Members Present: Mayor-Milt McIver, Deputy Mayor-Rod Anderson, Councillor-Todd Dowd, Councillor-Aman Sohrab
Members Absent: Councillor-Laurie (Smokey) Golden
Staff Present: Chief Administrative Officer-Peggy Van Mierlo-West, Clerk-Alexandra Croce, Deputy Clerk-Lindsay Forbes, Treasurer-Teresa Shearer, Public Works Manager-Troy Cameron, GIS/IT Manager-Kara Smith, Chief Bylaw Enforcement Officer-Carol Hopkins, Fire Chief-Jack Burt, Committee/Planning Coordinator-Bob Stewart, Chief Building Official-Emily McDougall, Deputy Fire Chief-Ben Rees
Others Present: Deputy Fire Chief – Jeff Catley (joined the meeting at 1:51 p.m.), Kerri Catley (joined the meeting at 1:51 p.m.)
1. Call to Order and Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
a. Mayor McIver called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. and Council members were reminded to disclose any pecuniary interest and the general nature thereof that may arise during the meeting.
2. Approval of the Agenda
a. Approval of the Agenda
#05-01-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson
That the content of the agenda be approved as presented.
Carried
3. Adoption of the Minutes
a. Re: Special Council Meeting No. 26-02, January 26, 2026
#05-02-2026
Moved by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That the minutes of Special Council Meeting No. 26-02, January 26, 2026, be approved as printed and circulated.
Carried
b. Re: Council Meeting No. 26-03, January 26, 2026
#05-03-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That the minutes of Council Meeting No. 26-03, January 26, 2026, be approved as printed and circulated.
Carried
4. Public Meeting – a. Nil.
5. Delegation – a. Nil.
6. Consideration of Agenda Items
a. Chief Administrative Officer Report No. CAO 26-01
Re: Organizational Policies
Council noted errors within the report.
#05-04-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson
That the motion be deferred until an amended report is brought back to Council.
Carried
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson
That Council receives report CAO 26-01 Organizational Policies, and;
That Council approves the attached Units 3-6 for implementation.
Deferred
b. Chief Administrative Officer Report No. CAO 26-02
Re: 2025 Annual Report
#05-05-2026
Moved by Councillor Aman Sohrab, Seconded by Councillor Todd Dowd
That Council receives report CAO26-02 for information.
Carried
c. Chief Administrative Officer Report No. CAO 26-03
Re: Climate Lens Policy
Council asked about input from the Climate Action and Waste Diversion Committee.
#05-06-2026
Moved by Councillor Aman Sohrab, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson
That Council receives Report No. CAO 26-03, Climate Lens Policy; and
That Council approves the Climate Lens Policy as presented and attached to this report
Carried
d. Clerk Report No. C 26-05
Re: Comprehensive Land Policy
Council asked about the application of the policy on shore road allowances and existing shore roads.
Clerk Alexandra Croce provided an overview of the policy, highlighting that it will establish a clear framework with regards to land matters and outlined the procedure for processing requests..
#05-07-2026
Moved by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That Council receives staff report C26-05 Comprehensive Land Policy for information; and
That Council directs staff to bring forward the draft Comprehensive Land Policy for a second review to its regular meeting held on February 23, 2026.
Carried
e. Deputy Clerk Report No. DC 26-03
Re: 2027-2031 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan – Survey Results
#05-08-2026
Moved by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson, Seconded by Councillor Todd Dowd
That Council receives report DC 26-03 2027-2031 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan – Survey Results for information.
Carried
f. Chief Bylaw Officer Report No. MLEO 26-07
Re: Dog Regulation By-Law Update
Chief Bylaw Officer, Carol Hopkins, provided an overview of the updates to the Dog Regulation By-law.
#05-09-2026
Moved by Councillor Aman Sohrab, Seconded by Councillor Todd Dowd
That Council receives report MLEO 2026-07 Dog Regulation By-law Update, for information, and
That Council directs staff to bring forward an updated By-Law to Licence and Regulate the Care and Control of Dogs Within the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula.
Carried
g. Public Works Manager Report No. PW 26-03
Re: Contractual Agreement with Parks Canada (Hauled Sewage)
Council asked about the fees associated with the acceptance of hauled sewage.
Public Works Manager, Troy Cameron, stated that rates are reflected within the Fees and Charges By-law.
#05-10-2026
Moved by Councillor Aman Sohrab, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson
That Council receives report PW 26-03 Contractual Agreement with Parks Canada (Hauled Sewage) for information; and
That Council authorizes the Mayor and Clerk to enter into an agreement with Parks Canada Agency for the Acceptance of Hauled Sewage.
Carried
h. GIS/IT Manager Report No. GISIT 26-01
Re: 2025 Digital Service Delivery & Modernization Outcomes
GIS/IT Manager, Kara Smith, provided an overview of the information contained within the report.
#05-11-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson
That Council receives report GISIT26-01 2025 Digital Service Delivery & Modernization Outcomes for information.
Carried
i. Fire Chief Report No. FC 26-01
Re: Appoint a Deputy Fire Chief
Council congratulated Benjamin Rees on his appointment to the Deputy Chief position.
#05-12-2026
Moved by Councillor Aman Sohrab, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson
That Council receives report FD26-01, Appoint a Deputy Fire Chief for information; and
That Council directs staff to bring forward a by-law to appoint Benjamin Rees as Deputy Fire Chief for the Municipality.
Carried
j. Museum Committee
Re: January 13, 2026, Meeting Minutes
Council noted errors within the minutes.
#05-13-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That the motion is deferred until the amended minutes are brought back to Council for consideration.
Carried
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That the minutes of Museum Committee Meeting No. 26-01, January 13, 2026, and all actions contained therein be approved as printed and circulated.
Deferred
k. Accounts Payable Voucher
Re: November 2025
#05-14-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That Council receives approved Accounts Payable Voucher for November 2025, in the amount of $2,527,786.27.
Carried
l. Accounts Payable Voucher
Re: December 2025
#05-15-2026
Moved by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That Council receives approved Accounts Payable Voucher for December 2025, in the amount of $5,038,465.78.
Carried
7. Other Business
a. Mayor McIver noted the opportunity for members of Council to provide feedback on the Draft County Official Plan prior to the February 12, 2026, County Council Meeting.
Council asked about next steps associated with the Plan.
Chief Administrative Officer Peggy Van Mierlo-West provided an overview of the proposed timeline, noting that County staff are expected to update the Plan in accordance with County Council direction following the February 20, 2026 meeting.
b. Jack Burt, Fire Chief
Firefighter Service Award – Jeff Catley – 25 years
With the consent of Council, the Firefighter Service Award – Jeff Catley – 25 years item was moved to the end of the meeting to await Jeff Catley’s arrival.
8. Correspondence – for Information
a. Friends of the Lion’s Head Library
Re: Letter of thanks
b. Brightshores Health System – Bruce Peninsula Hospitals Foundation
Re: Rebranding of the Hospital Foundations serving Brightshores Health System
c. Paul Vickers, MPP Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound
Re: Ontario Reducing Healthcare Wait Times in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound with Over $2.2 Million Investment
#05-16-2026
Moved by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That the correspondence items #a-c be received as information and printed and circulated.
Carried
d. World Animal Protection
Re: Municipal Resolution
#05-17-2026
Moved by Councillor Aman Sohrab, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson
Council supported the following resolution from World Animal Protection.
WHEREAS Ontario has more private non-native (“exotic”) wild animal keepers, roadside zoos, mobile zoos, wildlife exhibits and other captive wildlife operations than any other province; and,
WHEREAS the Province of Ontario has of yet not developed regulations to prohibit or restrict animal possession, breeding, or use of non-native (“exotic”) wild animals in captivity; and,
WHEREAS non-native (“exotic”) wild animals can pose very serious human health and safety risks, and attacks causing human injury and death have occurred in the province; and,
WHEREAS the keeping of non-native (“exotic”) wild animals can cause poor animal welfare and suffering, and poses risks to local environments and wildlife; and,
WHEREAS owners of non-native (“exotic”) wild animals can move from one community to another even after their operations have been shut down due to animal welfare or public health and safety concerns; and,
WHEREAS municipalities have struggled, often for months or years, to deal with non-native (“exotic”) wild animal issues and have experienced substantive regulatory, administrative, enforcement and financial challenges; and,
AND WHEREAS the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) and the Municipal Law Enforcement Officers’ Association (MLEOA) have indicated their support for World Animal Protection’s campaign for provincial regulations of non-native (“exotic”) wild animals and roadside zoos in letters to the Ontario Solicitor General and Ontario Minister for Natural Resources and Forestry;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula hereby petitions the provincial government to implement provincial regulations to restrict the possession, breeding, and use of non-native (“exotic”) wild animals and license zoos in order to guarantee the fair and consistent application of policy throughout Ontario for the safety of Ontario’s citizens and the non-native (“exotic”) wild animal population.
Carried
9. Closed Session – a. Nil.
10. Reading of By-laws
a. By-law 2026-14
Being A By-Law to amend by-law 2002-54, as amended (Being the Comprehensive Zoning By-law for the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula) Re: 28 Bay Street South, The Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula (St. Edmund’s Township), County of Bruce
b. By-Law No. 2026-15
Being A By-Law to further amend by-law 2002-54, as amended (Being the Comprehensive Zoning By-law for the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula) Re: 416 The Bury Road, The Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula (Eastnor Township), County of Bruce
c. By-Law No. 2026-16
A By-Law to Licence and Regulate the Care and Control of Dogs Within The Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula
d. By-Law No. 2026-17
Being a By-law to Authorize an Agreement Between Parks Canada Agency and the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula as it Relates to the Acceptance of Hauled Sewage
e. By-Law No. 2026-18
Being a By-law to Appoint a Deputy Fire Chief for the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula
f. By-Law No. 2026-19
Being A By-Law to Confirm the Proceedings of the Council Meeting of The Corporation of The Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula Held Monday, February 9, 2026
#05-18-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson
That the listed by-laws be given 1st, 2nd, and 3rd reading, and enacted.
Carried
11. Jack Burt, Fire Chief
Firefighter Service Award – Jeff Catley – 25 years
a. Council paused for a break at 1:45 p.m. and resumed at 1:51 p.m.
Jeff Catley and Kerri Catley joined the meeting at 1:51 p.m.
Fire Chief Jack Burt and Mayor Milt McIver presented Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Catley with a Firefighter Service Award in recognition of 25 years of service with Northern Bruce Peninsula Fire and Emergency Services.
Kerri Catley was also presented with a Companion Award in recognition of her ongoing support of the Northern Bruce Peninsula Fire and Emergency Services.
Council expressed their gratitude to Deputy Chief Catley for his years of service, leadership, and dedication.
12. Adjournment
a. Motion to Adjourn
#05-19-2026
Moved by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson, Seconded by Councillor Todd Dowd
That the meeting adjourns at 1:55 p.m.
Carried
