Middlesex County Council Meeting Highlights – March 24, 2026
Council Highlights is an informal summary of selected actions taken by Middlesex County Council or Committee of the Whole at business meetings. The Council Highlights are not an official record of County Council proceedings. To view official agendas and minutes, please visit Council Meetings and Minutes.
Middlesex County Economic Development Strategic Plan 2026-2030
The Committee of the Whole recommended adoption of a new Economic Development & Tourism Strategy for 2026–2030. The strategy provides a coordinated regional approach to investment attraction, business retention, workforce development, and tourism promotion. The plan follows Council’s direction to strengthen internal capacity, improve performance measurement, and maintain economic development as an internal department. The strategy sets six priorities and emphasizes collaboration with municipalities, regional partners, and senior governments. Regular reporting will track progress and provide long term economic indicators. For more information, read the Middlesex County Economic Development Strategic Plan 2026-2030 report.
Middlesex County’s updated Forest Management Plan will guide the next 30 years for County Forests
The Committee of the Whole received a report from the Middlesex County Woodland Conservation Officer highlighting the County’s forestry activities in 2025 and an update on the renewed Forest Management Plan that will guide activities for the next 30 years. In 2025, the forestry team completed a comprehensive forest resource inventory tracking the composition, age, and types of forests in County woodlots. Staff completed an assessment of trail inventory mapping and identified areas where infrastructure upgrades will be necessary. Looking ahead, the new Forest Management Plan will advance concrete actions including protecting habitats, regenerating native species, monitoring forest health, reducing invasive species, improving recreation infrastructure, expanding research, and restoring habitats. The draft plan will undergo public and interest-holder consultation before returning to Council for final approval. For information, read the 2025 Forestry Update and Draft Forest Management Plan Report.
New Medical Priority Dispatch System coming to MLPS
Council received a report from the Middlesex-London Paramedic Service (MLPS) explaining how they’re preparing for the rollout of the new Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS). MPDS is an internationally used protocol that standardizes 9 1 1 medical call triage to ensure the fastest response for the most critical emergencies. As a result of advocacy efforts led by the County and the MLPS Board, the Ontario Ministry of Health advanced the implementation timeline by six months to October 2026. MLPS is working with local fire services and other partners to align deployment strategies. Read the full Implementation of the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) report to learn more.
Recommendations made by the Committee of the Whole at the March 24, 2026, meeting will be considered by County Council at its next regular meeting on April 14, 2026. The Legislative Services Department maintains the official record for all County government proceedings.
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