Council Meeting

the agenda and any addendum distributed for the February 26, 2026 meeting of Council, be approved.

the minutes of the special meeting of Council on February 11, 2026, the Statutory Public meeting on February 12, 2026 and regular meeting of Council on February 12, 2026, be adopted.

Items 10.1 to 10.3 be received, and any recommendations set out below, be approved.

the report from the Manager of Corporate Finance, Treasurer, Report No. CS-2026-005, 2025 Statement of Council Remuneration and Expenses Paid, dated February 26, 2026, be received.

T HAT the report from the Chief Administrative Officer and Procurement Manager, Report No. CS-2026-006, Bill 72 - Buy Ontario Act, 2025 , dated February 26, 2026, be received ; AND THAT Dufferin County submit the attached s ubmission letter re garding B ill 72 – Buy Ontario Act, 2025 to the Environmental Registry prior to the close of the review period.

the report from the Director of Community Development and Tourism, Report No. PD-2026-004, Adoption of Town of Grand Valley Updated Official Plan, dated February 26, 2026, be received ; AND THAT Council approve, subject to the implementation of 32 modifications, the Town of Grand Valley Official Plan Amendment No. 8, as adopted by By-law 2025-57.

the report of the Director People and Equity, Report No. PE-2026-004, Draft Anti-Discrimination Policy , dated February 26, 2026, be received; AND THAT the d raft Anti-Discrimination P olicy be approved.

the report from Chief of Paramedic Services and Manager of Corporate Finance, Treasurer , Report No. PS- 2026-004, Community Paramedic Funding, dated February 26, 2026, be received ; AND THAT the status quo be maintained for the program delivery; AND THAT any Provincial funding shortfall be offset from the Paramedic Services Reserve; AND THAT the County advocate for ongoing funding to support the program.

the report from the Chief of Paramedic Services , Report No. PS- 2026-003, Master Plan and Service Delivery Review – Final Report, dated February 26 , 2026, be received; AND THAT the Chief of Paramedic Services and County staff draft a comprehensive commercial agreement for the delivery of Ambulance Services between the Corporation of the County of Dufferin and Headwaters Health Care Centre ; AND THAT the contract will be for a term of five (5) years with an option to extend for an additional two (2) years.

the report from the Chief Administrative Officer, Report No. CAO-2026-006, Program Review Update 1, dated February 26, 2026, be received.

County Council has a fiduciary responsibility to provide oversight of the long-term financial health, sustainability, and resilience of the County of Dufferin; AND WHEREAS effective financial governance requires Council to have sufficient time and information to consider emerging budget pressures, strategic priorities, and long-term forecasts before formal budget adoption; AND WHEREAS staff financial projections indicate that, absent structural changes, the County may face continued pressure from rising expenditures, significant tax increases, and potential depletion of capital reserves; AND WHEREAS Council regularly considers in-year budget requests without a comprehensive view of their cumulative impact on the current budget, future tax rates, and long-term financial forecasts; AND WHEREAS County Council has approved higher-than-historical tax increases in recent years, and Council recognizes that continued increases at this level are not sustainable for taxpayers over the long term; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council direct staff to prepare a Budget Process Policy and associated procedures that support long‑term financial sustainability, strengthen Council oversight and accountability, and establish a more structured, transparent, and forward‑looking approach to budget planning and in‑year financial decision‑making; AND THAT staff incorporate the feedback provided by Council during the discussion and report back with the proposed policy and procedures for considerat

Council move into Closed Session at 10:30 am in accordance with the Municipal Act, Section 239 2(d) labour relations or employee negotiations.

Council return to open session (10:34 am).

staff proceed as directed in Closed Session.

By-Law 2026-15, By-Law 2026-17 through to By-Law 2026-22, inclusive, be read a first, second and third time and enacted.

By-Law 2025-23 be read a first, second and third time and enacted.

the meeting adjourn.

THAT the agenda and any addendum distributed for the February 26, 2026 meeting of Council, be approved.

THAT the minutes of the special meeting of Council on February 11, 2026, the Statutory Public meeting on February 12, 2026 and regular meeting of Council on February 12, 2026, be adopted.

THAT Items 10.1 to 10.3 be received, and any recommendations set out below, be approved.

THAT the report from the Manager of Corporate Finance, Treasurer, Report No. CS-2026-005, 2025 Statement of Council Remuneration and Expenses Paid, dated February 26, 2026, be received.

THAT the report from the Director of Community Development and Tourism, Report No. PD-2026-004, Adoption of Town of Grand Valley Updated Official Plan, dated February 26, 2026, be received; AND THAT Council approve, subject to the implementation of 32 modifications, the Town of Grand Valley Official Plan Amendment No. 8, as adopted by By-law 2025-57.

THAT the report of the Director People and Equity, Report No. PE- 2026-004, Draft Anti-Discrimination Policy, dated February 26, 2026, be received; AND THAT the draft Anti-Discrimination Policy be approved.

THAT the report from Chief of Paramedic Services and Manager of Corporate Finance, Treasurer, Report No. PS-2026-004, Community Paramedic Funding, dated February 26, 2026, be received; AND THAT the status quo be maintained for the program delivery; AND THAT any Provincial funding shortfall be offset from the Paramedic Services Reserve; AND THAT the County advocate for ongoing funding to support the program.

THAT the report from the Chief of Paramedic Services, Report No. PS- 2026-003, Master Plan and Service Delivery Review – Final Report, dated February 26, 2026, be received; AND THAT the Chief of Paramedic Services and County staff draft a comprehensive commercial agreement for the delivery of Ambulance Services between the Corporation of the County of Dufferin and Headwaters Health Care Centre; AND THAT the contract will be for a term of five (5) years with an option to extend for an additional two (2) years.

THAT the report from the Chief Administrative Officer, Report No. CAO-2026-006, Program Review Update 1, dated February 26, 2026, be received.

WHEREAS County Council has a fiduciary responsibility to provide oversight of the long-term financial health, sustainability, and resilience of the County of Dufferin; AND WHEREAS effective financial governance requires Council to have sufficient time and information to consider emerging budget pressures, strategic priorities, and long-term forecasts before formal budget adoption; AND WHEREAS staff financial projections indicate that, absent structural changes, the County may face continued pressure from rising expenditures, significant tax increases, and potential depletion of capital reserves; AND WHEREAS Council regularly considers in-year budget requests without a comprehensive view of their cumulative impact on the current budget, future tax rates, and long-term financial forecasts; AND WHEREAS County Council has approved higher-than-historical tax increases in recent years, and Council recognizes that continued increases at this level are not sustainable for taxpayers over the long term; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council direct staff to prepare a Budget Process Policy and associated procedures that support long‑term financial sustainability, strengthen Council oversight and accountability, and establish a more structured, transparent, and forward‑looking approach to budget planning and in‑year financial decision‑making; AND THAT staff incorporate the feedback provided by Council during the discussion and report back with the proposed policy and procedures for co

THAT Council move into Closed Session at 10:30 am in accordance with the Municipal Act, Section 239 2(d) labour relations or employee negotiations.

THAT staff proceed as directed in Closed Session.

THAT By-Law 2026-15, By-Law 2026-17 through to By-Law 2026-22, inclusive, be read a first, second and third time and enacted.

THAT By-Law 2025-23 be read a first, second and third time and enacted.

THAT the meeting adjourn.