It was the mid-1980s when Steve Lapp was first introduced to the concept of an electric vehicle (EV).

While the first commercial EV, the Tesla Roadster, didn’t hit North American roads until 2010, work on the technology stretches back decades. Lapp, who studied solar thermal energy at Queen’s University, was part of a small team at a Canadian startup, Alu Power, that converted a Chrysler minivan into an EV in 1989.

Because the lithium-ion technology used today didn’t exist yet, the team transitioned the vehicle using an aluminum air fuel cell. Lapp, who will be in Haliburton County Aug. 9 for a talk on EVs, said it was capable of travelling about 300 kilometres.

“The technology has improved dramatically since then, with the breakthrough coming in the early 1990s, when the lithium-ion battery became commercially viable,” Lapp said.

Originally designed for cell phones and laptops, the units are now used to power about 70 different EV models in Canada, Lapp said.

Before that, companies utilized aluminum, lead-acid and sodium-sulfur batteries for EVs. General Motors released the EV1 in 1996. The company built thousands, but rather than sell they opted to lease. Interest in the small two-seater, which had a low range of travel of less than 200 kilometres on a full charge, was limited and it was quickly discontinued.

It’s a different ballgame today, Lapp said, with most EVs capable of travelling 400 to 500 kilometres on a full charge. Compared to standard vehicles, which utilize internal combustion engines, they’re much cheaper to run. Owners can charge vehicles at home for pennies on the dollar, he said.

“Using the low overnight [hydro] rate, it costs something like three cents per kilowatt hour to charge, which is about $2.10 for a full battery,” Lapp said. Owning two EVs since 2012, he estimates he’s saved well over $10,000 in gas alone. There’s been another five-figure savings on oil changes – not required with EVs.

Lapp said recent studies indicate EVs pay off their energy debt for climate change emissions within two years.

“Other than the energy it takes to make them, EVs don’t have much carbon dioxide emissions attached to them… the only thing that’s restrictive is the distance you can travel, otherwise they’re better than standard vehicles in every way,” Lapp said. “They cost less to operate, they’re quieter, and they aren’t contributing to climate change.”

He noted global sales are increasing 20 to 25 per cent annually, pegging the number of EVs actively on the road at around 60 million. Combined, manufacturers are producing about 20 million EVs per year. About 17 million were sold in 2024, including 264,000 in Canada.

During his Environment Haliburton! sponsored talk at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School this weekend, running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lapp said he’ll be discussing EV life cycles, costs, and other practical things would-be owners need to know.

With the federal government mandating that 100 per cent of new light-duty vehicle sales be zero-emission by 2035, Lapp said EVs are the future. He says the technology is constantly improving, with weight-reducing long-life super capacitors likely arriving in the next few years, though any new battery enhancements are “probably” 10 years away.

“A new unit will set you back $50,000, but it’s probably one of the best investments you can make,” Lapp said. “But more than the monetary savings, we all know climate change isn’t waiting… it’s something we have to address. EVs may have some limitations – they may never go as far, may cost a little more up front than standard vehicles, but that’s the social cost of addressing climate change.”

A Places for People (P4P) founder and board member says her “hair is lit up” trying to understand what the Ontario government’s newly-enacted Bill 10 means for landlords when it comes to tenants and drugs.

The Bill received royal assent June 5. It basically says a landlord can’t knowingly permit a property to be used to produce, or traffic, drugs. The landlord can offer a defence that they took reasonable measures to prevent the activity. Failure to do so, however, could result in a first conviction fine of between $10,000 and $250,000 and, or, two years’ jail time. For corporations, such as P4P, it could mean a fine of $250,000 to $1 million on first conviction.

The province, in a press release, said, “new legislation is … being introduced to ensure landlords are held responsible for knowingly permitting their premises to be used for unauthorized drug activity. Any proposed requirements for landlords will only take effect once the Act and regulations come into force, at which time more guidance for landlords will be provided.”

The Highlander reached out to MPP Laurie Scott for comment but had not heard back from her as of press time. However, a spokesperson for Minister for the Solicitor General, Michael Kerzner, said, “to be clear, Bill 10 ensures landlords who knowingly allow the illicit production and distribution of illegal drugs on their property will be held accountable.” The spokesperson added, “we continue to work on regulations that will provide further guidance for landlords.”

Martin: ‘reasonable measures’ not defined

Martin has been trying to decipher the Bill, saying there’s been no guidance yet for landlords such as P4P.

“The Bill says that landlords can be fined significant amounts of money … for having a tenant undertake illegal activity in their units and they would be protected if they used ‘reasonable measures’ to prevent the activity,” she said. But Martin said ‘reasonable measures’ have not been defined.

Martin: ‘reasonable measures’ not defined

“From an on-the-ground point of view, you’re very limited in terms of how invasive you can be. You can’t knock on the door and say ‘hello, I’d like to come in and see if there is any illegal behaviour happening in this unit’. The tenants can say ‘no.’ Even police can’t do that unless they have a warrant.

“How am I supposed to know whether what’s happening in there is illegal activity?” Martin said she could go in and do a unit inspection, and perhaps see evidence of drug use, but would not know if it is illegal activity. For example, she said she does not know the difference between a methadone or heroin shot, or what an insulin injection needle looks like.

“Can I phone the police and say ‘I was just inside my tenant’s house and there was some dodgy stuff there. I think it might be illegal. Do they come? I’m not sure they would.”

Overall, she said the new provincial rules are “expecting landlords to do the impossible, and it’s a downloading of the responsibilities of law and order.”

Martin added, “the bottom line is, we need housing. We need rental housing. We’ve got a huge housing problem. If we’re going to solve that problem, everybody needs to lean in and do their part. This makes it incredibly more difficult.

“If you do rent, even under this circumstance, you are not going to take anybody that has any kind of risk. Anybody who needs a chance to turn the page and start a new life, you’re going to say ‘geez, I’d like to be helpful but I can’t afford to. I can’t take the risk’.”

The Canadian Mental Health Association says it’s not possible to know how the law will impact housing providers until it starts being enforced. They said it may deter landlords from renting to people who use drugs, and discourage them from working with supportive housing providers.

“Some landlords may try to evict current tenants if they think the law could expose them to penalties – placing an additional demand on an already over-burdened Landlord and Tenant Board and worsening the homelessness crisis.”

The CMHA said there are also concerns the law places “a disproportionate administrative burden on non-profit and supportive housing providers, organizations with minimal funding that are already under-staffed.

Tenant allowed to stay

Martin points to a Jan. 21 police bust at P4P’s George Street, Haliburton property.

Police executed a warrant and said they found multiple firearms, ammunition, other weapons and suspected drugs. A man was eventually charged with a number of offences, including possession of a Schedule 1 substance.

At the time, Martin said it seemed the accused had been living in an existing tenant’s apartment. She said the organization was aware of problematic, possibly illegal, activity at the site and notified police.

However, Martin said the finding of drugs likely only occurred as police went in due to suspected weapons.

P4P tried to evict the tenant but were unsuccessful. Their case was heard June 25, but the Landlord and Tenant Board ruled on July 10, the “landlord has proven on a balance of probabilities the grounds for termination of the tenancy and the claim for compensation in the application. However, I find it would not be unfair to grant relief from eviction provided that the tenant meets the conditions set out in the order.”

The tenant argued she had no knowledge of weapons or drugs and the other party would not be coming back. Conditions include that he not return and she not allow unlawful behaviour.

Martin isn’t sure how P4P can keep tabs on whether the man returns. She added that in facing the new Bill 10, “the thing that makes my hair light up is the contradiction between ‘we can’t even evict’, but we’re responsible for not evicting. That just kills me.”

After responding to a pair of non-fatal boating incidents on two County lakes last weekend, Haliburton Highlands OPP is preaching the importance of implementing good habits to stay safe on the open water.

Police confirmed a 20-year-old from Bobcaygeon was charged with impaired operation following a boating collision on Kennisis Lake July 27. Three individuals sustained non-life-threatening injuries after the boat they were travelling in struck an island during the early hours of the morning.

Two days earlier, on July 25, emergency services attended an incident at Horseshoe Lake Road and Bethel Road in Minden following reports that two people were ejected from a watercraft at the Minden Whitewater Preserve, resulting in injuries.

One person was retrieved from the water with a suspected back injury, with the second sustaining a suspected leg injury.

While all involved avoided ultimate disaster, Haliburton Highlands OPP Cst. Hillary Newman said bad boating behaviour can cost lives.

The Highlands detachment has officers trained to handle marine investigations, with officers maintaining a strong presence on County lakes through summer. Newman said there are proactive waterway patrols scheduled throughout summer.

“We have so many bodies of water up here, big and small, so it’s important for people to know we’re out there. We don’t want to have to respond to any sort of emergency situation in the water, we want to try to resolve those before they happen,” she said, noting the detachment has its own boating equipment and is routinely assisted by nearby departments.

While she couldn’t provide specific numbers, Newman said impaired boating has been an issue this year.

“We see impaired operation across the board, [for boating] it’s definitely similar to driving,” she said.

“It’s important to note that, for the majority of boats there’s no open alcohol containers allowed. You’re only allowed to drink on the larger vessels, which we don’t typically see on our smaller lakes. “It’s equally important to be mindful of alcohol consumption even before going out on the water. The consequences for impaired boating are the same as for impaired driving – you lose your licence. Even if you’re charged with operating a vessel while impaired, you won’t be able to operate a motor vehicle,” Newman said.

Since 2020 there have been 81 boating fatalities across Ontario. Haliburton Highlands is among the top five detachments for boat-related deaths since 2015, with 10.

The Haliburton detachment puts a strong focus on educating the public about boating safety, Newman said, with lifejackets a top priority.

“It’s not enough just having them on the boat. People need to wear one anytime they’re on the water, and make sure they’re in good working order,” she said. “You’d hate to need it in an emergency and then find out it doesn’t fit or it’s fallen off the boat.”

She said boat owners should also carry a whistle and bucket – to attract attention and divert water in emergency situations.

Newman said it’s also important to keep an eye on small children and inexperienced swimmers around the water.

“It doesn’t take long, and it doesn’t take deep water for tragedy to strike… focus on teaching your kids how to swim. It’s important for kids to be comfortable with water and know their limits. People come into the lakes up here after only swimming in a pool – just knowing about the currents and how quickly things can change is important,” Newman said. “It’s a different world swimming in open water.”

She called on the public to help police keep lakes safe, encouraging anyone witnessing dangerous or erratic behaviour on the water to contact OPP. The non-emergency line is available 24/7 at 1-800-310-1122.

“We have a ton of lakes in our area, so we really do rely on input from the public to direct our efforts,” she said.