Municipal Council Notes

Feb. 15, 2023

DELEGATIONS / PRESENTATIONS

OFM Field Officer’s Presentation to Rob Favot for 46 Years of Fire Service

Sioux Lookout’s Emergency Services Manager/Fire Chief Rob Favot was recognized by the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) for 46 years of service to the Sioux Lookout Fire Department. 

Grant Thornton LLP: 2021 Audited Financial Statements 

Council authorized and directed that $1,204,000 in 2020 COVID-19 funding be transferred to the General Reserve to be fully utilized in 2022. 
Council received the 2021 Consolidated Audited Financial Statements for The Corporation of the Municipality of Sioux Lookout as presented by Auditors Richard Jagielowicz and Judy Kleinhuis from Grant Thornton LLP, who gave the audited financial, “a clean audit opinion.”
The audited financial statements can be viewed at https://bit.ly/3ymAqvz. 

REPORTS

2022 Operating Financial Report – December 31, 2022 

Council received the Municipal Operating breakdown as of December 31, 2022.

Lobby the Federal Government to Reinstate the Northern Allowance for the Sioux Lookout Area Notice of Motion - Submitted by Cllr. Reece Van Breda at the January 18, 2023 Council Meeting

Council voted that WHEREAS the federal government provides financial assistance to those Canadians living in one of two “Zones,” namely, “the Northern Zone” and the “Intermediate Zone” via taxation credits and allowances; and WHEREAS the Municipality of Sioux Lookout and surrounding areas used to be part of the “Intermediate Zone,” but, this classification was removed a couple of decades ago, and residents in our community and immediate area no longer qualify for the deductions and allowances; and WHEREAS the cost-of-living in northern, rural communities continues to rise at a significant rate, which, in the last year, has also been compounded by the high rate of inflation, thereby making the cost of living and working in our community even more burdensome; NOW THEREFORE be it resolved that the Council of The Corporation of the Municipality of Sioux Lookout directs staff to petition the federal government to designate the Municipality of Sioux Lookout as a Prescribed Intermediate Zone; AND FURTHER be it resolved that this correspondence be circulated to the Honourable Eric Melillo, MP, Kenora; the Honourable Sol Mamakwa, MPP, Kiiwetinoong; the Kenora District Municipal Association; the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association; the Township of Pickle Lake; and the Municipality of Red Lake.

OUTSIDE RESOLUTIONS

Town of Petrolia - Resolution Regarding School Board Elections

Council endorsed the following Resolution regarding school board elections adopted by the Town of Petrolia.
WHEREAS in the Province of Ontario, municipalities are responsible to conduct the election process on behalf of the school boards; and WHEREAS an extensive amount of resources, time and management to advertise, co-ordinate and complete these trustee elections is placed on the municipality; and WHEREAS municipalities do not receive any compensation or reimbursement for use of orchestration of the school board trustee elections. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Petrolia request that staff forward this motion to the Hon. Steven Lecce, Minister of Education, MPP Bob Bailey, Ontario Municipal Councils and the County of Lambton requesting that school boards become responsible for conducting their own trustee elections or at minimum municipalities be compensated by the school boards for overseeing such trustee elections

REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION

Appointments to Various Boards, Commissions and Committees

Council approved amending Schedule “A” to By-law No. 68-22 (Being a By-law to Make Appointments to Various Boards, Commissions and Committees by adding Jennifer Hancharuk to the Sioux Lookout Environment Committee, Hari Sankar to the Sioux Lookout Environment Committee and Councillor Raymond Angeconeb as the Lac Seul First Nation Representative to The Municipal Committee on Truth & Reconciliation.