Clearview Council will send letters of support for a resolution by Wasaga Beach council calling on the province to develop a proactive approach to awareness, prevention and enforcement around unsanctioned car rallies and to assist with the associated costs. Mayor Doug Measures noted that when Wasaga Beach recently closed roads to head off an illegal car rally, some traffic was diverted to Stayner. He credits the high degree of cooperation between municipalities and police forces for limiting the disruption and ensuring there was no damage to property or threat to public safety.
Council will also lend its support to a resolution from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario calling on the province to strengthen municipal codes of conduct and create stiffer penalties for violators. Deputy mayor Paul Van Staveren says the resolution stemmed from the situation in Ottawa during the truckers’ blockade when there were allegations of abusive treatment of staff by elected officials. Van Staveren said, “If we are out of line we should be penalized. We are not above the law.”
Another request sparked some dissent. The Town of Grimsby is seeking support for a resolution calling for establishment of a guaranteed liveable income. While there was general agreement that poverty and homelessness are a problem, Van Staveren said it was unclear what council was being asked to support, “Are we guaranteeing income through social assistance? Through increases in minimum wage?” Councillor Robert Walker said Clearview is not in a position to step up with funding, and suggested that the request should go to the County of Simcoe. In the end, the two were the only councillors who voted against supporting the Grimsby resolution.