Dufferin County Council met on September 11, 2025 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 September 11 meeting:

• Ministerial approval of County of Dufferin Official Plan Amendment No. 4
• Dufferin County Communications Strategy
• Road Network Rationalization Plan – Infrastructure transfer date
• County Council extends funding for Choices to December 31, 2025 or until HART Hub funding arrives

Dufferin County staff reported to Council that the County received approval on County Official Plan Amendment No. 4 (OPA #4) from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing on August 1, 2025.

OPA #4 has implemented significant changes to key land use policies relating to employment land conversions, settlement area expansions, and the establishment of additional residential units.

This amendment also updated references to provincial policies no longer in-effect and modified and added several new definitions.

With the Province of Ontario recently implementing a new Provincial Planning Statement in October 2024, the County is required to undertake an additional Official Plan Amendment (OPA #5) to ensure conformity with any policies that were added or modified in the new Provincial Planning Statement.

Staff presented an informational report on the County’s first Communications Strategy. The Strategy highlights existing challenges and opportunities to support the County’s Strategic Plan goal of improving its internal and external communications.

Under the new Communications Strategy, staff will pursue new tactics like a County e-newsletter and internal communications platform to increase teamwork and community-building, use data to drive communications strategy, and continue to work on building relationships with lower tiers and community partners for a wider, more effective reach.

Staff will focus on storytelling, be conversational in communications and foster connections to encourage awareness about County goals, programs, services and important updates. The County will communicate often and where people want to receive information, and strive to understand what works well, what doesn’t and new opportunities to explore.

Implementation of the Dufferin Road Network Rationalization Plan is ongoing. With budget planning for 2026 underway, clarity on infrastructure transfer (uploading or downloading of roads from or to the County or lower-tier municipalities) timing is required to support planning efforts.

Dufferin County Council approved a recommendation from staff that all road infrastructure transfers be completed on June 1, 2026. This will allow time to finalize agreements and information sharing; enable complete budget planning for all parties; and maintain current winter maintenance responsibilities through the 2025/2026 season.

County Council voted to extend funding to Choices Shelter and Support Services at $22,000 per month until December 31, 2025, or until HART Hub funding arrives, as a final emergency funding request. This approach will help sustain essential services and Shelter Operation and strengthen the County’s housing continuum through the potential addition of transitional housing.

Staff are to notify Choices of this change, and Choices is to be prepared to consolidate their operations if needed if HART Hub funding is not received by December 31, 2025.

The County will discuss with the Choices Board the appointment of a Dufferin County representative, either as a voting member or an observer, depending on what their board by-laws permit, to provide guidance and support.

County staff were directed to terminate funding agreements if the option to provide extended continued support (consolidated operations) fails.

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