Bruce County Council Highlights for October 15, 2026

Bruce County Council met on Thursday, October 15, 2026. The complete agenda and video of the meeting are available on our Agendas and Minutes webpage.  

These are highlights of the meeting: 

Age-Friendly Community Strategy

Council endorsed the Bruce County Age-Friendly Community Strategy 2027-2031. The five-year plan will help guide services and supports that enable older adults to remain independent, connected and engaged in their communities. 

The strategy was developed using feedback from older adults, caregivers, municipalities, community organizations and service providers. It focuses on five key areas: 

• supporting aging in place; 
• connected and inclusive communities; 
• accessible communities; 
• healthy aging and well-being; and 
• leadership and collaboration. 

Bruce County will work with municipalities and community partners to implement the strategy and provide annual progress updates to Council. 

Bruce County Municipal Forum – What We Heard

Council received a report on the second annual Municipal Forum, held June 11, 2026, in Port Elgin. The event brought together local elected officials, municipal staff, County Councillors and County staff to discuss shared priorities and opportunities for collaboration. 

Discussions highlighted common priorities across the region, including housing, transportation, childcare, healthcare, workforce development and age-friendly communities. Participants also emphasized the value of continued collaboration and coordinated advocacy among municipalities. 

Feedback from attendees was positive, with all survey respondents indicating the forum met their expectations. Staff will use the feedback to help plan the third annual Municipal Forum in 2027. 

Land Ambulance Response Time Performance Plan

Council approved the 2027 Land Ambulance Response Time Performance Plan and directed staff to submit it to the Ministry of Health by October 31, 2026. 

The plan sets response time targets for different types of emergency medical calls and is required annually under provincial regulations. Staff recommended that the 2027 targets remain unchanged and noted that Bruce County's targets are consistent with those used by many other Ontario municipalities. 

Council also received an update on the implementation of the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS), which changes how emergency calls are triaged and prioritized. Staff will monitor the impact of the new system on response times and performance reporting. 

Reports

• Corporate Services – Summary of Purchasing Policy Suspension Approvals – Q3
• Corporate Services – Summary of Awarded Tenders – Q3
• Museum and Archives – Information Report – October 2026
• Planning and Development – Fall 2026 Planning Related Legislative and Regulatory Change Update
• Transportation and Environmental Services - Federation of Canadian Municipalities Grant Funding for Climate Adaptation Planning
• Office of the CAO – Library Services Agreement Memorandum of Understanding
• Planning and Development – Draft Plan of Subdivision S-2025-004 and Town of Saugeen Shores Local Official Plan Amendment L-2025-016
• Government Relations – Integrity Commissioner Appointment 2026-2030

What’s Next? 

The next Bruce County Council meeting is November 5, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. 

For a complete schedule of Committee and Council meetings, along with agendas, recordings and minutes for meetings, please visit our Agendas and Minutes webpage.