Bruce County Council — Thursday, September 3, 2026

Data centre comments approved, amended: Council directed staff to submit comments on the province’s proposed data centre assessment framework to the Environmental Registry of Ontario ahead of a September 12 deadline. The submission, outlined in report PD-2026-029, responds to three provincial pillars — economic development, digital sovereignty, and community investment — and recommends requirements for mandatory municipal engagement, infrastructure cost recovery, local economic benefit, environmental performance standards, and binding commitments. Council amended the motion to add language urging the province to work proactively with industry and municipalities to identify suitable locations early, avoiding the costly missteps seen with battery storage facility siting. The motion carried as amended (Craig/McKeever). Councillor Hanley raised concern about productive farmland being converted to large industrial sites and cited the Bruce Energy Centre as a more suitable alternative. Councillor Hamelsen flagged that smaller municipalities lack the capacity to research complex energy and tech proposals, estimating hundreds of untracked staff hours spent by some CAOs navigating similar files. Council also discussed coordinating its submission with the Municipality of Concordan, which is filing aligned comments independently.

Age-friendly strategy headed to committee: Staff from Long-Term Care and Senior Services presented an update on the Age-Friendly Community Strategy 2027–2031, built on a 2025 needs assessment and engagement conducted in May and June 2026. Five priority areas emerged: transportation and mobility (described as the most consistent issue across every engagement stream), housing and aging in place, social connection and well-being, navigation and access to services, and leadership and accountability. All five areas will have measurable, phased actions attached. The draft strategy goes to the Age Friendly Committee and partners before returning to Council in October. Councillor Katz called for findings to be shared with lower-tier municipalities; the Warden emphasized upper- and lower-tier collaboration given that transportation and housing fall largely to the county level.

Immigration partnership faces federal review: Council received a year-two update on the Gray Bruce Local Immigration Partnership and approved travel for two program staff to attend the Pathways to Prosperity Conference in Montreal (Kirkland/Craig, carried). IRCC has begun a Phase 3 expenditure review covering indirect service providers, which includes the county’s agreement; changes to the funding arrangement may follow.

Closed session: Council convened in closed session at 10:00 a.m. on three matters — homelessness client information sharing (solicitor-client privilege), a provincially confidential development charge reduction program, and minutes from August 6. Upon returning to public session, Council reported direction was given to staff and the solicitor on both active files.

By-law: By-law 2026-037, confirming the proceedings of the September 3 meeting, was approved (Ammel/McKeever, carried). Council adjourned at 11:09 a.m.

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