Paul Heaven said efforts to protect a 100,000-hectare parcel of land connecting the Haliburton Highlands to three provincial parks progressed well in 2023.

The Highlands Corridor initiative was introduced by the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust (HHLT) in 2020, seeking to protect an important wildlife corridor that would bridge the gap between the Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park, Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park, and Silent Lake Provincial Park.

Speaking at a recent HHLT event, Heaven said the team working on the project has defined 4,800 hectares of provincially significant wetlands in the area and is completing mapping all wetlands in the townships of Snowdon, Lutterworth, and Glamorgan.

“We’ve made tremendous headway… the work has provided us with the science to understand why we’re trying to protect the corridor, especially when it comes to the value of wetlands for flood attenuation and carbon storage,” Heaven said.

Referencing the significant flooding seen across the County in 2013, 2016, 2017, and 2019, Heaven said it’s important these wetlands be protected and maintained as they serve as natural sponges that trap and slowly release water. Without them, local flooding events could be catastrophic.

There are implications for wildlife too, Heaven noted. By connecting the three provincial parks, it will give animals the chance to escape areas where there’s disease, drought, fire, or lack of a sustainable food source and relocate elsewhere.

“Climate change and other threats pose big problems for our wildlife communities. If wildlife can’t move from an area experiencing issues, they die out. The way to mitigate that is to maintain, and improve, connectivity,” Heaven said. “That’s one of the biggest drivers of this whole project – to bring these core areas together and give wildlife the opportunity to move around.”

The corridor is home to 39 federal and provincial species at risk, 25 provincially significant species, and 42 regionally or locally significant species.

Approximately 60,000 hectares of the corridor is made up of Crown land, Heaven said. Haliburton County council passed a resolution of support for the corridor in February 2023, standing with HHLT in trying to establish the bulk of that land as a conservation reserve.

The remaining 40,000 ha is mostly private land, Heaven said. HHLT has established a new ‘building partners in conservation’ program, aiming to bring private landowners on board to help protect the corridor. Through that, the land trust has preserved around 1,800 hectares.

“We provide management plans, we get people enrolled in tax incentive programs, and generally speak of the importance of good stewardship,” Heaven said. “Private landowners have a tremendous role to play.”

While there has been some talk by some members of County council, notably Cec Ryall – deputy mayor in Highlands East – of using some of the land included in the corridor to explore housing opportunities, Heaven said there’s been no movement on that front.

“We’re a long way from nailing down boundaries. We’re willing and fully understanding that there’s going to be pieces [of land] where we’ll work with municipalities and community partners [to explore] other interests, so there will be lots of massaging,” Heaven said. “The focus now is on establishing the concept and highlighting the importance.

“We need climate change resiliency here in central and southern Ontario. As a country, we’re trying to have 30 per cent of our landscape protected by 2030. We’re only a third of the way there… we’ve got another [20 million hectares] we need to protect – we can’t have that all up north,” Heaven added.

“Our wildlife populations are at risk here, our towns are at risk of flooding, we need solutions here.”

HHLT has secured funding to map wetlands in Monmouth and has submitted a proposal to the province to do Cardiff, potentially in 2025. Heaven noted the land trust shares its mapping data with the County, which is used for planning purposes.

Recently announced enhancements to the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) is welcome news to Tina Jackson, executive director of Highlands East’s Central Food Network (CFN), though she believes the County’s lowest income residents require further support.

The Ontario Energy Board announced effective March 1 income eligibility thresholds will increase by up to 35 per cent, making the program accessible to thousands more households.

The OESP provides a monthly hydro credit for eligible customers based on household income and size. Credits are applied directly to customers’ monthly bills once an application is approved, Jackson said.

“I don’t want in any way to not celebrate this, because it is an enhancement, but I think more help is needed,” she told The Highlander. “People are being hit on all sides in terms of increased cost of living, not simply just increases in their hydro bill.”

Under the new criteria, single people with an after-tax income of up to $38,000, and couples with an after-tax income of up to $54,000, will qualify. Credits range from $35 to $75 per month. Higher credits are provided to customers who use certain medical devices, those who heat their home with electricity, or are Indigenous or living with Indigenous family members.

Jackson said CFN has processed 540 applications, unlocking close to $350,000 in hydro credits for local households since OESP launched in 2016.

“It is application-based, so people have to know about it, they have to apply for the money to get it. The same is true for the increase,” Jackson said, saying those already enrolled will need to reapply. Local staff can assist with any application, she said, noting Heat Bank Haliburton – a CFN program – is an OEB-authorized intake agency.

Thresholds for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) will match the new OESP levels. Jackson said LEAP provides emergency financial help to households in hydro-related arrears. Effective March 1, LEAP grants for households who heat their home using electricity will increase to $780, from $600, with those who use other methods jumping to $650, from $500.

Bigger picture ‘bleak’

Jackson said CFN has seen increased demand across all programs over the past year. In 2023, food banks the organization has in Cardiff and Wilberforce saw a monthly average of 217 unique visitors – a 37 per cent increase from 2021.

“I feel like I say this every year, but we are now serving the greatest number of people we have ever served. I don’t see that changing any time soon,” Jackson said.

CFN has been able to meet this increased demand by developing connections with other food banks across the province. Whenever some of these other facilities, often located in larger urban areas, has too much, they connect with CFN who then arranges to pick up and transport the food to the Highlands.

It’s a similar story for the heat bank. Typically, CFN serves around 120 households each year, but from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 they served 156 households – a 27 per cent increase. Jackson said that number would likely have been up again if not for this winter’s mild weather.

Jackson said the situation isn’t likely to change until Ontario beefs up other social assistance programs such as Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). The base monthly rate for those on OW is $733 a month, with ODSP paying $1,308 – only $556 of which can be applied to shelter/accommodation costs.

“It would be next to impossible to find an apartment in Haliburton while also putting food on the table, paying for transportation and utilities – it just doesn’t add up, which is why so many are struggling,” Jackson said.

Those on ODSP are further restricted by what Jackson called outdated rules preventing them, or anyone else, living in their household, from topping up a collective income with other revenue streams.

“It’s all income tested, so if you or anyone else you live with is in receipt of other income, your benefits are reduced. Even if somebody was getting money from the Canada Pension Plan, that is deducted dollar for dollar off their ODSP cheque,” Jackson said. “So, really, if you rely on ODSP you are basically forced to live in poverty.”

For more information, visit centralfoodnetwork.org or call 705-306-0565.

Two key agricultural vendors from the Haliburton farmers market say they’ll be “crushed” if the popular weekly event doesn’t return to Head Lake Park this season.

Marchand Lamarre has had his Garliccloves stall since 2020, while Heather Bramham’s Esson Creek Maple has been a staple since 2018. The pair spoke to The Highlander this week about concerns over the way the market situation has unfolded in recent months.

The event ran for 11 years at Head Lake Park before being relocated to nearby Rotary Beach Park ahead of the 2023 season. Officials from the Haliburton County Farmers Market Association (HCFMA) have spent months advocating for the markets’ return to the downtown park – something Lamarre and Bramham “wholeheartedly” support.

“The big reason we want to go back to Head Lake Park is for increased accessibility,” said Bramham, who has mobility issues. “People can walk around on the footpath, it would be closer to the downtown, it provides increased visibility for vendors, and brings people into town. It just makes the most sense for the entire community to have it there.

“There were lots of problems at Rotary Beach,” Bramham said, noting seniors and parents with strollers stopped attending due to a problematic layout, while there were numerous issues with people using the nearby basketball courts. “I lost count of the number of times I saw a ball fly into a stall or hit someone standing in line. It’s not the safest thing.”

Dysart council has given the green light for the market to return to Head Lake Park, providing HCFMA pays an additional $5 per vendor, per market day to the township. Based on the market having 40 vendors over a 21-week season, this amounts to approximately $4,200.

Bramham said while some members of council have described the fee as “not a big deal”, she says it is for smaller agricultural vendors struggling to turn a profit.

She said Esson Creek Maple is a part-time endeavour for her and her husband, who both have full-time jobs. It supplements their income and is a hobby they’re both passionate about. She indicated they would return at the increased rate but know others won’t. “That’s tough, because to be designated as a farmers market you need a certain number of local agricultural vendors… the Haliburton market is right on the line,” Bramham said.

Market officials previously told The Highlander if the Haliburton market lost two of those vendors it would lose its farmers market designation.

At a Feb. 27 meeting, Dysart council reaffirmed its decision to implement a fee with no conditions attached. This came after HCFMA submitted a letter suggesting three alternate resolutions ranging from the market going ahead with no increased cost and HCFMA agreeing to a $5 per vendor, per market day hike providing the township records all rehabilitative work at the park this summer.

HCFMA officials gathered for a board meeting March 4, which ended without consensus, according to Angel Taylor.

“The proposed $5 per vendor, per market day has not undergone the requisite public consultation process, is not published in Dysart’s fee schedule and we don’t know what the exact wording will be… it is not subject to the conditions surrounding the fee schedule, it is a loosely proposed fee with no contractual understanding regarding terms, limits, and rules. Until those matters are properly addressed, we cannot responsibly consent to this arrangement,” Taylor said in an emailed statement on behalf of the board.

Asked whether the board has committed to having a market in Haliburton this year, whether at Head Lake Park or at Rotary Beach, Taylor said, “if the information and evidence we acquire provide support that it is a prudent and responsible decision to be in Head Lake Park, we will work hard to implement that.”

She said there was no timeline for a decision.

Lamarre said the ongoing dispute has left many vendors in limbo.

“It’s too late now to apply to other markets. If this doesn’t go forward, I’m going to be left with a lot of leftover products. I just won’t have the opportunity to sell it,” he said.

While that would represent a significant financial loss, Lamarre said he’s more concerned with losing his connection to the community.

“There’s no other community group I’m involved with outside the market. I wouldn’t have any interaction with local residents,” he said. “I’ve gone through Dysart’s municipal plan, the Head Lake Park master plan, the five-year destination management plan – they all speak of the importance of a thriving farmers market… if an agreement isn’t reached, it would be a monumental loss to this community.”

Haliburton farmers market vendors Marchand Lamarre and Heather Bramham want to see the weekly event return to Head Lake Park

If successful, provincial funding opportunities could see downtown Minden revitalization, signage to help people better find their way around the County, and a refurbished terminal building at Stanhope Airport.

County director of economic development, Scott Ovell, told a Feb. 28 County council meeting staff are applying under the Rural Economic Development (RED) fund. They are also supporting an application by Algonquin Highlands for an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant for an airport project.

Ovell said they sent their application to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), which oversees RED funding, on Feb. 21. He said staff opted to target the strategic infrastructure stream “with a focus on signage and downtown revitalization,” which are stated priorities within the program.

Staff have requested money for the installation of four community maps in each township. Each map would highlight points of interest, such as trails, parks, and museums. Ovell said they would be in high volume traffic areas, such as the Village Green in Minden and Head Lake Park in Haliburton. He said the maps can be repurposed once the County finishes its wayfinding signage work.

Ovell said in talking to the regional OMAFRA advisor, they were told they should apply with an existing community improvement plan, which Minden Hills implemented in 2019. It helps businesses improve facades, for example.

He said are also requesting funding for sign improvements and public art. Ovell said it would roll out in Minden Hills, if approved, but “this is being viewed as a pilot project, and if successful, could provide County staff with the evidence that would support the creation of CIPs within other urban settlement areas within the County.”

Warden Liz Danielsen did question why Minden and “not Haliburton, or why not downtown Wilberforce?” Ovell said, “It’s more of a requirement of the province than us trying to cherry pick one community over another.”

County staff have submitted an application to the province for $19,450, with $15,000 coming from the County and $4,500 (30 per cent) from the province. The County’s contribution would be allocated from the economic development programing budget. Ovell said the line is currently budgeted at $43,000 in the draft 2024 economic development and operating budget.

As for airport terminal renovations, Ovell said the County would be a co-applicant with no financial commitment. He said it could be to make the airport a community hub, or an economic development hub.

Danielsen said the application is primarily to improve the terminal building, to create a community hub, and make it accessible. “Because at the present time, the washrooms are not accessible.” She expressed appreciation for the County’s support.

Ambulance response times

The Haliburton County paramedic service met, or exceeded, response time targets for 2023, chief Tim Waite told council.

Under provincial regulations, services have to set, adhere to, and publicly report, their response times every year.

They are under the Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS), for level one (resuscitation), level two (emergent), level three (urgent), level four (less urgent) and level five (nonurgent), as well as for sudden cardiac arrest.

Waite said for sudden cardiac arrest, the goal was to arrive on scene within six minutes 20 per cent of the time, and they did it 32 per cent of the time.

Their CTAS 1 goal was to arrive on scene within eight minutes 30 per cent of the time, and they achieved 32 per cent of the time.

For CTAS 2, the goal was to arrive on scene within 15 minutes 65 per cent of the time and they met that goal.

The CTAS 3 goal was to arrive on scene within 20 minutes 65 per cent of the time. They did 79 per cent.

The CTAS 4 goal was to arrive on scene within 23 minutes 65 per cent of the time. HCPS achieved that, arriving on scene within 25 minutes 91 per cent of the time.

And, the CTAS 5 goal was to arrive on scene within 30 minutes 65 per cent of the time. HCPS achieved 96 per cent of the time.