TLDSB plan champions student development

By

-

January 27, 2022

Trillium Lakelands District School Board director of education Wes Hahn introduced a new five-year strategic plan to trustees Jan. 25, saying it will help foster student development and achievement.

In the works since last spring, the plan outlines two goals Hahn said were designed to “create a future where students develop the competencies, understandings, selfconfidence, and resiliency to lead healthy, successful and fulfilling lives.”

The first goal surrounds supporting meaningful learning and success for students, while the second focuses on creating learning environments and experiences that foster equity, inclusion and belonging.

“We talked a lot about ensuring this plan is real, it’s authentic, it’s manageable, and, most importantly, narrowing down to areas that we can really focus on and not something that we just put on a shelf,” Hahn said. “We believe we’ve done that with this document.”

Vancouver-based Critical Thinking Consortium was brought in to assist. A key component was a public survey, which asked parents and guardians what they felt were the most important areas TLDSB should consider to support student achievement over the next five years. Nearly 5,000 people responded.

Covering 2022 to 2027, the strategy highlights four commitments.

“We will be adopting an ‘open to learning’ stance; monitoring our impact, which is critical; universalize and differentiate so that we can separate our community needs, or staff needs and our school needs and ensure there’s diversity across our system for how we plan; and unwavering commitment and focus on student achievement and well-being,” Hahn said. “Those are critical commandments that will guide how we go about our work with those particular goals.

“We are also going to commit to measuring and aligning our processes. The strategic plan acts as a guidance system, while our board improvement and equity plan serve as the measurement tool. That’s where we will, through the board plan, use our quantitative and qualitative data to measure our commitment in our process along our strategic plan. And it’s all aligned with our school improvement and equity plans. The better we are aligned, the more committed and focused we can be on achieving these goals.”

Trustee Judy Saunders said she liked the approach Hahn and his staff took in developing the new plan, saying it was easy to follow and outlined important, achievable targets. Vice-chair Stephen Binstock agreed, calling it “simple, but not simple- minded.”

Binstock told Hahn. “Now the hard work begins.”

HEALTH NEWS

By

Sam Gillett

-

January 27, 2022

0

By Sam Gillet and Lisa Gervais

Post-COVID improvements

The HKPR District Health Unit has identified 12 areas of staffing, workplace culture and operations to focus on as it plans a post-COVID-19 recovery.

A COVID recovery working group, established in the summer of 2021, spent September interviewing more than 100 staff about areas of improvement, and what the health unit did well throughout the past two years.

“The goal of this framework is to consider the impact of the pandemic and consider the lessons we’ve learned, rather than simply returning to a pre-COVID state,” said Lorna McLeary, a manager in the health promotion division.

She presented the working group’s findings at a Jan. 20, 2022 board of health meeting.

Some themes that arose during interviews included: continued engagement with community leaders; partners and volunteers; balancing the stress of working multiple roles; the importance of maintaining a feeling of tight-knit community on staff teams; program planning based on population size; prioritizing equal access to health services and maintaining the health unit’s public visibility.

McLeary said the results are a “starting point for decision-making” when it comes to the planning and execution of health unit programs.

Risk management update

Ontario health units are required to have a risk management plan detailing operational dangers and plans to minimize them. Chief medical officer of health Dr. Natalie Bocking said the health unit’s progress on implementing the plan has been “stymied by COVID-19 several times now.”

Developed in 2018, a risk management framework lays out eight top dangers the organization could face: failure to develop, implement and evaluate a robust people strategy; inadequate records management system; loss of funding; compromised personal health information; improperly managed procurement opportunities; noncompliance of infection, prevention, and control practices; Ontario Public Health Service program compliance and payroll fraud.

COVID drives communication uptick

Dr. Bocking said the HKPR communications team continues to be “extremely busy” with COVID-19 adding new tasks and initiatives to the department’s workload.

Along with facilitating 47 media information sessions in 2021, they fielded 2,201 media inquiries and issued 85 press releases.

The health unit’s website traffic has doubled to 2,674,418 webpage views and a 1,245 increase in the unit’s YouTube following.

Dr. Bocking said the health unit has focused on increasing the use of social media to spread health messaging, and user interaction on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, which have risen since 2020.

Quit tobacco for good

If your New Year’s resolution to go tobacco-free in 2022 has already gone up in smoke, now’s the time to get back on track, the health unit said.

“If your goal is to quit in 2022, there are many resources available to help you succeed,” said Karen Taylor, a public health nurse with the HKPR District Health Unit.

Area residents 18 years and older are urged to sign up for STOP on the NET. If they qualify for the program, participants will be mailed a free eight-week supply of nicotine patches to help them quit smoking.

“Nicotine patches greatly improve the chances of quitting smoking, but some people may not be able to afford them,” Taylor said. “With STOP on the NET, nicotine patches are provided free of charge and this initiative has helped many people successfully quit their tobacco addiction once and for all.”

STOP on the Net also has many resources to assist people trying to quit, including Talking About Vaping videos that address different aspects of e-cigarette use.

“COVID-19 has been very stressful on people’s physical and mental health, and may lead to tobacco use for some individuals,” Taylor said. “It’s incredible what you stand to gain from going tobacco-free, and the good news is that you reap the benefits right away.”

Sexual health clinics on hold

The health unit has put a pause on offering sexual health clinics in the region due to its COVID-19 response.

It said it is “for the time being so that nurses and other staff can be redeployed to pandemic response.” The decision came as COVID-19 cases were on the rise in the region.

Clients who had an appointment booked are being contacted directly to make alternate arrangements.

The Health Unit encourages anyone with concerns relating to their sexual health to contact their primary care provider or attend a walk-in clinic.

TLDSB continues COVID recovery

By

Mike Baker

-

January 27, 2022

0

TLDSB director of education Wes Hahn said three classrooms across TLDSB schools have temporarily reverted back to online learning over the past week due to outbreaks of COVID-19.

“We want students to remain in school, but we’re looking at sudden spikes or abnormalities in high illnesses within a classroom. That’s a particular concern for us, because it could mean further spread of the virus within the whole building,” Hahn said.

Impacted students and staff will be required to isolate at home for a minimum of five days before returning to in-person learning, Hahn said. He would not divulge the location of the impacted classrooms.

With public health no longer conducting PCR testing and contact tracing at schools, Hahn said a new absence reporting tool has been made available to the public, to help the board track the number of absences board-wide.

Hahn addressed talk of a 30 per cent “absenteeism threshold” that has been used by public health previously for outbreak tracking and to suggest temporary site closures.

“Once a school hits that mark, we are in direct contact with public health, but there’s more to it that just the absenteeism part … if we reach 30 per cent, that doesn’t mean we’re moving the school online or closing the school. A lot of those absences might be explained absences, where students are remaining home [at a parent’s discretion], taking a vacation, or doing something family oriented,” Hahn said. “We have to be careful that we don’t look at that 30 per cent mark and act too quickly.”

Hahn said he was actually encouraged by the COVID-19 numbers being reported by schools, saying there hasn’t been as many outbreaks since the return to in-person learning as he had anticipated.

Dysart budget second draft sitting at 5.5 per cent increase

By

Mike Baker

-

January 27, 2022

0

Dysart et al council has trimmed some fat from its proposed 2022 budget, with a second draft proposing a 5.5 per cent tax levy increase for area ratepayers.

Municipal officials discussed the budget Jan. 14, removing several items that were included in the original document. Presented in December, the first draft included a tax increase of 7.56 per cent.

The new rate, presented before discussions began Jan. 14, is offset by around $130,000 in increased revenues and a decrease of $82,000 in operating and capital costs. Council would shave off an additional $35,000 through their later discussions.

Treasurer Barbara Swannell noted the proposed increase would see residential property owners pay an additional $16.35 per $100,000 of MPAC assessment in 2022, with commercial owners set to pay an extra $24.24 per $100,000 of assessment and industrial owners to pay a further $28.09 per $100,000 of assessment.

Despite the proposed increase, Swannell said Dysart still had, by far, the lowest municipal taxes in Haliburton County.

“The cost per $100,000 of assessment for residential property in Dysart was $297.44 in 2021. In Algonquin Highlands, at $344.10, the ratepayer is paying $36.66 more than if they lived in Dysart, or 12.3 per cent more,” Swannell said. “The trend continues in Minden Hills, who pay 29.1 per cent more. In Highlands East, residents pay 70.6 per cent more.

“A 5.5 per cent levy increase in 2022 still results in Dysart being the lowest tax rate within member municipalities in Haliburton County,” she added.

During the meeting, council signed off on hiring a new summer bylaw officer at an undetermined cost; to increase services at the Harcourt, Kennisis Lake and West Bay landfill sites ($6,133); increase volunteer firefighter pay by $2.50 per hour; and dish out approximately $70,000 in grants and donations to community organizations.

They decided against spending $10,000 on a new digital sign at the Haliburton welcome centre; said no to the Haliburton Highlands Museum hiring a summer employee at a cost of $11,100; and deferred decisions to hire new full-time staffers in the planning and parks and recreation departments at an annual cost north of $100,000.

In 2022, Dysart is projecting to spend just over $18.5 million. Municipal reserves sit at $3.6 million. Council will meet again to discuss the budget on Feb. 11.

Arts Centre Foundation casts first corporate sponsor

By

Sam Gillett

-

January 27, 2022

0

SG-hardware opera-1- — From left to right: Nigel Milne, assistant store manager, Dan Moulton, owner, Glen Rickerby, district general manager, Paul Walker, assistant store manager, Dan Manley, HHACF president, Drew Allen, board member and Michael Clipperton.

Haliburton County’s Home Hardwares are helping build a Highlands arts hub.

The Home Hardware Building Centre of Haliburton and Minden has donated $25,000 to the Haliburton’s Highlands Art Centre Foundation (HHACF), becoming the foundation’s first corporate sponsor.

“We are very pleased and committed to supporting the HHACF in its mission to build and operate a world-class performing arts centre in Haliburton County,” said dealer-owners Dan and Emily Moulton in a press release.

“We believe strongly in the economic impact that this project will bring to our region, and we would like to encourage all local companies and individuals to pledge their support in the coming year.”

The money will help fund follow-up steps to an ongoing feasibility study that will lay out the what, where and how of a large-scale performing arts centre in Haliburton County.

Nationally-acclaimed theatre consultants Janis A. Barlow & Associates are conducting the study, expected to be published by Spring 2022.

“Word of the foundation is spreading, but in these early stages, it’s donations like this that take our fundraising campaign to the next level,” said foundation president Dan Manley. “We hope that fellow business owners share in Dan and Emily’s economic vision for the Haliburton Highlands.”

Housing a big theme as rural mayors meet

By

Lisa Gervais

-

January 27, 2022

0

Haliburton County is not alone in facing a “trifecta” of challenges – affordable housing, employment and transportation – delegates to the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference heard Jan. 24.

ROMA chair Robin Jones, who is the mayor of The Village of Westport, said the association was looking to the future with a new plan for action, but still advocating for the immediate needs of its member municipalities.

One issue is affordable housing. To that end, Jones said ROMA was pleased to meet with the Ontario government just prior to the conference about the association’s desire for a full spectrum of housing options.

“Lack of affordable housing has hit our communities hard,” Jones said. “And unlike some urban markets, this is a new phenomenon for rural communities. And it is tough on our residents.”

She said that every time ROMA has discussed the issue in recent months, the “trifecta of affordable housing, and in particular reasonably-priced rental accommodation, employment and transportation” comes up.

“So, in my community, which is similar to many of yours, we have a large tourist industry and we have lots of jobs but we don’t have rental accommodation. So, to get staff to come take the job, they have to go to the closest municipality, which is 25 km away, and guess what? There’s no transportation. I’ve heard that from many of you.

“The challenge of affordable rental accommodation for employees is tough without transportation. This is just one aspect of the complexity of the housing needs and requires a full spectrum of housing approach.”

Jones said the meeting with the province was just the start of a conversation. She added the solutions will require commitment and flexibility to reflect rural circumstances and how current government policies constrain progress.

While Premier Doug Ford met with the rural leaders Jan. 23 prior to the conference starting, there have been no public announcements, as there have been for larger centres. However, in his address to the conference this past Monday, he said, “it’s an issue that affects rural Ontario just as much … the lack of supply that makes home ownership slip further from people’s reach every single year.”

He blamed “the crisis” on previous governments which he said “put ideology over the needs of Ontarians and allowed the supply of needed housing to fall behind what’s required.

“We can’t and won’t wait any longer to address this crisis and deliver the housing options that all Ontarians need.”

During the conference, there were three plenary sessions on housing. Homelessness in Rural Ontario: Challenges and Opportunities was chaired by Minden Hills Coun. Pam Sayne, who sits on the ROMA board. One of the research team during a presentation was Fay Martin of Minden Hills.

The other two sessions were: Filling the Housing Information Gap in Rural Communities and Innovative Housing Solutions in Rural Ontario.

Martin and her research partners found that compared to city dwellers, a higher percentage of people from rural Ontario reported they had experienced homelessness or hidden homelessness at some point in their lives, with the rural number 9.7 per cent and the urban 7.5 per cent.

They added hidden homelessness was also more prevalent in rural areas. They included: staying in tents or RVs; in substandard housing; couch surfing or overcrowding; survival sex [offering sex in exchange for housing] and staying in motels or single rooms. This was in addition to: squatting or sleeping outside; living in bush camps; sleeping in vehicles or staying in shelters.

Some of the other themes at this year’s ROMA conference included: working with Indigenous Peoples, poverty reduction, community safety and well-being, improving connectivity, opportunities for post-COVID recovery, health care and climate change.

Omicron forces temporary daycare closure

By

Lisa Gervais

-

January 27, 2022

0

Haliburton Wee Care administrator Denise Wolm said the community has been “understanding” in the wake of the daycare’s decision to close temporarily effective Jan. 26 after seven positive COVID cases and the need for others to isolate.

Wolm contacted The Highlander this week to say, “after almost 22 months, COVID has now touched us personally. Yes, we have not had one single case … until now. One case or 10, or anywhere in between, it is overwhelming and stressful for everyone involved,” she said.

She added knowing the severity of the spread of the Omicron variant, they understood that opening schools could accelerate community spread.

Wolm said she and staff felt it was “inevitable” that this would happen “given how people are feeling ‘done’ with this and want to just live their lives.”

She said the last two pandemic years have brought “ups and downs” and been stressful but the daycare is a family that is there for each other.

She expressed some frustration in saying, “As everyone is probably aware, child care has rarely been mentioned throughout this pandemic except to say that, after the first lockdown, we must remain open no matter what, we are essential to keep the economy rolling.

“We get thrown little tidbits of how valuable we are but when it comes to our well-being and protection, we are pretty low on the list. Information is doled out for us to decipher, sometimes two to three, even four times a week. It’s ever-changing and often makes no sense, but we soldier on and do the best we can with the information we are given.”

She added government rules and regulations are difficult in a childcare setting. “Our little ones can’t and don’t wear masks, social distancing isn’t even fathomable in the under four-year-old set, and when they are hurt, sick or even just sad, we can’t stop and think about COVID, we just do what we always do and give them our love and undivided attention.”

Wolm said to top it off, new cleaning protocols were put in place to stop the spread, adding another layer of responsibility to those already stretched to the limit.

She said rather than it being a news story, she wanted to emphasize. “We have an incredible community I can say I’m proud to be a part of. Our Haliburton Wee Care family includes our staff and their families, our children and their families, and our supporters such as Point in Time, City of Kawartha Lakes Children’s Services Department and Public Health, which she said are “short-staffed, overwhelmed and expected to provide all of the answers to the community in all different settings.”

Wolm said, “Once the announcement was made that we have COVID in our centre, there was no judgement, there were no harsh words of derision, there was no blame. What there was is staff pulling together to support each other through an even more stressful time, even while they were fearful about bringing it home to their loved ones. There were parents and family members offering words of support, encouragement, and even praise as to how we have been handling everything previously and currently.

“There has been nothing but compassion and understanding from everyone and from the bottom of my heart, with tears of appreciation in my eyes, I thank everyone for this. We will get through this together as we always have.”

Dysart receives $23,618 in gas tax funding

By

Mike Baker

-

January 27, 2022

0

MPP Laurie Scott announced Dysart et al will receive $23,618 in gas tax funding this year, with the money supporting the municipality’s Dymo bus accessibility program.

Funding for the gas tax program is determined by the number of litres of gasoline sold in the province during the previous year. Municipalities supporting public transit services receive two cents per litre of gas tax revenue collected in their community, Scott noted.

This funding can be used to extend service hours, buy transit vehicles, add routes, improve accessibility or upgrade infrastructure.

This year, the province is dishing out $375 million to 109 municipalities. To make up for reduced gas sales last year due to COVID-19, Scott noted this year’s gas tax pool includes one-time additional funding of $120.4 million to ensure municipalities can support their transit systems.

The Dymo bus has been operating in Dysart since 1989, said CAO Tamara Wilbee. It is designed to assist individuals with mobility difficulties, or those who require the assistance of a wheelchairaccessible vehicle to move around. The vehicle is equipped with a lift and automated ramp. The service provides transportation to individuals on a temporary or permanent basis, depending on the user’s eligibility.

The bus travels to five areas within Haliburton County, and makes regular trips to Lindsay, Peterborough, Bracebridge, Barrie, Oshawa, Toronto and Kingston. It also assists with long-term care facility and medical transfers.

Fees to take the bus range from $6 to $47 depending on where you live and your desired destination. Anyone wanting to travel outside of Haliburton County is billed $1.50 per kilometre. Trips to Lindsay, Peterborough or Bracebridge cost a minimum of $300, while trips to Barrie, Oshawa, Toronto or Kingston cost a minimum of $200, plus $50 per hour while in use. Dysart’s website notes these trips typically only take place when six or more people sign up, bringing the per person cost down to between $50 and $100.

Wilbee said caregivers, attendants, guide dogs and service animals are welcome to accompany someone taking the bus at no extra charge.

Affordable housing build to front onto Halbiem

By

Mike Baker

-

January 27, 2022

0

Dysart et al council has supported a new plan that would see a reimagined affordable housing development originally slated for Wallings Road temporarily front onto Halbiem Crescent.

The project, proposed by Places for People (P4P) in September 2020, has been in a state of delay for months, with a dispute between Dysart township and the County over the ability of the Wallings/County Road 21 intersection to handle increased traffic.

A suggestion to close off the Wallings/CR 21 intersection and create a new two-way road into Halbiem was proposed last fall. Land owners along Halbiem voiced their opposition to the plan on Nov. 23, 2021, citing various safety concerns.

Mayor Andrea Roberts noted at the Jan. 25 meeting that council’s preferred position was to maintain access to Wallings directly from CR 21, but that decision ultimately lay with the County. A new traffic study of the intersection has been commissioned by County staff, with results expected later this year.

In an attempt to get the project moving, P4P president Jody Curry suggested a new plan for the site, which includes a temporary solution of providing driveway access to the site off Halbiem. Addressing other concerns brought forth by council last year, she also suggested P4P could lower the number of units. Originally, Curry said the project was only viable if P4P could construct 48 units, but said this week they could move ahead with a plan to build fewer.

Jeff Iles, Dysart’s planning director, informed council those units would be situated on a .92 acre plot along Wallings Road. The land is being sold to P4P for $2 to support the project.

Development is still a long way off. The latest approval from council allows P4P to come up with a new site plan for the .92 acre plot. Other items, such as building permits and connection fees, will be discussed at a later date. A public meeting will also be scheduled in the near future.

Coun. John Smith wasn’t happy about that. He wanted council to clearly outline what other contributions the municipality would be making to the project, pointing out a letter of intent previously signed by the township and P4P was vague.

“Some of us are concerned about the amount of municipal contribution to this project. The municipality is already providing the property for $2, which is a tremendous contribution. Any additional contribution in terms of waiving fees, like we typically do when a developer shows up with their own land … would be inappropriate,” Smith said.

He also sought assurances future residents would come from Haliburton County. He spoke to an agreement P4P has with the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Housing Corporation, which provides housing to those in need across the region. It could see individuals from Lindsay moved to Haliburton and into the new development.

“We need to remember this is a part of the affordable housing target program, which is a County initiative. We have the right to choose our tenants,” Curry responded.

She clarified that not all units will be classified as affordable. She expects 30 per cent will be made available to lower-income individuals, with the remaining offered at market, or above market rent.

Coun. Larry Clarke was keen to point out that Smith’s comments and surmizations were his own, and not a reflection of the rest of council.

“I see the role of our council to look at the longevity of this community, and we need affordable housing. There has to be an investment from the township to make that happen. It may cost a few extra dollars, but it benefits the entire community and our future,” Clarke said.

Protesters objecting to habitat destruction

By

Sam Gillett

-

January 26, 2022

0

Environmentalists claim the filling of wetlands on a Gelert Road private property has threatened habitat of at-risk species and Dysart et al’s infrastructure.

Leora Berman of The Land Between said filling at the property near Haliburton Highlands Health Services could kill fish and threatened species that have been recorded in the area.

The Land Between said the property is likely home to Grace, a century-old turtle, and an at-risk species. Berman said she

cannot disclose the specific species due to regulatory agreements between the Land Between and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF).

The 2007 Endangered Species Act prohibits damaging habitats of endangered or at-risk species.

The MECP has since become involved, with spokesperson Gary Wheeler saying, “our objective is to ensure that no species have been harmed from this incident. Investigators from the MECPs

species-at-risk branch and environmental investigations and enforcement branch

are working as quickly as possible to complete an investigation into how and why this event occurred, along with possible solutions for remediation,” he added.

Wheeler said the landowner has stopped filling, agreed to complete a habitat assessment for ministry review, and is following guidance about species-at-risk.

The landowner has so far declined to comment to The Highlander.

Since sounding the alarm on The Land Between’s Facebook page on Jan.14, the

public has held intermittent protests at the location most days since the filling was noticed. More than 3,400 people have signed a petition online that states its goal is to “save this wetland and the amazing turtles that many in Haliburton know and love.”

No enforceable bylaw

Berman and multiple residents who submitted comments to Dysart Council said the township has a responsibility to clarify and enforce rules pertaining to wetland and species protection.

The area where the filling was noticed falls under environmental protection zoning in the township’s official plan. The official plan prohibits site alteration except for “flood control, other water management, or erosion control structures or works, docks and marine facilities.

However, policies set out in the official plan do not represent enforceable bylaws, Dysart et al municipal law enforcement officer Robert Mascia said.

In an email, Mascia said, “Dysart does not currently have a site alteration bylaw in place or any regulation within the zoning bylaw to provide for enforcement.”

Berman said the township should have stronger zoning bylaws to prevent habitat destruction. In an email, she said “there

are gaping holes in the tools and processes within our own municipality that led to this situation in the first place … and could lead to many more. If this isn’t fixed, our hunting heritage, fishing, and wildlife

are at stake. The proper tools are non- existent here, and that takes power away from the people and puts it in the hands of developers alone.”

However, building developments such as a proposed condominium on Grass Lake are reviewed by council and the public can weigh in. Site alteration does not require an approval process.

On Jan. 21, Coun. Nancy Wood-Roberts said, “If there’s no bylaw to do any sort of enforcement then everyone’s hands are tied.”

Dysart council regularly passes bylaws, changes previous rules and establishes new ones. So does the County of Haliburton.

At a Jan. 25 council meeting, Dysart mayor Andrea Roberts said the County’s

shoreline preservation bylaw is set to help enforce wetland protection.

“We all are in the same geographic area and we all have the same concerns to protect our water,” she said.

The bylaw in its current draft would prohibit the site’s alteration due to its proximity to wetland, but multiple councillors indicated the bylaw isn’t likely to be implemented soon.

Director of planning Jeff Iles and

clerk Mallory Bishop said developing a municipal site alteration bylaw may end up redundant or contradictory if the County’s shoreline preservation bylaw is passed.

Roberts said public outrage took off like “wildfire” online, and council received numerous written submissions from residents worried about habitat destruction or flooding.

Roberts said some online posts “make it sound like Dysart doesn’t care, of course, we do.”

Wood-Roberts said council needed

to discuss other developments nearby, including the state of the County- maintained Gelert Road, which may have increased flood risks too. “I think they need to look at the historical factors in the property itself and how it became

a wetland,” she said, prior to council discussions.

Coun. John Smith said he was frustrated it may appear that Dysart council hasn’t acted quickly enough.

“How long should we wait for the County to reach a conclusion on something they’ve been evaluating for three or four years before we as a local municipality take action to protect wetlands in our community?” asked Smith.

Council directed Iles to contact the Ontario government to find out what provincial allowances or restrictions may exist on the land.

Increasing risk of flooding

If wetlands aren’t protected, the County could face increasing flood risks, said Paul Heaven, a senior wildlife biologist and environmental consultant at Glenside Ecological Services Limited.

“Every wetland plays a significant role in flood attenuation so it’s definitely having an impact,” Heaven said.

In an area such as Gelert Road near Haliburton Highlands Secondary School, wetlands act as a sponge for water that would otherwise flow over the road.

Heaven said wetlands should be a key concern for County council and its townships.

“Any further loss in wetlands will result in greater flooding potential all throughout the County. We really have to start paying attention to wetlands large and small,” he said.

Heaven has worked with the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust to map two provincially-significant wetlands in the Highlands.

“Most of our wetlands in our County have not been evaluated, and the issue we have in the County is we don’t know where the wetlands are, or they’re not properly mapped and defined,” Heaven said.

Zoning a wetland as provincially significant means it’s protected from development on a provincial level.

Barring a Ministerial Zoning Order, which the Ontario government has recently attempted to use to overturn such embargoes, Highlands wetlands deemed provincially-significant would be protected from site alteration or development.