The County of Lambton is keeping a firm grip on its purse strings.
Councillors approved a recommendation during Wednesday's Committee of the Whole, to extend the moratorium on any new capital grants.
A Divisional Support Services report to the committee indicated the county continues to face financial challenges in key service areas, including affordable housing and homelessness, long-term care, and court services.
The staff report said due to current economic conditions and financial pressures required to meet the county's strategic goals laid out for 2026, they recommend maintaining the moratorium on new capital grant requests originally put in place in 2021.
Dawn-Euphemia Alan Broad said it just makes sense
"I think everybody sitting around this table knows next year that's coming up is going to be very difficult fiscally," said Broad. "So why would we ask people to come when we're not going to give them the money or no attempt to give them the money, makes no sense."
Petrolia Mayor Brad Loosley voted against the recommendation.
"I have a hard time approving this only because the last few years, we stopped the public from coming to approach county council," said Loosley. "I feel we're elected to be open, to give the impression to everyone that we have an open door policy and that we should at least allow the individuals to come and request it. We don't have to approve it or give them anything, but I feel we should have an open door policy."
The report said despite financial pressures, including U.S. imposed tariffs, the county will continue to provide base grant funding of approximately $3.5 million to organizations with existing commitments.
Budget talks are scheduled for March 2026.
