Lanark County Media Release - December 14, 2022 Meeting One

Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held Dec. 14, 2022.

Council Declares Intimate Partner Violence and Violence Against Women an Epidemic: Lanark County Council has declared intimate partner violence (IPV) and violence against women (VAW) an epidemic as per the first recommendation released by the jury of an inquest into the murders of three women in Renfrew County.

The motion follows a presentation by Erin Lee, Executive Director of Lanark County Interval House and Community Support, at the community services committee meeting last week. Lee outlined the role of the anti-violence agency and the range of programs and services it offers, and urged council to be among the first rural municipalities to support the recommendation.

The motion states Lanark County Council recognizes the issues of violence in rural communities as serious to the health and wellness of local families, as well as recognizing the importance of the Renfrew County inquest to rural communities. “Based on the statistics of 4,815 crisis calls and service provision to 527 women and children in our local community, Lanark County Council declares IPV/VAW an epidemic as per recommendation #1 of the Renfrew County jury recommendations,” it states.

Lee participated as a representative from a neighbouring municipality in the inquest this spring into the 2015 murders of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam in Renfrew County. “The jury made 86 recommendations for change, and we are actively working on implementing the changes we have control over,” Lee said.

Lee asked council to continue to support the work by downloading and reading the 86 recommendations, which can be found at https://lukesplace.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CKW-Inquest-Verdict-Recommendations-SIGNED_Redacted.pdf, and to consider endorsing the See It Name It Change It campaign that was relaunched this September in conjunction with the anniversary of the Renfrew murders. The online campaign encourages people to start a conversation about violence and to provide education and healthy alternatives.

In her request to endorse the formal declaration of IPV/VAW as an epidemic, Lee urged council to continue being part of the solution. “You already have asked for a delegation at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association to talk to the minister about the issues of violence in the community,” she said, adding several recommendations are already underway in Lanark County, including survivor engagement, the victim advocate program, the inclusion of VAW and IPV in the county’s community safety and well-being plan, and education/prevention efforts. “It means that you are stepping up,” she said. “This is the best show of support for the victims of violence in this community to make this declaration…. You’re already doing the work,” she said.

“In her presentation, Erin Lee said we need to see it, name it and change it,” said Warden Peter McLaren (Lanark Highlands). “This is the name it part. The hard part is the change it part. That’s what we really have to focus on.”
The motion will be circulated to local MPs and MPPs, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and the Ministry of the Attorney General, Solicitor General, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity, and the Federal Ministry of Women’s Issues. For more information, contact Jasmin Ralph, Clerk, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502.

Transitional Funds Allocated to Child Care Providers: Council approved a motion to allocate a one-time transitional provincial grant of $337,569 for 2022 to help offset financial pressures experienced by contracted child care centres.
In a report to the community services committee last week, Children’s Services Manager Tammy Kealey-Donaldson explained the funds can be used to help offset and assist with administration cost-sharing amounts, as well as with the provision of child care programs and services and COVID-19-related operating costs. A similar grant was received in 2021.

Kealey-Donaldson noted the child care sector has been negatively affected by closures related to COVID-19 and requirements for enhanced cleaning, as well as other short-term closures in 2022 beyond their control, such as the severe windstorm in late spring and a school strike in the fall.

“The cost of maintaining child care has increased over the last few years, with food prices increasing by more than 11 per cent, as well as drastically rising energy costs,” Kealey-Donaldson said, adding providers have also reported increased costs for cleaning supplies, activity materials, general supplies, facility repairs and general maintenance. “Financial stability and predictability are vital to ensure families continue to have access to reliable and high-quality child care.”

The funds will be distributed directly to contracted, licensed child care centres using the general operating funding formula developed by the county. For more information, contact Tammy Kealey-Donaldson, Children’s Services Manager, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 2301.

FCM Tiny Homes Agreement Authorized: Council has authorized the Lanark County Housing Corporation (LCHC) to enter into an agreement with Cabinscape Inc. to construct two carbon sink tiny homes for the purpose affordable housing on Robinson Street in Perth.

In a report to the community services committee last week, Director of Social Services Emily Hollington explained the project is funded by a Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Green Municipal Fund grant of $469,250, with the remaining expense of $120,000 coming from LCHC reserves.

Cabinscape approached the county’s Climate Action Committee in 2021 to partner with LCHC on the project, and council directed staff to proceed with the FCM funding application earlier this year. The pilot project will see two carbon-negative homes manufactured, which means they go beyond required standards and produce a “carbon sink” – absorbing carbon in the atmosphere.

In addition to the positive climate impact, Hollington said the homes help to address the county’s greatest need for non-senior single homes while supporting individuals who function better in individual units and creating a diversity of affordable housing solutions. The small, vacant lot on Robinson Street is owned by LCHC and suits this type of housing. For more information, contact Emily Hollington, Director of Social Services, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 2101

Lowry Endorsed for ROMA: Council has endorsed Councillor Christa Lowry (Mississippi Mills Mayor) for the position of Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Zone 8 representative for the 2023-2027 Board of Directors.

ROMA is the rural caucus of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and advocates on behalf of municipalities on a range of issues. In the previous term, Lowry served as a ROMA director and AMO rural caucus member. The Zone 8 seat was previously held by retired Ottawa Councillor Eli El-Chantiry and includes the county, Smiths Falls, Ottawa and the United Counties of Prescott and Russell. The election takes place at the ROMA conference at the end of January. For more information, contact Jasmin Ralph, Clerk, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502.

Upcoming Meetings: County Council, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 5 p.m.; Community Services, Jan. 11 (following County Council); Corporate Services, Jan. 11 (following Community Services). Special Corporate Services (Budget), Friday, Jan. 20, 9 a.m. County Council, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 5 p.m.; Public Works, Jan. 25 (following County Council); Economic Development, Jan. 25 (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!