and municipal governments. In Eastern Ontario, the EOWC has been focused on delivering quality local services and advocating for important resources from the Ontario and federal governments. We know our small-urban and rural communities can play a role in Ontario’s continued prosperity. We have space to welcome more Canadians to our communities if we are able to maintain our infrastructure, support our homebuilders to build a range of housing, and attract workers to provide the quality health and public services that Ontarians depend on. The EOWC has been hard at work developing information and recommendations to support provincial investments. Since 2018, the EOWC has developed significant policy positions, including, the Mind the Gap: Municipal Infrastructure Policy Paper, the Regional Housing Plan, and the Rural Housing Information System. In short, Eastern Ontario is ready to work, and ready to grow. In the following pages we have highlighted some of the progress made on our three key strategic priorities (infrastructure, housing and health care) and solutions that will ensure our communities can continue to be part of Ontario’s success.
Infrastructure and Market Housing Infrastructure in rural and small-urban Eastern Ontario is lagging behind the rest of Ontario. A region-by-region comparison shows that more of Eastern Ontario’s infrastructure is in poor or very poor condition.
1-866-231-6535 | strategycorp.com
Page Update 8 of 14- Brian Teefy, Vice President and Richard … EOWC Election Campaign
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All three major economic regions in Eastern Ontario have a lower share of assets in a state of good repair than the provincial average, and two of three have a higher infrastructure backlog as a share of the current replacement value (CRV) than the provincial average. These challenges are further exacerbated outside the larger, single tier urban centers, like Ottawa or Kingston. In Kingston-Pembroke and Muskoka – Kawarthas, storm water is the furthest behind (47.3% and 52.9%, compared to the provincial average of 67%). In the Ottawa region, the biggest gap is in waste water (40.6% compared to a provincial average of 67.3%). Not including growth, the EOWC’s municipalities spend over $403M in capital investments every year to build and repair infrastructure. Despite the significant investment from local taxpayers, the region’s infrastructure gap continues to grow; it is now over $6B, which has deepened by 58% since 2011. The provincial and federal governments need to bring significant additional infrastructure funding to: •
Prevent more critical infrastructure breaches, and
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Support new infrastructure and amenities that will attract new residents and grow our revenue base.
The EOWC’s communities have done the work and have plans to keep building our communities.
Ideas to Build and Repair Core Infrastructure “In many parts of Ontario, existing infrastructure is degrading faster than it is being repaired or replaced, putting services at risk.” – Ontario Government, Municipal Asset Management Planning website Provincial funding programs often come with too much red tape that delay projects from getting started. Now that municipalities have asset management plans in place it is time for the province to provide consistent capital funding to reduce infrastructure gaps. Sustainable capital funding from the province to fund asset management plans will be necessary to keep property tax increases low. •
Increase OCIF Funding from $400M to $1B annually, remove the red tape and tie funding to municipal asset management plans
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Provide an OCIF – Community Building top-up for municipalities meeting specific asset management thresholds to build community enhancement projects such as recreation centres, destination development projects, and climate adaptation initiatives.
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Work towards increased use of municipal service corporations should proceed through two distinct models: urban and rural, without separating capital and operating obligations.
[Quote re PEC innovative financing award…Marcia will know]
Ideas to Build More Housing in Eastern Ontario The EOWC’s communities are ready to build more housing. Per 100,000 people, our communities build 39 homes compared to Toronto’s 17. That’s more than double.
1-866-231-6535 | strategycorp.com
Page Update 9 of 14- Brian Teefy, Vice President and Richard … EOWC Election Campaign
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With funding for housing enabling infrastructure, communal services, and e-permitting platforms, our communities can fast track more homes and build sustainable communities for more Ontarians to live, work and raise their families. Our communities are already doing their part by: •
Creating the Rural Housing Information System (RHIS), tool to help users plan for and build housing across rural and small communities;
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Reducing costs, time, and regulatory barriers by leading communal servicing initiatives through municipal services corporations; and,
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Implementing a Municipal Tax Relief Program to support the most vulnerable in our community.
We have the available land and trained workforce to continue our progress. To build more housing, the EOWC recommends: •
Continuing the housing enabling core services stream of the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program to ensure rural infrastructure can build more housing
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Helping municipalities procure e-permitting solutions that will fast track new housing applications
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Providing funding to allow municipalities to prepare publicly owned land for new housing developments
[Quote re major housing development or innovative regulatory change] Affordable Housing Affordable rental housing and support services are needed for the most vulnerable members of our communities. County or city-wide service managers support citizens with housing options across the housing spectrum, from shelters to rent-geared-to-income housing and other affordable rental options. Municipalities know that we need to work together with the provincial and federal governments to maintain an adequate supply of affordable housing. In fact, provincial legislation requires each county to own and operate a certain number of social housing units. The province also makes it more difficult to house Ontarians most in need, like those on Ontario Works, by penalizing public housing corporations who provide a unit to someone on Ontario Works. Affordable housing is too important to accept a broken system. Our communities need the resources and flexibility to help more people stay in, and find, the housing that they need. The EOWC supports the Solve the Crisis Campaign as Ontario’s communities, including small-urban and rural, cannot solve the homelessness crisis without significant support from the federal and provincial governments. The EOWC’s communities have received additional funds from the province’s 2023 investment of an additional $202M annually in the Homelessness Prevention Fund. But it’s clear, more action is needed to help provide enough housing options for everyone in our communities.
Ideas to Support Residents in Need of Affordable Housing
1-866-231-6535 | strategycorp.com
Page Update 10 of 14 EOWC Election Campaign
- Brian Teefy, Vice President and Richard …
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Create a $20M Home for Good program to support innovative homelessness prevention services in small urban and rural Ontario.
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Provide an additional $200M annually to municipalities to maintain and create more community housing units through the Ontario Housing Priorities Initiative (OHPI).
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Create a Social Service Enhancement Fund, modeled after the pandemic-based Social Services Relief Fund, to address provincial funding gaps in the social services sector
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Provide funding to support the repair and retrofit of community housing projects.
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Increase funding to the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit in partnership with the federal government.
[Quote or success story re successful affordable housing building or program] Healthcare While healthcare is not a direct municipal responsibility, EOWC communities support public health and other community health services while advocating for expanded healthcare services on behalf of their residents. Our residents are asking us to fight for more doctors and better healthcare. To be ready to work and ready to grow, we need sustained health services for our growing communities. Programs like the community paramedicine program are working. But there are gaps that our communities are trying to fill. We need continued investments, led by the province, to support new doctors and services that work in small and rural environments.
Ideas to keep improving healthcare services The EOWC recognizes the hard work that the Ontario Government is putting into delivering healthcare services across Ontario. We strongly encourage Ontario to: •
Invest in more healthcare workers across the system,
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Train and recruit more doctors, and
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Continue the provincial funding for the community paramedic program.
[Quote from Renfrew Warden re Community Paramedicine Program]
About the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus The EOWC Inc. is a non-profit organization advocating for 103 small urban and rural municipalities across eastern Ontario. The EOWC covers an area of 50,000 square kilometres, serving 800,000 residents. For more than 20 years, the EOWC has gained support and momentum by speaking with a united voice to champion regional municipal priorities and work with the government, businesses, non-profit organizations, Indigenous leaders, the media, and the public For more than 20 years, we have a proven record of working together to develop relationships, evidence-based research and innovative solutions that reflect the values and unique character of our region. We are an effective voice that has influenced policy and program development to strengthen municipal governments’ ability to respond to emerging issues and opportunities. We have successfully led regional broadband projects and
1-866-231-6535 | strategycorp.com
Page Update 11 of 14 EOWC Election Campaign
- Brian Teefy, Vice President and Richard …
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improved cellular service. We have also played a critical role in improved implementation of economic development and community service delivery. Eastern Ontario is poised for growth. Our strategic location attracts businesses and a diverse and skilled workforce. Going forward, we will leverage our strengths and foster strategic investment for future generations, while respecting what makes our region distinct. To achieve this vision, we will continue to advocate for effective policy initiatives and collaborate to promote economic growth, social equity, and environmental sustainability. Key areas of focus include fair and consistent funding around infrastructure, paramedic services, long-term care, housing, economic development and other emerging issues that impact municipal service delivery. Our efforts are informed by unwavering dedication and strong leadership and are supported by timely and high-quality research. The EOWC’s priorities will include infrastructure, housing and health care – key pillars that support the EOWC vision. The complexity and cross jurisdictional nature of the challenges facing our communities demand meaningful partnerships across governments, sectors and organizations. To address these issues, we will work together with our many partners to leverage diverse expertise, perspectives, resources, and solutions.
1-866-231-6535 | strategycorp.com
Page Update 12 of 14 EOWC Election Campaign
- Brian Teefy, Vice President and Richard …
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APPENDIX
Figure 1: 2021 Municipal Infrastructure, A Review of Ontario’s Municipal Infrastructure and an Assessment of the State of Repair
1-866-231-6535 | strategycorp.com
Page Update 13 of 14 EOWC Election Campaign
- Brian Teefy, Vice President and Richard …
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1-866-231-6535 | strategycorp.com
Page Update 14 of 14 EOWC Election Campaign
- Brian Teefy, Vice President and Richard …
