Reeve Jack Wilson welcomed all present by inviting them to join in the Lord’s Prayer.

The Reeve called the meeting to order with Council present; Steve Bennett, Dennis Gauthier, Jim Sheedy, Kellard Witt, Allan Wren with regrets from Rick O’Brien.

Also present was Darrel Ryan, C.A.O..

There was no disclosure of pecuniary interest.

MOVED BY: Allan Wren,    SECONDED BY: Jim Sheedy
That the agenda be adopted as amended. CARRIED.

MINUTES:

MOVED BY: Steve Bennett,    SECONDED BY: Dennis Gauthier,
That the minutes of previous meetings be accepted as circulated.    CARRIED.

DELEGATIONS:

• Ms. Cathy Davidson and Mr. Tim Swan appeared before Council with reference to sawmill operations.
• Mr. Charles Cheesman and Mr. Roy Reiche appeared before Council with reference to possible litigation.

MOVED BY: Jim Sheedy,    SECONDED BY: Kellard Witt,
That Council move to a closed meeting to discuss possible litigation.    CARRIED.

MOVED BY: Allan Wren, SECONDED BY: Dennis Gauthier,
That Council move out of a closed meeting.    CARRIED.

NEW BUSINESS

• Dwight Nagora

LAND SEVERANCES:

No land severances were dealt with.

MOTIONS:

MOVED BY: Kellard Witt,    SECONDED BY: Steve Bennett,
That Council approve the General and Road Accounts in the amount of $1,827,481.20.    CARRIED.

MOVED BY: Jim Sheedy,    SECONDED BY: Kellard Witt
Whereas, the federal government committed to the taxpayers of Canada that the National Firearms Registry for long guns under Bill C-68 would cost no more than $2 million dollars;
And whereas, the Auditor General’s Report submitted to Parliament on December 3rd, 2002 determined that the minimum cost of the federal firearms registry for long guns will exceed $1 billion dollars; that a recent administrative review by a consultant for the Justice Department verified that the gun registry will cost an additional $541 million before being fully implemented, and another $1 billion to operate and that these spending estimates do not include the cost of associated programs;
And whereas, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation has recently announced that they believe that the firearms registry for long guns will cost the taxpayers of Canada at least $2 billion;
And whereas, the Auditor General of Canada determined that the Justice Department has consistently failed to provide both the Members of Parliament and the Auditor General with accurate information regarding cost overruns of the registry;
And whereas, the government has failed to provide any conclusive or verifiable evidence that the registration of long guns is preventing crime or keeping guns out of the hands of criminals;
And whereas, the money spent on the firearms registry for long guns would have provided MRI’s for every hospital in Canada, or provided for the hiring of at least 10,000 police officers;
And whereas, municipalities across Canada are in dire need of funding assistance to assist with the provision of local services including public transit, the maintenance of local infrastructure such as roads, bridges, sewers, hospitals, and local law enforcement;
And whereas, eight Provinces, three territories, police associations, police chiefs and police officers across Canada have withdrawn their support of the firearms registry for long guns; five recent public opinion polls have demonstrated that a majority of Canadian taxpayers support the abolition of the firearms registry in favor of spending on other national priorities; and that six provinces are refusing to prosecute charges associated with the firearms registry;
Therefore, be it resolved that, as elected representatives of the Township of Laurentian Valley, we call upon Parliament to retain the licensing component of Bill C-68; to strengthen the sentencing and penalties associated with the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime; and abolish the unworkable national firearms registry for long guns and redirect the tax dollars being spent on the registry to programs in support of municipal infrastructure, health care, education and local law enforcement.
   CARRIED.

MOVED BY: Steve Bennett,    SECONDED BY: Kellard Witt
Whereas, it is the mandate of the Ministry of the Environment to require extensive testing of all sawmill operations in particular the storage of bark and sawdust;
And whereas, each sawmill owner be required by the Ministry of the Environment to have his mill area inspected by an engineer to determine if the mill is producing contaminates harmful to the environment and have this report sent to the Ministry of the Environment. This cost would be borne entirely by the mill owner;
And whereas, the Ministry of the Environment fails to provide proper scientific evidence that any residue produced by the by-product (bark and sawdust) causes a negative impact on the environment;
And whereas, the economic impact to this County would be catastrophic should some or all the sawdust operators be forced out of business because they cannot afford to comply with the demand of the Ministry of the Environment;
Therefore, be it resolved that the Environment Impact Study be placed on hold until qualified evidence can be produced by the Ministry of the Environment that any residue produced by bark or sawdust would trigger environmental concerns.
   CARRIED.

MOVED BY: Kellard Witt,    SECONDED BY: Steve Bennett,
Whereas, Council has received documentation indicating a request to allow storm sewers to be constructed on Irene Street;
And whereas, the documentation presented is a copy of previously constructed storm sewers;
And whereas, the extension to the existing storm sewers would require properly designed and installed structures;
Therefore, be it resolved that Council instruct the Municipal Office to authorize the installation of the storm sewers upon receipt of proper design and documentation authorizing the distribution of charges.
   CARRIED

MOVED BY: Allan Wren,    SECONDED BY: Jim Sheedy,
That the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Laurentian Valley does hereby direct the Township Planning Consultant, being Jp2g Consultants Inc. to undertake a study in respect of land use planning policies concerning adult entertainment uses in the Township of Laurentian Valley. Such study should include, but shall not be limited to, a review of the following issues as they relate to adult entertainment uses: definitions; types of zones where said uses are to be permitted or prohibited; land use compatibility; buffering requirements; traffic impacts; parking; separation distances; special zoning provisions; and any other related land use planning issue.
   CARRIED.

BY-LAWS:

By-Law Number 03-07-175, being a By-Law to establish Interim Control for Adult Entertainment Parlours in the Township of Laurentian Valley was given three readings and passed on a motion by Steve Bennett and Allan Wren.

By-Law Number 03-07-176, being Official Plan Amendment Number 11 (Canadian Tire - Garden Centre) was given three readings and passed on a motion by Kellard Witt and Dennis Gauthier.

By-Law Number 03-07-177, being a Rezoning By-Law (Canadian Tire - Garden Centre) was given three readings and passed on a motion by Jim Sheedy and Allan Wren.

By-Law Number 03-07-178, being Official Plan Amendment Number 12 (Oil Changers) was given three readings and passed on motion by Kellard Witt and Jim Sheedy.

By-Law Number 03-07-179, being a Rezoning By-Law (Oil Changers) was given three readings and passed on a motion by Dennis Gauthier and Steve Bennett.

By-Law Number 03-07-180, being Official Plan Amendment Number 13 (Beck) was given three readings and passed on a motion by Allan Wren and Dennis Gauthier.

By-Law Number 03-07-181, being a Rezoning By-Law (Beck) was given three readings and passed on a motion by Jim Sheedy and Kellard Witt.

By-Law Number 03-07-182, being a By-Law to amend By-Law Number 03-06-174, a By-Law to provide for the approval of the 2003 Budget, adoption of 2003 tax rates and sewer rates and to further provide for penalty and interest in default of payment thereof was given three readings and passed on a motion by Steve Bennett and Jim Sheedy.

ADJOURNMENT:

MOVED BY: Steve Bennett,    SECONDED BY: Kellard Witt
To adjourn the meeting. CARRIED.

REEVE: Jack Wilson,    CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER: Darrel Ryan