Dufferin County Council met on April 9, 2026 for a Council meeting. For the full Council meeting agenda and minutes, please see the County’s Meeting Agendas and Minutes page.

Here are the highlights of the April 9 meeting:

• Homelessness Task Force Implementation Update
• Basic Income Pilot Program
• Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care Benefit
• Dufferin Oaks Quality Report
• COPA 1-25 514504 2^nd Line, Amaranth

Staff Continue Homelessness Task Force Implementation

Dufferin County’s Homelessness Task Force made 18 recommendations to Council, which they endorsed in November of 2025. The recommendations are intended to strengthen the homelessness response system, expand housing options, and enhance community awareness.

Staff have prepared a multi-year implementation plan across four strategic pillars: Education and

Awareness, Housing Stock, Process and Policies and Advocacy.

Immediate actions identified within the implementation plan are currently being completed within existing staff capacity and approved operating budgets. Medium and long-term items, including feasibility reviews, acquisition opportunities and program incentives, will require additional resources and may have operating and capital budget implications. As program designs are finalized, staff will bring forward detailed financial considerations to Council through future budget updates or stand-alone reports.

Advocacy to the Federal Government for a Basic Income Pilot Program

One of the recommendations from the Homelessness Task Force was advocacy for a Universal Basic Income program. Basic Income is a concept whereby members of a population receive payments that meet basic needs. Other provinces across Canada have Basic Income projects underway.

In 2025, Senator Pate sponsored Bill S-206 – an Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income. In the Senate, it is awaiting consideration in committee. The bill would pressure the government to investigate how guaranteed livable basic income might be implemented in Canada.

Dufferin County Council have asked staff to advocate to the Federal Government for support for a Universal Basic Income Pilot Program.

CWELCC Update

The annual Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) reconciliation process has identified situations where some child care operators will be required to repay funds to the Ministry via the County due to decreased program enrolment, operational changes and licensing requirements and over-allocated expenditures.

Historically, all reconciliation-related repayments occur within the same fiscal year that the debt is incurred; however, due to the size of the repayment amounts for several operators and in recognition of the financial pressures that operators are currently experiencing under CWELCC funding constraints, County staff recommended a two-year repayment plan to avoid undue hardship.

A two-year repayment option supports the sustainability of operators and helps maintain childcare capacity across Dufferin. The approved approach aims to reduce the risk of operator instability, which could otherwise result in vacancy loss, staff layoffs or potential exits from the CWELCC program in Dufferin County.

At the meeting, Council directed staff to advocate to the Provincial and Federal governments, including requesting a delegation at the upcoming Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference, for program improvements that reflect alternate capacity licensing approaches, geographic considerations within the funding formula, and the long‑term sustainability of the program.

Dufferin Oaks Quality Report

Dufferin Oaks continues to foster a strong quality improvement culture grounded in collaboration, continuous learning and person-centred care. As resident needs grow, the home remains committed to delivering safe, high-quality services.

The 2025 Annual Quality Report fulfills requirements under the Fixing Long Term Care Act, FLCTA, 2021 and outlines key achievements and priorities at Dufferin Oaks. The 2026–2027 Quality Improvement Narrative and Workplan, which is submitted annually to Ontario Health, aligns with County strategic priorities and focuses on two areas: Efficiency and Resident Safety.

Highlights from the past year include an increase of 32% in responses, 99 to 100% satisfaction in the Resident and Family Survey, achievement of a three year accreditation award with CARF, completion of Pay Equity with CUPE, completion of phase one Nurse Call upgrades, restructuring of the Leadership team to enhance capacity and the addition of a full-time Nurse Practitioner.

COPA 1-25 514504 2^nd Line, Amaranth

On January 29, 2025, the County received a County Official Plan Amendment to redesignate the lands at 514504 2nd Line in the Township of Amaranth from Countryside Area (Schedule B) and Prime Agricultural (Schedule C) to Community Settlement Area. At this meeting, Council refused the application based on staff’s recommendation.

County planning staff undertook a comprehensive review of critical land use policies and comments received from internal departments and prescribed agencies and determined that critically important policies pertaining to the establishment of new settlement areas were not met by the proposed development. Planning staff were also of the opinion that many of the provincial interests outlined in the Planning Act, which municipalities must have regard to, were not upheld by the proposed development.

Through comments received from several external agencies, there were notable concerns pertaining to the protection of natural heritage features and whether the appropriate assessments had been completed to determine the viability of the proposed servicing strategy. Staff recommended to Council that they not approve the proposed amendment to redesignate the lands to Community Settlement Area and Council approved staff’s recommendation.

About Dufferin County Council

Dufferin County Council consists of 15 members representing each of the eight municipalities in Dufferin. Council meeting processes are set out in the County’s Procedural By-Law.

Dufferin County Council and Committee meetings can be watched live on the County’s website.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Megan Ball, Manager of Communications
mball@dufferincounty.ca