Dufferin County Council met on November 14, 2024 for a Council meeting. For the full Council meeting agenda and minutes, please see the County’s Meeting Agendas and Minutes page.

Here are the highlights from the November 14 meeting:

• County Council proclaimed November 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
• County Council proclaimed December 3 Giving Tuesday
• Principles Integrity provided an outline of the Integrity Commissioner process
• County of Dufferin requests that the Government of Ontario take action to implement the rural road safety program that Good Roads has committed to lead
• Dufferin County supports the SolvetheCrisis.ca Campaign
• Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan adopted

Warden White and County Council proclaimed November 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Lynnette Pole-Langdon, Family Transition Place, attended the Council meeting to request a flag raising in recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Globally, almost one in three women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life. In November 2024, Dufferin County Council declared gender-based and intimate partner violence an epidemic and called on the provincial and federal governments to provide the necessary supports to municipalities to meaningfully address it.

Warden White and County Council proclaimed December 3 Giving Tuesday in Dufferin County.

Giving Tuesday is a national day of giving taking place on December 3. The Dufferin Community Foundation attended Council to accept the proclamation and encouraged generosity and giving across Dufferin going into the holiday season.

Principles Integrity has been named the Integrity Commissioner of Dufferin County. Jeffrey A. Abrams and Janice Atwood of Principles Integrity provided an overview of the Integrity Commissioner process and highlighted how to contact the Integrity Commissioner, by email, at postoffice@principlesintegrity.org.

Statistics from the Government of Ontario confirm that rural roads are inherently more dangerous than other roads, and that despite having only 17 per cent of the population, 55 per cent of road fatalities occur on rural roads. Rural, northern, and remote municipalities are also fiscally strained by maintaining extensive road networks on a smaller tax base.

Dufferin County requests that the Government of Ontario take action to implement the rural road safety program that Good Roads has committed to lead. This will allow Ontario’s rural municipalities to make the critical investments needed to reduce the high number of people being killed and seriously injured on Ontario’s rural roads.

A humanitarian crisis is unfolding on the streets of large and small cities and in urban and rural areas across Ontario and urgent and immediate action is needed by all levels of government, starting with the Province, as this is primarily a health issue that falls under provincial jurisdiction.

Dufferin County joins municipalities across Ontario in supporting the SolvetheCrisis.ca Campaign and calls on provincial and federal governments to commit to immediate action to solve the Humanitarian Crisis that Ontario is facing as the numbers of unhoused individuals and those suffering with mental health and addictions grows exponentially.

The County calls on the Province to appoint a responsible Minister and Ministry with the appropriate funding and powers as a single point of contact to address the full spectrum of housing needs as well as mental health, addictions and wrap around supports and calls on the provincial government to strike a task force with broad sector representatives including municipalities, regions, healthcare, first responders, community services, the business community and the tourism industry to develop a Made in Ontario Action Plan. This provincial task force would review current programs developed by municipalities, regions and community partners that have proven successful in communities to ensure that solutions can be implemented quickly and effectively to tackle this crisis.

The County also calls for the federal government to be included in these conversations and that both levels of government provide adequate, sufficient and sustainable funding to ensure that municipalities have the tools and resources to support individuals suffering with mental health and addictions.\

Dufferin residents are invited to join the County in appealing to the provincial and federal governments for support by visiting www.SolveTheCrisis.ca and showing their support.

Dufferin County Council adopted the County’s Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan.

Inclusivity is a fundamental principle that underpinned the roadmap to developing the Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan. This approach brought together diverse perspectives, fostered community engagement and ensured the incorporation of comprehensive data and analysis.

The Action Plan focuses on five core themes and objectives:

• Business Retention and Expansion: Support, retain, and foster the growth of local businesses, with a focus on medium-sized enterprises
• Upskilling the Workforce: Develop initiatives to enhance skills, training, and create pathways to high-quality employment
• Investment Attraction: Promote Dufferin as a prime location for new businesses and attract private investments
• Local Innovation: Encourage and support innovative practices across industries Destination
• Development: Position Dufferin as a visitor and economic destination, enhancing community connections and fostering a vibrant local economy

Each of these themes is designed to address the unique opportunities and challenges that exist within Dufferin, from supporting local businesses and retaining skilled talent to creating a vibrant cultural hub that attracts visitors and investors alike.

Each action within the B.U.I.L.D. theme is crafted to address the specific dynamics and needs of Dufferin’s local municipalities and key economic sectors as revealed in the comprehensive data analysis provided in the Strategy. Together, the objectives and actions within the Action Plan aim to strengthen Dufferin’s economy by promoting sustainable growth, local innovation, affordable housing, and high-quality employment opportunities, ensuring a thriving and prosperous community for all residents.

The next phase of this Strategy and Action Plan will be a collaborative implementation process involving partnerships with local municipalities and stakeholder organizations.

Dufferin County Council consists of 15 members representing each of the eight municipalities in Dufferin. Council meeting processes are set out in the County’s Procedural By-Law.

Dufferin County Council and Committee meetings can be watched live on the County’s YouTube channel.