With provincial and federal elections on the horizon this year, naturally there’s only one name on the lips of both seasoned and prospective politicians in Canada – U.S. president Donald Trump. 

It’s been a long-running joke, certainly for the 18 years I’ve lived in Canada, that people pay way more attention to the political scene south of the border than the one on their doorstep. 

While I’ve never been able to fully comprehend it, recently I’ve started to understand why. The public has become so disconnected and disillusioned following years of political gaffes, mishandlings, and controversies – at all levels – that politics has become little more than a pantomime for most. 

Thanks in large part to parts of the mainstream media, talk around the dinner table has shifted from how the latest policy, investment or budget cut will impact their lives, to whatever outfit the flavour-of-the-day politician wore that day.

You might think I’m being facetious there but bear with me.

When prime minister Justin Trudeau visited India in 2018, pretty much the only thing people picked up on was how ridiculous they thought he looked donning traditional Indian attire. Macleans, which promotes itself as “Canada’s magazine” dedicated an entire story to the supposed debacle, while circling back to an array of outfits Trudeau had worn on other international and domestic endeavours, dubbing him ‘The Mr. Dressup prime minister’. 

Politics, it seems, is viewed more as entertainment these days than anything else. The problem is, with each passing election, more and more people are turning off the proverbial television. 

Voter turnout has seen a steady decline for decades. The last time the country saw more than 70 per cent of people participate was 1992, when 71.8 per cent voted. Numbers have swayed from the low-to-high 60s ever since, with a record low of 58.8 per cent in 2008. 

Things are even more concerning provincially – voter turnout hasn’t exceeded 70 per cent since 1971. In the last seven votes stretching back to 1999, the average participation is 52.42 per cent – including an embarrassing 44 per cent last time out in 2022. 

The Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock ridings are no exception. Federally, voter turnout has averaged 66.23 per cent through the past four elections – in line with the national average. 

It’s hard to determine an average for the past four provincial polls – turnout in 2022 was a record-low 48.14 per cent, down from 54.98 per cent in 2011. Averages weren’t listed for 2014 and 2018, only totals – 52,839 people voted 11 years ago, and 57,143 four years later. Only 49,292 of a possible 101,416 voted in 2022. 

I lay the blame directly at the feet of those running and elected to serve us. 

In today’s Highlander, we offered MPP Laurie Scott, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock Liberal Association president Judi Forbes, and local Green Party candidate Tom Regina an opportunity to share some thoughts ahead of the Feb. 27 provincial vote. They all largely spent their time talking about premier Doug Ford, with a sprinkling of Trump. 

I gave them all the chance to discuss local issues and priorities.Forbes did later follow-up with some Liberal priorities. Scott touched on healthcare, continuing to blame Haliburton Highlands Health Services for the closure of the Minden ER, but no platforms were presented. No innovative ideas. Nothing to give people hope in, let’s be honest, pretty desperate times. 

There are really concerning issues all around us, things like homelessness, food insecurity, rampant drug use – which is sparking an increase in crime. The Haliburton Highlands OPP reported a 15.7 per cent increase to the number of Criminal Code and Provincial Statute charges laid locally last year. 

Enough is enough. It’s beyond time for real change in our political spectrum. And it must begin with the people wanting to represent us. 

We, the public, play an important role too. Simply switching off is not the answer. We need to challenge those who do put their names forward to find solutions. Hold them accountable. Expect them to show up and be there when the proverbial poop hits the fan.

The malaise has to stop. Either that, or we’re doomed to repeating the same cycles of mediocrity that have been allowed to fester for so long.

For a while on Monday morning, Monika Melichar of Woodlands Wildlife Sanctuary thought a deer that had to be euthanized after a vehicle-deer collision in front of the new A&W was ‘Mooch.’

That is the name affectionately given to a young deer that has been looking for hand-outs in the Independent parking lot in Haliburton.

By all reports, the rather cute-looking deer is getting exactly what it wants; plenty of apples, carrots and other food from shoppers. Some are even petting it.

In doing so, they are taking the ‘wild’ out of this wildlife.

‘Mooch’ could have easily been the deer that was killed following that collision en route to his favourite restaurant. It’s likely the animal that was killed was headed to a human feeding area.

I’m not immune to a cute-looking deer, but I have never fed one in the wild and never will.

I have read so many Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry reports on why we should not feed deer. I have written numerous stories in my time here at The Highlander. And, yet, the message does not seem to be getting across to some people.

So, let’s go over it… again.

Feeding deer the wrong food can cause digestive problems, such as bloating, diarrhea, and even death. 

Feeding deer can lead to overpopulation, which can harm the deer and other wildlife. 

Feeding deer can increase the risk of disease transmission among deer and other animals. 

Feeding deer can attract predators, such as wolves and coyotes, which can increase the risk of death for deer. 

Feeding deer can increase the risk of vehicle collisions as deer cross roads to get to feeders. 

Feeding deer, and then suddenly stopping, can cause stress-related deaths. 

I can’t figure out why people can’t appreciate wildlife from a distance. It isn’t hard to keep household waste, compost, and pet food out of reach of wild animals. If you really need to see them, instead of coaxing them with human food, improve the natural habitat on your property to attract wildlife. I’d rather they eat your trees and shrubs than corn. And, of course, work with your neighbours to help keep wild animals wild. 

I understand the mentality of feeders. They think the animal is cute. They like to see them up close and personal. They are worried the deer are starving in winter. They think they are saving their lives.

They are not. An average of a deer a day – but usually more than one – are killed in Haliburton County, often crossing a road to get to a feeding area. Feeding them corn will eventually kill them. How in the world will they ever be able to go back to the wild, and hunt and gather like a normal deer should, when people are hand feeding them apples and carrots. They do not stand a chance. 

We have a huge problem. Dysart et al has tried to help by implementing a bylaw preventing feeding. People who think they know better continue to ignore it. Bylaw resources are limited in terms of tracking down all the bylaw breakers and fining them. Others are employing technicalities to get around the rules. 

We, as a community, must come together on this issue once and for all. 

The science is clear. Do not feed deer.

It’s time the County of Haliburton and its four lower-tier municipalities hire someone to oversee elimination of waste – from having five governments and 32 political positions in an area with just over 20,000 residents.

County CAO Gary Dyke told councillors at the last meeting of 2024 he wanted to have a good look at the service delivery review delivered in late 2020, to see if the file could be further advanced.

Good intent, but Dyke has enough to do. No CAO has been able to really crack the recommendations in the review. As such, it has largely occupied the corner of a desk or two. As municipalities grapple with their 2025 budgets, it has become abundantly clear County taxpayers can’t afford the way their governments operate anymore. Tax increases are outstripping wage increases. There is too much dipping into reserves and taking on added debt. And the hand is being held out not only by townships and the County, but the school board, province and federal governments, too. Something has to give.

While governments may have little say over how much they must collect, when it comes to local government, it can have a say. Let’s look at Minden Hills for example. A consultant just told them they have assets valued at more than $300 million. Collectively, our townships have hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of assets. Are there efficiencies to be had? Of course there are. In what universe does it make sense that Minden Hills meets on Milne Street while the County meets a stone’s throw away? Do we really need two council chambers in that town? Of course not. 

I get that some would argue you need five council chambers due to the geographic size of the County. However, with virtual meetings remaining the norm, do we really need all of this infrastructure?

We don’t. However, while our townships have done a better job in the past four years of playing in the sandbox together, they are still a long way from being efficient.  

Take in point Dysart et al mayor Murray Fearrey talking about developing a new curling club, arena and… gasp… swimming pool on the CR21 site. Once again, we need to look at a project like this from the vantage point of all municipalities. It will take five governments to pay for a swimming pool. We’ve seen Minden Hills task its ratepayers with its Minden ice palace facility. There was not enough County-wide vision back when that plan was being prepared. We need to ask tough questions. Do we need a new arena in Dysart? Can the needs of our hockey and ice skating community not be met by the current arena, and the ones in Minden and Wilberforce?

For the future of this community, we must finally drive a stake through the parochial hearts of Haliburton and Minden, and to a lesser extent, Wilberforce and Dysart. Our politicians must look beyond their borders. But the only way I see this happening is an impartial staffer who can come in, resurrect the service delivery review, adapt it to what is achievable, and get on with it. I would mandate that person to report back in a year with their suggestions. By then [April 2026 for arguments’ sake], we will be heading into a fall municipal election with the hope of voting in some progressive councillors who can finally find the efficiencies that we all so desperately need. 

While I support the County of Haliburton joining other municipalities in declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic in Ontario – proclamations such as these are somewhat toothless tigers.

As detailed in a story in today’s Highlander, the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton and Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre made a presentation at the last County council meeting of 2024.

And despite coronial inquests and reports, the situation does not seem to be improving. In fact, it is getting worse.

The reality that a coronial inquest into the killing of three women in Renfrew was not wrapped up until June 28, 2022 – when the crime occurred on Sept. 22, 2017 – tells a story in itself. How broken must a system be when it takes five years to rule on such a killing?

Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam were murdered by a man with whom each had a past relationship. None of them knew about his history of violence against women. It highlighted the critical failures in the systems meant to protect victims of intimate partner violence.

That inquest resulted in 86 recommendations speaking to oversight and accountability, system approaches, collaboration and communication, funding, education and training, measures addressing perpetrators of intimate partner violence, intervention and safety. One of the 86 was to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic. 

Another commission, the Mass Casualty Commission of March 2023, recommended a public health approach to preventing mass casualty incidents and mobilizing a society-wide response. The National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, November, 2022, spoke to things such as more funding for supports, prevention, and a responsive justice system. 

The Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses is one of the few that does an annual femicide report. They review media reports, so femicides that have not made the news are not included. 

They found 62 in 2023-24, the same as the previous year – decidedly trending up since 2015-16, when there were 35.

Why is this happening?

For one thing, living in rural areas such as Haliburton County make it a dangerous place for some women. There is physical and social isolation, transportation challenges, and some struggling to make a living wage. They may not be able to afford, or get, good, reliable internet. The abuser takes the phone when he goes to work. We are also hunters, which means men have access to, and are familiar with, guns.

OPP reports indicate that in rural areas, violence against women is 75 per cent higher than for women in urban areas.

We suspect the post-pandemic economic challenges are also leading to violence in the home. 

Coun. Walt McKechnie quite rightly commented that sometimes abuse goes on for a long time; neighbours, family members, even the police may know about it. However, he said it is not until someone is killed that people really take notice. The OPP and courts regrettably also let us down.

He’s right. As a community, we have to take a zero-tolerance approach to intimate partner violence. That means if we hear or see something, we must speak up. Perhaps not in front of the actual perpetrator, making it worse for the victim. However, we can reach out to authorities. And they must step up and take action. Ending an intimate partner violence epidemic is up to all of us