LAIRD TOWNSHIP Community Website Township Office 3 Pumpkin Point Road R.R. #4 Echo Bay, Ontario, Canada P0S 1C0 Phone: (705) 248-2395 Fax: (705) 248-1138 MINUTES OF MEETING NUMBER 6 OF THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD HELD 0N MARCH 21, 2007 AT THE LAIRD TOWNSHIP OFFICE AT 7:30 P.M. Present: Mayor: Dick Beitz Councillors: Donna Connolly, Charles Frenette, Wayne Junor, Todd Rydall Clerk: Phyllis MacKay ON MOTION (No. 50-07) of Donna Connolly, seconded by Todd Rydall that council approves minutes of March 7, 2007, as presented. CARRIED ON MOTION (No. 51-07) of Todd Rydall, seconded by Wayne Junor that council approves road accounts to February 28, 2007 as presented in the amount of: Operating $12,459.91; Long Point Subdivision $530.00. CARRIED ON MOTION (No. 52-07) of Donna Connolly, seconded by Chuck Frenette that council approves general accounts to March 21, 2007 as presented in the amount of $7,467.41. CARRIED ON MOTION (No. 53-07) of Todd Rydall, seconded by Donna Connolly that council approves revised Construction and Mitigation Plan for Long Point Subdivision as presented by Walker Engineering. CARRIED ON MOTION (No. 54-07) of Wayne Junor, seconded by Chuck Frenette that council corresponds with Walker Engineering, reminding it of council's request to have MacDonald Drive widened at the corner over wetlands in order to accommodate township equipment as well as construction and utility vehicles. CARRIED ON MOTION (No 55-07) of Wayne Junor, seconded by Donna Connolly that council approves draft letter to Minister of Transportation. CARRIED It was the consensus of council to change the asking price for computer tables to $25.00 each. ON MOTION (No. 56-07) of Donna Connolly, seconded by Wayne Junor that council advises Association of Municipalities of Ontario of its support to Rural-Northern Discussion Paper. CARRIED ON MOTION (No. 57-07) of Todd Rydall, seconded by Chuck Frenette WHEREAS the Government of Ontario posted its framework for the development of species at risk legislation of the Environment Bill of Rights web site on December 22, 2006, the day that most municipal offices closed until the New Year, and WHEREAS the currently proposed language to address species at risk could impose moratoriums affecting the livelihoods of more that 1.2 million people and more than $100 billion in economic activity, and WHEREAS there are 12 Provincial and 5 Federal pieces of Legislation including the Federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) and the Provincial Endangered Species Act of 1971 that currently provide protection for some species, and WHEREAS the new proposed Ontario Species of Risk Legislation as written will: Add a new costly layer of bureaucracy and regulatory burden Create an Act that will not achieve recovery of endangered species Impose an Act that will not be supported by the landowner, land stewards, employers, unions and developers Create a further disincentive to invest in Ontario Result in a loss of jobs Result in a loss of economic opportunity, and WHEREAS the currently proposed framework for a species at risk act is wrong for Ontario and will negatively impact the farming community, the forestry and mining sectors, the urban planners and homebuilders, fur managers, angles and hunters, sand, stone and gravel industry, hydro electric developers and many, many others, and WHEREAS public hearings by the Legislative Committee prior to Second Reading adoption by the Ontario Legislature will allow for a full and proper debate on the principle of the Bill not just how well the clauses meet the intent of the Act THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Township of Laird writes to the Premier of Ontario requesting the full public hearings be held into the proposed Species at Risk Act and that those hearings be held prior to Second Reading by the Ontario Legislature, and FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that copies of this resolution and the letter to the Premier be forwarded to the following: Association of Municipalities of Ontario Ontario Good Roads Association Rural Ontario Municipal Association Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities CARRIED ON MOTION (No. 58-07) of Todd Rydall, seconded by Wayne Junor that council considers the Asset Management Program as offered by Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund to be of the highest priority and submit and Expression of Interest for same. CARRIED ON MOTION (No. 59-07) of Todd Rydall, seconded by Chuck Frenette that the council meeting be adjourned. CARRIED Clerk - Mayor - Copyright 2007 by the Township of Laird. All Rights Reserved.