Council Highlights - April 13, 2026

Announcements

Mayor Clarke

• Mayor Clarke shared that Township crews are actively completing spring road maintenance, including pothole repairs, gravel road grading, and preparations for annual street sweeping beginning in May. Residents are encouraged to report potholes through the Township’s online reporting system at ramara.ca/ReportIt.
• Mayor Clarke also noted that proposed Bill 100, currently before the Province of Ontario, could result in changes to the composition of Simcoe County Council, reducing representation to Mayors only beginning next term.

Deputy Mayor Bell

• Deputy Mayor Bell highlighted the launch of the Township’s new Flag Football Program, developed in partnership with SportsKlub, noting strong early registration and exciting plans for the program experience.

Councillor Fisher

• Councillor Fisher shared that the Friends of the Library have been selected to participate in the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign, running from April 27 to May 3, in support of the Ramara Township Public Library.
• Councillor Fisher also noted that she attended the recent Mayor’s Breakfast at Fern Resort, where attendees heard updates on regional initiatives and developments in neighbouring communities.

Councillor Tuju

• Councillor Tuju noted she attended the Couchiching Conservancy Annual General Meeting on March 28, where Dr. Anabela Bonada of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation spoke about the impacts of climate change on the region and strategies to improve resilience and protect natural landscapes.
• Councillor Tuju also noted she attended the Good Friday Fish and Chip Dinner at Ramona Hall alongside Councillor Fisher and noted the strong community turnout.
• Councillor Tuju recognized Shari Earl, Operations Assistant at Green Haven Shelter for Women, on her retirement after 31 years of service, thanking her for her longstanding contributions to the organization.

Councillor Bell

• Councillor Bell reminded residents that the Udney Community Centre Pancake Breakfast in support of the Ramara Historical Society will take place on April 18.
• Councillor Bell also shared information from the Couchiching Ontario Health Team, noting that residents do not need to give up their current family physician in order to join the waitlist for a local physician. Learn more about Health Care Connect.

Committee of the Whole

Deputations:

Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) regarding Intimate Partner Violence

• Heather Lewis of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) gave a deputation regarding Intimate Partner Violence. Diane Porteous and Maggie Buchanan of CFUW were in attendance. The deputation requested that the Township of Ramara declare Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) an epidemic and encourage the Province of Ontario to do the same. Statistics were provided regarding IPV, along with information about other municipalities that have declared IPV an epidemic.

View the CFUW Presentation

The Couchiching Conservancy regarding Lake Dalrymple Conservation Project and Request for Financial Support

• Tanya Clark and Dorthea Hangaard of The Couchiching Conservancy gave a deputation regarding the Lake Dalrymple Conservation Project and requested financial support from the Township. The deputation included information about land trusts, protected land in the Township of Ramara, and an overview of the Lake Dalrymple Conservation Project. Financial support in the amount of $50,000 was requested for the 430-acre land acquisition.

View the Couchiching Conservancy Presentation

Open Public Forum:

• Ruth James, Anne Belanger, Jo-Hellen Berner, and Elise Bethune spoke during open public forum regarding Agenda Item 14.1.2. - Correspondence from Elise Bethune, CEO of the Ramara Township Public Library, on behalf of the Friends of the Library and Quilter's Club regarding Smile Cookie Fundraising Campaign.
• Joyce Hird spoke during open public forum regarding Agenda Item 7.1. - The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) regarding Intimate Partner Violence.
• Karen Baldock spoke during open public forum regarding Agenda Item 7.1. - The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) regarding Intimate Partner Violence.
• Donna Jebb spoke during open public forum regarding Agenda Item 7.1. - The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) regarding Intimate Partner Violence.
• Diane Porteous spoke during open public forum regarding Agenda Item 7.1. - The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) regarding Intimate Partner Violence.
• Dale Rowe spoke during open public forum regarding Agenda Item 7.1. - The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) regarding Intimate Partner Violence.
• Agnes Voros spoke during open public forum regarding Agenda Item 11.4.2. -Retention of Electronic Meeting Recordings.

Below are highlights of what Committee of the Whole recommended at its meeting held on Monday, April 13, 2026. These are subject to ratification by Council at its next meeting on April 27, 2026, unless pulled for ratification on the same day.

Closed Session:

Litigation Update & Strategy - Bertrand et al v. Township of Ramara et al 2026 ONSC 1662

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding Litigation Update & Strategy - Bertrand et al v. Township of Ramara et al 2026 ONSC 1662. The report was referred to the April 13, 2026, Council agenda for same-day ratification.

Appointment of a New Member to the Rooted in Ramara Committee

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding the appointment of a new member to the Rooted in Ramara Committee and appointing Kathy Manners to the Rooted in Ramara Committee for the term ending November 14, 2026. The report was referred to the April 13, 2026, Council agenda for same-day ratification.

Contractual Relationship with Good Doctors Inc.

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding the contractual relationship with Good Doctors Inc. and that the confidential direction to staff be adopted. The report was referred to the April 13, 2026, Council agenda for same-day ratification.

Legal Opinion - CivicWeb Portal Privacy and Information/Human Resources Matter

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding Legal Opinion – CivicWeb Portal Privacy and Information/Human Resources Matter and that the confidential direction to staff be adopted. The report was referred to the April 13, 2026, Council agenda for same-day ratification.

Litigation Update & Strategy - Road Widening on Ramara Road 47 Matter

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding litigation Update & Strategy - Road Widening on Ramara Road 47 Matter, as amended, and that the confidential direction to staff be adopted.
• Committee of the Whole recommended that the Director of Corporate Services/Legal be delegated authority to execute the next steps of the matter if required. The report was referred to the April 13, 2026, Council agenda for same-day ratification.

Board and Committee Reports:

Amendment to Ramara Public Library Board Bylaw – Number of Board Members

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding an amendment to the Ramara Public Library Board Bylaw and supporting the amendment of Bylaw 97.102 to change the required number of board members as set out in Schedule "A" to the report.

Council Referral Reports:

Adopting an Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) for the Township of Ramara

• Committee of the Whole recommended postponing consideration of the proposed Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) until the April 27, 2026, Council meeting with staff to provide further cost-benefit and benchmarking analysis. The postponement motion was referred to the April 13, 2026, Council agenda for same-day ratification.

Retention of Electronic Meeting Recordings

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding retention of electronic meeting recordings and acknowledging that meeting minutes constitute the official record of Council proceedings, while electronic meeting recordings are retained for convenience and transparency purposes only.
• Committee of the Whole also recommended that open session Council meeting recordings remain publicly available for the duration of the Council term and for one additional year as unlisted content before deletion.
• Committee of the Whole also recommended that the location of electronic recordings to only be retained on the Township’s YouTube channel and will not otherwise be archived unless required for an active investigation, litigation, or access request under MFIPPA.
• Committee of the Whole further recommended that the Clerk retain authority to remove or restrict access to recordings where necessary to address legal, privacy, security, or records management concerns, and that live chat be disabled during Council meeting livestreams.

Departmental Reports:

Repeal and Replace of Procurement of Goods and Services Bylaw

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding repeal and replacement of the Township’s Procurement of Goods and Services Bylaw and repealing Bylaw 2004.82 and the existing Goods and Services Procurement Policy and replacing them with the updated Procurement of Goods, Services, and Construction Bylaw as set out in Schedule “A” of the report AD-09-26.
• The Township Clerk was further authorized to make any necessary housekeeping revisions to existing Township bylaws and policies to ensure conformity with the new bylaw upon approval.
• The report was referred to the April 13, 2026, Council agenda for same-day ratification.

Council

Below are highlights of what Council adopted at its meeting on Monday, April 13, 2026:

·       Council received the report regarding Litigation Update & Strategy – Bertrand et al v. Township of Ramara et al 2026 ONSC 1662 as information.

·       Council received the report regarding appointment of a new member to the Rooted in Ramara Committee and appointed Kathy Manners to the committee for the term ending November 14, 2026.

·       Council received the report regarding the Contractual Relationship with Good Doctors Inc. and the confidential direction to staff was adopted.

·       Council received the report regarding Legal Opinion – CivicWeb Portal Privacy and Information/Human Resources Matter and the confidential direction to staff was adopted.

·       Council received the report regarding Litigation Update & Strategy – Road Widening on Ramara Road 47 Matter, as amended, the confidential direction to staff was adopted, and authority was delegated to the Director of Corporate Services/Legal to execute the next steps of the matter if required.

·       Council directed staff to bring forward a further cost-benefits and benchmarking analysis regarding the AMPRS program to the April 27, 2026, Council meeting and postponed the consideration of the recommendations of Report BD-01-26 until April 27, 2026.

·       Council received the report regarding the repeal and replacement of the Township’s Procurement of Goods and Services Bylaw and approved repealing Bylaw 2004.82 and the existing Goods and Services Procurement Policy, replacing them with the updated Procurement of Goods, Services, and Construction Bylaw as set out in Schedule “A” of Report AD-09-26. Council also authorized the Township Clerk to make any necessary housekeeping revisions to existing Township bylaws and policies to ensure conformity with the new bylaw upon approval.

·       Council received the report regarding the Feasibility of a Boat Launch into Lake Simcoe as information and directed staff to request that the City of Orillia consider reduced boat launch rates for Township of Ramara residents.

·       Council received the report regarding Sports Dome Preliminary Research and Next Steps and approved commissioning a Sports Dome Feasibility Study, contingent upon the successful receipt of grant funding and in accordance with the Township’s Procurement of Goods and Services Bylaw. Should grant funding not be obtained, Council directed staff to submit a 2027 capital budget request in the amount of $50,000 including HST to complete the Sports Dome Feasibility Study.

·       Council received the Integrity Commissioner Services – Annual Report – 2025 as information.

·       Council received correspondence from Elise Bethune, CEO of the Ramara Township Public Library, on behalf of the Friends of the Library and Quilter’s Club, regarding the Smile Cookie Fundraising Campaign as information.

·       Council directed staff to provide the Rama Central Public School Parent Council with a contribution of one week of summer camp scheduled for August 4–7 and a Township of Ramara history book in support of their 2026 Silent Auction.

·       Council declared Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) an epidemic in the Township of Ramara and requested support from other municipalities to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic, where they have not already done so. Council further requested that the Province of Ontario declare intimate partner violence an epidemic.

·       Council received the deputation The Couchiching Conservancy regarding the Lake Dalrymple Conservation Project and Request for Financial Support as information.

Notice of Motion:

• Councillor Snutch gave notice of a motion to be introduced at the April 27, 2026, Council meeting proposing that Council receive a Council Information Package (CIP) memo when litigation is commenced by or against the Township.
• The proposed motion would also require Council to receive updates at key stages of litigation, including material changes to the status, scope, or potential exposure of a matter, as well as upon resolution or disposition.
• The motion further proposes that such CIP memos may be public or confidential, as determined by the Township Solicitor, Clerk, and/or CAO, depending on the nature of the matter and applicable legislation.

Bills and Bylaws:

Council approved the following bylaws on April 13, 2026:

• Bill 2026.16 – A bylaw to change the names of various highways within the Township of Ramara.
• Bill 2026.17 – A bylaw to deem part of a Plan of Subdivision not to be a registered plan of subdivision (8168 Laidlaw Avenue).
• Bill 2026.18 – A bylaw to amend Fees and Charges Bylaw 2025.74 to include fees and charges respecting the provision of legal services.
• Bill 2026.19 – A bylaw to establish and maintain policies for the procurement of goods, services, and construction.
• Bylaw 2026.27 – A bylaw to confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting held on April 13, 2026.

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For More Information

For more details on any of these items, you can read the full meeting agenda on the Township's Meeting Portal or watch the meeting on the Township of Ramara's YouTube channel.

The meeting highlights are prepared to give residents a timely update on decisions of Council. The Council meeting minutes are the official record of the meeting. Once adopted, the Council meeting minutes can be found on the Township of Ramara's Meeting Portal.