Integrity commissioner, Tony Fleming, has ruled that Minden Hills coun. Tammy McKelvey has breached two sections of the Municipal Act’s code of conduct.

However, McKelvey told council Nov. 28, “she felt she had not violated the code of conduct.” Council went on to accept the report as information only, not endorsing Fleming’s recommendations council reprimand McKelvey to reinforce the proper role of council, and to ensure the breach is not repeated.

The integrity commissioner’s report – tabled at last Thursday’s meeting – said Fleming received a complaint May 22, alleging McKelvey improperly directed staff.

He said the incident happened May 21, when, “[McKelvey] wrote to staff to report a development that she believed was illegal (after being advised by residents of the problem). [McKelvey] took pictures of the property and submitted her findings to staff.”

Fleming said he determined McKelvey sent an email to staff after she’d driven onto private property along a newly-built road to take a picture of the alleged illegal development. However, he said McKelvey did not request or demand action from staff in the email, and investigators had no evidence she provided verbal prompts.

Minden council dismisses integrity commissioner’s recommendations

However, he said council members have clearly defined roles under the Municipal Act.

“Council and councillors have a policy-setting role and not an administrative or operational role. Attending a site and taking pictures of an alleged illegal activity is not the proper role for a member of council. This is purely a staff function, and no member of council should cross this line. It is appropriate for council members to pass complaints along to staff, but they should never engage in any aspect of an investigation,” Fleming said.

He ruled McKelvey breached sections 4.2 and 7.3 of the code, as “clearly the councillor was more than encouraging staff to enforce in this instance given her direct role.”

Fleming said McKelvey told him, “she was not participating in an enforcement matter – she was simply helping staff understand the complaint.” However, Fleming said, “we do not accept this response. There was clearly a perception of the public and [McKelvey] that the development in question was illegal. There is no other reason to attend the site and take pictures other than to demonstrate to staff that the activity was occurring – illegal activity. Enforcement actions always start with an initial site visit and then an assessment of next steps. The actions of [McKelvey] were part of enforcement; the problem is that [McKelvey] was not the person authorized to take those steps.

Fleming added it was an opportunity to explain to council the practical implications when they “stray into operational duties of staff… This is not a finding of the investigation, but it is an opportune time to reinforce with all of council the general concerns associated with not respecting the limits of their role.”

He said staff administer policies and bylaws set by council. When councillors interfere, even if well-intentioned, staff can feel undermined, that their work is not respected, or they’re seen to be unqualified. He said it can impact staff morale and keeping, or recruiting staff.

He went on to say, while staff can investigate, any ‘evidence’ gathered by a councillor is not admissible in court, and the fact a councillor was on-site early in the process, without legal authority, might be a reason to refuse to admit other evidence, even if gathered legally, afterwards.

“This obviously has serious repercussions for the township and underscores why councillors must respect their roles.”

Councillors weigh in

At the meeting, mayor Bob Carter said it was “essential to acknowledge the importance of the report and follow proper procedures to address the report before council and public.” He said they had sought legal advice.

McKelvey said, “I feel that I have not violated the code of conduct. I did what any other member of council has been asked to do… and investigate a complaint that came in… and I sent that information off to staff…”

Coun. Bob Sisson said, “I think we’re all guilty of this sooner or later. I’ve had people call me and I pass it on. I think it’s blown way out of proportion myself.”

Coun. Ivan Ingram said, “I have no intention of agreeing with the recommendation.”

Carter, deputy mayor Lisa Schell and councillors Pam Sayne and Shirley Johannessen did not publicly comment on the recommendations. Council accepted the report for information only.

Coun. Tammy McKelvey said she was helping staff understand a complaint.

Calls for service to the Haliburton Highlands OPP have dropped about seven per cent this year, though interim detachment commander, Mike Cavanagh, said there’s been a 15.7 per cent increase to the number of Criminal Code and Provincial Statute charges laid locally.

Addressing the inaugural meeting of the new Haliburton Highlands OPP detachment board Nov. 29, Cavanagh said statistics had dropped for violent and property-related crimes in 2024, with increases seen in Highway Traffic Act violations and drug enforcement.

The detachment has processed 3,279 complaints from Jan. 1 to Nov. 30 – down from 3,522 last year – with 139 violent crimes leading to charges, down from 178, and 318 property crime violations, down from 343.

Cavanagh said there has been one murder, 15 sexual offences, 63 assaults and firearms-related offences, and 19 cases of criminal harassment this year. For property crime, he reported 40 break and enters, 29 thefts over $5,000, 106 thefts under $5,000, 85 cases of fraud, and 53 cases of mischief and minor property damage.

Speeding has become a serious concern for police, with a 53.7 per cent increase to the number of tickets issued in 2023, Cavanagh said, up to 976 from 635 in 2023. The detachment issued 47 impaired driving charges, down from 70 last year, 17 seatbelt-related charges, and two distracted driving tickets.

Drug crime is up 300 per cent, Cavanagh said, with 16 charges compared to four last year. Eight of the charges were for possession of an illegal substance, with seven intent to traffic charges.

“The way drug trafficking works in this community, this is more of a consumption site. Drugs come in across the border, land in places like Ottawa and Toronto. The drugs get divided up and sold to other communities,” Cavanagh said. “Investigations involve a great number of hands to do – it’s not as simple as a traffic stop. We need court orders… to know when drugs and dealers are arriving… it’s a lot of work.”

He said fentanyl and methamphetamine are the two most common drugs distributed locally.

“The opioid epidemic is migrating everywhere in the province. We’re not immune to it,” Cavanagh said. “Being a little more remote, we won’t see real bad drug addicts stick around long because the supply isn’t as high as in big cities. If we pick up a dealer here, people lose access and so they’ll go to where the drugs are.

“We may see a consistent problem here, but with decreased supply people will migrate where they can get the drugs,” he added.

Board member Walt McKechnie said he felt the courts are too lenient when it comes to drugs, saying he believes every dealer caught selling dangerous substances should be charged with attempted murder. Chair, Andrew Fletcher, said the board can advocate for stricter legislation.

Cavanagh noted the detachment’s clearance rate, or percentage of crimes solved, is 74.1 per cent for violent, 18.2 per cent for property, 81.3 per cent for drugs, 82.6 per cent for driving offences, and 69 per cent for all other cases.

Officers spent 5,918 hours patrolling the community in cruisers, 180 marine hours on the water, 27 hours patrolling off-road – important, Cavanagh noted, with three ATV vehicle deaths in the area last year, the most in Ontario – and 197 hours on foot patrol.

“Part of our goal is to increase community service. I’ve only been here three months, but our officers are really taking more of a community-driven approach. We saw a positive response when we did Take Back the Night and the Remembrance Day service in Minden, so we want to do more,” Cavanagh said.

Board make up

The new board is comprised of seven members – four council representatives, two public appointees, and a provincial nominee. Algonquin Highlands mayor Liz Danielsen, Highlands East mayor Dave Burton and Minden Hills mayor Bob Carter are on it, so too Dysart deputy mayor McKechnie, with Fletcher and Andy Chvedukas public appointees, and Andrew Hodgson the provincial rep.

Board terms are typically four years – with turnover coming six months after municipal elections.

Meetings will run every other month, with a summer break. There are five proposed next year. It was decided members would be permitted to attend virtually if they can’t make it in-person. Meetings will run in the afternoon, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Live streaming may be a possibility, though the board wants to see what costs are involved before committing.

With negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) picking up again this week, County-based mail men and women say they’re hopeful of getting back to work soon, with holiday season in full swing.

It’s been 21 days since more than 55,000 postal workers nationwide walked off the job, shutting down the country’s postal system. Employees have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2023.

After talks between the two parties broke down Nov. 26, Canada Post spokesperson Phil Legault said the union was presented with “a comprehensive framework for reaching negotiated agreements” on Dec. 1.

“This includes proposals to bring greater flexibility to the corporation’s delivery model, while also demonstrating movement on other key issues,” Legault said. “It is our hope these proposals will reignite discussions and, together with the support of mediators, help the parties work toward final agreements.”

No further details have been shared, though Doug Ford, president of CUPW local 564 covering Haliburton County, indicated the offer doesn’t go far enough.

“The union shared the framework isn’t really touching on the key issues we’re far apart on,” Ford said.

Last month, the Crown corporation offered an 11.5 per cent wage increase over the next four years, while also including protections for defined benefit and pension plans for current employees.

Nine workers who deliver in Haliburton, Minden, Bracebridge, Kinmount, and Sunderland were in front of the Minden post office Nov. 28 talking to people about why they’re striking.

“It’s very hard on all of us – it’s getting colder out, Christmas is coming. None of us really wants to be here. We don’t understand why we have to keep fighting. We’ve been doing our jobs,” said Dolly, who works in the County.

“It’s mentally draining being here,” added Laura, another local worker. “Nobody gains from a strike. I think the thing we’re finding hardest to accept is the fact the CEO and executives are sitting up there telling us what to do, telling us about all the money the company is losing… well, they’re making way more than we do.”

Canada Post reported losses of $315 million for the third quarter of 2024, and $3 billion since 2018.

Dolly said she’s worried about her pension and benefits but noted she’s also fighting for worker equity.

“I want to make sure we’re all equally paid – we do the same job, yet we have rural routers being paid differently from urban. We should be equal all the way and we’ve been fighting for this for years,” Dolly said.

Ford noted in an earlier interview that all previous Canada Post offers had included a clause that would create a two-tiered pay scale, with new workers starting at a reduced wage.

With the company looking to transition to a seven-day work week, saying that’s needed to compete with Amazon, Dolly said most workers don’t have a problem with that.

“We’re willing to work with that – we just want to see a plan, to make sure everything is done properly. Until then, we’re strong,” Dolly said. “CUPW is the union that brought maternity leave to Canada, so if we can do that, we can do other things too.”

Laura added, “this isn’t just about us. This is for the people coming through who will take our spots. We need to keep jobs secure for the younger generations, because there aren’t many left anymore.”

Minden Hills taxpayers got their first look at the township’s 2025 budget Nov. 21 – with a starting point of an estimated 8.7 per cent levy increase.

That will not be the final number when council is expected to endorse the completed document early next year.

Director of finance and treasurer, Wendelin Lonergan, said, “staff has really done a dive and we are still working at diving deeper to make sure everything is refined.” She said the staff goal is a “reasonable” increase.

Lonergan said there were a number of external pressures. They include increased OPP billing, which could raise taxes three per cent in the township. Wages will create a crunch, with the township finally having a full complement of staff, and wages up four per cent, and benefits nearly 11 per cent. It looks like there will be no Provincial Offences Act revenue and insurance costs are up six per cent.

The treasurer said there’s pressures on everything the township does, without considering the cost-of-living allowance and inflation.

Minden Hills is working on a new asset management plan that will pinpoint deficiencies in fleet, building and equipment. They hope to offset with bulk purchasing and reviewing whether projects remain important, or if the focus has shifted.

CAO Cynthia Fletcher said there were still some unknowns to be brought back in January.

She commented, “we made some headway in 2024 on stabilizing our workforce, and starting to focus on streamlining and modernizing some of our customer service processes. We made infrastructure improvements and we started putting a lot of focus on engaging our community.”

She said success stories included the Village Green restorations, accessible public washrooms in the downtown, moving waste management and waste diversion in-house, significant infrastructure investments, and several community events.

“In 2025, we will continue modernizing and streamlining more customer service processes, focus on community engagement, more infrastructure improvements, and turn our minds to long-term financial planning as well.”

The township is so far looking at a two per cent increase for water, and three per cent for wastewater.

Mayor Bob Carter noted taxpayers pay to the school board, township and Haliburton County.

During the public meeting portion of the agenda, former coun. Jean Neville spoke to the Lochlin Community Centre. She sits on a committee for the hall, which has been left dormant since COVID, “which is a critical length of time for any building, let alone one of this vintage,” she said.

“We urge this council to dedicate funds to at least start this restoration in the 2025 calendar year… with help from willing tradespeople… maybe saving the old structure is the best way to go,” she said. Speaking to the 8.7 per cent increase as of Nov. 21, Coun. Pam Sayne said she was pleased there are going to be local municipal delegations to the Minister of Finance at upcoming conferences. “We cannot continue with these kinds of increases on a regressive property tax… this has to stop somewhere.”

Algonquin Highlands council is considering a zoning bylaw change that could pave the way for people to legally camp on private residential property within the township.

Coun. Sabrina Richards said she was shocked to learn recently that residents are not permitted to camp on their property at any time during the year. Municipal planner Sean O’Callaghan confirmed Nov. 21 that people can only camp on established campgrounds, Crown land, or on their property temporarily while building or renovating a home – with a permit required.

“You cannot camp on developed or vacant residential property. Enforcing that is, admittedly, an issue. If it’s occurring over a weekend, then it’s not likely to be enforced. If it’s an ongoing activity… that’s where [we’d intervene],” O’Callaghan said.

Mayor Liz Danielsen said she was “gobsmacked” by the revelation.

“The idea that your kids can’t pitch a tent in their own backyard, that’s nuts,” the mayor said.

O’Callaghan noted most municipalities prohibit camping on residential property. In his report to council, he stated camping is a temporary activity that is best directed to areas where the use is ordinarily expected and can be adequately serviced.

Not intended to target kids looking to spend a night underneath the stars, O’Callaghan noted the bylaw is designed to prevent people from establishing tents and trailers as permanent living spaces. He also expressed concern over some campers not having access to washroom facilities.

The planner said he was most worried about people camping on vacant land.

“On the subject of housing, we’re trying to encourage activity, but I’m picturing a vacant lot where someone buys it with the intent of camping on it a couple weeks per year. That becomes a lot that’s never going to have a house on it, at least in the near term. It’s essentially a lot you’re taking out of the bank of available developable lots in the township,” O’Callaghan said. “It’s not promoting development in the community.”

Deputy mayor Jennifer Dailloux and coun. Lisa Barry both took issue with the rules.

“I think of how young families might save to buy a little piece of vacant land, but they’ll have to save another 50 years before they can build on it. In the meantime, they want to enjoy that space, pitch a tent, take their kids and remind them what it feels like to be in nature and develop that relationship with the environment,” Dailloux said, noting she doesn’t see a problem with that.

Barry added, “I think if you [want to camp] on a piece of property you’re paying taxes on annually you should be able to. A lot of families can’t afford to go on vacations or rent Airbnbs. Our motto is ‘this is where nature begins’. I would like to see some support for how people who have property can enjoy it before having to wait until there’s a residence on it.”

O’Callaghan said North Frontenac, French River, and Lake of Bays all have bylaws that allow camping on certain developed properties, limiting people to 14 or 21 days outdoors. The planner said he’d like to see a cap put on the number of consecutive days people can camp.

CAO Angie Bird suggested council differentiate between camping in a tent and in a trailer, noting trailers have washroom facilities to ensure the proper disposal of waste. She also recommended against allowing people to camp on waterfront properties.

“There are no washroom facilities on the shoreline,” Bird said, indicating human waste could end up in the water.

Danielsen suggested implementing a permit system for people who want to camp on vacant property. She also said she’d have a hard time displacing anyone living in a trailer, whether it contravenes the bylaw or not.

“We know we have a serious housing shortage – if you see a trailer that’s not supposed to be on a property, you know someone is living there. Often, they’ve got nowhere else to go. I struggle with that. I’m not sure how we deal with that,” the mayor said.

Council directed O’Callaghan to bring back bylaw revisions that would allow people to legally camp on private property. Once ideas have been brought forward, the public will be consulted on next steps, Danielsen said.

Moore Lake cottager Jake Moreau is still reeling after his dog, Bowie, was shot between the eyes with a pellet gun Nov. 24.

Moreau said the 100-pound snow white Husky mix is recovering from its injuries, but the family is shaken since their cottage, “is supposed to be a place to relax and unwind; a place of solitude where you can reduce stress levels.”

Moreau said he had returned to the family cottage, and, as usual, Bowie came running to the car to greet him. Happy to be home, Moreau jumped out of the car and went to give the dog some attention when he saw something on his forehead, right between his eyes.

“You can imagine my surprise, shock and anger when I realized it was a pellet from a pellet gun.”

He quickly took Bowie inside to show his father, John, and girlfriend, Lise, frantically asking where the dog had been that afternoon. They took pictures and performed an in-house surgery to remove the pellet.

“Thank goodness he is OK and is healing up well to this moment,” Moreau added.

His father told him to call police. “The 911 operator was incredible. She kept us calm and took our problem very seriously. She did a great job. The police also showed up very quickly. The officer who responded was very thorough and sympathetic.”

Moreau said they told police they thought there were only two people in the area that weekend. He said the family eliminated one as a suspect, and police went to talk to the other. He said they got a call about 40 minutes later from police, saying the person they were talking to had a pellet gun with the same calibre slugs as found in the dog.

Moreau said, “he admitted he was doing target shooting that afternoon, but did not shoot the animal…. The officer said the individual wanted us to come down so he could apologize. Weird? If he did not see the dog and did not shoot it, why would he want to apologize? Why would a pellet be placed perfectly between the eyes of an animal if it was an accident?”

Moreau said the man did not admit to shooting the dog but his story “was not at all logical. If he was target-shooting at a target about six feet off the ground, how could he place a pellet between the eyes of my dog who stands about three feet off the ground? The only way this shot placement could have occurred is if the dog was looking directly at the muzzle of the gun. And he claimed he didn’t see the animal…. a 100-pound snow white Husky mix against a green/brown background.”

Moreau said “they quickly realized the conversation was going nowhere.” He said police asked if they wanted to press charges, “but warned us that while the evidence that the pellet was fired from his gun is present, it is very difficult to prove intent as he would likely keep the same story of it being an accident.”

Moreau said, “I guess the real problem is that we have been going up to my cottage for over 20 years with our wonderful pets.

“Now, it feels like we have to constantly be aware of the dogs’ whereabouts. It’s really a terrible situation we are in now and we are not sure what our dogs did to deserve it.” He said the animals have great temperaments.

Haliburton Highlands OPP Const. Rob Adams confirmed no charges had been laid. He reminded people to follow all safety regulations, wear appropriate gear, and be aware of your surroundings when handling firearms – including pellet guns.

Moreau said they did want to thank the 911 dispatcher and police that responded to their call and took their situation seriously.

“With everything going on in the world today, people do not hear enough stories about the 99 per cent of good law enforcement members. They should be praised and we are very thankful for their help.”