Time stamps included in this post refer to the corresponding moments in the linked meeting recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuqLcKCsueE

Tiny Township councillors moved through five substantive items at their February 18 Committee of the Whole, making spending commitments that stretch from routine road maintenance to a brand new Canada Day celebration — and even waded into provincial and federal education policy. The biggest flash point was a proposal to host a waterfront Canada Day at Palm Beach, which passed 4–1 after a competing motion for a multiculturalism event in Perkinsfield was defeated.

Council also locked in a three-year dust suppressant contract worth nearly $570,000 in total, approved a microsurfacing tender, and advanced the township's ongoing water meter program. The meeting wrapped with a unanimous resolution calling on higher levels of government to fix school funding.

Why It Matters:

Council committed reserve funds for a new Canada Day event that depends partly on a federal grant decision not expected until late April. If that $81,190 grant does not come through, the township will spend up to $64,000 from operating funds — against an existing $24,000 barbecue budget. The dust suppressant contract locks in pricing that councillors debated, with one dissenting vote concerned about a 10.3% compounded increase over the contract term. The school funding resolution is advocacy only — no township money is at stake — but it reflects council's interest in rural policy beyond its own jurisdiction.

Tiny Township's Committee of the Whole met on February 18, 2026, working through a mix of infrastructure contracts, a contested Canada Day debate, and a school funding advocacy motion. The meeting ran into the afternoon with one split vote — 4–1 — on both the winning and losing Canada Day options, while the remaining items passed without opposition. Spending decisions touched operational reserves, tender contracts, and a pending federal grant that won't be confirmed until spring.

Director of Public Works, Tim Leech brought forward the township's annual tender for dust suppressant, used on dirt roads across the municipality. The township applies roughly 180,000 litres through a contractor for gravel roads each year and holds an additional 265,000 litres in tanks at the public works yard for smaller applications.

This year, staff recommended a multi-year contract for the first time in recent memory. Two bidders responded. Daily Dust Control came in as the preferred supplier. Staff presented council with one-, two-, and three-year options.

The push for multi-year certainty drew praise from Deputy Mayor Muskman, who noted a $38,000 gap between the two bidders and called the approach an effective way to control costs.

But Councillor Brunelle raised concerns before the vote. He calculated a compounded price increase of 10.3% over the two-year escalation built into the contract — 5.04% in year two and 4.8% in year three. He questioned whether a one-year award might leave the township better positioned if market conditions changed.

Leech acknowledged the concern but noted that trucking costs, fuel, and product pricing all factor into the bids, and that the multi-year model also reduces staff time spent on annual tendering.

Council voted to proceed with the three-year option.

Vote Result: 4–1 (Carried)

In Favour: Individual names not recorded by name in the transcript. Vote totals confirmed as 4 in favour, 1 opposed.

Opposed: Councillor Brunelle (identified by debate record)

Note: The transcript confirms the outcome and Councillor Brunelle's opposition through his stated position, but individual votes were not called by name.

Contract values:

Council approved a second public works tender — this one for microsurfacing, a road preservation technique that extends pavement life by 8 to 10 years by sealing surface cracks.

This year's new project is Palm Beach Road West, from Perkinsfield down to Palm Beach. Director Leech described the road as in generally good condition but showing cracks, making it a good candidate for treatment now before more costly repairs become necessary. A carryover project from 2025 — covering Dush Trail and several side streets including Heronia, Nassau Court, Ruda Park, Nawasaga, and Cranbrook — is also included.

Two companies bid. Duncor Enterprises Inc. came in at the lowest price. Council has worked with Duncor before without reported issues.

Vote Result: 5–0 (Carried unanimously)

In Favour: Individual names not recorded by name in the transcript.

Opposed: None.

Award amount: $119,169 plus HST to Duncor Enterprises Inc.

The township's ongoing water meter program — covering approximately 25% of properties connected to one of 16 municipal water systems — moved into its next phase. Director Leech reported that in areas already converted to metered billing, water consumption has dropped by as much as 25%, reducing wear on infrastructure and cutting indirect operating costs.

Phase 2 of the Lafontaine system covers the lower sections of that water area. The Vanet Woods system is also included. Residents in these areas will move to mock billing this year — meaning they'll receive bills showing what they would owe under metered rates, but won't actually be charged yet. Actual billing begins the following year.

Two other systems — Whippoorwill and Cooks Lake — will move to actual billing this year after completing the mock billing phase.

Councillor Walma raised a concern about long-term competition in the program. Because the township started with Neptune Technology Group in a pilot project years ago, and because the billing software is integrated, it becomes increasingly difficult to switch providers as the program expands.

Leech acknowledged the point and said switching vendors is possible but not preferred. He noted the Neptune product has performed well since 2021 and that installation contracts are open to competition annually. The meters themselves are sourced through Evans Utility and Municipal Supply, the Canadian supplier for Neptune.

Leech noted that Tiny's water systems are among the most complex in the province due to the number of separate systems spread across a large geography. He cautioned against direct comparisons to neighbouring municipalities like Midland, which operate single systems.

Council approved the program as presented, with authorization to pre-purchase meters for the 2027 program using any remaining project funds.

Vote Result: 5–0 (Carried unanimously)

In Favour: Individual names not recorded by name in the transcript.

The longest and most contested item of the meeting was a staff report on community event options for the 2026 Canada Day season.

Staff presented three options:

A fourth option was put forward during the meeting by Councillor Brunelle.

The Competing Motion — Option 4 (Defeated)

Councillor Brunelle proposed redirecting the event to June 27 — Canadian Multiculturalism Day — at Perkinsfield Park. His motion included enhancements to the existing barbecue format, up to $40,000 from operational reserves, a spending cap of $64,000 without federal funding, and a drone show.

He cited eight concerns about Palm Beach as a venue: limited space, parking pressure, existing Canada Day activity in neighbouring municipalities, the weekly Bus to Dusk program already drawing crowds there, residents preferring to stay home for backyard fireworks, limited local resident accessibility, liquor licensing complications with a beer garden, and the absence of a rain alternative.

Councillor Walma, who seconded the motion but then stated clearly he did not support it, favoured Option 1 at Palm Beach. He said the $81,190 federal grant opportunity, the chance to grow the event, and the economic impact on Palm Beach area businesses were reasons to try something new.

Mayor Evans also spoke against the Perkinsfield option, calling Palm Beach the right location and framing the event as a community-building opportunity.

The motion for Option 4 was moved by Councillor Brunelle, seconded by Councillor Walma.

Vote Result: 1–4 (Defeated)

In Favour: Councillor Brunelle (identified by motion record)

Opposed: Individual names not fully recorded by name in the transcript for remaining four votes; Mayor Evans and Councillor Walma stated opposition during debate.

Council then voted on Option 1: a Canada Day celebration at Palm Beach on July 1, 2026.

The plan reallocates the existing $24,000 community barbecue budget toward the event and authorizes up to $40,000 from operational reserves for advance planning, booking, and programming.

A federal Celebrate Canada grant application for $81,190 was already submitted. The funding decision is not expected until late April 2026. If the grant is not received, total operating expenditure is capped at $64,000. If it is received, the $40,000 reserve draw is to be replenished.

Staff are directed to develop a traffic management plan covering emergency services access, bylaw enforcement, and public works. Shuttle service and satellite parking are under discussion. The Palm Beach Businessman's Association and the township's Events and Charities Committee were noted as supporting the event.

Director of Recreation, Josh Pallas confirmed that if the event is held on June 27 instead of July 1, the federal grant already submitted would not apply. A 2027 grant application would be possible under that scenario.

Deputy Mayor Muskman supported Option 1, pointing to the drone show's environmental benefits, the possibility that local residents would face less competing traffic than during Bus to Dusk events, and the historical precedent of events at Palm Beach going back to the late 1970s.

The motion was moved by Deputy Mayor Muskman, seconded by Mayor Evans.

Vote Result: 4–1 (Carried)

In Favour: Individual names not fully recorded by name in the transcript; Mayor Evans, Deputy Mayor Muskman, and Councillor Walma stated support during debate.

Opposed: Councillor Brunelle (identified by debate record)

Note: The transcript confirms a 4–1 result. Individual votes were not called by name on the record.

The federal funding outcome — expected in late April — will determine whether reserves are replenished or the $64,000 cap applies.

Councillor Walma brought forward a resolution asking the township to formally advocate for better school funding and charitable tax incentives for donations to public schools. He cited his experience as a parent, spouse of a teacher, and past student, noting that school operating budgets in the area have not increased for years.

He referenced Wyevale Public School's annual budget of $40,000 — unchanged since at least 2019 — as an example of funding that has lost purchasing power to inflation.

The resolution calls on provincial and federal governments to increase sustainable funding for everyday school needs including supplies, sports equipment, and playground maintenance.

It also asks for a charitable tax credit for school donations modelled on the political contribution system, which currently provides up to 75% back in tax credits — a rate far above the roughly 40% credit available for charitable donations to organizations like a cancer support centre.

Mayor Evans proposed a friendly amendment adding language about rural sustainability — noting that Tiny's small schools serve a larger proportional role in rural communities than large urban schools do in cities, and that rural municipalities often face the same funding gaps across healthcare, infrastructure, and education.

Councillor Brunelle added ROMA (Rural Ontario Municipal Association) and the Ministry of Rural Affairs to the list of recipients for the circulated resolution. The ministry name was corrected during the meeting — it has been called the Ministry of Rural Affairs since June 6, 2024, replacing the former Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The minister is Lisa Thompson.

The resolution directs staff to circulate the final text to: the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), ROMA, the Ontario Ministry of Education, the Ontario Ministry of Finance, local Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs), local Members of Parliament (MPs), the Simcoe County District School Board, the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, the Ministry of Rural Affairs, Wyevale Public School, and St. Croix Catholic School.

Councillor Walma noted his intent is for the township to seek an audience at the AMO conference this summer.

This resolution is advocacy only. No township funds are committed.

Vote Result: 5–0 (Carried unanimously)

Three consent items were received as information with no substantive debate:

Councillor Walma provided a brief update on the SSEA. A funding model review was conducted with input from seven partner municipalities. Two alternative models were assessed. Both scored three out of four on a fairness scale. The board voted unanimously to maintain the existing funding model while implementing key performance indicators (KPIs) to improve annual reporting.

Vote Result: 5–0 (Carried unanimously)

Upcoming Key Dates

Source:

This analysis is based on the February 18, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting and supporting documents. All quotes, timestamps, and figures are drawn directly from official meeting transcripts.