Council

That Danielle Romanuk BE PERMITTED to appear before Council respecting the motion regarding Support Local Journalism and News Media.

That Council Agenda CL 8-2020, BE ADOPTED, as amended.

That Minutes CL 5-2021 being the Open and Closed Session minutes of the Regional Council meeting held on Thursday, March 25, 2021, and Minutes CL 6- 2021, being the Open and Closed Session minutes of the Special Regional Council meeting held on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, BE ADOPTED.

That Report CSD 17-2021, dated March 10, 2021, respecting 2020 Year-End Results and Transfer Report, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendations BE APPROVED: 1. That the unaudited summarized financial results of the Niagara Region as detailed in Appendix 1 of Report CSD 17-2021, BE RECEIVED; 2. That the 2020 year-end operating surplus for levy-supported programs including agencies, boards and commissions of $37,306 thousand BE TRANSFERRED as follows:  $69 thousand BE TRANSFERRED from the Accumulated Sick Leave Reserve as per NRPS recommendation to their Board in Appendix 8 of Report CSD 17-2021  $2 thousand BE TRANSFERRED from the Ontario Police Video Training Alliance (OPTVA) Reserve as per NRPS recommendation to their Board in Appendix 8 of Report CSD 17-2021  $6,600 thousand BE TRANSFERRED to the Hospital Contribution Reserve (to be formally established in CSD 19- 2021) to fund the committed contribution to the new West Lincoln Hospital  $230 thousand related to the Niagara Foreign Trade Zone (NFTZ) and Foreign Direct Investment activities BE TRANSFERRED to the Taxpayer Relief Reserve to fund the 2021 NFTZ and investment attraction activities in collaboration with Team Niagara  $30,547 thousand BE TRANSFERRED to the Taxpayer Relief Reserve Regional Council Open Session Minutes CL 8-2021 April 22, 2021 Page 5 3. That the 2020 year-end operating surplus for rate-supported programs of $4,222 thousand BE TRANSFERRED to reserves as follows:  $1,493 thousand BE TRANSFERR

That Minutes CAORC 4-2021 being the Open Session minutes of the Chief Administrative Officer Recruitment Committee meeting held on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, BE RECEIVED and the recommendations contained therein BE APPROVED.

That Minutes PWC 4-2021 being the Open and Closed Session minutes of the Public Works Committee meeting held on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, BE RECEIVED and the recommendations contained therein BE APPROVED, save and except the Minute Items respecting Confidential Report PW 19- 2021.

That Minutes PHSSC 4-2021 being the Open Session minutes of the Public Health & Social Services Committee meeting held on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, BE RECEIVED and the recommendations contained therein BE APPROVED.

That Minutes CSC 4-2021 being the Open and Closed Session minutes of the Corporate Services Committee meeting held on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, BE RECEIVED and the recommendations contained therein BE APPROVED. Councillor Gale declared an indirect pecuniary interest respecting the presentation, Niagara Health - Partnering Together for the Future South Niagara Hospital (Minute Item 3.1), as his son is employed by Niagara Health. Councillor Steele declared an indirect pecuniary interest respecting the presentation, Niagara Health - Partnering Together for the Future South Niagara Hospital (Minute Item 3.1), as his wife is employed by Niagara Health. Regional Council Open Session Minutes CL 8-2021 April 22, 2021 Page 7 Councillor Sendzik declared an indirect pecuniary interest respecting the presentation, Niagara Health - Partnering Together for the Future South Niagara Hospital (Minute Item 3.1), as a member of his family is employed by Niagara Health. The Regional Chair called the vote on the motion and declared it,

That Minutes PEDC 4-2021 being the Open Session minutes of the Planning & Economic Development Committee meeting held on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, BE RECEIVED and the recommendations contained therein BE APPROVED.

That Report CAO 5-2021, dated April 22, 2021, respecting Regional Nomination to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendations BE APPROVED: 1. That Council ENDORSE Councillor Diana Huson as Niagara Region’s representative to stand for election on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) National Board of Directors (Ontario) for the period starting June 2021 and ending June 2022; and 2. That Council CONFIRM it will assume all costs associated with the representative’s attendance at FCM’s Board of Directors meetings and Annual Conference.

WHEREAS a healthy and strong local media is essential for the proper functioning of our democracy; WHEREAS the role of the fourth estate ensures that residents are well informed, and elected officials are held accountable for their actions and decisions; WHEREAS local sources of journalism have struggled financially in recent years due to a decline of traditional revenue sources; WHEREAS newspapers across Canada continue to have their content republished on online platforms (including social media) with little to no compensation, further disadvantaging local news media by exploiting their content; WHEREAS local newspapers across Canada have been forced to significantly downsize, reduce coverage, and in many cases, cease production all together; WHEREAS Niagara’s local radio stations have been forced to reduce their coverage of local news, replacing it with less relevant syndicated content; WHEREAS the importance of local news media has never been more important than during the COVID-19 crisis, as residents turn to trusted news sources for vital information and content; WHEREAS the decline of trusted, balanced local news media across Canada, staffed by ethical journalists with integrity, has created a vacuum that has been filled by disinformation and slanted coverage, often fueled by social media; WHEREAS nearly two out of every three Canadians support sending financial aid to struggling news providers, according to a Nanos Research poll of April 2020; and WHEREAS the federal

That Regional Council RECONSIDER the removal of the broken or damaged recycling bin program that had been eliminated through the 2021 budget process. Two-thirds majority having been achieved, the Regional Chair declared the vote,

WHEREAS given that progress has been made during this term of Council with regards to waste management, particularly in the area of recycling within our communities; WHEREAS based on reports received at the Public Works Committee, increased recycling has been happening in Niagara, which delivers on one of the key principles in the new waste management policy; WHEREAS a decision was made during our 2021 budget process to eliminate the waiving of fees for recycling containers (including blue bins, gray bins, green bins, organic kitchen catchers) that have been broken or damaged, reducing the budget impact by approximately $111,000; WHEREAS this change has had an unintended consequence of creating challenges at municipalities with regards to accounting and enforcement, given the various conditions that have now come into play for the replacement of recycling bins, which is now costing municipalities additional time and staff resources to deliver; and WHEREAS this change may have had the further unintended consequence of creating a barrier for people in our communities when it comes to recycling bin replacement, which would be unfortunate given the community adoption of the new processes. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: 1. That the Region of Niagara REINSTATE the broken or damaged recycling bin program that had been eliminated through the 2021 budget process; 2. That this program, which is expected to cost approximately $111,000, BE RE-ESTABLISHED back into base budget; Regional Co

WHEREAS timely, accurate and effective two-way communications with elected officials and the public are of vital importance at all times; WHEREAS the importance of these communications had been heightened since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic; WHEREAS the provision of high-quality, exceptional communications between the Niagara Region and elected officials and members of public is dependent on internal coordination, information sharing and adherence to established strategies guiding all regional departments; WHEREAS successful public communications are also dependent on strong relationships with external partners such as the Niagara Health, Brock University, Niagara College, the school boards, the provincial and federal government, the private sector and, most importantly, the 12 local area municipalities; WHEREAS the Region’s Strategic Communications and Public Affairs division provides a full suite of services to all Regional Departments (with the exception of Public Health) with a total staff compliment of 9 Full Time Equivalents (FTEs); WHEREAS the Public Health Communications Team, whose services are limited to their department, has a current total staff compliment of 13 FTEs (with some of these positions being on contract for the duration of the pandemic); WHEREAS a number of the communication positions in Public Health are funded all or in-part by provincial dollars; WHEREAS Regional Council accepts the proposition that it is an important priority to ensure that com

That this Council DO NOW MOVE into Closed Session for the purposes of receiving information of a confidential nature respecting: A Matter of Litigation or Potential Litigation and Advice Subject to Solicitor-Client Privilege and a Matter Concerning the Position to be Applied to certain Negotiations to be

That Confidential Report PW 19-2021, dated April 13, 2021, and Confidential Memorandum CL-C 27-2021, dated April 22, 2021, respecting A Matter of Litigation or Potential Litigation and Advice Subject to Solicitor- Client Privilege and a Matter Concerning the Position to be Applied to certain Negotiations to be

That the following Bills BE NOW READ and DO PASS: Bill 2021-23 A by-law to accept, assume and dedicate part of lot 201, CP Plan 4, in the Town of Grimsby as part of Regional Road No. 81 (Main Street East). Bill 2021-24 A by-law to accept, assume and dedicate part of Lot 5, Con 4 in the City of Port Colborne as part of Regional Road No. 98 (Wilhelm Road). Bill 2021-25 A by-law to set tax ratios and tax rate reductions for prescribed property subclasses for Regional purposes and area Municipal purposes for the year 2021. Bill 2021-26 A by-law to set and levy the rate of taxation for Regional general and special purposes for the year 2021. Bill 2021-27 A by-law to authorize a tile drainage loan for the Town of Lincoln. Bill 2021-28 A by-law to adopt, ratify and confirm the actions of Regional Council at its meeting held on April 22, 2021.