What are we doing about transportation?

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October 6, 2022

What are we doing A podcast from The Highlander (4) — What are we doing? cover art

As touched on in previous columns, The Highlander is taking a deep dive into what we see as the top issues facing the community. I’ve already written about housing and poverty and this week I’ll complete what I’m calling the unholy trinity by focusing on transportation.

Those three issues are so interconnected. It’s almost like a domino effect. Say we have someone who works a job in Haliburton village.

They’re just getting by making minimum wage while renting the same one-bedroom apartment they’ve lived in for years. Suddenly, it’s 2022 and inflation kicks in, costs go up and that apartment is no longer affordable. Wanting to maintain their job and stay in the community, they find a place on a back road 20 minutes out of town.

The issue?

They don’t have a car. Why? Well, they work minimum wage… once living expenses are factored in, there’s not much left over.

So, what is our fictional friend to do? Outside of relying on family or friends for a ride, they wouldn’t have many options. So, maybe they quit their job. Maybe they leave the community. It’s a brutal cycle. This is where Haliburton County needs to step in

Public transportation has been an afterthought for far too long. Seen as more of a want than a need, I would say the opposite is now true. We need some form of public transit in the Highlands.

Now, that’s going to look a little different than it would in, say, Toronto. Or places like Peterborough or Lindsay. A traditional system where a single bus drives the same route repeatedly several times a day isn’t feasible here. So, we need to get a little creative.

When discussing this with County CAO Mike Rutter and Dysart et al mayor Andrea Roberts, they both indicated a call-for-service, ride-share program may be the way to go. We’ve seen organizations like Point in Time, Fleming CREW and SIRCH Community Services successfully launch pilot projects that incorporate aspects of those kinds of services.

The County has been setting aside $50,000 annually for its transportation fund. They now have around $250,000 – but no concrete plans to spend it. Talks have stagnated at the council level, with no real movement on a County-wide strategy since 2019. So, let’s look at what’s working elsewhere.

Perhaps we could emulate what Hastings County is doing. Anyone wanting a ride from places like Madoc or Marmora into Belleville need only sign into an app on their smart phone and book it. There’s a small cost, while monthly passes are also available.

The County could tap into provincial gas tax funding to buy a vehicle and then take on the running costs. If the municipality doesn’t want to get involved in running its own program, maybe it could empower residents to start something.

There are communities across Ontario where ride shares are operated by regular people and incentivized by the local government. If there’s someone driving from Cardiff into Minden every day, maybe they would be willing to have a few more people in their car if they knew the County would kick them a few bucks for fuel.

Providing public transit in a community roughly the size of PEI is a challenge. We accept that. But instead of shrugging our shoulders, we need to start coming up with solutions to help move people around the County. Our small businesses are crying out for workers. Maybe things would be better if would-be employees could get there

Excitement as new dance studio opens

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Lisa Gervais

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October 6, 2022

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When Haliburton Dancy Academy closed its doors last June, Reese Wood was sad. But she was excited Oct. 1 as the new Skyline Dance Studio held its official grand opening.

Reese was one of a number of children who joined their parents in celebrating the ribboncutting this past Saturday.

“It’s really important because I love dance, and I’ve grown up doing dance,” Reese said.

A committee of eight women behind the studio: Allison Cox, Sarah Garbutt, Dawn Hurd, Courtney Bishop, Victoria Bullock, Stacey Parish, Stef Wood and Melissa Valentini were joined by Dysart et al Coun. Pat Kennedy for a ceremony at the 229 Highland St. location.

They only secured the building six weeks ago, and have put a lot of hard work into preparing three dance studios, a common room, bathrooms and change rooms. They have also secured teachers and been registering students. They have developed a website and Facebook page.

Hurd said, “there’s been ups and downs and some struggles here and there but I think we, as a committee, have great skills and everyone brings something to the table and we had no doubt that we would get here.”

Cox agreed, adding the community never doubted it could bring a dance studio back to the Highlands. She said there had been passionate support from so many sectors.

“We knew the community would step up in ways that we could never imagine.”

Bishop said it had been an incredible amount of work to get the building, next to Castle Antiques, ready for the grand opening and for fall students.

She noted it was an older building that had not been designed as a dance studio. They needed workers and material. They called on family and friends. As just one example, they had to figure out how to build dance floors.

“Lots of blood, sweat and tears to get it done. Honestly, the fact we have accomplished this much in six weeks, amazes me,” Bishop said.

It all started the night Cox found out her daughter’s dance studio was closing. She told her husband, “I either need to buy a bus, or open a dance studio here in Haliburton County. Either way, these kids needed to stay together.”

Cox said she instinctively knew she could lead a project to create a new dance studio and was pretty sure there would be “immense” support to keep dance local.

Skyline Dance Studio is not affiliated with any dance studios but is an independent not-for-profit organization, “with a huge vision to create an inclusive safe space for all dancers in Haliburton County.”

Cox said she worked closely with the Haliburton County Development Corporation to review the business options and ultimately decided on a not-for-profit for two reasons.

“We want everything we pour into this studio to be reinvested in the studio and we want to be sure this is a legacy that can be carried on for years to come. It will evolve and grow as the board of directors transitions throughout the years. It will truly be a community-run operation.”

Some committee members own and run businesses, some work in non-profits, some are employed by local businesses, and many have experience sitting on other not-for-profit boards in the Highlands.

“It is a great blend of experience coming together with passion and dedication to accomplish this goal. Beyond this group, we have dozens of community members, individuals, and businesses, that have offered support with time, money and materials.”

“We are doing this for our community, and the families of Haliburton County. Dance is so important for kids, not only is it good for physical, emotional, and intellectual wellbeing, but it also creates amazing friendships and instills a sense of community that will last a lifetime.”

Email info@skylinedancestudio.ca.

Eagle View event centre opens

By

Mike Baker

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October 6, 2022

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The view from atop the hill at Sir Sam’s Ski/ Ride is about to get even better after Dysart et al council rubber stamped plans for a new 60-foot outlook tower at the site.

The structure will be the latest in a long line of investments at the facility, which has become a year-round operation after the Wilkinson family took ownership last winter. More than $500,000 has been invested to transform the main chalet into a modernized event centre, fit to host weddings, business events and other celebrations.

“When we took over, Sir Sam’s was more of a 90-day business. We were very much focused on skiing and a little bit of hiking during the winter,” said Doug Wilkinson.

“We thought we could do more with it than just let it sit empty through the spring, summer and fall season. It just made sense to offer up this space and bring people here, such a beautiful part of the world, for their special days and celebrations.”

That change in view necessitated a rebranding. Now operating hand-in-hand with Sir Sam’s is the Eagle View Wedding and Event Centre.

Event planner and coordinator Kayla Gardiner is taking the lead on this latest endeavour. Welcoming select guests for a visit Sept. 23, Gardiner explained the changes that had been made to transform the chalet into a full-service facility.

“It really was just a facelift to what was already there. We’ve replaced the carpets, used a lot of paint and installed a whole new bar space. And we completely revamped the kitchen,” Gardiner said. “We can do dining for 200 people now, where we provide a plated five-course meal. We’ve also added to our menu for the winter ski season.” The space has been used for around 20 events since December, including the Haliburton Highlands Secondary School prom.

The goal, Gardiner said, is to host an event every weekend during the off-season.

“This is a hidden gem. The response since we pivoted has been really good. We’re getting more people out here and just appreciating what we have. The view from the top of the hill is the best in Ontario. We just installed a new viewing platform, which is a great addition,” she said.

The new tower will only enhance the visitor experience, Wilkinson said.

“I like to say the tower is our ‘and fries’ – it complements everything that we’re trying to do. For people who want to come here and walk to get a good view, they will get the best view from that platform. It will be an ideal spot for a bride and groom looking for the perfect setting for their special day,” Wilkinson said. “The whole idea is to bring more people to Haliburton County. Once they come here, they keep coming back.”

Construction on the tower will begin immediately, with Wilkinson hoping to have it finished before the end of the year.

Lochlin centre faces an uncertain future

By

Sam Gillett

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October 6, 2022

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Mold, shaky foundations and toxic chemicals have complicated efforts to reopen the Lochlin Community Centre.

Minden Hills councillors discussed remediation, renovations and even a full replacement of the building at a Sept. 29 council meeting.

Director of community services, Craig Belfry, presented a report on the community hall at the meeting.

He explained how planned roof fixes did not occur on schedule, due to COVID-19 and staffing changes.

“As a result of that inaction, when staff were not here, the roof continued to leak and that caused a mold outbreak in the washroom area of the facility.”

The facility has been closed since March 2020.

While the roof was fixed in 2021, staff discovered further mold in the kitchen and basement. They also noticed water seepage in the basement, as well as structural issues with the foundation.

Staff hired Pinchin Ltd. to assess the damage. They found the mold growth in the facility is impacting the air quality. As well, Belfry said they determined there was lead paint and asbestos in the facility.

“The presence of these hazardous materials makes the remediation process that much more difficult,” Belfry said.

The company quoted $12,625 plus HST to begin preliminary work on the remediation process. Full remediation is expected to cost much more and involve other companies.

Belfry said the township could look into further funding for the work in 2023.

Coun. Jean Neville, who represents the area, said the problems illustrate a, “lack of caring, this is going to be another example of what happened to Gelert community centre.”

Coun. Pam Sayne added, “this is a longstanding issue… but it shows we need better maintenance of all of our buildings and monitoring.”

She pointed to a prior report that detailed the conditions of Minden facilities.

“It sounds like in the period of not being used we didn’t go in and check things.”

Coun. Bob Carter said, “we should look at what is the real need here, for that building… the fact of the matter is that a replacement building may be a better solution for what we’ve got. We should at least have that as one of the alternatives when we’re looking forward.”

Neville said she’s frustrated with the situation.

“The volunteers and the committee have worked hard to keep that building going, because we need outlying community centres. Not everybody wants to drive to Minden to do everything. They want their communities to still survive.”

Housing looms large in Minden election

By

Sam Gillett

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October 6, 2022

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Facing a standing-room-only crowd of more than 150 people, eight Minden Hills candidates vying for election shared their visions and values during the Rotary Club of Minden’s Oct. 3 all-candidates meeting.

Nearly all mentioned housing as a top priority as they introduced themselves and their platforms in the community centre before 10 members of the public asked questions. Topics ranged from lake sludge to the closure of the local chamber of commerce office; Minden Hills’ inability to accept compost to candidates’ ideas for softening the town’s water supply.

The following are three paraphrased questions and candidates’ responses.

What do you hope to accomplish on council a year from now?

Shirley Johannessen, a ward 1 candidate, said she’d focus on roads, poverty and housing. “I would like to build homes and find homes for these people, it’s a spiralling thing that only gets worse for them.”

Ward 2 councillor vying for re-election, Pam Sayne said she’d like to change Minden Hills’ procurement bylaw to prioritize local bids, pass a “dark sky bylaw” and work on changing the provincial planning act to build attainable housing with a “rural lens.”

Ward 2 candidate Stephen Hertel said he’d focus on helping local businesses grow through, “hiring people, getting things done, pushing planning approval on permits. because they’re getting held up.” He also wants to improve emergency service delivery.

For councillor at large candidate, Trevor Chaulk, the question “boiled down to accountability.” He said housing will boost the township’s workforce and he’d pursue bylaw amendments to allow multi-residential builds in rural areas, as well as bringing planning and procurement back to local businesses.

Councillor at large candidate Tammy McKelvey said housing, “is affecting everybody.” She said she’d like to see zoning amendments for secondary dwellings. She said Minden Hills should take advantage of planning amendments to change building bylaws.

Ward 1 hopeful Richard Bradley said he’d like to see ground broken on new housing projects within a year. He said he’d want a roads plan which would see, “at the end of four years, everybody in this room could say ‘at least my road is okay.’”

Ivan Ingram, also of ward 1, said the first thing he’d do is, “check in to why 17 staff members have left in the last three years.”

He said he’d also focus on housing, particularly small lots and builds such as the Hunter Creek Estates, and hiring a planner.

Ward 1 candidate Mike Grozelle said he agreed with the points of his running mates, and that housing and political accountability would be his focus in the first year.

What will you do to make Minden Hills a more desirable location for young people to want to come and begin families here?

Sayne said the township is working on changing the planning act to allow more housing. “And it has to happen sooner.” She said Minden Hills’ housing needs are similar to many communities across the province.

“This is going to be a long-term goal,” said Hertel. He said better internet, education, job fairs and staff retention are key, since staff are leaving for higher-paid jobs elsewhere.

Chaulk said the township should look at the “fastest things we can do” to replace an aging workforce. “We’re all competing for the same people in the province.” He’d seek to enhance skills training for a “year-round” economy.

McKelvey said healthcare is the, “number one industry” in the Highlands, providing young people high-paying jobs. She added the township needs a living wage.

Bradley said, “this municipality is not paying the market wages for the jobs that they’re asking to fill.” He said this means young people will leave.

Ingram said small homes and partnerships with contractors to build them is the key. “Wages are top-heavy in the township,” he said.

Candidate Mike Grozelle said, “we need to pay people what they’re worth.” He said the township needs to hire the right person for the job for smart use of tax dollars, and supported a pay equity review.

Johannessen said she would pass on the question but wanted to gain more knowledge on the issue. In response to previous questions she said she wants to be a voice and to listen to concerns of local residents.

How will you help Minden’s downtown become more accessible?

McKelvey said accessibility is an issue and that will be tricky to fix in Minden where many businesses have stairways. She favoured reaching out to other communities for inspiration.

Chaulk said he doesn’t want accessibility upgrades to be, “on the businesses backs.” He wants to find ways the township could partially cover costs.

Hertel said accessibility is needed as quickly as possible. “It’s the cost of doing business, we have to do this for our community.”

Sayne said towns across Canada have changed their downtowns to be accessible. “We need to get the grants to do it.”

Johannessen passed on the question.

Grozelle said, “we’ll do whatever we can to help businesses get the work done.” He said sidewalks around town and pathways need work too.

Ingram said temporary ramps could be a fix, to help people navigate stairs. He said it was blocked by liability concerns. “Screw the liability, there is a liability in everything we do,” he said.

With multiple family members who have accessibility needs, Bradley said the township needs to increase accessibility.

Space does not allow The Highlander to print all answers to all questions. Read in-depth profiles and listen to full-length interviews on thehighlander.ca.

Dysart to take action at Wigamog property

By

Mike Baker

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October 6, 2022

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Dysart et al bylaw officials have been directed to seek cost estimates to bring the Wigamog Inn property up to municipal standards after owners Aurora Group failed to meet an Oct. 3 deadline to present a demolition plan to the township.

During a sign and property standards committee meeting Oct. 3, the township’s chief building official, Karl Korpela, said the Auroras have not followed through on their promise to provide work proposals for the site.

“The site needed to be brought up to compliance by Oct. 3. We haven’t seen a demolition plan. Although [Aurora Group] have submitted applications for demolition, they haven’t paid for the permits or given us timelines as to when they plan to demolish those buildings,” he said, noting several attempts had been made to contact Aurora ownership. “They’re not available, or part of this meeting today.”

Issues between the township and the Aurora Group stretch back years. Bylaw enforcement officer Rob Mascia said he has completed multiple inspections of the property since 2019. Following the most recent visit, in May, Mascia outlined 47 infractions of the township’s property standards bylaw, with issues varying from downed power lines to smashed windows, damaged doors and collapsed decks. Mascia said there were several fallen trees that needed to be removed, and the property should be cleaned up for brush and weeds.

After delivering his verdict of noncompliance to the Auroras, the group signalled their plans to demolish the 37 buildings that make up the Wigamog site. Ownership sought a 60-day extension to give them time to find a contractor and apply for a demolition permit. The committee approved that extension Aug. 4.

“The order is now confirmed… and binding. The due date is gone. We don’t have everything we needed, and we need to proceed further with this,” Korpela said. “The municipality may now cause the property to be repaired or demolished. We have the authority to proceed with demolition.”

While the township has yet to secure a quote, Korpela said an unnamed developer had informed him it would cost “well over $1 million” to demolish the Wigamog site.

Committee member Jerry Stokes asked if the Auroras would be able to come back and request another extension, delaying the project again.

“There’s no relief now. Once the order is confirmed, it’s confirmed. We will proceed with RFPs to bring this property into compliance. If that means demolition, that’s what we’re going to do,” Mascia replied. “They’ve had their chance. You as a committee gave them extra time. In my opinion, 60 days is a lot of time.”

Mayor Andrea Roberts noted the issue was also out of council’s hands.

“This isn’t going to become a political thing. Council cannot direct staff [how to do their jobs]. Karl is under statute; he has his own code of conduct… A new council can’t come in and say ‘just leave it as it is’. This is an unsafe property, and we will be moving forward,” she said.

The Auroras purchased the Wigamog property in 2015. They have previously outlined plans to revitalize the site and introduce a residential component, featuring more than 180 units. To date, Dysart has not received any applications for development.

Ravi Aurora, CEO of Aurora Group, did not respond by press time when asked for a comment.

Dysart supports Grass Lake housing project

By

Mike Baker

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October 6, 2022

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In one of its final moves before the end of the current term, Dysart et al council expressed support for a proposed 88-unit housing development near Grass Lake.

Brought forward by developer Paul Wilson and his company, Harburn Holdings, the project is the most significant residential development to cross council’s table this term. It would repurpose 2.5 hectares along Peninsula Road into four lots that would each house multi-storey apartment and condo buildings.

The proposal was discussed during a public meeting Sept. 29. There was a township presentation and residents for and against shared their thoughts. Harburn Holdings and a consultant representing the Friends of Grass Lake – a community group protesting the project – also spoke.

Dysart senior planner, Kris Orsan, said the development complied with the municipality’s official plan. Environmental impact, wetland site assessment and hydrogeological studies have been submitted by Harburn Holdings and peer-reviewed by Dysart. The application called for council to support rezoning from rural type one and environmental protection to suburban residential.

The project will now go to the County for approval before coming back to Dysart for a final sign off.

Consultant reports

Anthony Usher, representing Harburn Holdings, said his client’s proposal would fill a major need in the community.

Wilson’s ‘way of giving back to Haliburton’

“There is a serious housing shortage in Haliburton. Eighty-eight new units would represent 38 per cent of the municipality’s target [for new housing developments] over the next number of years.”

Wilson will donate one of the lots to nonprofit Places for People, whose president, Jody Curry, told council they could create 15 affordable housing units.

Rather than develop himself, Wilson plans to sell to a builder. He said he’ll be selective, telling The Highlander “I want to make sure whoever buys the property is going to do this right”.

Marnie Saunders, a planner with Peterborough consulting firm D.M. Wills Associates, on behalf of the Friends of Grass Lake, identified several issues with the proposal.

“The delineation of an environmental protection zone we don’t feel is consistent with Dysart’s official plan policy,” Saunders said. “The applicant has stated the property is located on Grass Lake, which is at-capacity.”

The Friends feel the project will have a detrimental effect on water quality. They’re also concerned about impact to several native species with habitats in the area, including birds, ducks, fish, deer and the endangered Blanding’s turtle.

Usher said concessions had been made to ensure wetlands and any native species are unaffected. There will be a minimum 30 metre setback from the water, wetlands and a manmade pond. Wilson has dropped plans to install a dock on Grass Lake and has committed to planting more than 200 trees.

Public feedback

Leora Berman, COO of The Land Between and Turtle Guardians charities, was one of 23 registered speakers. She said the project could have a “catastrophic” impact on fish population.

“Lake Kashagawigamog and Grass Lake represent the largest walleye fishery in Haliburton. The Grass Lake wetland is noted as a significant spawning area for this impressive fishery. We need housing for the working poor, but the only choice presented is one that may result in the unintended deterioration of a significant resource,” Berman said.

Dr. Aimee Filion, owner of Haliburton Veterinary Services, is worried further development on Peninsula Road will negatively impact her well water. She claimed when crews were doing a hydrogeological study this year, testing saw water “coming out the tap with the consistency of mud” at her business. She said it happened for several days, but it cleared up once workers left.

“I respect people have a right to try and develop property, but I do not feel it should impact neighbours,” Filion said. “I service thousands of animals every year. I cannot do that without running water.”

Usher said he and Wilson are willing to meet with Filion to come up with a solution.

‘Backroom deal’ claim

Don Ross, of the Friends of Grass Lake, suggested council had already made up its mind, accusing some members, including mayor Andrea Roberts, of having concocted a “backroom deal” to push the development through.

Roberts said she was “speechless” at the insinuation. “Nothing in planning is a done deal. There is no such thing as a backroom deal. Not here in Dysart, not ever. Not under my watch. This isn’t ‘us against them’. We’re not [a] council against the town. We all live here, we all care about our community and want the best thing [for it],” Roberts said.

Wilson said he had been subjected to “vicious” personal attacks over his plans. He said he has offered to sit down with the Friends to try to find common ground and compromise, but that hasn’t happened.

“I’ve been called greedy, but that’s so far from the truth. I like to think I’m a community-minded person. I’ve read all the stories in the paper about the problems our community is having with housing, the problem Places for People has been having. I thought this would be a great opportunity for me to contribute to my community. This isn’t about the money. This is my way of giving back to Haliburton.”

Minden Hills ward 2: Pam Sayne

By

Lisa Gervais

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October 6, 2022

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Listen to the full interview here.

Qualifications

Pam Sayne is seeking a third term. She’s been on the Rural Ontario Municipalities Association (ROMA) board. She has a community organization background, in the housing and poverty sectors. She recently retired her home inspection and energy audit business. She has continued her studies and is working on a book.

Amalgamation

With the service delivery review, Sayne said, “We’re looking at efficiencies; how we maintain our roads; how we purchase products; how we enforce bylaws. It’s silly to have one bylaw on one side of the lake and another bylaw on the other side of the lake. Those are things that really require some kind of amalgamation. My concern is how do we continue grassroots representation? How do we make it so politicians are still accessible on a one-toone level and hear what constituents have to say.”

Health

“I think Renfrew County has a very good approach. They have a system where you call one number, and they help assess where you should call next. That’s been extremely successful. Bureaucracy is confusing, and it’s really difficult for people to understand which department or organization will provide what they need.”

Housing

“The first thing we need to do is make sure we have accessible washrooms for people. That’s both for tourism as well as for people who have no home. There are organizations but we really need to link with what they’re doing as a municipality and find mutual supports. We have to do it as a community together. Having said that, we are working on options, changing some provincial legislation, through ROMA that will make it easier for us to create housing locally. For example, we have the downtown area where we can have intensification, but we can’t put more housing into rural areas because of our zoning. We need change that allows us to do more cluster housing, for example. Now, every single house needs a separate septic and water system. With clusters, neighbours could share a system that is maybe municipally-owned or run but is done for a rural environment.”

Poverty

“(Council is) missing a lot of the major issues that are coming forward.” She has been asking for a report on local trends. Sayne said she was on the organization that brought the women’s shelter to Minden. She noted the living wage is $19.42 in the County. She thinks it is probably more post-COVID. She said minimum wage does not meet the need and also talked about the cancellation of the guaranteed income supplement program. She thinks we have to support those making a living from the arts. She said municipalities should supply basic needs. Asked how, Sayne said, “you have a place to live, can afford food on the table, can take some pride in getting ahead.” Pressed on how to do that, she said encouraging more housing, which will create local jobs people may not need a car to get to.

Shoreline preservation bylaw

Sayne said, “it’s needed so we have guidance. That’s what’s going on, on one side of the lake is happening on the other side of the lake, for example. I have seen situations where there’s been over 100 feet or more of clear cutting and levelling where forest used to be. I’ve seen where people only have 60 feet of shoreline allowance, and that’s their cottage and their land and everything. So, how is this going to affect them and the fear of that. I think the bylaw is a very good start. I think the problem is fear mongering about it.” She said she can understand people worried about enforcement and the County will have to make it work. Sayne said they also need to ensure groundwater health.

Short-term rentals

Sayne said the province should be helping municipalities because they are being forced to hire expensive consultants to deal with short-term rentals. She added STRs are being taxed the same as residential but they are a business and should be paying a commercial rate. “That’s where the province has to step in. That’s where money would come from to enforce bylaws.” She added, “shortterm rentals have taken away much of our housing stock. They have increased the number of bylaw calls. We pay for the OPP so the more calls we’re getting, the more increased that’s going to be for the OPP.” She said she also gets complaints from people living near short-term rentals.

Transportation

“We had some volunteers make recommendations to County council for transportation. Their recommendations were turned down in favour of putting $50,000 aside every year towards transportation. That fund is growing each year. We need to do something sooner. We really need to put in electric vehicles. We could do that as a demonstration project. Looking for more money or demonstration projects to get off of fossil fuels is an option. It is not easy to cover our rural areas. There have been some really good examples of Uber being used. There are some options out there. We need to really act now and get something going and let the demand steer how those policies change what we are doing.”

Vision for the future

“We’ll understand each other better, better understand needs and wants and how we all can contribute to getting what we need out of this community.” She said post-COVID, people are rethinking what’s important in life. “We’re beginning to realize that money is not the most important thing in life. We need to be happy … focus on our neighbours and caring for each other and our environment.”

Minden Hills

She is running again because she feels there’s unfinished business. “I was often the lone voter in this council the last four, and even eight, years. I want to get back to where I think business should be. We’ve done things, and put our resources into the arena, which I think really sapped the energy out of so many other basic issues that we aren’t covering well enough. That includes the condition of our boardwalk, the epitaph and bricks are cracking, and making our downtown accessible for wheelchairs. Council did approve the CIP (community improvement plan) to help businesses but it hasn’t been well-used and understood. We need to renovate the downtown and make it more attractive and start taking care of basic issues, such as roads.

Pam Sayne the candidate

“I have the know-how, skills and ability. I know how to get things done. I sit on the ROMA board, which influences the province. I’m very optimistic about the future and want to take all this energy and know- how and put it to use in my community. I think we need healthier leadership. We need to get our egos out of the work and understand our communities better.”

Minden Hills, ward 2: Stephen Hertel

By

Lisa Gervais

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October 6, 2022

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Listen to the full interview here.

Qualifications

“I come from a long history of public service and law enforcement. I think our primary purpose in law enforcement is to understand, respect and serve people in the best way. I’ve been in emergency management and the fire service (as a volunteer) for almost six years with the City of Kawartha Lakes. I’ve gotten to meet people and gotten to know them, not just the firefighters, but people around the area and understand what their concerns are and what their goals are.”

Amalgamation

“I am not against amalgamation of some services, for example, landfills and transfer stations, roads and fire services. There are some efficiencies that can be found at the County level. But, I think it’s important to maintain a Township of Minden Hills. People like to belong to something and we’ve been so disconnected for so long because of COVID. I think if we were to be absorbed into a full amalgamation, losing that is going to hurt.”

Housing

“I think Minden Hills could relax some of the bylaws around building to increase our inventory of available housing. For example, letting people separate their properties to build more houses. The town could provide land for these projects to be built. There needs to be a buy-in from all levels of government.”

Health

“We can lobby the provincial government to increase our health care funding. I think it’s important that we have a CT scanner in one of our hospitals, if not both. The money exists. The ladies’ auxiliary raises money.” He said there are ways to have it staffed. He said it would help with current ambulance transfers of patients to Lindsay and Peterborough, thus taking them out of the County for hours at a time. He said it is crucial as the County is gaining more people and call volumes are increasing. Hertel is a fan of the two community paramedic vehicles that do house calls. He would support keeping both hospital sites. He thinks the County could be doing more with physician recruitment and retention and staff housing.

Poverty

“I think there’s a role for municipal council. We can bring these issues to the attention of provincial and federal partners.” Asked for specifics, he said, “affordable housing, more housing, back to work programs, student programs.” Asked how that could be done, he replied, “I don’t think municipal government is doing the best they can to advertise what’s available. There’s a fantastic social network in Haliburton County that helps people with a handout, with job creation, job searches and education. But not everyone knows about them.” Pressed for further examples, he said helping churches establish soup kitchens.

Transportation

“An accessible bus for safe transportation between our towns. I’m not saying a fleet of 100 buses, but a continuous rotation of buses that would service our area, including for seniors getting to grocery stores.” Told the County has unsuccessfully tried to get a service for years, he was asked what his specific plan is. “I think a rideshare program is something we need to be looking at.” Informed the County looked into rideshare and ruled it out, he was asked again for his plan. “I think we need to reopen the book, look at it again, from a different perspective. People need services. I don’t always feel that we’ve worked hard enough for an answer. Not giving up.” He said it isn’t about money since all public transit loses money.

Shoreline preservation bylaw

“It’s a great idea … it does protect people’s shorelines and the environment.” He said some people have misunderstood it and feel it’s overreaching. “I don’t think it’s as bad as everyone has felt about it. From its true sense, it’s here to protect the animals, the plant life, the people who live here.” However, he said the bylaw is open to interpretation and can be changed. He also thinks there could be better education and enforcement.

Short-term rentals

“I am for short-term rentals because the practices that I’ve seen with my neighbours, they’re responsible neighbours, they do a vetting process before they allow people to come onto the property and they communicate with us.” He said that might not be the case with certain out-of-County rental agency sites. “I think there’s a way the County could force them to register on the threestrike program, for example, like they’ve done in the Blue Mountains.” He said when they are commercial, they should be licensed. He said he likes the County direction so far, with an open consultation with all stakeholders.

Vision for the future

“We’re going to have a boom of people moving here to their residences to break away from the city. I think it’s already happened. We need to be better prepared for those things. The housing, the service delivery; landfills, housing, etc., we need to get ahead of it.” Hertel said he thinks there’s room in the County for those who want a more secluded lifestyle and those who want more of “an urban setting and busy” community. He would like to see more community growth, with more things to get people out of the house. He personally likes the idea of more local businesses contributing to a robust downtown as opposed to larger commercial developments along Hwy. 35. Hertel said he met with the County to ensure the flying of the Pride flag this year. He would like a more inclusive community in future.

Minden Hills

“I see this town growing to not just be a stopover for people. I want it to be a destination.” He’d like to see trail improvements, the boardwalk fixed and reopened, sidewalks improvements and better overall accessibility. He’d like road improvements, too. Looking at the 2022 budget, he said he would have liked more money for seniors and youth, housing, and mental health.

Stephen Hertel the candidate

“I’ve been coming to Minden Hills for over 20 years. I was a seasonal renter, loving the area and appreciating what it’s all about; the people, the lakes, the services, they were perfect for us. We moved here six years ago as permanent residents. Running for council has been a goal for a while. I was already becoming involved with the community and getting some perspective on what people were looking for and what I’m looking for. I love Minden Hills and want to make everyone love it. I want everything to be better, for businesses, for tourists, residents, increasing services, health care, seniors care, youth programs. I want to increase the connection between the community and council, building the trust and the respect and accountability for what we do. I am not politically-based; I am issue focused.

Algonquin Highlands, ward 2: Napier Simpson

By

Mike Baker

-

October 6, 2022

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Listen to the full interview here.

Qualifications

Napier Simpson is a retiree who spent the bulk of his working life running business development in the corporate world. He also spent some time working for the provincial government in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “I’ve got very advanced critical thinking skills; I can cut to the chase on complex matters very quickly. I also consider myself a consensus builder, which is less about talking and all about listening. We need to find out what [our community] wants us to achieve.”

Algonquin Highlands

“The biggest and most important issues relate to our biggest budget items. So, safety – running of the fire department, EMS, those sorts of things are very challenging these days. Volunteerism is falling. The environment is always a concern for me. As our population grows, we put extra pressures on our lakes and our lands, our roads and our services.” Simpson wants to focus on maintaining roads across the township, and spoke of possibly revisiting the closure of the Hawk Lake waste transfer station.

Amalgamation

“As long as people continue to expect services that are similar to what’s available in the city, then amalgamation, things are headed in that direction. I don’t know whether that will be full amalgamation, or more municipal partnerships, but working together with neighbours is one way to solve some of the issues around fire, community safety and policing.” Health “Haliburton County is a big, big territory. While the hospitals may not seem far apart, the Haliburton site covers east heading to Bancroft, while Minden covers to the west and north. Can we afford not to have two hospitals? … that wouldn’t be a municipal decision. It would be a massive transition to try and go to one hospital.”

Housing

“A municipal council can support initiatives brought forward at the County level, but there is no real budget [for housing] in Algonquin Highlands. There is no authority to do anything about social housing at the municipal level,” Simpson said. He noted a lack of municipal services, such as sewer and water, limits the township’s options for development.

Poverty

Simpson believes attracting new businesses to Algonquin Highlands will help to bring jobs to the community. “Dimensions Health Centres, there’s been some resistance against it, but it’s created 23 new jobs, they’ve spent over $20 million. That’s good for lots of things in our community.” Shoreline preservation bylaw After watching County council discuss its new shoreline preservation bylaw for several years, Simpson said he sees the benefit in having an overarching policy that promotes lake health. “It’s a good start. Could it be made stronger? Undoubtedly. This is the first step of many iterations of this thing. It’s been years in the making so let’s work with it and modify it so it best suits the community and the environment.”

Short-term rentals

“They’re a double-edged sword. The short-term rental market allows people to come into the region, so that’s the good side. The bad side is there are some bad apples that cause issues for everyone else.” He said he’s in favour of licensing short-term rentals in the County, with punishments doled out to owners who circumvent municipal rules. “Short-term rentals are here to stay, now it’s about finding a way [to live with them].”

Transportation

“Public transit is a real challenge. A municipality has nowhere near the [financial] muscle to solve a problem like this. The County has a real challenge too.” Simpson said it might take some outside-the-box thinking to come up with feasible solutions for the Highlands, such as one recently undertaken in Innisfil. “Rather than developing a new transit system, they entered into a public-private partnership with Uber that has worked well.”

Vision for the future

“We want critical services supplied, and we want a happy, safe, comfortable community where we know the environment is protected and it’s safe for our residents,” Simpson said. “As we go forward, there’s been discussion about a community safety and wellbeing plan, which wraps in policing and vulnerable people. So, taking more of an interventionist approach to help the community before things become a problem. I think that’s important.” He also sees potential in the township developing a watershed council, “to protect the environment more holistically”, referencing a similar program operating in Muskoka. “That would help protect the thing that many people come up to see and play on, and that’s our lakes.”

Focus for 2023 budget

“The first budget will always be a learning curve… I’d like to go back to the basic needs and say ‘what are the core things we’re delivering?’ and go back to each of those department heads and find out what the priorities are. Council has a tight budget. If we can make a few things a little more efficient, then maybe that opens up doors for us elsewhere,” he said. “We want to make sure we’ve got a well-run township.”

Napier Simpson the candidate

“We own an old farm around Stanhope that has been in the family since 1954, so I’ve got a fairly deep connection to the Highlands,” said Simpson, noting he splits his time between Algonquin Highlands and Goderich. Asked how he would provide effective leadership as a part-time resident, Simpson said, “In terms of being at the council table, I’ll be there. I looked at the meetings for 2022 and I was [in Algonquin Highlands] for all but one of those. Then, between telephone and email, people will find a way to communicate with me when they want to.”