Media Release - County Council August 28th, 2024

For immediate release
August 28, 2024

Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held Aug. 28, 2024.

Contract for Heat Pumps Awarded: Lanark County Council has awarded a contract for the installation of cold climate heat pumps for various Lanark County Housing Corporation (LCHC) properties to Climate Works in the amount of $723,075 plus HST.

At the community services committee meeting earlier this month, Housing Services Manager Kaitlyn Murray explained this is part of a project to repair and renew units in the LCHC portfolio. The county has accepted a funding offer of almost $1.5 million from the National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF) and has an agreement with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) for $4.97 million over three years (2024 to 2026).

Murray said an audit of the properties determined the most effective option for LCHC to meet the energy and greenhouse gas savings required by the NHCF program criteria would be through the installation of cold climate heat pumps. The county issued a request for proposals in April and received eight responses, with Climate Works receiving the highest score.

Staff have proposed the heat pumps be installed gradually in family units of the LCHC portfolio, including Jasper, Empress, Sussex, Parkland, Caldwell, Victoria, St-James, Beckwith and Robinson. The 125 natural gas furnaces installed in 2017 will be used as a backup system and air handler for the cold climate heat pump coils. Staff propose the installation of 63 heat pumps in 2024 with the balance to be installed in 2025. Following a payback period of 10 to 15 years, the units are expected to experience utility savings, low maintenance cost and little to no downtime.

Murray indicated this investment is projected to save 517.16 tons of CO2 per year, and natural gas consumption will be reduced by approximately 75 per cent at each installation location. For more information, contact Kaitlyn Murray, Housing Services Manager, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 2401.

Affordable Housing Tax Incentive Grant Program Approved: Lanark County Council has approved an Affordable Housing Tax Incentive Grant (AHTIG) and directed staff to proceed with implementation. At the community services committee meeting earlier this month, Director of Social Services Emily Hollington explained the grant is designed to encourage development of affordable rental, cooperative, and/or supportive housing.

In November, the county passed a motion to issue a request for proposals for one-time capital funding to build, own and operate affordable housing in Lanark County or Smiths Falls, along withadditional incentives and an ongoing affordable rental housing incentive program. The incentive program is equivalent to the county portion of property taxes in the form of an operating grant to encourage new affordable rental housing development.

Hollington explained eligible proponents will receive an annual operating grant equivalent to the value of the county portion of the property taxes (on the affordable units only) for a period of 15 years. Proponents will pay their full property taxes and the county will grant back the county portion upon receipt of annual eligibility verification.

“The AHTIG’s goal is to increase the supply of affordable rental, affordable cooperative, and affordable supportive housing in Lanark County,” Hollington said. “This program does not include affordable homeownership. The AHTIG program will help achieve the goals of the county’s 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan.” Eligibility criteria are expected to be available later this fall on the county website under "Family and Social Services > Housing.” For more information, contact Emily Hollington, Director of Social Services, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 2101.

CWELCC Emerging Issues Funding Policy Approved: Lanark County Council has approved the Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) Emerging Issues Policy proposed by Children’s Services and has directed staff to proceed with implementation to assist eligible child care providers to cover costs.

CWELCC is being implemented across Canada with the goal of bringing participating licensee child care costs to an average of $12 per day. At the community services committee meeting earlier this month, Director of Social Services Emily Hollington explained licensee fees have been frozen since March 27, 2022, but expenses have increased significantly. “Council has conducted advocacy work on this issue, including resolutions and delegations, and the province has responded to the concerns with an additional funding allocation known as CWELCC Emerging Issues.” The county’s allocation is $381,360.

Hollington explained that before CWELCC, child care providers set their own rates, which were frozen once they opted to participate in the CWELCC program in 2022. Those that started with lower rates than others have been struggling to cover costs as expenses have increased significantly.

The emerging issues funding is designed to support licensees who can demonstrate their revenue for eligible spaces cannot cover costs. A number of eligibility criteria must be met, and funding will be prioritized for licensees operating at a deficit, with a view to bringing the licensee’s profit margin to a similar level as other licensees. For more information, contact Emily Hollington, Director of Social Services, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 2101.

CAO Provides Council Strategic Priorities Update: At the corporate services committee meeting earlier this month, CAO Kurt Greaves updated Lanark County Council on the status of Council Strategic Priorities for 2022 to 2026. These include:

• Workforce Attraction Strategy/Marketing Plan: Includes the “Land in Lanark” Campaign and an application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for settlement services.
• Additional space for Archives Lanark: A report on solutions is to follow.
• Lanark Lodge (modernization and sustainability) – Continuing to make capital investment to keep the building in good shape, including roofing, an accessible bathroom in the lobby, sidewalks, replacement of front entrance doors, and a new tub install. Proposed in 2025 is the generator replacement and elevator refurbishment.
• Planning Department (implementation of council ranked priorities): Filled planning manager position.
• Trail Promotion and Tourism (local economic development): The trail map is going for reprint, there is an active trail working group, there have been three successful grant applications, and work on the ring trail development.
• Municipal Shared Services: Shared contract road work and surface treatment and weed-spraying contract.
• Lobby for Basic Income (to replace Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program: There has been correspondence on the community services agenda.
• Cell and Internet Expansion (monitor to ensure full coverage): Eastern Ontario Regional Network’s 5G Rogers network is rolling out. In Lanark County, 21 of 32 locations are completed. Cell service is now available in Clayton as well as fibre to the home (Storm). Bell and Xplornet are rolling out fibre to the home through provincial and federal contacts.
• Climate/Environment (invasive species control, protect biodiversity, promote tourism): Climate initiatives include meeting milestones in the Partners for Climate Protection program; applying for funding for Better Homes Lanark, building energy performance frameworks, electric vehicle charging stations; completing the 2023 greenhouse gas emissions inventory update; funding to seven local municipalities for climate-related projects; wetland workshops and information sessions; hosting a municipal climate intern; tree giveaways; providing funding for nature-based climate solutions; and creating free home energy efficiency kits. Invasive species initiatives include completing an inventory for a new invasive plant (wild chervil); completing the integrated control program for wild parsnip and wild chervil, including the largest hand-pulling program for wild parsnip to date; cutting phragmites along roadsides; vegetation surveys to assess flowering pollinator habitat along roadsides; and pollinator habitat restoration projects.
• Social Housing – Support attainable housing solutions: 28 rent-geared-to-income (RGI) units opened on Chambers Street in Smiths Falls in partnership with Carebridge; approved affordable housing project in Perth with Carebridge for 15 units with a 40-year operating agreement with seven of the units to be RGI; opened the Bridge House in Smiths Falls as a Housing First project for people experiencing homelessness, 13 units; addition to Shardon Manor completed, nine new rooms.
• Public Transit – Study county-wide model: Applied for federal funding (Infrastructure Canada Federal Transit Solutions Fund)
• Roadside Safety: Established Traffic Advisory Committee, new speed management policy.
• Cost Control (minimize budget increases and improve efficiency): Financial Information Return comparison of the 13 counties in Eastern Ontario – Lanark County compares well financially; administration, higher percentage of roads classified as good.
• Hospital Funding: Continue to fund county hospitals ($2.15 million since 2019).
• Asset Management Plan (commitment to county plan): Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus comparison at 51 per cent undepreciated cost - Lanark County is median value.

Following the presentation, council directed staff to bring back information about developing a government relations strategy and to add it as a priority. For more information, contact Kurt Greaves, CAO, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1101.

Council Supports Resolution Regarding Physician Shortage: Lanark County Council has supported a resolution from the Association of Municipalities (AMO) and the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) related to physician shortages in Ontario.

AMO and OMA are collaborating to advocate for a better health-care system for Ontario’s residents and communities, as challenges such as long waitlists for primary care, shortages of doctors and other health-care workers, and emergency room closures affect economic development, health and well-being.

The resolution notes 2.3 million Ontarians lack access to a family doctor, emergency room closures continue, patients are being de-rostered, 40 per cent of family doctors are considering retirement in the next five years and the number of physicians practising comprehensive family medicine has dropped from 77 per cent in 2008 to 65 in 2022. It highlights the difficulties with attracting and retaining health-care workers and notes per capita health-care spending in Ontario is the lowest of all provinces in Canada.

“A robust workforce developed through a provincial, sector-wide health human resources strategy would significantly improve access to health services across the province,” it states, urging the province to recognize the shortage, fund health care appropriately and ensure every Ontarian has access to physician care. For more information, contact Jasmin Ralph, Clerk, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502.

Upcoming Meetings: County Council, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 5 p.m.; Community Services, Sept. 18 (following County Council); Corporate Services, Sept. 18 (following Community Services). County Council, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 5 p.m.; Public Works, Sept. 25 (following County Council); Economic Development, Sept. 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 X!