Bruce County Council has adopted a new Official Plan that will guide growth and development across the county for the next two decades.
Council approved the plan during its July 16, 2026 meeting. It will replace the county’s existing Official Plan, which was originally adopted in 1997 and received a major update in 2010.
The new plan establishes policies for rural and countryside areas while providing broader direction for communities that have their own more detailed local official plans.
Bruce County says the document was developed using requirements under Ontario’s Planning Act and Provincial Planning Statement, along with public, municipal and Indigenous consultation.
The plan was also shaped by the Bruce GPS community engagement project, which was conducted between August 2018 and May 2019.
More than 1,800 people participated in the project, which asked residents, visitors, business owners and community leaders about their priorities for the county’s future.
"We are the explorers: navigating Bruce County towards a healthy, diverse, and thriving future," the resulting vision statement says.
The report identified several priorities, including affordable housing, access to health care and other services, year-round employment, protection of the natural environment and better management of growth and tourism.
It also established eight guiding principles for future planning decisions, including putting growth in locations with appropriate services, increasing the supply and mix of housing, supporting agriculture and creating opportunities for a wider range of businesses and employers.
The report says growth needs to be carefully planned to preserve the character of local communities.
"Where growth happens, and how it happens, needs to be carefully planned," the report states. "Planning helps to put the growth in the right place, with the right services, to provide the most benefit to the community, at the lowest cost."
The plan also recognizes housing affordability as a significant challenge.
"Housing diversity is necessary to build a healthy community where everyone access to a home," the report states, adding that communities need a mix of single-family homes, apartments, townhouses and other residential options.
Bruce County Warden Luke Charbonneau said completing the plan required extensive work to balance provincial requirements with local priorities.
"I am proud to say the new County Official Plan has been adopted in this term of Council," Charbonneau said. "It is a lengthy process to apply provincial direction in a way that ensures reflection of our community values across the entire County."
Charbonneau also thanked residents and staff who participated in the process.
"I appreciate the level of community engagement in the project, and the efforts of staff to bring this Council a Plan for adoption and advancement to the province for approval," he said.
The Official Plan will now be submitted to Ontario’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for review and final approval.
