From the Council Chambers – June 10, 2025
Elgin County Council met earlier this week for both their Council Meeting and Committee of the Whole Meeting. Here are some key takeaways:
Council Meeting – Council meetings focus on urgent matters, final approvals, and updates for public information.
New Support Role to Strengthen Culture in Elgin County’s Long-Term Care Homes
Elgin County is taking steps to better support staff and strengthen workplace culture in its three Long-Term Care Homes. Council received an update from the Director of People and Culture—formerly Human Resources—about a new initiative that places a dedicated team member directly in the Homes on a trial basis. This new role will assist with return-to-work meetings, investigations, employee engagement, and one-on-one support.
This initiative builds on recent efforts by the People and Culture team to be more present and accessible at the Homes, including regular on-site visits to address questions about payroll, benefits, and other staff concerns. Early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and the County hopes the trial role will reduce grievances, improve hiring, and support a stronger workplace culture.
Impact on Elgin County Taxpayers:
This initiative is being implemented using existing staff resources and does not result in additional costs to taxpayers at this time.
Council Receives Update on Provincial Legislation Impacting Municipal Planning
Elgin County Council received an update from the Director of Planning and Development outlining the impacts of three new provincial bills—Bill 5, Bill 17, and Bill 30—that propose major changes to Ontario’s planning system.
The proposed legislation would allow the Province to fast-track developments in areas called Special Economic Zones, potentially bypassing municipal planning rules, public consultation, and environmental oversight. It could also reduce development charge revenues used to fund infrastructure, leaving municipalities with fewer tools to manage growth responsibly. The update highlighted the need for careful local planning to protect long-term sustainability and ensure growth benefits the whole community.
Following the update, Council directed staff to provide feedback to the Province outlining the County’s concerns with the proposed changes.
Impact on Elgin County Taxpayers:
These legislative changes may shift infrastructure and servicing costs from developers to municipalities, creating financial pressures that could result in future costs for local taxpayers.
For the full Council Agenda, click here.
Committee of the Whole Meeting (COTW) – COTW meetings are held directly following Council and focus on detailed discussions and reviewing reports. Decisions on the following matters will be finalized at the June 24th Council Meeting:
Elgin County Proposes Clear Criteria for Tourism Promotions
Elgin County has proposed a new Tourism Content Policy that outlines clear criteria for which businesses and events are eligible to be featured in tourism promotions, including the Elgin Tourism website, the Visitor Guide, and the Taste Guide.
The policy was developed to bring consistency and transparency to the selection process, replacing informal guidelines with clear standards. It prioritizes tourism-ready businesses that offer high-quality visitor experiences such as farm markets with hands-on activities or restaurants that highlight local flavours, and events that can attract visitors from outside the area.
By setting clear expectations, the policy helps ensure that tourism promotions reflect the best of Elgin County and support local economic development.
Impact on Elgin County Taxpayers:
There are no financial impacts associated with adopting the Tourism Content Policy.
For the full Committee of the Whole Agenda, click here.