Part 1: Film Policy, Heritage Protection, Election Planning, and Transparency Measures - 01/16/2025

The Committee of the Whole met at Shire Hall in Picton and was live streamed for the public. The chair opened the meeting by welcoming council members, staff, media, and residents attending in person or online. It was explained that any motions passed at this meeting were not final and would still need to be confirmed at the regular council meeting later in the month.

The agenda was approved without changes, and no conflicts of interest were declared. There were no deputations or registered public comments for this meeting.

© PEC Council (YouTube)

View the entire PEC Council meeting, or continue to speaker comments and councillor votes.

Draft Film Policy and Regional Screen Industry Approach

The first major item was a report recommending approval of a draft film policy for the County. The goal of the policy is to create a clear, consistent process for film, television, and digital screen productions looking to work in the County. The policy is part of a broader regional effort, with nearby municipalities aligning their rules to make the area more attractive and easier to navigate for production companies.

The discussion highlighted that filming can bring direct economic benefits through permit fees and indirect benefits through local spending at restaurants, accommodations, wineries, and shops. Staff explained that many businesses support the policy because of this economic potential.

Council discussed how filming sometimes involves temporary changes to streets, traffic signals, and heritage buildings, which is why a more formal process is needed. The policy also sets out training expectations and internal coordination so staff know who is responsible when productions request road closures, parking changes, or use of public spaces.

Heritage Oversight and Film Permit Review

An important part of the film policy discussion focused on heritage protection. The policy proposes involving a member of the Built and Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee in film permit pre-application meetings. This is meant to ensure that filming near or on heritage properties does not damage buildings and that any temporary alterations are reversed properly.

Council supported this idea as a way to protect historic main streets and landmarks while still welcoming creative industries.

Fees, Flexibility, and Small Creators

The proposed film permit fee of $100 was discussed at length. While the fee is modest, council stressed the need for flexibility, especially for small local creators, student productions, and independent artists. The policy is designed to be applied case by case, recognizing that not all productions have large budgets like major streaming services.

There was strong agreement that the County should not discourage local artists while still ensuring fairness and cost recovery for municipal services.

Economic Growth, Tourism, and Accommodation Gaps

Council talked openly about the County’s limited accommodation capacity, especially for larger productions that require standardized hotel rooms and transportation logistics. While filming can help attract investment and raise the County’s profile, it also highlights gaps in local infrastructure.

Staff noted that having a film policy helps signal to investors that the County is serious about economic development, which could support future interest in new accommodations and tourism-related projects.

Closed Meeting Protocol and Live Streaming Rules

The next major topic was a report responding to findings from a closed meeting investigation. Staff proposed a new standardized protocol for closed sessions to improve clarity, consistency, and transparency.

The report also recommended updates to live streaming procedures, including what happens if technology fails or if a closed meeting is accidentally broadcast. Council emphasized that while live streaming is important, official minutes remain the legal record of meetings.

A key amendment was introduced and approved to remove the Nominating Committee from live streaming requirements, since it only meets briefly in public before moving into confidential discussions and creates unnecessary administrative burden.

2026 Municipal Election Voting Methods

The final major topic was planning for the 2026 municipal election. Council approved a hybrid voting model, combining internet voting with paper ballots and vote tabulators. This approach mirrors the 2022 election, which saw strong voter turnout.

Staff confirmed that accessibility and inclusion remain top priorities, with plans for roving polls, potential polling in retirement homes, and continued support for voters who do not drive or use computers.

Council also discussed ballot questions, voting software flexibility, and ensuring voters retain the legal right to intentionally spoil or undervote their ballots.

The meeting concluded with approval of all motions and adjournment.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:06:28. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.