Council Approves Notice of Motion on AI Data Centres

Council approved a Notice of Motion from Councillor Kimberly DeYong to direct Administration “to undertake a review and study of the County’s land use planning policies in relation to artificial intelligence (AI) data centres” and provide Council with an initial report on the scope of any study to be undertaken along with a proposed public engagement strategy to help Council determine whether a third-party should conduct the study. Council also approved an amendment to make it clear that nothing in the resolution shall be interpreted as “endorsing, encouraging or facilitating” the development of AI Data Centres within Essex County.

Essex County resident Tyler Reh delegated to Council about AI Data Centres prior to Council’s consideration of the Notice of Motion. He also submitted a petition that was formally received by Council.

Watch a video of the delegation and discussion!

Quarterly Procurement Summary

Council voted to receive as information the Quarterly Procurement Update Report for the second quarter of 2026.

In accordance with the County’s Procurement Policy, the report provided Council with a summary of “contract awards greater than $500,000 that were within budget and free of irregularities.”

There were eight such contracts completed between April 1 and June 30, 2026, including the purchase of new ambulances and multiple road, bridge and culvert projects.

Read the report!

County Complying with ‘Buy Ontario’ Procurement Directive

Council voted to receive as information a report outlining the County’s implementation of the province’s ‘Buy Ontario’ procurement requirements.

The County is implementing measures within its existing procurement framework, “including the continued requirement for transparent, fair, open and accountable procurement practices that comply with applicable trade agreements, procurement legislation and municipal policies,” said a Council report.

The Province of Ontario enacted the Buy Ontario Act (Public Sector Procurement), 2025 on December 11, 2025. The Municipal Buy Ontario Procurement Directive, which came into effect on April 13, 2026, applies to municipalities, local boards and the broader public sector. The directive establishes the framework to prioritize Ontario and Canadian goods and services in procurement across the public sector.

• The Buy Ontario framework seeks to:
• support Ontario and Canadian businesses
• strengthen local supply-chain security
• enhance economic resilience
• maximize the economic benefits of public spending within the province. 

The Municipal Buy Ontario Procurement Directive introduced specific requirements for two strategic procurement categories: (1) Fleet Vehicles, and (2) Capital Infrastructure.

Since the directive came into effect, the County has incorporated Buy Ontario evaluation methodology into its procurements, while continuing to meet legislative and trade agreement requirements.

To date, the County has utilized Buy Ontario evaluation methods for two infrastructure procurements, involving demolition and culvert replacement projects. Proponents were required to identify the proportion of Ontario-made goods and services included in their proposal by completing a Domestic Supply Chain Plan with their submission. Regional collaboration has also helped support this work, with municipalities sharing documentation, tools and lessons learned.

Read the report!

Council Updated on Homeless Encampments in the County

Council voted to receive as information a report providing an update on encampments in the County. A homeless encampment is a temporary outdoor settlement where people experiencing homelessness reside in tents, or other makeshift structures, said a report to Council. These sites are typically situated on public or private property without official authorization and emerge due to a lack of safe, affordable or permanent housing. To be designated as an encampment, there needs to be two or more tents, or structures, with evidence of people living in them.

The report found there were three encampments in the County from April 1 to June 30, 2026. County Outreach Workers continue to collaborate with various municipal staff including by-law officers, parks and recreational staff and the Ontario Provincial Police to encourage individuals to vacate encampments because of public safety concerns. Outreach Workers monitored and supported 23 individuals in those encampments, all of which were located in the Municipality of Leamington.

“It is important to note that the County’s role is primarily supportive and service-based, focusing on engagement, de-escalation, and connection to housing and social services, rather than enforcement,” said the report!

Council Approves Strategic Plan Governance Roadmap, and Decision Filter Framework

Council approved the Strategic Plan Governance Roadmap and Decision Filter Framework, as recommended in a report from CAO Sandra Zwiers.

The report provided Council with an update on the March 18, 2026 Strategic Plan Check-In and Alignment Session, facilitated by StrategyCorp Inc., and outlined an End-of-Term Governance Roadmap developed to support the remainder of the current Council term and transition planning for the next term of Council.

This report also highlighted the development of a practical Decision Filter Framework intended to support consistent, transparent and disciplined decision-making on complex regional matters moving forward. Through interviews with Council and senior leadership, workshop discussions and StrategyCorp’s review of implementation progress, there was “broad recognition” that the County has made meaningful structural progress during this Council term. The roadmap notes that the County’s first Strategic Plan remains “directionally sound” and is an active decision-making anchor across the organization.

Significant advancements were identified in governance modernization, infrastructure planning, financial discipline, regional coordination, strategic planning and organizational alignment.

Read the report!

CAO Zwiers Approved to Serve as Interim Treasurer of WOWC

Council authorized County Chief Administrative Officer Sandra Zwiers to provide Interim Treasurer services to the Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, until such time as WOWC appoints a permanent treasure.

The organization has been without a treasurer since Sonya Pritchard, former Chief Administrative Officer for Dufferin County, retired.

WOWC is a not-for-profit organization representing 15 upper-and single-tier municipalities across Western Ontario. The organization advocates on regional priorities including infrastructure, housing, economic development, workforce development and health and social issues. The interim work is expected to require approximately 5-10 hours of staff time per month.

Read the report!

County Continues to Make Cybersecurity an Organizational Priority

Council voted to receive as information the Information Technology Services’ 2025 Annual Departmental Update.

Throughout 2025, the department continued to support daily operations while simultaneously advancing initiatives focused on modernization, cybersecurity, operational efficiency and future readiness.

Cybersecurity, in particular, is no longer simply a technical responsibility “but an organizational priority that requires ongoing attention and investment,” the report said. Throughout 2025, IT continued to strengthen the County’s cybersecurity posture through investments in monitoring, threat detection, network security and proactive risk management. These efforts, the report said, are designed to identify and respond to threats before they impact operations, helping protect critical services, sensitive information and public trust.

Read the report!

Council Approves Sale of New Beginnings Rest Home

Council authorized the Warden and Clerk to execute a service agreement with Khanda Nand Inc. to provide residential support services at an existing retirement home in Leamington, as part of the County’s Residential Services Homes Program.

The home at 106 Talbot Street in Leamington is known as the New Beginnings Rest Home. It receives funding from the County’s Residential Services Homes Program. The home currently provides residential care to 45 residents, 36 of whom are subsidized by the County. In addition, the home is registered with the Retirement Home Regulatory Authority, which provides oversight of the residents of the home who are not subsidized by the County through the program.

The County was advised in June 2026 that the current owner of the Property had accepted a conditional offer to sell the home to Khanda Nand Inc., which initiated a meeting with County Administration, stating its intent to purchase the property and confirming its desire to continue operating the home as part of the County’s Program. The County’s Community Services Manager met with the buyer on two occasions to review their intentions and long-term plan related to the purchase of the property. During these meetings, it was confirmed that there will be no disruptions to the care being provided to the residents living in the home. The County now has a standard service agreement for all homes that are funded through the Residential Services Home Program.

Read the report!

County to Share 80% of ‘Build Communities Strong Fund’ Money with Local Municipalities

Council approved a redistribution to local municipalities of funds from the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) – Community Stream via the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

The County will redistribute these funds to local municipalities in accordance with previous direction from Council to share funds on an 80/20 percentage basis (local/County), versus the provincially prescribed 50/50 percentage allocation. A total of $3,791,875 will be redistributed to local municipalities based on 2021 Census population data.  

The BCSF, formerly known as the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF), is a permanent source of funding provided to municipalities to support local infrastructure priorities. Municipalities may pool, bank and borrow against funding allocations, providing significant flexibility to address infrastructure needs and long-term capital planning requirements.

Read the report!

New Discretionary Reserve Created for Roadway Projects

Council approved Administration’s recommendation to establish a new discretionary reserve, in accordance with the County’s Reserve Management Policy. The State of Good Repair (SOGR) Lifecycle Reserve will support the long-term rehabilitation, preservation and lifecycle renewal of County roadway infrastructure assets.

The County currently funds roadway rehabilitation and maintenance activities primarily through annual levy-supported capital budgets. As part of the annual budget process, funding for roadway rehabilitation is generally increased to reflect construction inflation and capital-cost escalation, typically ranging from three to five per cent annually depending on market conditions. While this approach has historically enabled the County to maintain its roadway network without accumulating a dedicated lifecycle reserve, increasing construction costs, inflationary pressures and growing infrastructure renewal requirements have created challenges in maintaining consistent levels of roadway rehabilitation from year to year, said the report. Annual levy increases do not always generate sufficient funding to accommodate the timing and cost of some larger rehabilitation projects.

Previously, the County did not have a reserve specifically dedicated to funding future roadway rehabilitation and replacement obligations. Consequently, the County remained reliant on annual funding capacity to address long-term lifecycle requirements. Administration reviewed these emerging risks and identified an opportunity to establish a dedicated reserve to better manage infrastructure lifecycle obligations and support long-term financial sustainability.

Read the report!

Council Calls for Report on Amending Warden/Deputy Warden Election Process

Council approved Councillor Rob Shepley’s Notice of Motion, which directs Administration to bring forward options for suggested amendments to take effect prior to the inaugural meeting of the next term of Council, including:

1.    The Nomination period for both Warden and Deputy Warden closing before voting begins;

2.    A Member of County Council can stand for election for either Warden or Deputy Warden, but not both; and

3.    There shall be a single ballot for both the position of Warden and Deputy Warden, such that the voting takes place at the same time for both positions;

4.    No member may be elected to the position of Warden or Deputy Warden without securing majority support from the Members present.

The motion says these amendments should be “presented to Council for approval as part of procedure by-law amendment recommendations and as part of a Governance Review report, prior to the inaugural meeting of the next term of Council.”