Council Highlights | December 15, 2025

Homelessness Supports in Middlesex County (Watch Here)

Joe Winser, Director of Human Services for the County of Middlesex, provided an overview of homelessness supports across Middlesex County, highlighting the varied forms homelessness can take and the daily challenges individuals face.

He spoke to the distinction between visible homelessness and hidden homelessness, noting that Middlesex County sees a significant number of hidden cases—individuals and families living in cars, trailers, or temporarily staying on someone else’s couch. Joe identified key barriers to securing stable housing, including transportation challenges, limited funding or poor credit, difficulty navigating the housing market, and a lack of affordable housing options.

He also highlighted the Middlesex Accommodations Program, which includes the Countryside Motel in Adelaide Metcalfe, offering 11 rooms from Monday to Friday where individuals can stay for up to two months while supports work to help them secure permanent housing. Since 2021, more than 250 individuals have been assisted through this program, including 77 in 2024 and 65 so far in 2025, with a consistent wait list reflecting ongoing demand. 

Additional information is available at www.middlesex.ca/departments/human-services.

Industrial Land Development Strategy (Watch Here)

Johnathan Lampman of Colliers presented to Council on the findings of the Industrial Land Development Strategy for the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc.

The Municipality is undertaking this strategy to guide future employment land development in alignment with its broader land use priorities, responding to increased interest in industrial investment while carefully balancing economic growth with residential development and agricultural preservation.

The strategy identifies four potential areas for industrial development, providing a framework to support long-term planning and informed decision-making. Residents are encouraged to listen to the presentation for additional detail.

Strong Mayor’s Budget Process Explained (Watch Here)

Under Ontario's Strong Mayor Powers, introduced through Bill 3 (Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022) and expanded by Bill 39 (Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022), the annual budget process is significantly altered for designated municipalities.

Here is how it's handled differently compared to the traditional process:

1.     Mayor Proposes the Budget Before Strong Mayor Powers: The municipal budget was developed by staff and approved by Council as a whole, often through a committee process with multiple rounds of review and amendment. Under Strong Mayor Powers: -the Mayor is required to prepare and propose the annual budget for the Municipality, rather than Council or a committee.

2.   Council's Role is Reactive, Not Proactive: Council may amend the Mayor's proposed budget, but to do so, it requires a two-thirds majority vote of all Council members (not just those present at the meeting). This high threshold limits Council's ability to alter the Mayor's budget once it's presented.

3.   Time-Bound Process: If Council fails to pass a version of the budget (either the Mayor’s original or an amended version) by the statutory deadline (usually February 28), the Mayor's budget is deemed adopted by default. This ensures a budget is in place even in the case of a gridlock.

4.   Strategic Alignment: The budget must be aligned with prescribed provincial priorities, particularly housing targets. This alignment reinforces the provincial government's goal of increasing housing supply and is a key justification for the Strong Mayor framework.

5.   Limited Municipal Scope: Only applies to 'Strong Mayor' designated municipalities; Strathroy-Caradoc received designation in May of 2025.

Budget Deliberations Meeting/Amending the Budget

Within 30 days after receiving the proposed budget, Council may pass resolutions to amend the proposed budget. The prescribed deadline for amending the proposed budget is February 16, 2026. The Budget Deliberations meeting is scheduled for January 13, 2026.

Interested in keeping up with the progress of the 2026 Budget? www.strathroy-caradoc.ca/2026budget