Some Springwater council members attempting to change integrity commissioner after report issued
By: Wayne Doyle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: BarrieToday.com
September 19, 2024 – Springwater Township Coun. Danielle Alexander tried to make her position crystal clear: she wasn’t objecting to the findings of a recent integrity commissioner’s report, she just objected to the cost.
At last night’s council meeting, Alexander presented a notice of motion that directed the township clerk to seek invitational proposals for the services of an integrity commissioner and that those proposals be presented at the Oct. 16 council meeting for consideration.
“I want to make very clear my intent with this motion,” Alexander said. “I did feel that for the $27,000 that the township paid for the last report that was presented to us by Mr. Swayze, for two and a half pages of content, and when he came to the meeting he was unable to answer many of the direct questions to him, I feel it’s just completely ridiculous.
“The motion is just regarding what we paid for,” she added.
Alexander said she didn’t believe the township received value for the work performed and again told council that a child could have authored it. “It was, I believe I said it before, I felt it was something my daughter could have written,” Alexander said.
At the June 19 meeting of council, Robert Swayze, the township’s integrity commissioner, delivered his report on three complaints his office had received — two against Coun. Phil Fisher, brought by fellow Coun. Brad Thompson and Springwater Public Library board chair Adrian Graham, and one against Mayor Jennifer Coughlin, which was initiated by Fisher.
The report was especially critical of Fisher, who Swayze said engaged in “petty politics.”
A majority of council voted to receive the integrity commissioner’s report for information only. Alexander, Fisher and Deputy Mayor George Cabral voted against receiving it.
At that meeting, Fisher told Swayze, who billed the township a little more than 109 hours of work, or approximately $30,000, he had done “a huge and costly disservice” to council.
He reiterated that sentiment Wednesday night.
“Regardless of what the report was about or what the content was, the taxpayer was taken for a ride,” said Fisher, while supporting Alexander’s motion.
Thompson agreed, but for different reasons. “The real cost to the township is allowing the behaviour that was identified in the report to continue,” the councillor said. “This motion and vote gives us an opportunity to send a clear message to right a wrong.
“I won’t be supporting this motion,” Thompson added.
Coughlin said she was concerned with how township residents would react if they thought the municipality was looking to replace Swayze. “I do have concerns about the optics of this,” Coughlin said. “The changeover from our previous (integrity commissioner) to Mr. Swayze was after a report was received by council that council didn’t agree with or didn’t like the findings. “A year ago, we, as a council, voted to extend (Swayze’s) contract,” the mayor added. “If we’re suggesting it’s not based on one finding, not a lot has happened since that time.”
Swayze was originally hired in 2020 after the council of the day decided to release its integrity commissioner at the time, Principles Integrity. Swayze was one of two providers who responded to the township’s request for proposal (RFP) at the time.
Coughlin was against Alexander’s motion initially. “If it was to terminate Mr. Swayze, I would have a much harder issue with it,” she said. “We went with Mr. Swayze because he was the least expensive at the time. This is literally just looking to see if there’s someone cheaper out there.”
According to township documents, Swayze’s contract with Springwater includes:
Hourly rate of $280 per hour
Annual retainer of $1,000
Travel rate of $140 per hour, when necessary
30-day termination clause for either party
On Wednesday night, township clerk Rene Ainsworth told council that she has ample time to secure invitational proposals — informal quotes from interested parties — and will have them ready for council’s review Oct. 16.
Penetanguishene integrity commissoner clears three complaints ‘without need for full investigation’
By: Derek Howard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: MidlandToday.ca
Sep 19, 2024 – As captains for their municipality, Penetanguishene council ran a clean ship over the past year. The message from the integrity commissioner’s periodic report was further discussed as the town’s appointed representative Principles Integrity gave a presentation during the recent regular council meeting.
Jeffrey Abrams of Principles Integrity explained that the report was meant to provide council and the public “on the ethical wherewithal of the town’s elected officials and its appointed officials,” between the period of June 2023 to the end of May 2024. “I’m happy to report that in the period in question, there wasn’t a lot of activity; we didn’t have any education training or policy development work,” said Abrams. “We responded to one request for advice. “There were three complaints that were filed with us; all of them were disposed of without the need for a full investigation and a recommendation report, so there were no findings against a member that would’ve triggered a report to council. “In each of the cases, we write a disposition letter. As is our obligation, we explained our decision to both the complainant and a respondent member involved,” Abrams explained. Abrams also provided a broader perspective toward the provincial lens, touching on the subjects of breaches of confidentiality (giving a stern recommendation for monetary sanction) as well as conflicts of interest. However, Abrams spent the latter half of the presentation addressing “the issue of occurrences of disparagement, disrespect and even harassment and bullying in councils.”
Within the report, Principles Integrity had detailed elements of harassment seen provincially which included council members who interrogate staff or seek different answers than can be provided by staff by ‘asking the hard questions’. Since completing the report, Abrams drew attention to an August announcement by Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Paul Calandra at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference that “made some indication that there was going to be a uniform code of conduct for all municipalities, that’s been referred to the provincial integrity commissioner for some work and recommendations. “We’re not quite sure what the intention is,” said Abrams. He expressed concerns regarding legislative change without pragmatic guidance which could interfere with the ability for an integrity commissioner to give course correction “in a timely, fair, and affordable way”.
Two reasons were listed in the report: Every harassment complaint could force extensive reviews at a much greater cost than to resolve the matter through an integrity commissioner; and the timespan for imposing remedies could be measured in years in contrast to the few months that an integrity commissioner provides advice. “One example that I think is quite obvious to us is under the Education Act: a school board, upon the investigation and report of an integrity commissioner, can suspend a member’s – not only their compensation for a period of time, but their attendance for a period of time. That, in and of itself, can remedy a number of situations,” Abrams said. The presentation was described by Abrams as “our own good news story on council’s ethical compliance” following the previous deputation where the annual Penetanguishene financial audit was similarly praised by Mayor Doug Rawson.
The integrity commissioner’s periodic report from June 2023 to May 2024 can be located on the agenda page of the Town of Penetanguishene website. Meetings of Penetanguishene council are held on the second Wednesday of each month, and can be watched live on Rogers TV cable 53 when available, or on the Rogers TV website. Archives of council meetings are located on the Town of Penetanguishene YouTube channel.
Orr Lake neighbours present both sides of short-term rental debate
By: Wayne Doyle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: BarrieToday.com
Sep 13, 2024 -Two Orr Lake neighbours share the same situation yet have completely different takes on that experience.
One owns a cottage at 3 Cedar Lane and rents it out as a short-term rental (STR), which she says contributes to the local economy. It provides local jobs, customers to local businesses, lots of cleaners to maintain the property and trades,” Ann Fan told Springwater Township council on Wednesday night. She was speaking virtually during a mandatory public meeting for the consideration of an Official Plan amendment and zoning bylaw amendment for STRs in the township.
Meanwhile, Fan’s neighbour at 7 Cedar Lane has a differing perspective. “People tend to arrive, back their car up, open the back up, taking their coolers, their beer cases, their pop cases and a lot of them don’t leave for the weekend,” said Nora Dixon, a senior and Fan’s Orr Lake neighbour, who appeared in person at council.
“I think that’s in part, because they (Fan) provide so many recreational activities for them they don’t need to leave. They can stay there and have a whale of a time,” Dixon added. “Do they really contribute to the local economy?” While Dixon says she has excellent relations with her neighbour — “we really have no complaints about them or the unit as a whole” — she thought it was important that council see both sides of the issue. Orr Lake is located just a few minutes outside of Elmvale. Dixon’s was the only voice to oppose STRs at this week’s meeting.
Currently, according to Deborah-Ann Liske, a planner with the township, land-use planning documents do not define short-term rentals and do not list it as a permitted use within residential zones. As the township considers regulating them, it needed to update the township land use planning documents. “Following the direction from the township’s solicitor in spring of this year, and direction received from council in July, staff have drafted the necessary amendments to the township’s Official Plan and zoning bylaw, which is the subject of tonight’s public meeting,” Liske said. Liske noted these are draft documents, which were the topic of discussion at Wednesday’s public meeting, and no staff recommendation has been provided at this time.
The township initiated an amendment to the Official Plan to provide guiding policies for the consideration of short-term rentals that would be implemented through the township’s zoning bylaw and also administered through an STR licensing program. “The draft zoning bylaw amendment proposes to provide a definition of a short-term rental accommodation and permit such accommodations as a secondary use within all zones that permit a residential dwelling unit, a seasonal dwelling unit and an additional residential unit,” Liske said. That definition would include that a short-term rental accommodation must be secondary to the established main residential use. “This inclusion in the definition ensures that short-term rentals are not primary use, as such use would be more in line with a definition of a commercial accommodation,” Liske said. “This means that a dwelling unit cannot be rented out on a short-term basis more than it is used as a primary dwelling, therefore the long-term residential component of the property is still maintained.”
The terminology ‘secondary’ was added into the definition based on the township solicitor’s advice that the municipality provide a clear distinction in the proposed definition of when the use becomes a commercial accommodation. The draft bylaw amendment proposes a minimum parking requirement — one space per bedroom that is rented — and limits short-term accommodations to no more than 28 consecutive calendar days. The bylaw amendment, as drafted, would permit STR accommodations in all residential zones within Springwater.
The township’s planning staff will now review all comments, provide possible revisions to the drafted policies, and provide a recommendation to council at a later date.
Joint Statement by Mayor Nuttall, Mayor Greenlaw, Mayor Coughlin & County Warden Clarke: Update on Discussions Regarding the City of Barrie’s Boundary Expansion Request
Submitted by office of County of Simcoe
Midhurst/September 13, 2024 – Today, the City of Barrie, the Township of Oro-Medonte, the Township of Springwater, and the County of Simcoe released the following statement:
“The City of Barrie, the Township of Oro-Medonte, the Township of Springwater, and the County of Simcoe (“the municipalities”) continue to be engaged in facilitated discussions, with the intent of developing mutually acceptable approaches to address growth pressures in the broader region. These discussions are being supported by the Office of the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator (OPLDF), a provincial agency.
As a next step in the process, the parties have jointly retained Hemson Consulting to complete a Joint Lands Needs Analysis and Study. This study is intended to determine the need for additional employment and/or residential land within and around the City of Barrie, the Township of Oro-Medonte, and the Township of Springwater.
The study will be completed in a phased manner. The initial phase will include a review of the City of Barrie’s existing land supply, coupled with a review of the needs of the participating municipalities arising from growth forecasted to 2051. The information gathered will serve as a foundation for further discussions on options moving forward when this phase of the study is completed, later this fall.
More details regarding the outcomes of the study, and continued discussions, will be shared as they become available. The City of Barrie, the Township of Oro-Medonte, the Township of Springwater, and the County of Simcoe remain committed to finding mutually beneficial solutions for managing growth that strengthen our respective communities and provide opportunities for all residents.”
Agency looks to Springwater for more support as Tay backs out
By: Wayne Doyle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: BarrieToday.com
Sep 21, 2024 – On Valentine’s Day, Tay Township sent a letter to the Severn Sound Environmental Association (SSEA) advising them that the municipality was going to stop providing the organization with financial and human resources (HR) support.
This Wednesday, the SSEA was in front of Springwater Township council, hoping it might take on the responsibilities.Coun. Brad Thompson, who voted against providing the support the SSEA was looking for, asked executive director Julie Cayley if she could explain why Tay, and Midland before that, ended their support of these services. “I cannot,” she said. “I’m not sure I could answer that — they (the town of Midland) might be able to answer it better. Tay, I don’t have it in front of me, but the same. ”Cayley said Tay would know why they made the decision. “Tay Township, over the past few years, has been critical of the SSEA’s fiscal management, as over the last six years our annual SSEA levy has more than doubled with no increase to the services the SSEA provides,” Tay Mayor Ted Walker said in an email to BarrieToday. “We voiced our concern to SSEA on several occasions.”
Earlier this year, Walker said, the chair of the SSEA introduced a motion, in the spirit of transparency, to offer the financial and HR services to all member municipalities. The SSEA board passed the resolution. “Upon hearing this, we advised the SSEA, to support their goal of ‘transparency’ in this regard, Tay Township would cease the financial and HR services provided as of the end of June,” Walker said. “We had been providing these services for several years following the Town of Midland ceasing same.” According to Walker, Tay Township provided the services with existing staff — “we did not have to hire anyone” — for the contract price, plus an annual cost-of-living increase pursuant to the agreement. “The SSEA a few months ago asked us for an extension to our withdrawal of services to the end of this year, as they had not made any progress in finding a member municipality to perform the services,” Walker said. “We granted the extension.”
In an effort to replace Tay, the SSEA contacted the other seven other members of the association — the towns of Midland and Penetanguishene and the townships of Georgian Bay, Oro-Medonte, Severn, Springwater, Tay and Tiny. “Tay sent the notification in February and I received it in March and shared the notice with the board at that time,” Cayley said in an email to BarrieToday on Friday. “In early April, the SSEA sent a notice to the other seven joint municipal service board partners asking them for an expression of interest in providing financial and payroll services, so we approached all in April,” she added. Cayley said more detailed discussions with partners who wanted more information to determine if they had the capacity to potentially provide these services began in mid-June.
On Wednesday night, Springwater council debated the pros and cons of supporting the SSEA’s need for professional services before finally voting, in a 4-3 decision, to receive the report and direct staff to negotiate a memorandum of understanding with the SSEA for the provision of professional services and report back to council. The motion was amended to include council’s direction to staff to recruit a permanent part-time position to assist the SSEA.
It should be noted that the Township of Georgian Bay, at its Sept. 9 council meeting, voted 5-2 in favour of leaving the SSEA. The township provided the SSEA with notification that it was leaving the association with a termination date of Dec. 31, 2025. “This is very new information to SSEA and we and the board are receiving it and will be working through what it means for the joint municipal service board moving forward,” said Cayley. “While it is unfortunate that the Township of Georgian Bay has decided to enact their exit clause with the SSEA, it doesn’t not change the organizations need for professional services or Springwater’s need for the important work they provide,” said Springwater Coun. Danielle Alexander, who is also SSEA vice-chair.
Without budget survey, Tiny mayor plans‘to take everything into consideration’
By: Derek Howard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: MidlandToday.ca
Sep 23, 2024 – The budget discussion for Tiny Township will be taking place over three days in early December, but without a 2025 budget survey Mayor Dave Evans wants residents to participate by phone, email and in-person.
An announcement was provided at the start of the recent regular meeting of council that the three days of budget discussions would take place on December 2, 3, and 4, starting at 5 p.m. in the municipal council chambers at 130 Balm Beach Road West. The 2024 budget was approved early in the year at a 5.03 per cent blended tax rate increase, and an 8.19 municipal tax rate increase. Evans spoke with MidlandToday after the meeting, sharing that he found budget talks to be “an interesting exercise”. “I was reading a story about municipal taxes in Moncton, NB, today and they’ve gone up 18 per cent every year for the last three years, and they’re going up in the future,” said Evans. “Now I feel confident that we’re not going to be an 18 per cent (municipality). “At the end of the day, that’s what we’re all about is money and getting the most money for our citizens.” “The new facility will obviously be included in those discussions,” Evans noted.
Built in 1967, the current municipal building was addressed in a 2014 needs assessment and 2016 clerk’s report which concluded it was “inadequate for current and any future staff accommodations,” prompting council of the day to explore options. When a 2022 asset management report identified an underfunding of municipal assets needing repair or replacement, the Tiny Township administration centre was pushed forward. The announcement of the building was met with protest by township residents against the raising of municipal taxes for the facility, organizing a ‘Stop the Build’ obstruction campaign, and countered by others in the community as ‘divisive’.
In June, an updated asset management report noted that the “line drawn in the sand” to close the gap for tax-funded assets would require an annual 2.39 per cent tax rate increase. As well as the administration centre, Evans mentioned upgrades to the Midland wastewater treatment facility related to septage management within North Simcoe, as delegated during the recent Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference. “That’s an agreement we’re really excited about putting together, between the town of Midland and township of Tiny, to come up with a solution for septage. And that may have capital implications; actually I could probably guarantee you it will,” said Evans.
Due to numerous factors, Evans declined to speculate on inflation numbers but stated his interest, namely from a net year-over-year functionality perspective. “I think that people are going to find that some of the conventional wisdom is it’s in the teens and the twenties; we’re going to be below that,” Evans said. “But I don’t at this time know exactly where we’ll be.” When asked how residents would be able to participate in the budget process prior to the December discussions, Evans said that a budget survey wasn’t able to be provided this year due to staffing issues. “With the shortage we had in our CAO department and such – our deputy CAO came from our treasury department who is the one that puts that together – unfortunately, we weren’t able to do that this year,” said Evans. “We do get a lot of feedback from the community, good and bad, and we’ll look forward to that. As part of the budget process, people will be able to come in and participate, and make deputations just like they do here.”
As the entire management of the township goes under budgetary scrutiny through the three-day span, Evans described the budget meetings as “pretty voluminous, and they have to be.” Regarding a potential overabundance of deputations, Evans admitted: “Right now, I don’t know exactly what we’ll have in place, but it will be limited. “But you can certainly call or email; that’s unlimited, and we’ll take everything into consideration.” Further information on the 2025 budget discussions is expected to be available on the Tiny Township website within upcoming weeks.
Archives of council meetings are available to view on Tiny township’s YouTube channel.
Gateway Angels
Submitted by Town of Penetanguishene
Sep. 23, 2024 – The Town of Penetanguishene is excited to announce the launch of the innovative new Gateway Angels Themed Lighting Program starting September 25, 2024.
This Program will feature an array of coloured lights shining onto the Gateway Angels that will change to reflect various different holidays and special events recognized by the Town, creating a vibrant and immersive experience for residents and visitors alike.
“We are thrilled to bring this new lighting program to our Town,” said Mayor Rawson. “This initiative is not just about decorating our streets; it’s about fostering a sense of pride and community for our residents and visitors.”
On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, the Gateway Angels will be lit green and white to celebrate Franco-Ontarian Day within the Town of Penetanguishene and province. This initiative, spearheaded by the Town’s Recreation & Community Services Department, aims to enhance the Town’s aesthetic appeal and foster a sense of community celebration.
Examples of what the lighting program will feature include:
- Orange Lights: To celebrate Pumpkin Inferno and recognize Truth and Reconciliation Day.
- Blue Lights: The Town will see vibrant blue lights during events like Winterama or when the Town wants to show its Town colours.
- White Lights will be used on a regular basis, when no holidays or events are being recognized.
In addition to the scheduled holiday and event displays, the Town of Penetanguishene will be reviewing a policy at an upcoming Committee of the Whole meeting that would allow community groups and organizations the opportunity to request custom lighting displays for their own events. To facilitate this, interested groups will be encouraged to submit their lighting requests by obtaining a Lighting Request Form from the Corporate Services Executive Assistant. This form can be requested by contacting Emily Dermott-Simpson at 705-549-7453 or edermott-simpson@penetanguishene.ca. All requests will be reviewed based on availability and the terms of the policy.
Heads of council meeting yields little progress on user-fee study
By: Derek Howard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: MidlandToday.ca
Sep 23, 2024 – The unification of North Simcoe municipalities toward a user-fee study won’t be happening any time soon, if Tiny Township council’s response is any indication.
A joint letter circulated in July to the councils of Tiny Township, Midland, Penetanguishene and Tay Township had been discussed at various meetings over recent months, asking if the four councils would participate in a recreational amenities and services study for resident and non-resident user fees. Since that letter went out, Tay announced they would not participate while Midland and Penetanguishene would. The matter was discussed at the previous meeting of Tiny Township council who expressed interest but wanted to wait until an early-September meeting of the heads of council.
The recent committee of the whole meeting addressed that heads of council discussion, with Mayor Dave Evans stating that the matter had been discussed but there had been no change in Tiny’s position, “in terms of us paying or providing compensation for recreational facilities in neighbouring communities.” Evans reiterated that discussions should continue to be ongoing and that one “should never say never”, but proposed that the July letter be received as information with no further action taken. Deputy Mayor Sean Miskimins, who also attended the meeting, agreed with Evans. “The door is always open to more conversation, but it’s kind of beating a dead horse right now,” said Miskimins. Coun. Dave Brunelle, however, was interested in the reason why progress had halted with no resolution, and pressed Evans for an explanation. Brunelle quoted from the letter penned by Penetanguishene, which read: “…we believe a collaborative approach is essential, as a group we can work better together for the improvement of all North Simcoe residents”. Evans noted Tay’s forfeit of attendance but focused on the two towns. “This discussion,” said Evans, “was centred around continuing the previous policy that was in place in Tiny, when we’re in – again, from a Tiny perspective – we provided services… and substantial funds to both facilities. And we’ve made a decision to go a different way now.“Midland and Penetang, if I can paraphrase, are looking for a continuation of a previous policy. I did make a very clear statement on Monday that that is not something that the township of Tiny is interested in going back to. We’ve made a new policy, and we’re going to stick with that for now,” Evans stated.
Brunelle followed up with a question on what Tiny council would want looking ahead to future collaborations and discussion. “Because we can’t just keep going back and forth and not moving forward; we need to move forward on this issue so that we get some resolution here,” Brunelle stated. The question allowed Evans to expand further on the stalemate, pointing out that with differences in positions, it would be unknown if an alignment could be reached. “Just since July, this has changed,” Evans said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it changes again moving forward.” Evans also cited library agreements with Midland and Springwater Township, as well as the septage agreement with Midland, as instances where views aligned. “I do not agree that we are somehow responsible, or it’s incumbent upon us to come up with a solution to make the town of Midland or Penetanguishene happy,” Evans noted, adding that mutual benefit was the key. “Right now we don’t need an agreement. Everything seems to be running somewhat fine.”
Ending the discussion by mentioning that concerns would be addressed on a quarterly basis with a reminder that council members could contact other councils frequently, the recommendation to receive the July letter as information was approved with the only direction given to let the other municipalities know of the decision.
Of interest, a recent Tay Township report explored various funding formulas for Tay within North Simcoe, including instances where Tiny Township and other municipality fees could be discerned through numerous variables. The North Simcoe letter for user-fees and charges for all recreation amenities and services can be viewed on the agenda page on the Township of Tiny website.
Archives of council meetings are available to view on the township’s YouTube channel.
Update From Doug Shipley, MP
Submitted by Office of Doug Shipley, MP
Sep. 23, 2024 – As your federal Member of Parliament, I work to keep you informed on what the federal government is up to in Ottawa. While I am always happy to answer your questions about policy, a significant part of my job is to help constituents navigate federal government programs and services.
My team and I are happy to greet in person visitors and answer phone calls and emails Monday to Friday in my local office. You can find us at 48 Alliance Boulevard Suite 104 in Barrie. You can also reach us by telephone at 705-728-2596.
We can assist with the following matters:
- Passports
- Canada Revenue Agency Inquiries
- Employment Insurance
- Canada Pension Plan and Canada Pension Plan Disability
- OAS and the Guaranteed Income Supplement
- Immigration Refugee Citizenship Canada inquiries
- Any other federal matters
How we can help is determined on a case-by-case basis, so the best thing to do is contact my office by telephone or email and discuss your specific situation. Then we can let you know what steps we might be able to take to assist you.
When contacting my office, you will often reach one of my knowledgeable team members as I am juggling responsibilities both here in Barrie – Springwater – Oro-Medonte and in Ottawa. If you would like to reach me directly to share your concerns around policy, legislation or government service the fastest way to connect with me is by sending an email to Doug.Shipley@parl.gc.ca
With the various demands on my time every day I may not be able to respond immediately. I do review all emails and if I think that you will be best served by a direct conversation with a member of my team then I will ask them to follow up. Otherwise, you will receive a response from me.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely, Doug Shipley
Member of Parliament
Barrie – Springwater – Oro-Medonte
Message on behalf of MPP Jill Dunlop
Submitted by the office of Jill Dunlop, MPP
September 11, 2024 – As we welcome October, the changing leaves and cooler temperatures signal a season of transformation – both in our communities and across Ontario. As MPP for Simcoe North, I’m excited to share the progress our government is making to improve the lives of families, students, and communities and the anticipation of returning to Queen’s Park on October 21st to continue many important initiatives.
Ontario’s classrooms are now more focused on learning with the province’s cellphone ban. This measure ensures that students can engage fully in their education without unnecessary distractions. Additionally, I’m proud to share that free menstrual products are now available in schools across Ontario. This initiative helps ensure no student is held back from participating fully in their education due to a lack of basic hygiene products, promoting equality and dignity in our classrooms.
To further strengthen the safety and well-being of our communities, we’re enhancing access to addiction recovery care with new treatment hubs. These hubs provide crucial support to individuals struggling with addiction, offering them a path to recovery and hope for a better future. Expanding access to care is essential as we work together to protect the most vulnerable in our society.
Another exciting development is the launch of the largest competitive energy procurement in Ontario’s history. This initiative will help meet the province’s growing energy demands while driving economic growth, creating jobs, and fostering innovation in the energy sector. It’s a significant step toward securing Ontario’s energy future and ensuring that communities like ours can continue to thrive.
Finally, the government is committed to modernizing Ontario’s retail alcohol marketplace. We are working on expanding choices for consumers while supporting local producers and enhancing economic opportunities across the province. This modernization will help make Ontario a more competitive and vibrant place to live and do business.
Together, these initiatives are shaping a brighter, stronger Ontario for all of us. I look forward to continuing to work on behalf of our communities, and engaging with families, businesses and organizations for the betterment of Simcoe North, and I wish everyone a wonderful season filled with community fairs, markets and the all the fall beauty of Simcoe North.