Part 2: Budget Direction Vote and Enbridge Renewal – 03/30/2023

This Committee of the Whole meeting on March 30, 2023 had Janice Maynard (Ameliasburgh), Chair running the room, with Mayor Steve Ferguson and councillors from Wards 1 through 9 present except for Roy Pennell (Ameliasburgh) and Sam Grosso (Ameliasburgh), who were listed as regrets.

Rather than just outcomes, this section highlights how decisions took shape; who asked the key questions, who pushed motions forward, and how councillors across the County positioned themselves on issues ranging from community safety to long term agreements and budget direction.

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View the entire PEC Council Meeting; or view our recap.

Intimate partner violence deputation and the councillors who pushed the discussion

Julie Watson, Executive Director, Alternatives for Women and Holly Baines, Training and Public Engagement Coordinator, Alternatives for Women presented to the committee and then took questions. The minutes describe the main question themes as including mental health, femicide advocacy, possible partnerships connected to the Trenton military base, PTSD, and the idea of declaring intimate partner violence as an epidemic, plus what outcomes Council should expect if it moved in that direction.

In the actual back and forth, Kate MacNaughton (Picton) raised the real life overlap between the housing crisis and people being stuck in unsafe situations, and Watson responded that the lack of housing makes leaving harder and can push people to leave the County to find stable housing. The question and answer period also included Bill Roberts (Sophiasburgh) asking about PTSD and whether intimate partner abuse linked to service related trauma comes up in the region, with Watson explaining that it was not something they see often and noting limits around discussing client specifics.

Phil St-Jean (Picton) focused on what comes next if Council makes a declaration, asking for more information on the Renfrew inquest recommendations and what expectations or follow up actions would be tied to an epidemic declaration. Watson and Baines said they would forward more information, and the minutes reflect that this was part of the discussion about outcomes and expectations.

Formally, the deputation was received through a motion moved by Bill Roberts and seconded by Kate MacNaughton, and it carried.

Enbridge franchise renewal and the councillors who flagged the risks

Public comment shifted into the Enbridge franchise renewal topic, with Steve Rogers, Manager Operations, Enbridge and Sonia Fazari, Senior Advisor, Municipal and Stakeholder Engagement, Enbridge speaking in support of the renewal item.

The committee’s questions stayed anchored to practical concerns. Members asked about the 20 year length of the agreement and how it would not be reopened unless there were fundamental changes, whether any municipalities have shorter terms, how modifications would work including electronic correspondence and green energy, and the paused locate delivery charge, with the CAO clarifying the municipal side timelines under the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012.

In the live discussion, Mayor Steve Ferguson raised the locate charge issue directly, and Phil St-Jean pressed for what the pause actually means and how Council would be kept informed. Janice Maynard, Chair also pointed out how outdated wording can lock municipalities into older communication practices, even for small things like day to day correspondence.

The audience comments portion was formally received through a motion moved by Phil Prinzen (Bloomfield/Hallowell) and seconded by Brad Nieman (Bloomfield/Hallowell), and it carried.

The franchise renewal report itself was then put forward by motion moved by Sam Branderhorst (Athol) and seconded by Phil St-Jean, and it carried.

The budget motion and the recorded vote that showed full support in the room

The clearest moment of who stood where came on the operating budget resolution. The motion was moved by Bill Roberts and seconded by Chris Braney (Hillier).

During discussion, Brad Nieman spoke in support of getting staff to bring options back, and John Hirsch (South Marysburgh) supported the idea of earlier direction before the usual budget crunch. Kate MacNaughton supported the approach while flagging discomfort with an arbitrary number, and Mayor Steve Ferguson asked staff whether the timeline was realistic. The CAO said summer was the right timing if Council wanted meaningful options before budget work ramps up.

Bill Roberts requested a recorded vote, and every member listed as present voted in favour, with no opposed votes recorded. The in favour votes were Councillors Roberts, St-Jean, Harrison, Branderhorst, Engelsdorfer, Hirsch, MacNaughton, Braney, Maynard, Nieman, Prinzen, and Mayor Steve Ferguson. Roy Pennell and Sam Grosso were listed with no vote recorded, consistent with their regrets.

What does it means for locals

The focus on housing and support services connects directly to what MacNaughton and St-Jean raised. Residents there are more likely to feel both the pressure on housing and the importance of accessible support systems.

The budget conversation may stand out more. A 10 percent reduction target does not automatically mean cuts, but it does open the door to changes in how services are delivered. That could affect everything from road maintenance to community programs, depending on what options staff bring back.

Growth and development pressures are ongoing, the Enbridge discussion matters in a practical way. Long-term agreements and potential fees can shape how easy or costly it is to build, renovate, or maintain properties.

The biggest takeaway is that nothing is final yet. The violence declaration has not been decided, the Enbridge agreement still goes through another approval process, and the budget direction is just the start of a longer conversation. But the positions councillors took here give a clear preview of where debates are heading and which issues are likely to come back in a bigger way at Council.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:46:27. 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.