Municipal Matters – September 7-11

Municipal Matters

Items to watch from upcoming municipal council meetings across Huron County, September 7 to 11

The Huron Chamber of Commerce has introduced a weekly scan of municipal council agendas across Huron County to help members and local businesses keep an eye on items that may affect business, development, infrastructure, downtowns, tourism, workforce, and community services. Each Friday, we share selected items of interest from council agendas for the week ahead.

This is not intended to be a full analysis of every agenda item, nor a statement of Chamber positions. It is a practical “things to watch” list, highlighting items that may be worth following, attending, or reviewing in more detail as they move through local council processes. Some municipal agendas may not be included in a given week if they do not contain items that appear to have a clear connection to the Chamber community. If there is something you think we missed, let us know.

Candidate Conversations begin this week

The Huron Chamber’s Candidate Conversations begin this week, with the first event Wednesday, September 9, in Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh. Additional events are being held in municipalities where representatives to Huron County Council are not acclaimed. These are moderated, in-person conversations focused on both local and county issues, rather than traditional debates. Visit the Candidate Conversations page for the full event schedule and details.

Help shape the conversation: If there is an issue, question or topic you want candidates to address, please submit it through the Candidate Conversations page. Those submissions will help shape the moderated discussions.

Issues appearing across several agendas

2027 OPP municipal policing costs: The Solicitor General has advised OPP-policed municipalities that, for 2027, no municipality will see its total OPP policing amount increase by more than 11 per cent compared with 2026, excluding separately contracted additional policing services. The measure applies only to the 2027 billing cycle, with individual municipal billing statements expected this fall. The update appears on the Bluewater, Goderich, Huron East and South Huron agendas.

WSIB Second Injury and Enhancement Fund: Five councils will receive correspondence from the Municipality of Trent Hills regarding the WSIB’s elimination of the Second Injury and Enhancement Fund, effective June 16. The fund provided employer cost relief when a pre-existing condition contributed to the cost or duration of a workplace injury claim. The Trent Hills resolution asks the Province and WSIB to review the effects of the change, consult affected stakeholders and consider a revised or replacement cost-relief mechanism.

In this edition

• Bluewater
• Central Huron
• Goderich
• Huron County
• Huron East
• North Huron
• South Huron

Municipality of Bluewater

Meeting: September 8, 2026, 6:30 p.m.

Item 5.8: Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI)
Council will receive information on Huron County’s proposed participation in the next round of Ontario’s REDI initiative, which is intended to help regional communities address labour shortages through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. The initiative would involve employer outreach, community engagement and pathways to permanent residence for eligible skilled foreign workers with local job offers. County data indicates 54 Temporary Foreign Work Permits were issued to Bluewater employers in 2025. The Huron Chamber has been closely involved in this initiative with Huron County and local employers for more than a year.

Item 5.9: Solicitor General, 2027 OPP Municipal Policing Costs
Council will receive the provincial update limiting increases in municipal OPP policing costs for 2027. No OPP-policed municipality will see its total amount owed increase by more than 11 per cent compared with 2026, excluding additional services arranged through separate agreements. The limit is a one-year measure for the 2027 billing cycle, with municipal billing statements expected this fall.

Item 7.1.3: Community Improvement Plan Application, File CIP03-2026, 150 Main Street, Dashwood
Staff recommend approving a $5,000 Commercial Façade Improvement Grant for 150 Dashwood Main Street. The proposed work would remove and replace the building’s front brick façade. Because the regular 2026 Community Improvement Plan allocation has already been awarded, staff recommend funding the grant from the Bluewater Economic Development Reserve. The work is intended to improve the appearance of the property while retaining its brick façade.

Item 7.2.2: Ontario Data Centre Playbook
Bluewater staff are recommending comments on Ontario’s draft Data Centre Playbook before the provincial consultation closes September 12. Staff suggest data centre proponents should be required to obtain municipal support, rather than simply seek it, and that public consultation should be built into the process. The report also discusses issues including water and electricity use, noise, infrastructure capacity and the financial implications for host communities. Existing zoning and site plan controls would continue to apply to proposals within Bluewater.

Municipality of Central Huron

Meeting: September 8, 2026, 5:00 p.m.

Item 6.3.5: Municipality of Trent Hills, Resolution regarding the Elimination of the WSIB Second Injury and Enhancement Fund
Council will receive a resolution concerning the WSIB’s elimination of the Second Injury and Enhancement Fund. Trent Hills is asking for a review of the effects on employers and municipalities, consultation with affected stakeholders, and consideration of a revised or replacement mechanism to provide cost relief where pre-existing conditions contribute to workplace injury claim costs.

Item 9.1.1: Consent Application, File C25-2026 (Plunkett)
Council is being asked to confirm its support for a Central Huron Official Plan policy requiring that remnant farmland created through a surplus farm residence severance be rezoned to prohibit a new residence. The issue has arisen because the farmer purchasing the retained lands objects to the restriction applying to the entire merged parcel proposed through application C25-2026. Council’s resolution will provide direction on how the municipal policy is to be applied to this application.

Town of Goderich

Meeting: September 8, 2026, 4:00 p.m.

Item 7.4: Taxicab Deregulation and Rideshare Services in the Town of Goderich
Staff recommend repealing Goderich’s existing by-law licensing taxicabs, shuttle vehicles and limousines, while not creating a separate municipal licensing system for rideshare operators. Rideshare services would instead operate subject to applicable provincial and federal requirements. Staff say changes in passenger transportation, including app-based platforms and trips crossing municipal boundaries, have made the existing licensing model less effective. Taxi licensing revenue over the past five years has ranged from $175 to $730 annually.

Item 7.13: Proposed New Sign By-law
Council will consider moving the Town’s proposed new Sign By-law forward following earlier discussion. The updated proposal includes a variance process allowing owners of non-conforming signs to seek case-by-case approval. Staff say the existing by-law lacks flexibility to address newer technologies, alternative sign types and sign overages. If approved by Council, the proposed by-law and set fines would be forwarded to the Ministry of the Attorney General for review before the by-law returns for formal adoption.

Item 9.14: Office of the Solicitor General, OPP Municipal Policing Costs for 2027
Council will receive the provincial update limiting increases in municipal OPP policing costs for 2027. No OPP-policed municipality will see its total amount owed increase by more than 11 per cent compared with 2026, excluding separately contracted additional policing services. The limit applies to the 2027 billing cycle, with individual municipal billing statements expected this fall.

County of Huron

Meeting: September 9, 2026, 9:00 a.m.

Item 8.3: Zoning By-law Report
County Planning will update Council on zoning amendments received from local municipalities and reviewed for conformity with official plans. Among the changes are a Huron East rezoning to facilitate an apartment building at 76 Sports Drive in Brussels, a Morris-Turnberry amendment supporting an agriculturally focused trucking business, and Bluewater amendments reflecting new wastewater capacity in Bayfield. The Bayfield changes allow additional residential and mixed uses in several zones where servicing capacity had previously resulted in holding provisions.

Item 11.4: Strategic Priorities, September 2026
Council will receive the CAO’s latest organization-wide strategic priorities tracker. Current Economic Development work includes implementation following the 2026 strategic planning process, Succession Ontario, and reporting on the Summer Company program, with tourism consultation and an immigration retention study also identified. The broader tracker provides updates across County departments on housing and homelessness, transportation, infrastructure, technology modernization, emergency services and other ongoing priorities.

Item 12.7: Municipality of Trent Hills, Resolution regarding Elimination of the WSIB Second Injury and Enhancement Fund
County Council will receive the Trent Hills resolution concerning elimination of the WSIB Second Injury and Enhancement Fund. The resolution raises concerns about potential increases in employer costs where pre-existing conditions contribute to workplace injury claims and asks for a review, stakeholder consultation and consideration of a revised or replacement cost-relief mechanism.

Item 12.16: Town of Ingersoll, Resolution regarding Vacant Commercial Storefront Tax
County Council will receive correspondence supporting calls for Ontario municipalities to be given authority to implement a Vacant Commercial Storefront Tax or similar levy. The proposal originated with Prince Edward County, which argued that persistent storefront vacancies can affect main street vitality and surrounding businesses. It asks Ontario to amend the Municipal Act to provide municipalities with permissive authority to use such a tool, while also examining what measures may already be available under current legislation.

Municipality of Huron East

Meeting: September 8, 2026, 6:00 p.m.

Item 6.1: Huron County, Huron Housing and Homelessness Monthly Share-Out
Council will receive Huron County’s August housing and homelessness update. It reports at least 151 households experiencing homelessness during the month, representing 187 people including children. Of those households, 137 had experienced chronic homelessness for six months or more during the previous year. The update also concludes a series examining recommendations aimed at making homelessness a rare, brief and non-recurring experience.

Item 6.2: Office of the Solicitor General, Update on OPP Municipal Policing Costs for 2027
Council will receive the provincial update limiting increases in municipal OPP policing costs for 2027. No OPP-policed municipality will see its total amount owed increase by more than 11 per cent compared with 2026, excluding separately contracted additional policing services. The limit is specific to the 2027 billing cycle, and detailed municipal billing statements are expected this fall.

Item 6.7: Municipality of Trent Hills, Elimination of the WSIB Second Injury and Enhancement Fund
Council will receive the Trent Hills resolution regarding the elimination of the WSIB Second Injury and Enhancement Fund. The resolution asks the Province and WSIB to review the financial implications for employers, consult municipalities, employers, labour and other stakeholders, and consider a revised or replacement cost-relief mechanism for claims where pre-existing conditions are a contributing factor.

Item 16: Closed Session
Following the regular meeting, Council is scheduled to meet in closed session. The published agenda cites litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality, as well as personal matters about identifiable individuals and labour relations. The underlying details of those matters are not public. Council is also scheduled to consider adoption of the July 7 closed-session minutes.

Township of North Huron

Meeting: September 8, 2026, 6:00 p.m.

Item 4.2.1: CC-2026-03 North Huron Child Care South Site Project Update
Construction of the North Huron Child Care South Site remains on schedule, with substantial completion anticipated during the first week of November and full project handover projected for December 1. The Township has now received $2.034 million in funding from Huron County for the expansion. Staff report that $88,457.54 remained in the construction contingency at the time of the report and do not currently expect remaining construction changes to exceed that amount.

Item 4.3.2: Town of Greater Napanee, Resolution, Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund Support
Council will receive correspondence supporting calls for the Province to maintain the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund at its current increased level beyond 2026. Ontario doubled annual OCIF funding from $200 million to $400 million for 2021 through 2026. Municipal advocacy has focused on making that level permanent so communities can continue addressing infrastructure renewal and asset management needs alongside growth-related projects.

Item 4.3.3: Municipality of Trent Hills, Elimination of the WSIB Second Injury and Enhancement Fund
Council will receive the Trent Hills resolution concerning the elimination of the WSIB Second Injury and Enhancement Fund. The resolution asks for a review of the change’s effects on employers, consultation with affected stakeholders, and consideration of a revised or replacement mechanism for employer cost relief where pre-existing conditions contribute to workplace injury claims.

Item 6.2.1: FIN-2026-15 Amendment to Development Charges By-law
Staff recommend updating North Huron’s Development Charges By-law to remove wording that causes it to expire after five years. Provincial legislation was amended in 2022 to allow development charge by-laws to remain in force for up to 10 years. The proposed amendment would link the by-law’s expiry directly to the Development Charges Act instead of specifying a fixed term. Staff emphasize that the change would not alter development charge rates, schedules, indexing or current charge amounts.

Item 9.2: By-law No. 61-2026, Township of North Huron Marketing Plan
Council will consider the by-law formally adopting North Huron’s new Marketing Plan. The plan is intended as a tactical roadmap for communicating with residents and local businesses while attracting investors, tourists and visitors. It identifies target audiences, marketing channels, timelines, priorities and performance measures. Proposed tactics include a “More to Explore” campaign, coordinated marketing calendars, community event promotion and other initiatives intended to strengthen how North Huron presents itself to residents, businesses, visitors and prospective investors.

Municipality of South Huron

Meeting: September 8, 2026, 6:00 p.m.

Item 14.2: Ministry of the Solicitor General, 2027 OPP Municipal Policing Costs
Council will receive the provincial update limiting increases in municipal OPP policing costs for 2027. No OPP-policed municipality will see its total amount owed increase by more than 11 per cent compared with 2026, excluding separately contracted additional policing services. The limit is a one-year measure for the 2027 billing cycle, with individual municipal billing statements expected this fall.

Item 14.12: Municipality of Trent Hills, Elimination of the WSIB Second Injury and Enhancement Fund
Council will receive the Trent Hills resolution concerning the WSIB’s elimination of the Second Injury and Enhancement Fund. The resolution asks the Province and WSIB to assess the financial implications for employers, undertake consultation with municipalities and other affected stakeholders, and consider a revised or replacement employer cost-relief mechanism where pre-existing conditions contribute to workplace injury claims.

Notes

• Correspondence items: Correspondence items are included in council agendas because they have been received by the municipality and are therefore part of the public record. Their inclusion in a council agenda does not indicate that the municipality has endorsed, verified, or taken a position on the content. These items may or may not be discussed at a council meeting.
• Closed sessions: Municipal councils may meet in closed session only for reasons permitted under the Municipal Act. When Municipal Matters notes a closed session, it is to acknowledge that a closed meeting is occurring; the substance of the discussion may not be publicly available unless council reports back in open session.