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Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook, NS

PRESENT: Council: Warden Yvon LeBlanc; Deputy Warden Eric Pothier; Councillors Danny Hill, Réanne Cooper, Steven Comeau, and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, and Communications Officer, Francis Robichaud
Presenters:
ABSENT: Councillor Réanne Evans and Carl Deveau

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1) Call to Order
The Warden called the Council meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

2)  Adoption of the Agenda

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Steven Comeau that the proposed agenda be approved as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED          

3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest
None declared.

4) Presentations
None.

5) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
5.1 May 20, 2026 – Regular Council Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the minutes of the May 20, 2026, Regular Council Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

5.2 June 10, 2026 – Council-In-Committee Meeting

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Steven Comeau that the minutes of the June 10, 2026, Council-in-Committee Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

6) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None.

7) Warden’s Activity Report – Warden Yvon LeBlanc
May 22 – Attended a meeting with the Minister of Fisheries, the Honorable Joanne Thompson, and our Member of Parliament, Mr. Chris d’Entremont, to discuss issues facing the fishing industry.

June 3-8 – Attended the annual FCM conference in Edmonton, Alberta.

June 16 – Attended a meeting of the NSFM Rural Roads Committee.

June 17 – Attended a public consultation session facilitated by Stantec regarding the draft municipal planning strategy and land-use by-law.

June 20 – Attended the flag-raising ceremony for l’Association Acadien-Métis Souriquois at the municipal office.

June 22 – Attended a meeting of the Highway 101 Task Force.

8) Official Statements from Members of Council
Councillor Réanne Cooper congratulated Helena’s School of Dance on receiving the Louis E. Deveau Excellence Award. This award is presented annually by Université Sainte-Anne to a Nova Scotia business or organization that stands out for the leading role it plays in Nova Scotian society, particularly within Acadian and Francophone communities.

Councillor Réanne Cooper congratulated this year’s college graduates from Université Sainte-Anne. 

Warden Yvon LeBlanc congratulated Philippe Gaudet and his team on their recent success at the prestigious Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest in Memphis, Tennessee. Competing against some of the top barbecue teams in North America, Philippe and his team, Cook the Books, captured first place in the chicken category with a perfect score from the judges. The team also finished among the top competitors in the highly competitive whole hog division.

Philippe's achievement is an outstanding accomplishment and a source of pride for our community.

9) Correspondence
9.1 The Honourable John A MacDonald – Minister of Municipal Affairs
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable John A MacDonald, Minister of Municipal Affairs (see attached).

9.2 Tiffany Joudrey – Director of Finance, Tri-County Regional Centre for Education
The CAO read a letter from Tiffany Joudrey, Director of Finance for the Tri-County Regional Centre for Education (see attached).

9.3 Paul Comeau – Ribfest Co-Chair, Yarmouth Rotary Ribfest
The CAO read a letter from Paul Comeau, Ribfest Co-Chair for the Yarmouth Rotary Ribfest (see attached).

10) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer – Stéphane Cyr
The CAO presented his report for the month of June. (see attached)

11) Committee Reports
11.1 EDIA Committee – Councillor Nadine Comeau
The EDIA Committee met on May 21, 2026, and welcomed its three new community representatives – Joanne Neddo, Sara Nemer Gonzalez, and Jonathan Dukeshire.

Kristianne Thimot, Local Area Coordinator of the Disability Support Program, provided a presentation on the Nova Scotia Human Rights Remedy. Mrs. Thimot has been hired under this initiative to ensure people with disabilities are provided with proper community-based support and housing options. Her office is currently located on Peter Dugas Road in Meteghan, across l’École Stella Maris.

The Municipality’s EDIA Coordinator provided an overview of the progress achieved thus far in implementing the Municipality’s EDIA plan. Of note was the new accessible signage introduced at the municipal office in Little Brook, as well as the accessibility symbols which have been recently added to the Municipality’s website and newsletter.

The next EDIA Committee meeting will be in August.

11.2 Highway 101 Task Force – Councillor Danny Hill
The Highway 101 Task Force met on June 22, 2026. MP Chris d’Entremont and MLAs Jill Balser and Ryan Robicheau were present. Municipal representatives from the Municipalities of Digby, Clare, and Yarmouth, as well as the Towns of Digby and Yarmouth were also in attendance.

Warden Linda Gregory and Deputy Warden Matthew Ross (both from the Municipality of Digby) were appointed chair and vice-chair respectively.

In 2019, the 4 km section of Highway 101 from Digby to Marshalltown was completed. The remaining 22 km section from Marshalltown to Weymouth is the only section of highway not built to 100 series highway standards. This estimated cost of completing this new section of highway is $200M - $240M. Only 5% of the land needed for the new highway has been acquired thus far. The new section would be a 2-lane controlled access highway with 3 likely interchanges: Marshalltown, North Range, Weymouth. The time required to be construction-ready is estimated at 4-5 years with the construction phase to take another 5 years.

In the absence of this completed section of highway, route 1 is seeing roughly 4,000 to 5,000 vehicles per day. A safety study of route 1 was completed in December 2025. Recommendations are currently under review by the Province.

Municipalities were asked to send a joint letter to both the MP and MLAs stating the importance of this project as a trade corridor and citing safety concerns. Furthermore, a press release has been drafted and will be shared on social media by the member municipal units.

The next taskforce meeting is scheduled for September 2026.

11.3 Doctor Recruitment Committee – Councillor Réanne Cooper
The Doctor Recruitment Committee met on June 22, 2026.

Councillor Réanne Cooper was elected as Chair and Deputy Warden Eric Pothier as Vice Chair.

The NSHA was advertising a physiotherapy position for the Clare Health Centre for over a year. No applications were received. With recent provincial budget cuts, the position was eliminated. Unfortunately, since the elimination of this position, the Municipality has been contacted by a qualified, bilingual physiotherapist (originally from Clare) interested in this position and in returning to the area with his spouse. In light of this new development, the Municipality is seeking to have this position reinstated by the Province. Discussions are underway.

With Dr. Emma Leone having closed her practice, recruitment efforts are underway to attract a new healthcare provider(s). In the meantime, interim measures are in place to cover her patient load (roughly 900) over the coming months. Some 20 high needs patients have already been permanently placed with other providers.

The Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment (OHPR) has launched the OPHR Community Fund for 2026-27. Via this fund, eligible applicants can get up to $25,000 to support planning, attraction, and retention efforts. The deadline for application is July 16, 2026. The Municipality of Clare will be applying to this fund to bolster its recruitment efforts, with a focus on marketing collateral, career fairs, campus visits (i.e., Moncton, Sherbrooke) and the promotion of residency opportunities.

12)  New Business
12.1 Motion to Amend the Land Use By-law and Municipal Planning Strategy – First Reading
Since 2023, the Municipality of Clare has been working to update its Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and the associated Land Use By-law (LUB) to comply with the Province’s Minimum Planning regulations. In order to strike a balance between regulatory compliance and community priorities, the Municipality completed a number of public engagement activities including an online survey, targeted discussions / focus groups, and a total of four public consultation sessions. The feedback gained at these activities has been very beneficial in shaping the proposed MPS and LUB amendments. Based on these collective efforts, it is the recommendation of the CAO that Council proceed to the first reading of the proposed amendments. Council agreed and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Municipality of the District of Clare approve first reading of the proposed amendments to the Land Use By-law and the Municipal Planning Strategy, and that these be read for the first time by title only.
MOTION CARRIED

12.2 Motion to Accept Proposal – 2026/27 Ton Truck (4x4)
A new 4x4 ton truck (complete with plow and sander) was approved as part of the Municipality’s 2026-27 Capital Budget. As the only two vehicle dealerships within the Municipality, tender documents were provided to both Clare Dodge Chrysler and Belliveau Motors, complete with detailed vehicle specifications. Following a review of the bids, the CAO is recommending that Council accept the proposal from Belliveau Motors Ltd. for a new Ford Super Duty F350 SRW, in the amount of $104,925.68 plus HST. Council agreed and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the proposal from Belliveau Motors Ltd. for the 2026/27 Ton Truck (4x4) in the amount of $104,925.68 plus HST and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED

12.3 Motion to Approve Funding Request – Camso Track System for Fire Department Side-by-Side
The Clare Firefighters Association (CFFA) is requesting municipal funding for the purchase of a Camso Track System for one of the side-by-sides currently being utilized by the Municipality’s volunteer fire service. The purchase and installation of said tracks would allow increased functionality and greater accessibility to remote and hard to reach areas. Furthermore, the purchase has been recommended by the Municipality’s Fire Services Coordinator as well as by Councillors Nadine Comeau and Carl Deveau, both of whom represent Council at the CFFA. That said, Council made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Steven Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the request from the Clare Firefighters Association for the purchase of a Camso Track System from Leonard C. Comeau Ltd. in the amount of $7,099.00 plus HST.
MOTION CARRIED

12.4 Motion to Write a Letter of Support to the Sou’West Nova ATV Association – Request for Access, C Saulnier Road
The Sou’West Nova ATV Association is asking for the Municipality’s support of its request to the Province of NS under the Road Trails Act. The Road Trails Act is an act respecting the operation of off-highway vehicles on designated highways. For this application, the Sou’West Nova ATV Association is requesting access along the C Saulnier Road, from the intersection of the C Saulnier Road and the Rail Bed Trail at 44.24598, -66.10234 to the Esso Station at 9999 Highway 1, Saulnierville. Council agreed to lend its support to this effort and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Steven Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to the Sou’West Nova ATV Association in support of their request to the provincial government for road trail access along the C Saulnier Road, from the intersection of the C Saulnier Road and the Rail Bed Trail at 44.24598, -66.10234 to the Esso Station at 9999 Highway 1, Saulnierville.
MOTION CARRIED

12.5 Motion to Write a Letter of Support to the Sou’West Nova ATV Association – Request for Access, Eustache Comeau Road
The Sou’West Nova ATV Association is asking for the Municipality’s support of its request to the Province of NS under the Road Trails Act. The Road Trails Act is an act respecting the operation of off-highway vehicles on designated highways. For this application, the Sou’West Nova ATV Association is requesting access at 44.228740, -66.101852 and Eustache Comeau Road to La Cuisine Robicheau at 9651 Highway 1, Saulnierville. Council agreed to lend its support to this effort and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Steven Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to the Sou’West Nova ATV Association in support of their request to the provincial government for road trail access at 44.228740, -66.101852 and Eustache Comeau Road to La Cuisine Robicheau at 9651 Highway 1, Saulnierville.
MOTION CARRIED

12.6 Motion to Approve Funding Contribution – CCTH Planning Assistance Program, Université Sainte-Anne
Université Sainte-Anne (US-A) is planning to hire architectural and engineering services for the proposed re-design and renovation of its sports centre. The cost for said services is $30,000. In order to help offset these costs, US-A is applying to the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Heritage and Tourism`s Planning Assistance Program for $10,000. To complete the funding mix, the US-A is proposing the remaining $20,000 be shared equally with the Municipality, with each organization contributing $10,000. Whereas the sports centre has proven itself a valuable asset to the community and is used extensively by its many residents, the CAO is recommending Council the $10,000 contribution as requested. Council agreed and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve a contribution of $10,000 to Université Sainte-Anne in support of its funding application to the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Heritage and Tourism`s Planning Assistance Program for the hiring of professional services required for the proposed re-design and renovation of its sports centre.
MOTION CARRIED

12.7 Motion to Write a Letter of Support – Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund, Université Sainte-Anne
Université Sainte-Anne is requesting a letter from Council in support of its funding application to the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund for the hiring of professional services to undertake a design study for the Marcel R. Comeau Sports Centre. The proposed study is required to advance high-impact energy conservation measures from concept to implementation readiness. No funds are being requested from the Municipality. Council agreed and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Steven Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to Université Sainte-Anne in support of its funding application to the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund for the hiring of professional services to undertake a design study for the Marcel R. Comeau Sports Centre, a study which is required to advance high-impact energy conservation measures from concept to implementation readiness.
MOTION CARRIED

12.8 Motion to Approve Community Flagpole Request – Clare Pride
A request was put forward by Clare Pride to fly the Pride Flag on the community flagpole from July 17^th to July 31^st, 2026. These dates were chosen specifically to coincide with Halifax Pride. Council made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the request to fly the Pride Flag on the municipality's community flagpole from July 17, 2026, to July 31, 2026, inclusively.
MOTION CARRIED

13) Closed Session

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that Council proceed to Closed Session.
MOTION CARRIED

Topics discussed
13.1 Contract Negotiations

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare contribute 10% of the funds required for the planning and construction of the Digby County REMO’s proposed community well located at 88 New Road Weymouth North, up to a maximum of $20,000 and conditional on confirmation of balance of project funding.
MOTION CARRIED

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Steven Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve a grant of $2,500 to the Clare Bluegrass Association to help with the purchase of gravel for the road coming into the festival grounds and that these funds be taken from the Municipality`s 2026-27 Grants to Organizations Program.
MOTION CARRIED

14) Date and Time of the next Regular Council Meeting
The next Regular Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at 7:00 pm.

15) Adjournment
MOVED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau to adjourn the meeting at 8:39 pm.

Submitted by:
Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant