(Wingham, North Huron) At a public council meeting, North Huron Reeve Paul Heffer repeatedly refused to answer a direct question on whether municipal bylaw enforcement officers are permitted to enforce bylaws on municipal property — including sidewalks, parks, and memorial lands. The question arose after repeated complaints that Public Works continues to dump snow onto sidewalks, despite a property standards bylaw explicitly prohibiting such obstructions.
The exchange is notable not for what was said, but for what was avoided. Despite being asked multiple times (10x) for a yes-or-no answer, the Reeve did not confirm or deny enforcement authority. Instead, the response was deflected to service levels and meeting procedure, with a Public Works director intervening and the discussion shut down as council business commenced.
Under Ontario’s Municipal Act, municipal bylaws are enforceable by the municipality’s officers, and municipalities are generally not exempt from compliance with their own bylaws. The refusal to clarify this basic point raises concerns about selective enforcement, internal directives limiting enforcement against municipal operations, and potential safety implications — particularly where snow obstructions force schoolchildren into live traffic.
The exchange places council on record as being aware of the alleged violations and safety risks, while declining to affirm enforcement authority.
The issue is expected to surface again at North Huron’s next council meeting on Monday, December 15, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Council Chambers.
Residents are encouraged to arrive early. The informal period before the meeting begins has increasingly become a venue where members of the public ask direct questions of council and senior staff — particularly when clarity has not been provided through official channels.
With winter conditions ongoing and sidewalk access continuing to be a concern, residents say they want clear answers on whether municipal bylaws apply equally to the municipality itself — and who is accountable when they are not enforced.
