By Claude & Parth on 2026-03-26, City: London, View Transcript
City council held a special meeting to approve a housing funding agreement that will allow staff to distribute provincial housing funds more efficiently over the next three years. The meeting included a closed-door session to discuss confidential information from the Province of Ontario.
Housing Funding Authority Delegation: Council approved delegating authority to the Deputy City Manager of Housing and Community Growth to execute funding agreements for housing initiatives over the next three fiscal years (2025-26, 2026-27, 2027-28). The authority covers the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative and Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative. The Deputy City Manager can now approve and execute contribution agreements with funding recipients, approve amendments to agreements, and handle direct agreements between the city, landlords, and lenders. A bylaw will be brought forward on March 13, 2026 to formalize the delegation. This streamlines the process for distributing provincial housing funds to local recipients.
Closed Session on Provincial Matter: Council voted to move into a confidential closed-door session to discuss information supplied by the Province of Ontario. One councillor expressed objections to the closed session but was advised by the mayor that legal and clerk staff confirmed it was a legitimate confidential matter. Councillors had the option to vote against the motion or choose not to participate in the closed session. The specific nature of the confidential provincial matter was not disclosed.
The transcript does not provide a complete list of councillor names, though it indicates 11 or 12 councillors were present based on vote counts. One councillor named Ferah is mentioned as voting yes on record for one motion.