Council Highlights - March 23, 2026

March 23, 2026

Pryde Aquatic and Wellness Centre Fundraising Closeout Report

Council heard a report, Over the past two and a half years, the fundraising team has advanced the Quiet Ask and the Public Fundraising Campaign. This report provides Council with a final update of the Pryde AWC fundraising efforts towards achieving the fundraising goal, grant opportunities and donor recognition details. The fundraising campaign exceeds the goal of $3,000,000 and the total amount raised for the campaign is $3,135,991.

This was carried.

Draft Development Charges By-law and Rates

The Town is updating its existing Development Charges (DC) Background Study and By-law prior to the 5th anniversary date of the existing By-law, which was passed July 19, 2021. Hemson Consulting Ltd. has been engaged to assist in the preparation of the required documents, and is presented the draft rates, proposed changes to the by-law, and summary of the local service policy.

This was carried.

Kincardine Family Health Team (KFHT) Facility Leases

Council heard a report to providing an overview of a proposed service alignment whereby the Kincardine Family Health Team would provide primary care services across the Town’s medical clinic facilities. This approach is intended to increase local access to primary care, support physicians practicing in each facility, and position the community to respond to the Province’s Primary Care Action Team rollout.

This was carried.

12 Month Ice Pilot Program – Year 1 Summary

Council heard a report. At the July 8, 2024, meeting, Council approved the Three-Year, 12-month Ice Pilot Program to commence in 2025 at the Community Complex. This report provides Council with a summary of the first year of the three-year pilot program.

This was carried.

2025 Council Remuneration

Council heard a report, Section 284(1) of the Municipal Act, 2001 (the Act), requires the Treasurer to submit an itemized statement of remuneration and expenses paid to or on behalf of each Council Member and to members of local boards.

This was carried.

Water System Annual Report 2025

In accordance with O.Reg. 170/03 of the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Water System Section 11 Annual Report and the Section 22 Summary Report are being provided to Council, and will be made available at the municipal office, and on the Town’s website. To date the Ministry of the Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP) Inspection Report has not been provided to the Town, it will be made available once it is released.

This was carried.

Bill 21 Motion Support Response

A motion from Prince Edward County to support Bill 21 was debated by Council at the March 9th, 2026 meeting. Council asked that more information be brought back before a decision is made. This report outlines further background and attaches a report from Western Ontario Warden’s Council (WOWC) from their February 6, 2026 meeting.

This was carried.

Athletic Field and Ball Diamond Allocation Policy

As Saugeen Shores continues to grow and our recreational demands evolve, the need for a fair, consistent, and transparent approach to scheduling our ball diamonds has become increasingly clear. The proposed policy identifies how user groups will be prioritized when considering allocation requests for Town owned athletic fields and ball diamonds will be allocated each season.

This was carried.

Communications

Council received the following for information: 

• Airport Advisory Committee Minutes - Oct 31 2025
• Committee of Adjustment Minutes - Jan 12, 2026
• Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team Information
• Municipal Heritage Committee Meeting Minutes - Feb 28 2026
• Online Campaign School Media Release
• Ontario Public Works Association Executive Committee and Board of Directors Announcement
• Port Elgin BIA Board Minutes - Feb 17 2026
• Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit Minutes - Jan 9 2026
• Saugeen Shores Police Service Board Minutes - Jan 21 2026
• 2025 Airport Committee Report
• Top Aggregate Producing Municipalities of Ontario January 2026 Newsletter
• Township of Perry - Reduced Rate Distribution of Library Resources
• TSBP - Excerpt from Council Meeting Minutes -Resolution

Business Arising from Closed Session

Mayor L. Charbonneau reported that during the Closed to Public Session, Council approved Closed to Public minutes and received information regarding ongoing negotiations on behalf of the municipality on the Bruce C Community Readiness Funding.

Support for County of Prince Edward Resolution - Support for Bill 21, Protect Our Food Act, 2025

Council supported a resolution from the County of Prince Edward on March 9, 2026, regarding Bill 21, Protect Our Food Act, 2025.

This was carried.

Motion to Endorse the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario Proposal to include $10M per year in the provincial budget for Heritage Helping Housing Grant Funding

Whereas older buildings have inherent sustainability and provide economic, environmental and social benefits for Ontario communities; and,

Whereas re-use of existing buildings reduces the need for increased infrastructure that accompanies new builds such as sewer and water services, new roads and sidewalks; and,

Whereas re-use of existing building can reduce construction waste and extend the life expectancy of landfills; and,

Whereas keeping older buildings helps a community remain visually richer and enhances identity while building its tourism brand and appeal; and,

Whereas creating a new, application-based, matching grant program of $10M/year, modelled on an existing Alberta program would incentivize owners and smaller developers to keep, fix and reuse heritage buildings to create new housing; and,

Whereas such a grant program would provide an alternative to the Ontario heritage property tax relief program, which has limited impact on developers and reduces municipal revenues; and,

Whereas such a grant program would provide a simpler and more direct way for heritage building owners to fund renovations or conservation; and,

Whereas Ontario developers surveyed by the National Trust for Canada in 2014 ranked a heritage-revolving fund as their top incentive to encourage heritage development if:

• the grants are simple to apply for and to administer; and,
• the fund is large enough to meet at least 33% of the demand so that applicants have a reasonable chance of recovering the cost and effort of applying.

Therefore, be it Resolved That the Council of the Town of Saugeen Shores endorse the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) Proposal to include $10M per year in the 2026 provincial budget for Heritage Helping Housing (HHH) grant funding, and that this resolution be sent to the Premier, Minister of Finance, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, and MPP Lisa Thompson,  and be circulated to all municipalities in Ontario.

This was carried.