Summary

Council approved a $70,000 cargo van purchase for the Temporary Shelter Village, funded through a federal emergency grant to improve transportation operations. Council also green-lit a new transit funding agreement and authorized the Community Services Commissioner to finalize related contracts on the city's behalf. Two closed-door special meetings are scheduled for late March and early April to address confidential personnel matters involving city staff.

Motions

Consent Agenda Resolution

#1 CARRIED Recorded vote: 10-0
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 10–0
Albert Aiello Aiello
Brian Hamilton Hamilton
Dominic Pasqualino Pasqualino
Greg Johnsen Johnsen
Kasey Etreni Etreni
Ken Boshcoff Boshcoff
Kristen Oliver Oliver
Michael Zussino Zussino
Rajni Agarwal Agarwal
Shelby Ch'ng Ch'ng
Absent (3)
Andrew Foulds Foulds
Mark Bentz Bentz
Trevor Giertuga Giertuga

Council confirmed routine administrative items including meeting minutes from various committees, approved tax cancellation/refund applications, and recognized uncollectible accounts from 2025. All items passed unanimously with 10 councillors voting in favor.

WITH RESPECT to the Consent Agenda for the March 17, 2026 City Council meeting, we recommend that the following items be confirmed: 1. Confirmation of Agenda 2. Minutes of Previous City Council Meeting 3. Minutes of Previous Special Committee of the Whole Meeting 4. Finance & Administration Standing Committee Minutes 5. Non-Business Meeting Minutes 6. Northwood Ward Meeting Minutes 7. The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board Minutes 8. Lakehead Region Conservation Authority Minutes 9. Mayor's Taskforce on Building More Homes Advisory Committee Minutes 10. Application for Cancellation, Reduction or Refund of Taxes Under Section 357 of the Municipal Act 11. Application for Cancellation, Reduction or Refund of Taxes Under Section 358 of the Municipal Act 12. Uncollectible Accounts 2025 For (10): Mayor Ken Boshcoff, Councillor Rajni Agarwal, Councillor Albert Aiello, Councillor Shelby Ch'ng, Councillor Kasey Etreni, Councillor Brian Hamilton, Councillor Greg Johnsen, Councillor Kristen Oliver, Councillor Dominic Pasqualino, and Councillor Michael Zussino Absent (3): Councillor Mark Bentz, Councillor Andrew Foulds, and Councillor Trevor Giertuga

Moved by Albert Aiello , seconded by Kasey Etreni

Contract Related Matter - Contribution Agreement

#2 CARRIED Recorded vote: 10-0
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 10–0
Albert Aiello Aiello
Brian Hamilton Hamilton
Dominic Pasqualino Pasqualino
Greg Johnsen Johnsen
Kasey Etreni Etreni
Ken Boshcoff Boshcoff
Kristen Oliver Oliver
Michael Zussino Zussino
Rajni Agarwal Agarwal
Shelby Ch'ng Ch'ng
Absent (3)
Andrew Foulds Foulds
Mark Bentz Bentz
Trevor Giertuga Giertuga

Council approved receiving transit funding and authorized the Commissioner of Community Services to sign related agreements to receive the money outlined in a detailed report.

WITH RESPECT to Report 2026CLS.006 (Community Services-Transit), we recommend that the Corporation of the City of Thunder Bay receive the funding as indicated in this Report

  • the Commissioner, Community Services be authorized to execute any agreements in relation to this funding. For (10): Mayor Ken Boshcoff, Councillor Rajni Agarwal, Councillor Albert Aiello, Councillor Shelby Ch'ng, Councillor Kasey Etreni, Councillor Brian Hamilton, Councillor Greg Johnsen, Councillor Kristen Oliver, Councillor Dominic Pasqualino, and Councillor Michael Zussino Absent (3): Councillor Mark Bentz, Councillor Andrew Foulds, and Councillor Trevor Giertuga
Moved by Albert Aiello , seconded by Ken Boshcoff

Property Related Matter - Art Gallery Update

#3 CARRIED notable Recorded vote: 9-1
CARRIED 9–1
Yea (9)
Albert Aiello Aiello
Brian Hamilton Hamilton
Dominic Pasqualino Pasqualino
Greg Johnsen Johnsen
Kasey Etreni Etreni
Ken Boshcoff Boshcoff
Kristen Oliver Oliver
Rajni Agarwal Agarwal
Shelby Ch'ng Ch'ng
Nay (1)
Michael Zussino Zussino
Absent (3)
Andrew Foulds Foulds
Mark Bentz Bentz
Trevor Giertuga Giertuga

Council approved a four-month delay to the Thunder Bay Art Gallery's 'Weather Tight' construction milestone, pushing it from April 30, 2026 to August 31, 2026. The city treasurer will sign amended funding and lease agreements to reflect this schedule change.

WITH RESPECT to Report 2026CLS.008 (Corporate Services/Growth), we recommend that the Funding Agreement between The Corporation of the City of Thunder Bay and Thunder Bay Art Gallery dated the 3rd day of October 2025, be amended as set out in this Report, including a deferral of the Weather Tight milestone from April 30, 2026 to August 31, 2026 and such other related amendments to the Funding Agreement, where impacted by the deferred date, as needed

  • the City Treasurer be authorized to execute the Funding amendment agreement, and any related documentation to enact the amendments to the Funding Agreement
  • the lease between The Corporation of the City of Thunder Bay and Thunder Bay Art Gallery dated the 24th day of April 2023, be amended as set out in this Report, including deferral of the Weather Tight milestone from April 30, 2026 to August 31, 2026
  • any necessary by-laws be presented to City Council for ratification. For (9): Mayor Ken Boshcoff, Councillor Rajni Agarwal, Councillor Albert Aiello, Councillor Shelby Ch'ng, Councillor Kasey Etreni, Councillor Brian Hamilton, Councillor Greg Johnsen, Councillor Kristen Oliver, and Councillor Dominic Pasqualino Against (1): Councillor Michael Zussino Absent (3): Councillor Mark Bentz, Councillor Andrew Foulds, and Councillor Trevor Giertuga
Moved by Shelby Ch'ng , seconded by Brian Hamilton

Board Appointment - Tbaytel Board of Directors

#4 CARRIED Recorded vote: 10-0
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 10–0
Albert Aiello Aiello
Brian Hamilton Hamilton
Dominic Pasqualino Pasqualino
Greg Johnsen Johnsen
Kasey Etreni Etreni
Ken Boshcoff Boshcoff
Kristen Oliver Oliver
Michael Zussino Zussino
Rajni Agarwal Agarwal
Shelby Ch'ng Ch'ng
Absent (3)
Andrew Foulds Foulds
Mark Bentz Bentz
Trevor Giertuga Giertuga

Council appointed Paul Fitzpatrick to the Tbaytel Board of Directors for a 3-year term ending June 30, 2029. The vote passed 10-0 with three councillors absent.

WITH RESPECT to the Confidential Memorandum from Councillor Albert Aiello-Chair- Thunder Bay Recruitment Committee, dated March 11, 2026, we recommend that the following person be appointed: • Paul Fitzpatrick be appointed for a 3 year term, expiring June 30, 2029, or until such time as a replacement has been appointed. For (10): Mayor Ken Boshcoff, Councillor Rajni Agarwal, Councillor Albert Aiello, Councillor Shelby Ch'ng, Councillor Kasey Etreni, Councillor Brian Hamilton, Councillor Greg Johnsen, Councillor Kristen Oliver, Councillor Dominic Pasqualino, and Councillor Michael Zussino Absent (3): Councillor Mark Bentz, Councillor Andrew Foulds, and Councillor Trevor Giertuga

Moved by Michael Zussino , seconded by Albert Aiello

Cargo van for shelter village operations

#5 CARRIED Recorded vote: 10-0
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 10–0
Albert Aiello Aiello
Brian Hamilton Hamilton
Dominic Pasqualino Pasqualino
Greg Johnsen Johnsen
Kasey Etreni Etreni
Ken Boshcoff Boshcoff
Kristen Oliver Oliver
Michael Zussino Zussino
Rajni Agarwal Agarwal
Shelby Ch'ng Ch'ng
Absent (3)
Andrew Foulds Foulds
Mark Bentz Bentz
Trevor Giertuga Giertuga

Council approved $70,000 to purchase a cargo van for the Temporary Shelter Village to help with transportation operations. The money comes from a federal grant through Health Canada's Emergency Treatment Fund.

WITH RESPECT to Report 147-2026, we recommend that Appropriation 9-2026, to create a capital project in the amount of $70,000 for a cargo van to support the Temporary Shelter Village operational transportation needs, funded through the Health Canada – Emergency Treatment Fund Grant, be approved

  • any necessary by-laws be presented to City Council for ratification. For (10): Mayor Ken Boshcoff, Councillor Rajni Agarwal, Councillor Albert Aiello, Councillor Shelby Ch'ng, Councillor Kasey Etreni, Councillor Brian Hamilton, Councillor Greg Johnsen, Councillor Kristen Oliver, Councillor Dominic Pasqualino, and Councillor Michael Zussino Absent (3): Councillor Mark Bentz, Councillor Andrew Foulds, and Councillor Trevor Giertuga
Moved by Shelby Ch'ng , seconded by Kristen Oliver

Special Committee meetings scheduled for personnel matters

#6 CARRIED Recorded vote: 10-0
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 10–0
Albert Aiello Aiello
Brian Hamilton Hamilton
Dominic Pasqualino Pasqualino
Greg Johnsen Johnsen
Kasey Etreni Etreni
Ken Boshcoff Boshcoff
Kristen Oliver Oliver
Michael Zussino Zussino
Rajni Agarwal Agarwal
Shelby Ch'ng Ch'ng
Absent (3)
Andrew Foulds Foulds
Mark Bentz Bentz
Trevor Giertuga Giertuga

Council scheduled two special meetings in late March and early April 2026 to discuss personnel matters involving city employees. The April 7 meeting will be closed to the public as it involves confidential information about identifiable individuals.

WITH RESPECT to the Memorandum from Jeff Walters, Manager – Legislative Services and Deputy City Clerk, dated March 12, 2026, we recommend that a Special Committee of the Whole meeting be established on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 to commence at 6:30 p.m.

  • the 2026 Calendar of Meetings be updated accordingly
  • a Special Committee of the Whole – Closed Session meeting be scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. in order to receive information pursuant to the Municipal Act (Section 239 (2)) relative to: (b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees. AND THAT any necessary by-laws be presented to City Council for ratification. For (10): Mayor Ken Boshcoff, Councillor Rajni Agarwal, Councillor Albert Aiello, Councillor Shelby Ch'ng, Councillor Kasey Etreni, Councillor Brian Hamilton, Councillor Greg Johnsen, Councillor Kristen Oliver, Councillor Dominic Pasqualino, and Councillor Michael Zussino Absent (3): Councillor Mark Bentz, Councillor Andrew Foulds, and Councillor Trevor Giertuga
Moved by Ken Boshcoff , seconded by Dominic Pasqualino

Procedural

#7 CARRIED Council formally approved and sealed By-law 105-2026, which confirms that the proceedings from the March 17, 2026 council meeting were conducted properly and legally. This is a standard administrative confirmation that the meeting followed proper procedures.
Moved by Kristen Oliver , seconded by Kasey Etreni