Lanark County Council Highlights – May 13, 2026

Press Release – Lanark County

Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held May 13, 2026.  

Growth Management Polices Added to By-Law

Council has approved a by-law to adopt Amendment No. 17 to Lanark County’s official plan, which adds policies to update the county’s growth management framework and includes new data on growth, housing and employment.

At the economic development committee meeting last month, Planning Manager Mike Dwyer explained the amendment is based on the recommendation of the Lanark County Growth Management Strategy (2025), which was completed by Watson & Associates Economists. As part of the process, council approved proposed changes to the plan for consultation purposes in November, and a policy-by-policy review was completed with council in January. A public meeting was held February 18.

Dwyer provided an overview of the comments received and how they were considered. The amendment was informed by an extensive background report that included consultation and options review. 

“The proposed amendment to the plan seeks to provide a balanced policy framework that is consistent with provincial policy, while reflecting unique community character and matters of local public interest,” Dwyer said, adding the framework defers implementation and detailed refinement to local plans with the county as a partner through the approval authority role. “It leaves significant implementation discretion to the local municipalities, recognizing opportunities and constraints differ across the county and local knowledge, in consultation with the County, best addresses local community change.”

Dwyer noted various factors within and outside the community can change growth trajectories over time, but the goal is to detail a potential course of community change and plan for infrastructure and natural and fiscal resources to create “safe, liveable and fiscally sustainable built environments.”

Once adopted, local official plans and Planning Act decisions need to be consistent with the County plan, meaning they will be required to update their growth forecasts. For more information, contact Mike Dwyer, Planning Manager, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1520.

Paramedic Services Week Proclaimed

Warden Richard Kidd (Beckwith Reeve) has proclaimed the week of May 17 to 23, 2026 to be Paramedic Services Week in Lanark County.

The proclamation recognizes the importance of paramedics in Lanark County and aims to raise community awareness and appreciation of their services. 

“The compassion, skills and quality care rendered by the paramedics are an integral part of the health care system,” Kidd said. “I encourage all citizens to learn more about the role paramedics in the health care system.”

For more information, contact Jasmin Ralph, Clerk, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502.

Community Forests Annual Report Received

Lanark County Council received a report on the Lanark Community Forest that outlines the state of the forest in 2025.

Last month, Brian Anderson of Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) and Martin Streit of Upper Canada Forestry Services (UCFS) presented their report to the economic development committee. The community forest began in 1938 with the first 1,600-acre property purchased in then-Lavant Township. It was managed for the county by the Department of Lands & Forests/Ministry of Natural Resources until 2001. The current forest consists of 11,409 acres across multiple local municipalities (80 per cent in Lanark Highlands) and is managed for the production of wood and wood products, the provision of recreational opportunities, and the protection of soil, water supplies and wildlife habitat.

The community forest is one of 59 in Ontario and is part of a network of green spaces in southern Ontario. Since 2006, it has been cooperatively managed by MVCA, UCFS and Lanark County (through the Community Forest Working Group) and consists of public/private ownership. Management is on a cost-recovery basis and meets certification standards.

Forestry activities include the renewal of traditional plantation thinning and hardwood management under county policies and by-laws and the 20-Year Forest Management Plan, Five-Year Operating Plans and Harvest Plans. All operations are prepared, marked and supervised by forest managers. This includes integrated resource management, such as retaining den trees and cultural heritage, as well as an emphasis on regeneration.

Anderson and Streit outlined future opportunities, including expanded recreation such as trails, increased public knowledge about the properties, opportunities for MVCA to assist in projects and continuing to provide professional forestry management. They outlined annual revenues and expenditures, forecasting revenue increases with red pine growth, maple tapping agreements and hardwood harvests. Expenses include developing Forest Management Plans, as well as red pine renewal. They noted when plantations are planted, the value per cut tree increases as the trees increase in diameter. 

For more information, contact Kurt Greaves, CAO, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 3170.

County Submitting AMO Delegation Requests

Council approved a recommendation from the Government Relations Working Group to submit requests for delegations with provincial ministries at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference this August.

The requests include:

• Ministry of Long-Term Care for additional stable funding and supports for complex care needs, specifically behavioural support staffing for long-term care homes or for specialized locations to increase available spaces.
• Ministry of the Solicitor General for increased funding to match provincial court security costs, which are increasing and must be paid by municipalities. Lanark County has taken over responsibility for these costs from the Town of Perth, where the court is located, but is asking that grants provided by the Solicitor General be funded to a cost-recovery basis.
• Ministry of Health for secondary triage at the Kingston Central Ambulance Communications Centre as paramedic calls continue to increase and hospital emergency rooms are at capacity. With low-acuity calls making up the majority of paramedic calls, secondary triage would allow for increased diversion from emergency rooms.

The county will learn whether its requests have been successful prior to the conference.

For more information, contact Jasmin Ralph, CAO, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502.

Upcoming Meetings

• County Council, Wednesday, May 27, 5 p.m.
• Public Works, May 27 (following County Council)
• Economic Development, May 27 (following Public Works)
• County Council, Wednesday, June 10, 5 p.m.
• Community Services, June 10 (following County Council)
• Corporate Services, June 10 (following Community Services)

Watch for details about public access to meetings on agendas and through online notifications. For more information, contact 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502. Like “LanarkCounty1” on Facebook and follow “@LanarkCounty1” on Instagram.