Concerns over fire college closure

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February 11, 2021

An Ontario government decision to close the Ontario Fire College in Gravenhurst, effective March 31, should be of concern in Haliburton County, Algonquin Highlands Mayor Carol Moffatt indicated during a Feb. 4 council meeting.

“There’s a little bit of fuss out there,” Moffatt said. “There was no consultation by the province to any organized group about it.

” She said while online training for firefighters can be easily handled, there is concern about what practical training is going to look like “because there’s two sides to fire training.”

She said some are saying it is “downloading by stealth … because someone’s going to have to pay for it.”

Moffat said the province has suggested there are going to be some regional training centres but she’s also heard talk of mobile units.

She said she reached out to other mayors in Haliburton County about the issue but had only heard back from Dysart et al Mayor Andrea Roberts as of Feb. 4.

However, she said there are questions such as, “are there any concerns about liability if there are any delays in training and meeting standards, safety of firefighters, and most importantly, our continuing service to the public by fully-trained fire personnel?” She said the situation is “kind of a stay tuned.”

She also questions whether local townships should be doing something, such as passing resolutions opposing the closure.

“The impacts are unknown. There could be budgetary impacts at a time when we’re just talking budgets but they remain unknown. Whatever they do get set up could come back to bite us later in the year.

“It’s on the radar, much conversation to be had, it could be a done deal, it might not be a done deal.”

Outgoing Algonquin Highlands fire chief, Jonathan Wilker, said it is being talked about by chiefs.

He said in his opinion, “I wouldn’t be surprised if this gets pushed back also, based on past history when they tried to push the same thing forward.”

Highlands East council passed a resolution Feb. 9, in support of a resolution from the Township of Augusta, asking the province to reverse the decision.

New fire chief

At the meeting, it was also announced that the township has hired a replacement for Wilker, who resigned earlier this year.

Moffatt said they’ve hired Michael French, who will start in a couple of weeks. She confirmed that French is the former fire chief for the Rama Fire and Rescue Services.

Hyland Crest residents get COVID vaccine

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Lisa Gervais

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February 11, 2021

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Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) said residents of Hyland Crest Long-Term Care home received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Feb. 10. The first resident to receive the vaccine was Elizabeth (Betty) Inglis. Betty moved to Haliburton in 1946 to raise her family and became a very active member of the community. At 98, she is an avid lover of nature and conversation.

“The fact that this first round of vaccinations has been completed at Hyland Crest and Highland Wood has certainly helped lift the spirits of residents, staff, and families,” said Carolyn Plummer, president and CEO of HHHS.

“We know we must keep up our strict infection prevention and control measures, but we could all use this dose of hope.”

Dates for the second round of vaccinations for Highland Wood and Hyland Crest residents will be shared with families once that information is known.

First COVID-19 vaccines at Highland Wood

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Lisa Gervais

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February 8, 2021

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Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) says residents of Highland Wood Long-Term Care are receiving the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Feb. 8.

The first resident to receive the vaccine was Nancy McElwain, who was an ICU nurse during her career in health care. She was known for her dedication to her patients during her career, and as a resident at Highland Wood, she continues to watch over the nursing staff daily to ensure they are doing a good job, HHHS said in a media release.

HHHS added it’s hopeful that residents of Hyland Crest will receive their vaccines later this week and will communicate with families of residents once a specific date is known.

The HHHS team is also continuing to work on vaccination processes for healthcare workers, as well as working with community partners on broader community immunization strategies, they said.

Connecting through a community cookbook

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Lisa Gervais

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February 7, 2021

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JQ - Cookbook - 1 — The Central Food Network is fundraising with a community cookbook. File photo.

With the pandemic separating people, the Central Food Network is planning to share communal recipes with a cookbook fundraiser.

The charity launched the initiative Jan. 25, calling for recipe submissions of any type. It will later place the entries into a book that will be sold in the area. Central Food Network acting director, Tina Jackson, said the proceeds will go towards the community cook program, which is making free prepared meals.

“I hope that this is a fun way for people to get involved and look back through family recipes,” Jackson said. “And to be able to feel connected to the rest of us, even when we’re all in our own houses and trying to stay safe. I hope it ends in a sense of community.”

Volunteer Gail Gotter came up with the idea. She said the food bank is always looking for more funding and this seemed like a good way to offer that.

“We just hope that it’s all-inclusive with people in the community – and even outside the community,” Gotter said. “Who can share some of their tried-and-true recipes.”

Jackson said they have put some traditional fundraisers on hold due to the pandemic. But she added donations are going strong.

“Just completely floored by the support we have received, which has meant we have been able to ramp up and respond to the increases in the need for food,” Jackson said.

The demand in the summer, as well as their Christmas hampers, were 10 per cent higher compared to 2019 last year, Jackson said. She added there was a lull in demand after the holidays, but there has been a noticeable increase at Highlands East food banks in the past two weeks.

“What I’m hearing is a lot of people that have been laid off in this specific lockdown and are in the midst of waiting for EI (employment insurance),” Jackson said.

Jackson said she hopes individuals, groups and businesses can participate.

“A great way to bring the community together in a safe way,” she said. “Everybody’s doing a little bit more cooking, a little bit more baking and it’s a great way for people to dust off those recipes.”

To submit or ask questions, contact recipes@centralfoodnetwork.org or call 705-448-2285.

Video showcases diversity of arts in County

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Lisa Gervais

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February 6, 2021

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JQ - Arts council video - 2 — Tiffany Howe from the new promotional video from the Haliburton Highlands Arts Council. Photo via Haliburton Highlands Arts Council.

As the Arts Council Haliburton Highlands’ new promotional video begins, viewers witness a blend of art and nature: carving in motion, trees and the Rails End Gallery.

“We thought we’d just stay here for a little while and then we realized quite quickly it was a pretty vibrant community. Established artists were here as well as a big resurgence of new artists coming,” potter Lisa Barry says near the start of the video, that is filled with testimonials from local artists across the CoAunty.

The council released the commissioned video on its Youtube channel Feb. 1. It features interviews with artists talking about the Highlands, with images from last year’s studio tours. Project co-ordinator, Scott Walling, said it was a way to showcase the diversity of arts in Haliburton County.

“Everyone knows about potters and painters and we love them. But there’s this whole vast network of other people who should have the spotlight shone on them as well. We wanted to include as many people as we could,” Walling said.

The video features a range of different types of arts – including pottery, painting, music, sculpture and drama. It was funded by the Haliburton County Development Corporation and the County of Haliburton. The production team included Camexicanus and Upside Brown.

Walling said it is difficult to promote tourism during the pandemic. But he added the initiative also gives locals a chance to see more of their community.

“We felt this video kind of allows our artists in the area to get to know each other a little bit more. To see the depths of everything within Haliburton,” Walling said. “But then it also shows out-of-towners this is something they could come do.”

“It’s to promote both our artists and our members, and Haliburton Highlands, as a whole. It might interest some to come live here and start their art practice here,” he added. “We’re trying to hit a lot of bases with this.”

The project took six months to complete. Walling said he is trying to circulate the video as widely as possible locally. “Just trying to get it out so everyone can see how much arts and culture and heritage is in Haliburton County.”

“Come to Haliburton,” potter Wayne Rose says to cap off the video. “We’ve got it. You can. It’s here.”

Opioids not the biggest challenge now

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Lisa Gervais

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February 4, 2021

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Stimulant use disorder is the big issue in Haliburton County now, more than opioid use disorder, says Dr. Nell Thomas of the Haliburton Highlands Family Health Team.

“That’s methamphetamine, crack, cocaine, etcetera,” she said. “Sadly, there’s no treatment for it.”

Opioid use disorder, on the other hand, is treated with substitution therapy such as methadone and suboxone.

Haliburton County residents can be referred to the Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre (OATC), located inside the Haliburton Highland Pharmacy. It’s one of more than about 50 across the province.

OATC CEO Sonya Lockyer said they currently have 50 patients on their program in Haliburton, a number that has been consistent over the years.

She added they are not seeing a lot more people seeking treatment. However, that does not mean that there isn’t untreated opioid use disorder in the community.

“Treatment is the best option for people addicted to opioids, so anything we can do to raise awareness on this topic is welcomed in light of the fentanyl crisis,” she said.

Dr. Thomas said since the air traffic has been all but shut down during COVID, cocaine smuggling was hugely affected and dealers have resorted to manufacturing stimulant drugs.

“One of the major risks for the stimulant users is the contamination of their product with opioids [narcotics],” she said.

“Because the crack and cocaine users have no tolerance for opioids, when fentanyl is mixed in with cocaine, it is deadly for these opioid naïve individuals. That is also resulting in deaths because of the impure products.”

According to the OATC website, while the goal may be abstinence for some, it focuses on a model of harm reduction.

“Quite simply, it promotes the notion that left untreated, drug addiction causes many harmful outcomes including victimization, overdose, incarceration, relationship and financial struggles and even death.”

The site says harm reduction principles seek to engage individuals in therapy using a non-judgmental approach in an attempt to motivate them to a healthier lifestyle.

In addition to treating opioid addiction (painkillers such as codeine, morphine, oxycodone, heroin, fentanyl, etc), they have taken steps to also address use of other addictive substances by patients (nicotine, cocaine, alcohol, marijuana) as well as offering therapy for some of the consequences of addiction, such as Hepatitis C and HIV care.

“We are proud of what we have accomplished over the last two decades,” the website says. “OATC has helped save the lives of many who might have otherwise become victim to untreated addiction. We are grateful to our community supporters as well as the many social agencies that have helped to promote our long-term existence.

“Above all, however, we are especially encouraged by those who have attended our centres and have climbed that often unforgiving mountain, reclaiming the life that was so ruthlessly stolen from them while in the throes of addiction.”

Common sense to cut the fat

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Lisa Gervais

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February 4, 2021

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As the County of Haliburton and its four lower-tier municipalities continue to work to finalize their 2021 budgets, it might not be too late for staff and councillors to have a look at a report released Feb. 2 by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and public policy think tank SecondStreet.org.

The two have cautioned townships that they could stall post-COVID-19 economic recovery if property taxes aren’t curtailed.

Their report looks at 10 ways municipal governments could reduce spending and property taxes.

Their thinking is straightforward but worth reviewing.

They figure if a business or household is struggling right now, a property tax increase, even a freeze, could really hurt their ability to stay afloat.

SecondStreet.org president, Colin Craig, says just as households and businesses have tightened their belts, there’s room for municipalities to do the same.

He says if they curtail their expenses, then they can help save some jobs by reducing the property tax burden on struggling businesses.

Here’s some examples that apply locally.

While part-time salaried politicians do not make a lot of money, some executive staff do. They could lead by example by taking pay reductions and curbing discretionary spending.

Every township is recommending hires, some multiple. And the salaries and benefits packages for these new employees far exceed what most of us are making in the private sector. Townships argue that it is due to the competitive nature of attracting municipal employees to our area. However, they have to always factor in affordability in their decision-making.

In Minden Hills, Coun. Bob Carter has asked for a fourth-round draft budget without the suggested new positions. He also queried moving existing, underutilized employees due to COVID, around. While more difficult due to unions, it’s worth exploring.

In addition, townships need to prioritize spending. For example, most of Haliburton County’s population would like to see a focus on things such as policing and road repair, not discretionary areas such as the arts right now.

They should also tender more jobs with consideration given to local tradespeople and suppliers.

They need to review township lands and assets and determine opportunities to dispose of unneeded inventory.

Within their own walls, they should create an employee rewards system with incentives for staff to come forward with ideas to reduce costs. And, we don’t just mean department heads, but all employees.

They all have a whack of modernization funding so should be exploring opportunities to use new technology to reduce costs.

And, finally, they should spend more time speaking with other municipal governments about innovative ways to reduce costs instead of devising strategies to raise taxes.

As the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and SecondStreet. org. rightly state in their report, politicians may try to claim that the cupboards are bare, but there’s still fat for many townships to cut.

Having said that, we don’t think there is a lot of fat left locally. So, we would encourage the provincial government and Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP and Minister of Infrastructure, Laurie Scott, to also read the report.

Townships have faced unprecedented downloading ever since Mike Harris’ so-called Common Sense Revolution. Any taxes saved have had to go to picking up provincial government slack. Many municipalities are at, or beyond, the breaking point. They are finding it harder and harder to keep up with the replacement and maintenance of infrastructure in particular.

It’s been suggested that the province designate one per cent of the HST to Ontario’s 444 municipalities to help them with crumbling roads, bridges and culverts. It’s time for the province to retroactively put the “common sense” into the Common Sense Revolution and do just that.

Council says housing hurdles can be overcome

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Lisa Gervais

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February 4, 2021

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LG-affordable housing update — There was a public meeting for a proposed affordable housing development in Minden Jan. 28. Pictured is a rendering of the project

Despite some planning concerns, Minden Hills councillors expressed unanimous support for an affordable housing project near the intersection of Highway 35 and County Road 21 during a public meeting Jan. 28.

A formal official plan and zoning bylaw amendment came before council. The land is now highway commercial with a service and business area designation.

Bill Switzer has donated the land for 30 units, in 15 duplexes, south of the Minden Legion and overlooking the Gull River. The Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Housing Corporation will manage it.

Town planner, Ian Clendening, said he had a number of issues, including that Minden does not have a lot of serviced lots ideal for commercial development.

“In terms of an opportunity for future larger commercial development, this one, especially its location at County Road 21 and highway frontage, is a very optimal spot for its currently intended commercial use,” he told council. He added having housing would now limit opportunities for abutting commercial properties.

He added there is some concern about parking spilling over into a busy Rotary Park since the applicant had reduced parking to 1.23 spots per unit and there is no off-street parking along the highway.

He said another issue would be traffic and noise from the highway. However, he said there is a proposed noise barrier fence and there’s been a noise impact study that will also factor in how the units are built.

Clendening said at a recent open house, there were comments about safety along Highway 35 and the potential for a sidewalk to address accessibility issues, including potentially having a scooter going along the highway.

Finally, he emphasized that flooding is not a concern.

Speaking for the applicant, planner Kent Randall of EcoVue Consulting said it was an exciting and much-needed project for the area. He said the two-bedroom units would cater to seniors, couples and small families.

“We feel it is an appropriate site. I don’t share the same concerns as Ian does. I do believe that there are some details that we’ll need to hammer out but that can be achieved.” He added a lot of the concerns can be dealt with at the site plan approval stage.

He noted The Ministry of Transportation had no issues and they would be using Passivhaus building standards with the developer working with local contractors. He said they’d like to begin in Spring 2021 and finish by Spring 2022.

Deputy mayor Lisa Schell said it wasn’t the township’s first experience of working with the housing corporation. “I have full confidence that this can happen and all the worries that the planning department had, rightly so because that’s his job, can be alleviated.”

Coun. Pam Sayne commented that Minden Hills needed a policy about integrated housing, and affordable housing.

“So, we’re not in these binds of trying to find some place to put this housing. We need to integrate affordable housing with our regular housing plan and work consistently then with groups like [the housing corporation] to be able to do that kind of housing in an overall affect and so we’re not putting housing in unexpected places and then try to work around how to blend that in with the rest of our community.”

Coun. Bob Carter, who is chair of the housing task force, added, “I firmly believe we need more housing before we need a Walmart. I’m not stressed by any of the challenges and I think we as a community have to work to finding a way to get to ‘yes’ to making this work.”

A staff report will be coming back

Carter calls for hiring freeze, cutting roadworks

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Lisa Gervais

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February 4, 2021

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LG-Minden Hills budget update — Staffing at the new arena and community centre was on the table at a Jan. 28 budget meeting

Saying he had a “fiduciary responsibility” to taxpayers, Coun. Bob Carter threw a curveball at a Minden Hills budget meeting Jan. 28 – suggesting council not hire additional staff in 2021 and cut roads borrowing in half.

The budget includes the hiring of a deputy chief building official, inspection and bylaw officer, a deputy treasurer, an economic development, destination and marketing officer and a number of positions for the new recreation complex, including a lead hand and casual and student help at a combined cost of $369,200.

In addition, the third-round draft budget contains borrowing of just over $5.8 million for roadworks with accompanying annual payments. Carter said he would like that number to be reduced by 50 per cent.

When third round budget talks began, taxpayers were facing a 2.94 per cent levy increase. The township was able to achieve that figure after borrowing $600,000 from reserves and delaying a number of hires.

However, Carter said he was worried about the 2021 budget’s impact on 2022 and 2023.

He said if they proceeded with the hires – even post-dated to Sept. 1, 2021, they would have to be annualized in 2022 and going forward, at an annual cost of $458,000. He wondered if other underutilized staff during COVID-19 could not be redeployed to the recreation complex.

CAO Trisha McKibbin said she would have to provide a follow-up report since that would have service implications for other departments. Deputy mayor Lisa Schell said there could be union issues.

Carter added he is worried about annual loan repayments for roads, too.

“So, if we just approve this 2.94 per cent, in 2022 we will have an additional $1.16 million dollars into our budget.” In 2023, he said it would be an additional $1.76 million.

“Those are pretty astronomical numbers … so I guess for consideration from my perspective is that we really have to review the personnel changes that we were going to make in 2021,” Carter said. He added that even with cutting the roads loan, they would have an additional $400,000 to cover in 2022.

“These are going to be really tough choices and I don’t want to be kicking infrastructure down the road to make it somebody else’s problem but we have to face the fact that the decisions we’re making today can really affect what will happen to us next year,” the first-time councillor said.

Carter added he is hopeful of future government infrastructure money “but being able to catch up on our own is probably going to be a very, very difficult situation and tall order.”

Coun. Pam Sayne, agreed with Carter, saying “I’m very concerned that we’re using that debenture as if it’s almost like a credit card you’ll never catch up with, with roads, so I’d like us to revisit our thinking about that debenture.”

Coun. Jean Neville and Schell, however, said the township should not be removing any of the suggested road works from the proposed budget.

Neville said, “We should be taking the opportunity of this low interest rate this year for debenture. The roads are just going to increase in cost to repair and get worse … as well as the interest rate is going to increase. We’re going to get further and further behind with our infrastructure and I don’t think that’s a smart thing to do. I think we should bite the bullet. Do the debenture as it stands and get those roads done.”

Budget talks are continuing.

Highlands Summer Festival cancelled for this year

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 4, 2021

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But early stages program may go on

Organizers of The Highlands Summer Festival have cancelled the 2021 summer theatre season.

In a Feb. 1 press release, they said the cancellation comes amid growing uncertainty about the COVID-19 restrictions that could be in place in July and August.

“It is with reluctance that we make this announcement,” president Brian Kipping said. “It is not where we wanted to be following last season’s cancellation. Our first concern, however, is for the safety of our patrons and staff.”

Kipping said the lack of predictability of the decline of the pandemic, and where the restrictions on public gatherings might be, leaves the organization with little choice.

However, the shuttering of the traditional season does not mean the popular Haliburton theatre company will be inactive in the coming months.

“We are exploring the possibility of hosting our early stages program,” artistic director Scot Denton said. He encouraged the public to watch for announcements closer to the summer.

Early stages is a four-week intensive theatre education program for young people aged 10 to 14. The participants learn about all facets involved in a theatrical production.

Denton said there are also plans for more online presentations.

“Following on the heels of our very popular ‘Memories’ video, we have a number of others in the works,” Denton said. “I can’t show my hand just yet, but keep an eye on our website (highlandssummerfestival.on.ca) for new presentations.”

Patrons who have left their tickets with Highlands Summer Festival will have them honoured for the 2022 season, Kipping said.

“We will respect that commitment when we are finally allowed to step back into the theatre and onto the stage.”

Kipping also paid tribute to the many people in the community who responded to the company’s donation request a month ago.

“Even though there have been no performances, we have ongoing expenses and these donations help to keep the Highlands Summer Festival alive and ready to go when conditions allow. Thank you for your support.”