County Council Media Release - January 27, 2021

Here are the highlights from the regular Lanark County Council meeting held Wednesday, Jan. 27.

Council Designates Child Care Mitigation Funds: Council has approved an allocation of mitigation funds to support child care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 The recommendations were made in a report presented to the community services committee earlier this month and include using $500,000 to assist licensed child care providers with costs not covered by Safe Restart Funding in 2020. It would be allocated based on a pre-established formula and a percentage of pre-pandemic general operating funds. Need must be demonstrated or funds would be returned to the county. Staff were authorized to sign and execute agreements with eligible providers.

 Children’s Services Manager Tammy Kealey-Donaldson explained many centres incurred substantial expenses during the pandemic. These funds are part of a $1.5 million allocation received by the county in 2013 when the Ministry of Education introduced a new funding formula for child care and provided one-time mitigation funding to support the transition to the new model as a reduction was anticipated. “Mitigation funding can only be used once our annual allocation has been exhausted,” she said, adding in past years this as not happened, but child care service costs have drastically increased during the pandemic due to reduced capacity, required physical changes to space, increased number of staff, mandated personal protective equipment, enhanced cleaning and more. The county received Safe Restart Funding in August 2020, but expenses have exceeded the allocation by $1.7 million. The mitigation funding will help offset a portion of the costs.

 “We recognize we still have a challenging road ahead as the pandemic continues to have a detrimental financial impact on the child care sector,” Kealey-Donaldson said. “We must ensure continued mitigation funding is available for future use.” For more information, contact Emily Hollington, Director of Social Services, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 2101.

Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative Allocation Approved: Council has approved the 2021-2022 funding allocation for the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative in the amount of $1.3 million. It has also approved an agreement with Lanark County Mental Health to allocate $105,520 to employ a mental health professional to work with the OPP Mobile Crisis Response Team to provide mental health supports and services.

 The provincial funding was first implemented in 2013 and aims to prevent, address and reduce homelessness by improving access to adequate and affordable housing and support services for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. In a report to the community services committee earlier this month, Housing Services Manager Shawna Stone explained the allocation results from priorities that have emerged as a result of the pandemic and a review of Social Services Relief Fund and CHPI spending. The allocations are as follows: 

• $200,000 for emergency shelter solutions, such as emergency hotel stays and after-hours services provided by Victim Services.
• $600,000 for housing with related supports, such as domiciliary hostels and deposits for rent and utilities.
• $250,000 for services and supports such as a full-time caseworker to provide community and housing outreach and the Mobile Crisis Team mental health professional, as well as grocery and gas cards, prepackaged toiletries, transportation and hoarding and pest/bug control.
• $127,116 for homelessness prevention services, such as eviction prevention/arrears and emergency minor home repairs (e.g. furnace replacement, plumbing/septic).

 Details about the county’s housing supports can be found at https://www.lanarkcounty.ca/en/family-and-social-services/housing.aspx. For more information, contact Emily Hollington, Director of Social Services, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 2101.

Health Unit COVID Guidelines Supported: Council has approved a motion expressing its commitment to following public health guidelines and its appreciation to Dr. Paula Stewart (Medical Officer of Health) and her team at the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit for their continuous efforts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

 “We honour and thank these dedicated individuals for their crucial and tireless efforts in keeping our communities safe, healthy and educated,” the motion states. “In the weeks ahead, Lanark County remains vigilant in following the lead and endorsing the health and safety measures established by the provincial government and the Leeds Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.”

 The motion recognizes the urgency of obtaining the COVID-19 vaccine(s) in the community, but asks for patience while the health unit works to deliver the vaccine in adherence to its COVID-19 Distribution and Administration Roll Out Plan that aligns with the provincial health ministry’s plan.

 “As a council and a community, we remain deeply grateful to all the frontline workers who continue to work tirelessly to help keep our communities going and ensuring our residents are safe. Throughout this pandemic, we have seen you display acts of courage, selflessness and genuine caring for your community,” the motion states. It recognizes the toll isolation is taking on the well-being of individuals and businesses, and also the broad-based community approaches being applied to save lives and serve neighbours. “We’ve witnessed cross-sector collaboration to meet the needs of our most vulnerable populations. People are coming together on their own to take care of their friends and neighbours. Rather than approaching the crisis in a spirit of self-preservation, people are taking stock of their collective assets and embracing a new kind of philosophy. COVID-19 is revealing our interdependence in ways that no event in our lifetimes has done. We are touched and will never lose sight by the outpouring of collective goodwill.”

 The motion encourages all residents to continue to follow public health guidelines, including the wearing of face coverings, adhering to proper social distancing (keep 2m/6ft from others both indoors and outdoors), thorough hand hygiene, staying home when sick and following the stay-at-home order throughout the current declared state of emergency, for their own safety and well-being “and to ensure that we continue to work together to minimize the risk of the virus spreading in our communities.”

 A letter of recognition will be sent by Warden Christa Lowry (Mississippi Mills Mayor) to Dr. Stewart, with a copy to the Board of Health and each local municipality in Lanark County. For more information, contact Leslie Drynan, Clerk/Deputy CAO, Deputy Clerk/CEMC, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502.

Striking Committee Appointments Approved: Council has approved recommendations from the Striking Committee that include revising the terms of reference for the Housing Redevelopment/ Regeneration Advisory Committee and the Lanark County Trails Sub-committee, dissolving the Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail Promotions Working Group, and making various appointments.

 The revisions to the terms of reference for the Housing Redevelopment/Regeneration Advisory Committee primarily reflect its mandate to provide guidance regarding the county’s housing build on Arthur Street in Carleton Place and some adjustments to membership on the committee. The revisions to the Lanark County Trails Sub-committee include adjustments to the mandate, committee structure and staff supports.

 The approved appointments are as follows:

• Lanark Transportation Association: Councillor John Hall (Lanark Highlands Deputy Reeve)
• Archives Lanark: Councillor Klaas Van Der Meer (Montague Deputy Reeve)
• Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit: Councillor Bill Dobson (Montague Reeve)
• Valley Heartland Board of Directors: Councillors John Fenik (Perth Mayor) for year one and Councillor Richard Kidd (Beckwith Reeve) for year two
• Lanark County Trails Sub-Committee: Councillors Ed McPherson (Perth Deputy Mayor), Brian Campbell (Tay Valley Reeve), Richard Kidd (Beckwith Reeve), Steve Fournier (Drummond/North Elmsley Reeve), Doug Black (Carleton Place Mayor)
• Housing Redevelopment/Regeneration Advisory Committee: Councillors Sharon Mousseau (Beckwith Deputy Reeve) and Rickey Minnille (Mississippi Mills Deputy Mayor), with current members including Councillor Ray Scissons as Chair of Community Services and Councillor Sean Redmond as the Host Municipality
• Lanark County Agricultural Advisory Working Group: Councillors Ray Scissons (Drummond/North Elmsley Deputy Reeve), Peter McLaren (Lanark Highlands Reeve)
• Community Forest Working Group: Councillors Peter McLaren (Lanark Highlands Reeve) and Doug Black (Carleton Place Mayor)

 The striking committee continues to meet throughout the year for as additional appointments are required. For more information, contact Leslie Drynan, Clerk/Deputy CAO, Deputy Clerk/CEMC, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502.

Council Supports Resolution Regarding Violence Against Paramedics: Council passed a motion supporting a resolution from the Region of Peel asking for changes to the Criminal Code to better protect paramedics against violence. The resolution recommends advocacy with the federal and provincial governments to implement necessary legislative and policy changes to eliminate external violence against paramedics. A report to Peel Region highlighted a multi-pronged approach to support paramedics and indicated an increased potential for violent interactions with the public during the COVID-10 pandemic. For more information, contact Leslie Drynan, Clerk/Deputy CAO, Deputy Clerk/CEMC, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502.

Upcoming Meetings: County Council, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 5 p.m.; Community Services, Feb. 10 (following County Council); Corporate Services, Feb. 10 (following Community Services). County Council, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 5 p.m.; Public Works, Feb. 24 (following County Council); Economic Development, Feb. 24 (following Public Works). Watch for details about public access to meetings on agendas and through online notifications. For more information, contact 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502. Like "LanarkCounty1" on Facebook and follow "@LanarkCounty1" on Twitter!