Algonquin Highlands drops mail-in ballots

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May 13, 2021

Algonquin Highlands is opting to use internet and telephone voting for the 2022 election, moving away from vote-by-mail.

Council unanimously approved the move May 6 and authorized staff to proceed with a joint request for proposals for the method. It is expected to cost the township $30,000.

Staff recommended the methodology, citing cost-effectiveness, a longer voting period, increased participation and preventing gatherings amidst the pandemic.

Mayor Carol Moffatt said it is something council has considered in the past.

“Our previous conversations were around sort of not being ready,” Moffatt said.

“Looks like the time has come.”

Clerks from all four County townships met to discuss the issue, according to AH clerk Dawn Newhook. The methodology is being brought to all local municipalities, with Dysart et al also opting for the internet/phone voting and Minden Hills going for a hybrid model.

Under the method, voters will receive an information package including a unique passcode. They then either use a website or call in to use a touch-tone menu to cast their vote.

Deputy mayor Liz Danielsen asked about having an option for holdouts who prefer a written ballot, but Newhook said that a hybrid model is “labour intensive.”

“It’s very costly. You need two sets of procedures,” Newhook said. “Hiring staff is challenging, so the recommendation is to go with internet/telephone alone.”

Coun. Jennifer Dailloux said she supported the move.

“Especially due to the number of seasonal residents we have,” she said. “Some of the other methods are not appropriate for our township.”

She asked about issues with website crashes other jurisdictions experienced in the last election. Newhook said the RFP would address it and providers would conduct load tests.

“Any RFP that would be issued … it would be focused on providing information about the security and broadband and backup,” Newhook replied. “What they would propose as an alternative method should something go wrong.”

The projected cost is more than the $19,000 pricetag for the 2018 election, though Newhook said the limited number of races drove down the price that year. Three of the five council positions were acclaimed.

Clerks plan to issue a joint RFP with each of the townships that agree to take part.

“I’m really pleased to see the clerks are working so much more closely together,” Danielsen said. “It’s good to see this consolidated recommendation.”

Stay-at-home order extended to June 2

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Lisa Gervais

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May 13, 2021

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JQ - Coronavirus prep - 1-web — A microscopic image of the virus that caused COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus. The spikes on the outer edge of the virus particles give coronaviruses their name, crown-like. NIAID-RML via Flikr.

The provincial government announced May 13 that its stay-at-home order, scheduled to expire May 20, would be extended until at least June 2.

All current COVID-19 public health protocols and regulations will remain in effect with the extension, including keeping most outdoor recreational facilities closed.

Premier Doug Ford said the extension is necessary measure and with vaccinations continuing, July and August could look better.

“While we are seeing positive trends as a result of the public health measures put in place, we cannot afford to let up yet,” Premier Doug Ford. “We must stay vigilant to ensure our ICU numbers stay down and our hospital capacity is protected”

The province also announced it would begin providing youth aged 12-17 with the Pfizer vaccine starting May 31. Vaccinations are scheduled to open up in the coming weeks, with adults of all ages able to receive a vaccine starting May 24.

The province said although COVID-19 cases are falling, ICU and hospital admissions remain high. But the government indicated it would consider reopening outdoor recreational amenities starting June 2.

“While the latest data shows that public health measures are having an impact, the situation in our hospitals remains precarious and variants continue to pose a significant risk,” Minister of Health Christine Elliott said.

Scotiabank to finalize closure of Dorset branch

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Lisa Gervais

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May 13, 2021

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Scotiabank has officially confirmed the closure of its branch in Dorset, with an Oct. 19 move to Huntsville.

The branch had been closed for more than a year, and before that only open Mondays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Manager, Canadian Banking Communications, Daniela Da Silva told The Highlander, that “after careful consideration, we have made the decision to relocate our services at our branch at 1059 Main St in Dorset, which has already been closed for more than a year, to our branch at Hunstville Place Mall, 70 King William St, Huntsville.”

She confirmed the move will take place October 19.

She added that all Scotiabank accounts from the Dorset branch will continue to be held at the Huntsville branch and there will be no interruption in service or access to accounts. She said all employees who previously worked at the Dorset branch will continue to serve customers from the Huntsville branch following the closure.

“We feel that this relocation will help us provide better service and greater resources to our customers from our Huntsville Place Mall branch and our team there is committed to assisting our customers with any questions they may have about this change,” Da Silva said.

She said the decision was made “as a result of a fulsome business review which includes a full area market analysis and is not limited to one branch, or to rural or urban areas. We also review factors such as proximity of the branch to other Scotiabank branches and customer traffic at branches across the market area.”

Customers received notification letters dated April 15 for the branch that is located in Algonquin Highlands.

Mayor Carol Moffatt said she was in touch with a Scotiabank representative, who called to tell her about the closure.

Moffatt said she was told the accounts of bank customers have always been integrated with the Huntsville branch location so the bank will not be changing customers’ bank account numbers. She added there will be no job losses.

However, she said not all of their residents shop and bank in Huntsville

“It is tremendously unfortunate, because the bank is one of the things that gives the village its identity,” Moffatt said. “If there’s any solace to be had, it’s that no jobs are being lost and the banking integration has existed for years anyway. People aren’t suddenly without a bank.”

In January, 2017, Scotiabank officially closed its doors for good in Wilberforce, leaving that town without a financial institution and requiring customers to use its Bancroft branch.

Black bears emerge hungry from hibernation

By

Lisa Gervais

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May 13, 2021

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Brian and Wendy Campbell returned home from getting groceries about 4 p.m. May 6 only to find a surprise visitor on their deck.

Brian Campbell said he suspected something was up as their Golden Retriever, Casey, was “quite agitated.”

“We soon found out why,” he said. “A young bear, probably just two years old and left on his own by his mother, was on our deck. He was reaching up and getting at our bird feeders, which have since been raised.”

The Campbells live on Moose Lake in Dysart et al. Brian Campbell said they have lived in the area for years. He said they’ve always had bird feeders and typically keep them high enough so the racoons can’t get to them.

“In 40 years, this is our first experience with a young bear in the bird feeders. As MNRF (the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry) will tell you, two-year-old bears are abandoned by their mothers when they come out of hibernation in the spring of their second year. They are starving and very immature.”

He said they are aware of the recommendation to take down bird feeders in spring “but in 40 years, this is the first time that this has happened. In this encounter, the bear destroyed two bird feeders but came back because he had not been able to finish off the third feeder. It had been raised to five feet or so, but he was still able to reach it.”

The MNRF and Ontario Provincial Police are reminding Haliburton County residents to be bear wise and prevent bear encounters again this spring.

In a news release, the two organizations asked Highlanders to exercise caution as black bears have begun to come out of hibernation.

“Bears waking up from hibernation are faced with a scarcity of natural food sources, leading them to look for food in garbage cans and bird feeders,” they said.

They added you can prevent bears from visiting your home, cottage or neighbourhood by:

• Storing garbage in waste containers with tight-fitting lids (and indoors if possible).

• Putting away bird feeders for the spring (you can offer birds natural alternatives, such as flowers, nesting boxes and fresh water). • Cleaning food residue and grease from outdoor barbecue grills after each use.

• Keeping pet food indoors.

They said bears that enter our community are not necessarily a threat but it is important to know who to call if you encounter a bear. For non-emergencies, the province operates a toll-free bear wise reporting line (1-866-514-2327). The line is open 24/7 from April 1 to November 30.

If a bear is posing an immediate threat by exhibiting threatening or aggressive behaviour, remain calm and call 911 or your police department.

Municipalities pressuring for faster internet

By

Lisa Gervais

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May 13, 2021

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Haliburton County and other eastern region municipalities are ramping up lobbying to get provincial and federal backing for better gigabyte internet speeds.

Heads of council throughout the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) area met May 4 to discuss the state of the Gig Project. The proposed $1.2-$1.6 billion initiative would deliver gigabyte download speeds, above the 50 megabytes per second (Mbps) download/10 Mbps upload minimum promised by the Government of Canada universally by 2030.

EORN is seeking $200 million each from the provincial and federal governments, which has yet to come.

County Warden Liz Danielsen said May 6 she was worried about whether the funding would happen.

“Seems to be becoming more and more tenuous,” Danielsen said.

EORN formally submitted the proposal to upper governments March 1. The remainder of the dollar total would come from municipalities, the private sector and the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

Chair J. Murray Jones said 50/10 speeds would be outdated by the time they get built. He said governments should no longer delay the Gig Project file.

“We’re not going to stand by and let the two governments not make some action here,” Jones said.

Scott: Ontario ‘all in’ on broadband

Provincial Minister of Infrastructure Laurie Scott told The Highlander Ontario is investing heavily in broadband, with nearly $4 billion over six years and plans to provide reliable high-speed internet everywhere by 2025. But she did not address the Gig Project specifically.

“In terms of our commitment to improving broadband access to the residents of Ontario, I can tell you that our government is leading the way,” Scott said. “Ontario is all in on broadband.”

In a letter, EORN argued its funding ask is only a small portion – 5.7 per cent – of the combined $7 billion available at the federal and provincial levels for broadband expansion. The letter also said about 30 per cent of underserved households in the province are in rural eastern areas.

Jones said despite meetings with Scott and the federal Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development Maryam Monsef, he has been unable to get a straight answer.

“I’m not criticizing any one of them. They have a lot of staff and bureaucrats in the background trying to give advice,” Jones said. “I’m very confident, to be honest with you, that both Mary and Laurie understand the situation.”

Jones said municipal officials across the region are backing the lobbying effort. He said EORN can do the work better than any private-sector alternative.

“There is life outside the big city limits,” Jones said. “EORN has a track record. We know how to do it; we’ve done it before.”

OPP investigate death at Loon Lake

By

Lisa Gervais

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May 13, 2021

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Haliburton Highlands OPP said they do not suspect foul play in the May 12 death of a woman recovered from Loon Lake.

Police said they responded to a scene at Loon Lake May 12 at approximately 3 p.m. after a woman appeared to be in distress.

A local resident said he and another pulled the woman out of the water and attempted to administer CPR before emergency responders arrived.

OPP, along with Dysart Fire and Haliburton County EMS, located a 63-year-old woman with no vital signs.

She was transported to hospital where life-saving measures were attempted, however, she was pronounced deceased in hospital.

Hydro One plans Minden power outage

By

Lisa Gervais

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May 12, 2021

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Hydro One is planning to shut down power in the Minden area for approximately three hours May 16 to complete maintenance and upgrades.

The company announced May 12 it is upgrading its Minden transmission site. The outage is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and will also affect Kinmount, Furnance Falls, Howland, Gelert, Dutch Line, Irondale Lutterworth, Ingoldsby, Union Creek, Moore Falls, Miners Bay, Deep Bay, Fortescue and Maxwells.

“We understand this is a challenging time to be without power and would like to thank our customers for their patience during this time,” Hydro One said in a press release. “Additional crews and equipment are being brought in to complete as much local area work as possible during this outage.

A map of the area impacted by a planned power outage May 16 between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Photo submitted.

The upgrades stem from a 2018 fire which damaged a transformer at the transmission station. Hydro One has since expanded the station and put in a new transformer. Crews will be preparing the foundations for a second new transformer and make improvements to the local distribution system, Hydro One said.

For the outage, the company advised customers to turn appliances off, keep refrigerator doors closed as much as possible and consider filling water jugs ahead of time.

Black bears emerge hungry from hibernation

By

Lisa Gervais

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May 10, 2021

0

By Lisa Gervais

Brian and Wendy Campbell returned home from getting groceries about 4 p.m. May 6 only to find a surprise visitor on their deck.

Brian Campbell said he suspected something was up as their Golden Retriever, Casey, was “quite agitated.”

“We soon found out why,” he said. “A young bear, probably just two years old and left on his own by his mother, was on our deck. He was reaching up and getting at our bird feeders, which have since been raised.”

The Campbells live on Moose Lake in Dysart et al.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and Ontario Provincial Police meanwhile, are reminding Haliburton County residents to be bear wise and prevent bear encounters again this spring.

In a news release, the two asked Highlanders to exercise caution as black bears have begun to come out of hibernation.

“Bears waking up from hibernation are faced with a scarcity of natural food sources, leading them to look for food in garbage cans and bird feeders,” they said.

They added you can prevent bears from visiting your home, cottage or neighbourhood by:

Storing garbage in waste containers with tight-fitting lids (and indoors if possible).
Putting away bird feeders for the spring (you can offer birds natural alternatives, such as flowers, nesting boxes and fresh water).
Cleaning food residue and grease from outdoor barbecue grills after each use.
Keeping pet food indoors.

They said bears that enter our community are not necessarily a threat but it is important to know who to call if you encounter a bear. For non-emergencies, the province operates a toll-free bear wise reporting line (1-866-514-2327). The line is open 24/7 from April 1 to November 30.

If a bear is posing an immediate threat by exhibiting threatening or aggressive behaviour, remain calm and call 911 or your police department.

Seniors join youth to fight climate ‘empty promises’

By

Lisa Gervais

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May 6, 2021

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Inspired by youth efforts, the new environmental advocacy group Seniors for Climate Action Now (SCAN) is rallying the elderly to fight against climate change.

The Haliburton-born organization made its first foray into the public sphere with a presentation on federal environmental policy March 19 in solidarity with the Global Day on Climate Action. But Terry Moore, who helped start SCAN, said it has met for the past year and has aspirations to start chapters across the province.

He said the recent efforts of youth-led movements inspired SCAN. He added the group wanted to aid those youth.

“An active, intergenerational solidarity,” Moore said. “We wanted to support, in whatever way we could, young folks who are trying to move the yardsticks on climate.”

SCAN has yet to launch any formal campaigns. But it has made statements of support for the climate strikes of Fridays of the Future and done critical analysis of federal and provincial policy.

“As seniors, we have borne witness to those empty promises for longer than most,” SCAN said in a March 19 statement. “We are committed to facing the climate emergency and to fight for climate justice.”

Although Moore said they have been meeting for a year, they are cautious about ensuring manageable growth. He said members have focused their efforts on internal development, but they are now looking to expand to become a provincewide organization.

“We’re going to try to approach and ask seniors to get more active in calling for serious climate action,” Moore said.

He said they opted for a senior focus given the ecological footprint that his generation has been part of creating.

“We have a responsibility here as seniors to leave the planet in as good as possible shape as we can,” Moore said. “We have to help leave an environment that’s conducive to young people and having a future like we had.”

The activist also has a prominent role as vice-president of Environment Haliburton!, which co-hosted SCAN’s first public presentation. But he said he wanted an organization that could expand beyond the local scope.

“We can help each other out,” Moore said. “Share resources, share networks and help build a climate change group which has the capacity to actually push for things.”

Moore said they are eyeing opportunities such as the federal election to advocate for policy. He said the membership comes from a variety of different social movements and groups banding together.

“We’re learning from each other and trying to figure out what the best way is to build an organization that encourages seniors to get more active.”

Abbey Gardens compost facility not in the cards

By

Lisa Gervais

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May 6, 2021

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While a U-Links project suggests there is community interest in a centralized composting facility at Abbey Gardens, it remains a “theoretical” prospect for now, director of operations, Ashley McAllister said.

Trent University sustainable studies student Samuel Duah collaborated with Abbey Gardens on a community survey and recently presented his findings at the U-Links Celebration of Research and to the Abbey Gardens board of directors.

Duah said they wanted to assess the factors that enable or hinder food waste reduction and diversion at the household level. His study also examined factors that would encourage residents’ participation in a community-based composting facility.

He conducted an online survey, via the Abbey Gardens website, between Sept. 3-30, 2020.

“A total of 220 respondents took part in this research,” Duah said. He added they had to be all-year or seasonal residents of Haliburton County.

In the conclusion to his study, Duah said, “the results … indicate that households are more inclined to use a centralized composting facility with multiple drop-off centers and flexible pick-up hours.”

He added that a facility “located at, and championed by, Abbey Gardens has the potential to encourage participation as some community members regard such an initiative as means of supporting the development and sustainability of a ‘community asset’.”

“Further, giving back prepared compost to community members can also incentivize community participation if compost meets high quality standards,” he wrote. “Together these findings suggest that there is community interest in Abbey Gardens’ proposed initiative and willingness to make use of a suitably designed centralized composting facility.”

McAllister said it’s an idea they’ve discussed.

However, she said Abbey Gardens was only a small piece of Duah’s final thesis. But she said it was an intriguing perspective on the community’s interest in a central composting location at Abbey Gardens.

“Composting is something we feel very strongly about, and we do have our own composting on site and a composting demonstration area to help educate our visitors about how they can compost at home,” McAllister said.

“I think right now that seems like the right direction given some of Samuel’s results, and the municipality’s perspective on waste hauling and the logistics involved in becoming licensed to be a larger partner in that process,” she added.

It’s something they’ll continue to keep in mind as the County’s needs evolve and they have a better understanding of how they could play a role in a larger composting strategy.

“But right now, it’s still just theoretical.”

Food Cycler

The Township of Algonquin Highlands, meanwhile, is planning to launch an organic waste diversion pilot project this year to encourage more people to compost at home, instead of bringing household waste to landfills, which also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

It’s also intended to convince those afraid to compost because of the fear of wildlife to rethink their household food waste practices.

Algonquin Highlands’ environmental coordinator, Melissa Murray, has made contact with producers of a product known as the Food Cycler, which is an indoor, countertop, waste composting machine. The plan is to subsidize the cost for AH ratepayers.

Interest in the Food Cycler has also spread to other municipalities. They’ve all been looking into the issue of household waste going into landfills over the past year or so.