Essex County Council Highlights for September 16, 2026

Warden Lauds Launch of New Ambulance Dispatch System

Warden Hilda MacDonald in her opening remarks Wednesday night said “an historic milestone” would be achieved a few hours following the meeting when the new Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) was launched for paramedic services.

“This new system will help ensure paramedics are dispatched more quickly to the most urgent, life-threatening emergencies,” said MacDonald. “It has successfully been implemented in other Ontario communities and is backed by decades of research.”

For more information about the change, please go to www.countyofessex.ca/MPDS.

The Warden also highlighted Friday’s Accessibility Fest-for-All in Cottam, deeming it “an incredible celebration” of inclusion and accessibility.

“It was an educational and inspiring day – a reminder that accessibility isn’t just about spaces and infrastructure,” said MacDonald.

“It’s about people. It’s about ensuring every resident of Essex County has the chance to participate fully in community life.”

The Warden recognized Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee (ECAAC) members Dennis Sanson (Chair), Debbie Alexander, Rachel Jewell, Julie Miles, Diana Kilbride, Sherrie Currie and County Councillor Kimberly DeYong for their exemplary service and commitment to accessibility.

Lastly, the Waren reminded residents that the County is now seeking applicants to serve on the ECAAC, as well as on the Essex County Library Board during the upcoming term of Council. Apply now!

County Upgraded Accessibility Initiatives Over This Term of Council

Council voted to receive as information a report summarizing accessibility initiatives, programs and services over the duration of this 2022-2026 term of Council.

Accessibility work focused on public education, barrier identification and removal, inclusive communications, facility improvements, employment inclusion, community partnerships, and ongoing compliance monitoring.

The launch in 2024 and continuation each year of the Accessibility Fest-for-All has enabled County departments to demonstrate accessibility leadership through inclusive employment initiatives, emergency preparedness outreach, accessible facility enhancements, and collaboration with community partners.

Read the report!

Official Correspondence Received

Council voted to receive as information three bundles of Correspondence, which include:

(1)  Five from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO): AMO News Release Updates; AMO Leading With Respect Guide; AMO Municipal Election Resources; AMO Watchfile Newsletter; and AMO Policy Advocacy Updates.

(2)  County Road 42 Improvements, in particular a notice to impacted residents about the preparations underway to begin construction on the final phase of this multi-year County road-improvement project, Phase 5.

(3)  Three from the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI): Upcoming Events – September; Latest News; and Newsletter.

2027 County Council Meeting Schedule Approved

Council voted to approve the 2027 meeting schedule.

Council will continue to meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month, with some exceptions.

There is only one meeting scheduled for the months of January, July, and August to accommodate the attendance of councillors at conferences and factoring in the holiday and summer seasons.

Council meetings will continue to start at 6 p.m. with closed meetings taking place on the same dates and prior to regular meetings.

There are two dates associated with the County Budget:

1) December 1, 2027 – 2028 Budget Meeting, 9:00 a.m. start time; and, if needed, 2) December 15, 2027 – Regular Meeting or Second Budget Meeting, 6:00 p.m. start time.

Read the report and review the 2027 County Council Meeting Schedule!

List of Conferences Approved for 2027

Council approved Administration’s report proposing a list of conferences for Council Members and members of agencies, boards and committees to attend in 2027, in accordance with Policy Number 2022-003 – Travel, Meetings, and Conferences – Council, Committees, Agencies and Boards.

There were no proposed changes to the approved list for 2027 from the approved list for 2026, and the proposed 2027 Council Services Budget aligns with the parameters set out in the Conference Policy, with a $5,000 maximum allocation being set per member.

The following conferences were recommended by Administration for inclusion on the approved list for 2027:

ROMA - Rural Ontario Municipal Association
Date: January 24-27, 2027
Location: Toronto

OGRA - Ontario Good Roads Association
Date: April 4-7, 2027
Location: Toronto

AMO – OSUM - Ontario Small Urban Municipalities
Date: April 26-28, 2027
Location: Stratford

GLSLCI - Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative
Date: May 12-14, 2027
Location: Quebec City, Que.

QC FCM - Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Date: June 10-13, 2027
Location: Halifax, N.S.

AMO - Association of Municipalities of Ontario
Date: August 22 to 25, 2027
Location: Ottawa

WOWC– Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus
Date: Autumn 2027 (TBD)
Location: Guelph

Read the report!

Framework Approved to Decide Committee of Management of Sun Parlor Home for 2026 - 2030

Council voted to: (1) receive as information a report from Administration on the Composition of the Committee of Management of the Sun Parlor Long Term Care Home; (2) direct the Striking Committee for the 2026 - 2030 Term of Council to appoint seven members of Council to the Committee of Management for the Sun Parlor Long Term Care Home; and (3) direct Administration to prepare a By-law, for Council’s approval at the appropriate time, formalizing which members of Council shall serve on the Committee of Management. 

Read the report!

Council Supports Notice of Motion in Defence of Local French Heritage

Council voted to approve a Notice of Motion introduced September 2, 2026 by Councillor Michael Akpata, as follows:

Whereas the County of Essex has an existing history and culture of deep-rooted French heritage; and,

Whereas it has been acknowledged that French language, heritage, and culture were part of the trade negotiations with the United States; and,

Whereas the current trade situation with the United States will directly affect border communities, whereby many of our residents are directly impacted by these cross-border issues through their employment, and livelihood.

Now therefore be it resolved:

That the County of Essex ensure that the concerns of our residents and other cross border communities are brought to the Federal Government to consider as part of their future trade position discussions reminding them that their activities directly affect our community; and further,

That the French language history of the County of Essex is also brought to the attention of the federal government to ensure that the unique language and culture of French Canadians is respected in any trade agreements that are brought into effect and how it will affect our community. 

Notice of Motion on Regional Power Grid Flucuations

Councillor Sherry Bondy introduced a Notice of Motion calling on energy providers to address “chronic power fluctuations” that cause “ongoing operational disruptions, premature appliance failures, equipment damage, and significant economic frustration for local homeowners, agricultural producers, and commercial businesses alike.”

The Notice of Motion will be debated at a future meeting of Council. The motion, in its entirety, reads as follows:

Whereas residents and businesses across the entire County of Essex—spanning multiple local municipalities and local distribution networks are experiencing a severe, disruptive, and frequent pattern of brief power interruptions, voltage sags, and continuous "power flickers"; and

Whereas these repeat power flickers extend far beyond localized ELK Energy, Essex Power or EnWin Utilities distribution territories, indicating a broader, systematic transmission infrastructure challenge rooted within the regional upstream grid managed by Hydro One; and

Whereas these chronic power fluctuations cause ongoing operational disruptions, premature appliance failures, equipment damage, and significant economic frustration for local homeowners, agricultural producers, and commercial businesses alike; and

Whereas Essex County Council recognizes and appreciates that Hydro One has initiated plans for transmission investments within Southwestern Ontario, yet the immediate reality on the ground demonstrates that the frequency of these disruptions continues to severely impact the daily quality of life and economic predictability for our residents;

Now Therefore Be It Resolved that Essex County Council formally requests that Hydro One accelerate, and prioritize its localized infrastructure investments within the County of Essex to eliminate these chronic power flickers and establish verifiable grid reliability; and

Be It Further Resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded directly to the Ontario Minister of Energy, our local MPPs, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), and all lower-tier Essex County municipalities to ensure a unified regional demand for immediate grid stabilization and accountability.