Fleming College has opened a space for indigenous students to “hang out with each other, or just be themselves, to build community within the community,” said Clorise Taylor, manager of indigenous services at the college during a June 30 opening.

Many staff members, Haliburton School of Art + Design dean Xavier Massé, and community members attended the open house last Friday.

They were welcomed into the lounge space, and given a chance to explore the learning lodge which was built in the spring.

“The learning lodge is a space that is meant for teaching and learning,” said Liz Stone, vice president of indigenous knowledge and relations at Fleming. “Each sapling that was used to build this means something, levels of learning, teaching moments among others. And, those who built this last spring are responsible for coming back and teaching those who build the next one, in the spring.”

Stone added with the Truth and Reconciliation call to action, the United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous peoples, and the Indigenous Education protocol, which was signed in 2015, it is her job to make sure the college is accountable. “Part of the accountability was the creation of my positions in the college; first a faculty member and now the VP of knowledge and relations.”

The college has spaces in each of its campuses specifically for indigenous students and they are all named Biindigen which is Anishinaabe for “welcome.” However, Haliburton was the last to complete one.

A mural in the new area was done by Jared Tait, a woodland artist from Thunder Bay. He said he and his wife and new baby moved into the space for about three days to complete the piece. “There were cots, tables, snacks, and diapers everywhere,” the artist laughed. “I sketched it out freehand in about 20 minutes, took a day to colour block and then about two days to complete.” The mural depicts a new life being welcomed into the space, with creatures and nature. The artist called it Welcoming Song.

Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) acting president and CEO, Veronica Nelson, made some concessions during a town hall meeting in Minden June 29, in which she struggled with her emotions following intense questioning by the public.

She reiterated HHHS’ position it consolidated ED services in Haliburton due to a lack of staffing, particularly nurses, and it chose Haliburton because it had 15 in-patient beds.

Nelson also said the Minden Hospital remains open and offers long-term care, diagnostics such as x-rays, and bone densitometry, outpatient programs, such as an adult day program, social recreation, exercises for seniors, nursing foot care, physiotherapy, diabetes education, telemedicine, GAIN, and a mental health outreach program. She added they were looking to partner on other possibilities for the hospital site.

“It’s open for business. Our hospital in Minden is still very busy.” She noted the helipad is remaining open for emergencies as well.

The Kawartha North Family Health Team (KNFHT) urgent care clinic opened June 30 in the former ED site. It will operate weekends until it can be fully staffed seven days a week, she said.

Nelson was asked about “ballooning wait times” at the Haliburton ED since consolidation June 1. She presented data indicating that between June 1-26, wait times to first assessments by a doctor, by all patients, averaged 0.9 hours. She said the length of stay in the ED for low-urgency patients averaged 2.1 hours, with 91 per cent finished within four hours.

For high urgency, she said average stays were 4.3 hours, with 86 per cent finished within eight hours.

She noted most rural hospitals are not mandated to report their wait times. She further said non-life-threatening patients, using the example of a person with a fish hook in their finger, would hopefully go to the Minden urgent care clinic and not the Haliburton ER.

Nelson challenged

Rev. Joan Cavanaugh challenged the data.

“That’s not what I’m hearing on the phone when people are calling me from the waiting room. ‘Rev. Joan, can you come? I’ve been here seven-and-a-half hours, eight hours, nine hours, 13.’ Some of them go home. These people aren’t calling me and telling me fibs. They’re there but your stats are saying three hours and four hour waits. How is that possible, such a difference in what people are saying and the actuality of what’s happening?”

Nelson said the stats were an average and it can sometimes take longer when someone presents with a serious trauma, or a heart attack, for instance, and is seen first. “We try our best.”

Another woman said she spent 16 hours in the Haliburton ED on June 20 with a appendicitis. Eventually, she called her daughter to drive her to Bracebridge for surgery. “We were assured Haliburton Hospital would be prepared for us. I could have died on the way. I could have died in emerge.”

Former HHHS registered nurse, Judy Toye, said she had the staffing numbers for Minden prior to closure, “and actually there was enough nursing staff to get through the summer. It was going to be a squeeze but there was enough.” She added since the Minden ED closure, there have been many illnesses, stress leaves, sick calls, and people not coming back from maternity leave, “which has left you extremely short now.”

She added she moved to Extendicare and they have many former HHHS nurses there. “That speaks to how (HHHS) staff have been treated and the retention of staff. Any answer as to how that is going to improve?” she asked Nelson.

The acting CEO said she could not speak to what had happened prior to arrival, “but I can say that I am here to change the culture and to try to bring those nurses back.”

Asked how she would do that, she again talked about improving the culture as well as the services provided and making sure staff get the education and support they need. She said they are also getting back to applicants, a previous criticism.

She noted they are in the process of hiring a new chief nursing executive and a human resources manager. She added they are doing a compensation review to make sure they are competitive. She said they will emphasize recruitment and retention as they are currently short 12 nurses. She wants to reduce nursing agency staff “to a bare minimum” by Sept. 30 but said they need to get staff to do that.

Jeff Nichols wanted to know why HHHS board chair David O’Brien was not in attendance. “Absolutely zero accountability from this person and it’s a complete joke that he appears to not be here.” Nelson said O’Brien had a medical appointment.

Richard Bradley told Nelson he understood that she was a “fixer. I challenge you to fix what is broken. You need to fix this. You need to get your staffing up to a level that is sustainable for two emerges. Bring back our doctors, bring back our nurses, bring back our services and put the H back in front of that building.

“That’s what your job is and that is what this community, and over 25,000 people clearly stated on a petition. We will not accept 12 hours a week over there (the urgent care clinic) as any substitute.”

Next town hall: Haliburton Legion July 25 at 5 p.m.

Phil Harknett, who lives between two short-term rentals (STRs) on a small lake in Dysart, appealed to County council June 28 to finally regulate and tax the industry.

“What we have here is second homes that people have invested in as a business, and it’s time this County got down to taxing and regulating these businesses,” he said.

Harknett added STR owners would be charged under the regulations to generate revenue for the County and townships. He noted regulating would also ensure the safety of renters. He added STRs are affecting long-term rentals, housing prices, and the ability of businesses to get staff due to a lack of housing.

With more than 10 STRs on his lake of 45 properties, he said it’s a myth they’re good for the economy because renters bring everything with them and do not leave their cottages.

Harknett said Lake of Bays and the City of Kawartha Lakes are acting but, “we don’t have anything. The County doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel here. We just need to talk to other municipalities to find out how this is done. I’m asking you guys not to kick this can down the road… it’s time. Let’s get this done.”

Highlands East was the first township to discuss possible regulation of the industry in 2018. Algonquin Highlands briefly flirted with it as well. However, it has rested at the County level for years now. Despite there being draft bylaws, with legal opinions, County council has yet to pull the trigger, although Warden Liz Danielsen said they are close.

County considers a contractor

Much of last week’s meeting was devoted to the topic.

Director of planning, Steve Stone, said since the early days of municipalities implementing STR programs, there have been “a number of third-party services arising to help assist municipalities in rolling out and regulating the program.”

He said the companies pinpoint where STRs are, from advertising and agencies. He estimated there are close to 1,500 in the County. He said they would contact operators about licensing. They send out e-forms, such as a code of conduct, verifying inspections for Ontario Building Code, fire compliance, and septic system performance. They also monitor compliance and have a 24/7 complaint hotline. They also contact municipal staff for follow-up.

CAO Mike Rutter confirmed he and lower-tier CAOs had met with a third-party provider. He added the cost of hiring them would be significantly less than program revenue.

Coun. Murray Fearrey said, “I certainly like this approach. It’s going to take a tremendous load off staff here.” He also wanted onus on the property owner to say he or she has complied, with possible spot checks.

Rutter said the idea is a self-attestation of criteria being met followed by an audit over four or five years of all properties. Coun. Cec Ryall said they could use demerit points for “verifiable trust.”

Coun. Bob Carter said if they went with that, they could go directly to licensing and not need registration. He added no taxpayer dollars should go into the program, but it should be paid for by STR owners.

Fearrey also felt they should implement a municipal accommodation tax at the same time. A final decision has yet to be made on a MAT tax.

MAT provides funding for the tourism industry, as well as programs and services for visitors.

During the meeting, council also revisited the draft bylaws, determining they would license for a year; allow two people per bedroom, one parking spot per bedroom – with appropriate septic – appeals going to the County; not renting out bunkies as separate rentals; and demerit points for offences with three leading to license suspension.

Council voted to put out a request for information from a third party, have director of economic development, Scott Ovell, update a MAT tax report, and make amendments to the licensing bylaw for a future meeting.

Danielsen said: “we made some good steps today, really moving ahead.”

Barrie Martin says people laugh when he tells them he’s retiring.

The Yours Outdoors founder, who has his fingers in several tourism and community pies, understands the response.

It would never be a full stop,” he concedes, sipping coffee in the living room of his Haliburton County home.

However, “I’m ready to make a change,” he adds. “And I’ve got the ideal circumstances.”

Those conditions have come about because of a decision in 2020 to partner with Haliburton Forest. Martin founded Yours Outdoors in 2006, a business that’s grown exponentially to feature events and experiences in every corner of the Haliburton Highlands. Martin excels in creating connections, highlighting the beauty and wonder of the area, and offering off-thebeaten-path experiences.

He was named Tourism Champion of the Year in 2016 and received the Sustainable Tourism Award in 2017 from the Ontario Tourism Industry Association.

Prior to Yours Outdoors, he had a 28-year career with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. He said he had a pension safety net from the ministry, which allowed him to take the leap of faith with Yours Outdoors. He knew the revenue would not make it worthwhile for someone without other income to take it over – which is how the partnership with the Forest came about.

While not in any big hurry to retire three years ago, it made for a perfect succession plan. There was a retirement party for Martin June 25 at the Forest.

When he says he won’t fully stop, Martin references a number of other things that he is involved in, such as the Haliburton County Community Co-operative and the Haliburton County Folk Society. Other organizations are already approaching him about joining boards of directors. However, the plan is to take a break first, to spend time with family and travel.

He said it is a bit strange looking at a much lighter calendar for the month of July and beyond. He jokes the early days of COVID were probably a good training ground because he wasn’t going anywhere or doing anything.

He’ll miss the Yours Outdoors work. He said it allowed him to be creative in building unique experiences for visitors to the Highlands.

“When you look at what this community offers in terms of landscapes, and amazing people doing amazing things, it’s very much experience-rich. There’s a certain dynamic to this community.”

Martin said he is proud he was one of very few companies across Ontario and Canada offering “truly community-based and sustainable tourism. That’s something the tourism industry is trying to foster. My company’s always referenced as an example.”

He added his greatest satisfaction is seeing happy customers. There have been many over the years as he has ridden shotgun to birthday parties, and marriage proposals. “And the relationships I’ve built with the guides and experience leaders and the providers.”

He’s introduced a lot of international travel agents, and, in turn, international travellers to the Highlands. He said they see our playground with a fresh set of eyes, and it never fails to make him appreciate where he lives.

He’s introduced a lot of international travel agents, and, in turn, international travellers to the Highlands. He said they see our playground with a fresh set of eyes, and it never fails to make him appreciate where he lives.

“It’s really all about community and how that’s inspired me, and I hope I’ve made a contribution. Meeting so many people, and developing those working relationships and friendships, I think I’ve helped put Haliburton Highlands on the map. There’s some unique experiences here that people appreciate.”