Minden Hills Coun. Tammy McKelvey – at a May 29 council meeting – voiced strong opposition to The Strong
Mayors’ Act, recently extended to Minden Hills along with 168 other smaller to medium towns May 1.

McKelvey said hers was not a personal attack against mayor Bob Carter, or other designated mayors. “I feel this
is very undemocratic.”

The legislation, also known as the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022, grants mayors in Ontario increased powers, including the ability to appoint key staff, influence budget decisions, and veto certain bylaws.

McKelvey believes the act will actually slow process, and business, down. For example, she said now a mayor can bring an idea directly to council. But, under the act, some processes require written notice to the clerk. “It’s just
craziness. I’d like to tell the province we don’t want it…”

Deputy mayor Lisa Schell agreed. She noted other municipalities are voicing similar concerns.

Coun. Pam Sayne said it was “an attack on democracy and principles; when we’re dealing with things that are so
fundamental, of having a voice in government, and then say ‘except when’.”

Sayne said she “was tired of (the Ford government) taking people’s rights” in order to address things such as housing issues. She added the Ontario government is causing problems with planning departments dealing with so many changes.

Coun. Shirley Johannessen said constituents are also worried about the act and what it means.

Council voted 6-1 in favour of a resolution very similar to one passed by the Corporation of the Township of Mattawa in May. Addressed to Premier Doug Ford and minister of municipal affairs and housing Rob Flack, the town asked that Mattawa be removed from the list of municipalities granted strong mayor powers. The Mattawa council vote was unanimous.

In Minden Hills, Carter voted against the motion on the floor. He said he was still learning about the act. He said he would report back to council at the June 26 meeting “about how I plan to handle it. People don’t totally understand this legislation as of yet. I can understand some of the concerns people have about democracy …

“I’m not willing to say up front that I categorically will not use any of these powers because if they’re for the
benefit of Minden Hills, I will consider it. I think it’s very situational, depending on what the subject is. I wasn’t ready to say that I categorially reject them or accept them or anything without knowing more about it.”

Dysart et al mayor Murray Fearrey has also been handed Strong Mayor Powers.

What can strong mayors do:

• Can choose to appoint their municipality’s CAO and municipal division heads. Councils appoint clerks,
deputy clerks, treasurers or deputies, chief building officials and fire chiefs.

• Reorganizing the structure of the municipality requiring written notice and is subject to legal requirements, contracts, collective agreements.

• Directing staff but adhering to legislation. Assigning functions, appointing committee chairs

• Veto power and council override of certain bylaws if they interfere with provincial priorities. Council can,
however, override if two thirds of council agree.

• Bylaw power but only prescribed provincial priorities. More than one-third of council must be in favour.

• Can propose a budget each year by Feb. 1 – circulated to council and the public. If the mayor does not do it,
council does.

With the passing of Bill 5 – the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025 – Environment Haliburton! president Susan Hay says the impact could be easily felt in Haliburton County.

Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott was one of the Conservatives who voted in favour.

Hay said, according to a recent Environmental Defense document, schedule 9 of the bill would enable the premier and cabinet to exempt any person or company from provincial, and municipal law, including bylaws.

“Any portion of Ontario they choose, no matter whether a city or a commercial property or a cottage lot for any purpose.”

She said The Alliance for a Liveable Ontario says the bill is a power grab that will give premier Doug Ford and his
Cabinet extraordinary powers to ignore key provincial laws they don’t like.

“Bill 5 creates special economic zones anywhere in Ontario, and that includes Haliburton County,” Hay said. “Hand-picked companies chosen by the province to do business in these zones are exempt from a whole host of existing
laws.

“This bill will supersede usual consultation on projects; consultation which protects people, other creatures, plants and clean water. Although the ‘ring of fire’ is one of Ford’s main targets, Haliburton County could certainly be impacted by this bill. The main way our County could be impacted is by the gutting of the Species at Risk Act.

“Haliburton County with its forests and over 600 lakes is home to many species at risk, including all species of Ontario turtles.”

Hay added the new Species Conservation Act, 2025 (SCA) as part of Bill 5, is expected to be significantly weaker in its habitat protection measures

She said environmentalists, such as Shane Moffatt of Ontario Nature, say environmental protections are not red
tape, but instead are crucial safeguards for clean air, water and the ecosystems that all Ontarians depend on.

“We’re in the middle of a global biodiversity crisis, and the last thing that Ontario should be doing … is weakening
protections for endangered species,” Moffatt has said.

Ontario Environment Minister Todd McCarthy, speaking in support of the bill, said it will increase enforcement
powers for the province. However, Laura Bowman, a lawyer from Ecojustice Canada says stronger enforcement powers don’t help if there aren’t many rules to enforce in the first place.

Scott votes in favour

Scott said there are many components to Bill 5, however she said they had to make a lot of changes for different reasons while striking a balance. The MPP said that fine line is between the economic frustrations of the province, municipalities, builders, and the average person over things such as permits, and slowness. “We had to take a different approach to getting things built quicker. But they can’t dismiss environmental concerns.”

She said while streamlined, municipalities and environmental and other ministries will still be involved.

“You want housing; you want infrastructure but then you get tied up with things. We’re trying to balance it with more streamlining.”

She said Species at Risk becomes the new Species Conservation Act. She said there would be an online registry, versus files being on people’s desks for years. She said there would be more rules, investigations, and more and larger fines if people are breaking the rules that exist around species conservation. She added there is duty to
consult with First Nations.

“We’re trying to strike the right balance and it’s between protections and advancing projects. We have to compete.”

Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) hopes to pilot an adult day program at its Highland Wood long
term care home in Haliburton – just one measure following a fact-finding trip to the Netherlands to learn about innovative elder care there.

“This would better integrate our community with our homes,” CEO and president Veronica Nelson told a ‘future of
health care’ forum in Minden June 5.

McMaster University sponsored Nelson, Jennifer Burns West (chief nursing executive), and Irene Odell (HHHS board chair) to participate in the research trip. The cost was $7,500 with the remaining $2,352 charged to HHHS. Costs included flights, trains, buses, mileage, food, accommodations, and taxis.

They were accompanied by Dr. Sharon Kaasalainen, a McMaster professor and HHHS board member, and Fay Wilkinson, who spoke at last week’s meeting. In all, 30 people went.

Green care farms offer an innovative approach to elder care, particularly for individuals with dementia. The farms
provide a unique environment for older adults, enabling them to engage in activities such as feeding animals, gardening, or preparing meals, which can stimulate cognitive function and social interaction.

Nelson said the team came back enthusiastic about making aging, and long-term care, better locally, “even if it’s
incrementally better, and even with all of the regulations” in Ontario, and across Canada.

She noted they already have a “robust” adult day program at HHHS’ Minden site. She said it provides a structured, therapeutic and individualized program for adults living at home. She added it offers respite and support for caregivers.

With a pilot project for Highland Wood, Nelson said “this would integrate our community with our home. It would mean taking long-term care residents from Highland Wood and bringing them to the day program, integrating them with older adults from the community attending the day program.

“We learned that people admitted to a green care farm were required to have attended the daycare program before. That early participation enabled that smoother transition. They were already settled their first night of overnight. Sometimes they had a week or a couple of days’ trial before they actually decided, ‘okay, I’m gong to stay now for good’.” Nelson said.

“Imagine if we could get to a place where we included those waiting to come into our long-term care homes in our adult program, so they could have that transition too?”

She said they would work with their partners at Ontario Health at Home on the initiative.

The other focus of green care farms is the outdoors. “I don’t think I saw any resident in side any building, ever. It was incredible,” Nelson said. While the Canadian climate is more challenging, she added, “we can do better. I find our residents are inside most of the time.”

She said one thing they could do is unlock dining rooms only opened for meals to allow residents to use them. She noted the natural light and views of gardens. She said there were ways to ensure safety.

Nelson added they want residents to get outside all year-long. “We can bundle them up. We can maintain the spaces outdoors. They can actually sense winter, not just look at it from the inside. They can feel the crispness of the air on their skin, the wind on their cheeks, feel the sun warming them, watch the snowflakes fall on their nose and melt on their mittens.”

She also spoke to the importance of animals, noting Walkabout Farms brings miniature ponies to LTC and Snowflake Meadows, puppies, and therapeutic dogs. “But we can do better. Can we have pets living with our residents? Can we foster pets?” She pondered cats, bunnies or baby chicks.

Nelson said in Canada, a choice has been made to keep residents safe as opposed to allowing them quality of life.

She said while six of 10 people with dementia are at risk of getting lost, at the Netherlands homes, no doors or gates are locked, and people have GPS devices so staff can track and retrieve them safely. She said the residents have less responsive behaviour because of this freedom.

“We tend to put people in a building, and put measures in place because they’re misbehaving or getting agitated. If we open the doors, then maybe they wouldn’t be as agitated, and then they would sleep.” She added they rarely medicated residents in the green care farms they visited. She noted it is not a free-for-all, with the ability, as
dementia progresses, to control which doors open, and when.

Other ideas include more intergenerational programming, including a summer day camp for children of staff.

“So, here we go. Green care farms meet HHHS. We’re on. We’re gong to do it.”

Despite negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) hitting another snag this week, Doug Ford, president of local 564 covering Haliburton County, doesn’t believe a strike is looming.

Talks over fresh terms for approximately 55,000 unionized workers have been underway again for several weeks, Ford noted, with both sides reportedly at an impasse as of June 9. Most employees have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2023.

Last November, around 95 per cent of CUPW members Canada-wide supported a strike as they sought higher pay, increased job security, more hours for part-time staff, and equal pay for people working similar roles. They spent 32 days on the picket line, returning to work mid-December after the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB)
mandated a temporary six-month extension.

That deal, which included a retroactive five per cent wage increase, expired May

22. Most carriers currently make between $23 and $30 an hour.

Canada Post made what it called a “final offer” to the union May 28, which included a 13.59 per cent raise over four years, signing bonuses of up to $1,000, and removal of compulsory overtime. The crown corporation has also ditched proposals to change employees’ health and post-retirement benefits and pension plans.

Ford said the union is continuing to push back against Canada Post’s plans to hire a new part-time workforce to accommodate seven-day delivery.

“All that has to happen is for Canada Post to recognize they have a large workforce already that wants to keep their jobs, so they need to take the part-time stuff out of the contract and allow for people to make living wages,” Ford said. “They want to create a separate team… we already have a part-time workforce that can accommodate [the extra work].”

He said most part-time staff currently
work eight to 10 hours per week, but by
opening up weekends they could see hours
climb to 28 to 32 hours per week.

“That would create meaningful employment… it would be giving our current workers a chance to make a living
wage,” Ford said.

On June 4, federal jobs minister Patty Hajdu called for the two parties to work towards an agreement after a near two week deadlock in talks. On June 9, Canada Post rejected a framework put forward by the union asking for a binding arbitration process – where a neutral third-party offers a legally-binding solution.

The crown corporation has asked Hajdu to mandate CUPW workers vote on its latest offer.

Canada Post figureheads say the corporation’s poor financial standing limits what it can offer its employees. The
company posted pre-tax losses of $841 million in 2024 and has lost more than $3.8 billion since 2018.

Ford pinned the blame for those losses at the feet of Canada Post’s executives, not its workforce.

“Canada Post isn’t supposed to make money; it’s supposed to offer a service to Canadians. It’s losing too much money, but a lot of that is down to reckless spending,” he said, citing what he perceives to be bloated bonuses for management, and ill fated investments such as the commitment to transition its 14,000 fleet to electric vehicles by 2040.

While the union served formal notice of a strike to Canada Post May 23, Ford said that was “more of a technical thing.” He doesn’t believe the union wants to send people back to the picket line.

“There are things the union does behind the scenes in preparation for a real walkout. Those things haven’t occurred in 2025, so that tells me… they don’t want to walk out,” he said.

“The two sides are at a stalemate… this uncertainty needs to end. Right now, volumes are very low. People are afraid to put their product into our stream. If we end the uncertainty, strike a new deal, people will know they can count on Canada Post again,” Ford added.

On June 9, DHL Express Canada locked out 2,100 workers as discussions with Unifor over a new contract stalled, essentially shutting down one of the country’s largest private delivery companies.

County entrepreneur Phil Primavera said he was enjoying a rare day off with his family when one of his trucks was stolen from the Haliburton Feed & Seed property on Mallard Road June 1.

He was spending time with his kids at the family farm on Eagle Lake right around the time someone targeted a Ford F-350 Primavera was working on at his shop. The vehicle was later recovered burnt out on Hwy. 35 about five kilometres north of Norland, near Boyce Trail.

Primavera said it was the same vehicle he and his wife, Minna Schleifenbaum, bought prior to opening Haliburton Feed and Seed in 2019. At work, he used it for large orders and deliveries. At home, it was one of the family’s primary modes of transportation. Primavera said it was the truck they used carting their daughters and horses to shows across Ontario.

It had been off the road for some time, with Primavera partway through transitioning the vehicle into a farm plow.
He hoped that would save him the $3,000 it costs annually to have someone come in and tend to their land.

Primavera was also hit with a $750 towing bill. Given the vehicle wasn’t insured, he estimates his losses to be between $5,000 $10,000.

The incident is being investigated by Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton Highlands OPP. As of press time June 11, no charges had been laid.

Cst. Rob Adams with the Highlands detachment confirmed CKL officers found the vehicle shortly after 6 a.m. on June 2 after neighbours reported the fire. Primavera said he initially assumed someone had stolen his plates and put them on a different vehicle as he didn’t think his Ford would run.

“It had something like three injectors missing from the motor, so I’m amazed it made it to Norland,” he said.

Cameras on the Haliburton Feed & Seed Property captured the perpetrator, while Primavera said he heard from multiple people who witnessed the alleged thief leaving Haliburton village in the truck that afternoon. He claims to know the identity and has submitted evidence to police.

“Someone well-known to local authorities… for previous vehicle thefts, without a driver’s licence, and under
suspension,” Primavera alleged.

Primavera said other businesses in the industrial park, such as Petrini Construction and Hawk River Construction, have been hit in recent years, while claiming the Haliburton landfill routinely has unwelcome visitors after hours. On the other side of town, the Haliburton Golf Centre was broken into overnight June 3.

“We are disheartened to have to make this call out, however the pro shop was broken into… resulting in theft and damages to our ball machine and shop,” owner Andy MacMillan posted to social media.

Primavera said this is the sort of thing he came to Haliburton County to avoid.

“It’s the broken trust, really, that’s the worst thing. This sort of thing is happening more and more, and I think it’s something we need to have a wider conversation about. Is this what we want? We should expect better from people, as a community hold those who are actively spitting in our faces accountable.

“That doesn’t mean [becoming a vigilante] or anything crazy, but I think we are within our rights as productive members of society to shine a light on this, talk about it and come up with solutions. I don’t want Haliburton County to keep sliding on this slippery path it’s on,” Primavera said.

On June 5, Haliburton Highlands Secondary School, in partnership with the Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB), hosted the third annual educational pow wow and drum social.

The event was in collaboration with Oshkaabewis Dave Rice of Wasauksing First Nation, Odawa Anishinaabe Metis
Knowledge Holder, Larry O’Connor, and Elder Christopher Stock.

The pow wow and drum social kicked off the start of National Indigenous History Month and invited schools to listen, learn and experience the celebration.

Students and staff were guided through various teachable moments from Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee
perspectives to increase understanding and engagement with Indigenous culture, traditions, protocols, dances, and music.

Sara DeCaire brought three students (Greyson Stieler, Jake Porter and June Sahanatien) from Wahta Mohawks First Nation near Bala. They wore ribbon attire.

“We’re just here to bring some knowledge and to show the kids because not everybody has the opportunity to attend pow wows throughout the summer. It’s a big thing. There’s First Nations all over Ontario and there’s kids that go to all these schools, so it’s nice to be able to put some culture and language back into some programming,” DeCaire said.

“It’s a great learning experience for them and for us.”

DeCaire said they come from a small reserve, where their traditions are “kind of lacking, so we’re trying to bring back the culture, bring back our language and what a great way to start, to be part of this pow wow.”

She added each of the First Nations has different things to offer, from jingle dresses to ribbon shirts.

“It’s nice to see all the cultures and different regalia.”

Two local charities – that raise money to help with wells in third world countries –are busily preparing for their annual golf tournaments.

The 13th annual Water Ambassadors Canada Golf classic is set for Thursday, June 19 at Blairhampton Golf Course.

Spokesman Barry Hart said that in light of the current political and economic climate, they are highlighting an all
Canadian theme.

“There will be holes sponsored by, and promoting, local auto industry, Canadian softwood lumber, buy and build in
Haliburton, dine in Haliburton, etc. The ‘water needs’ information holes will be interspersed with these Canadian and local themes,” Hart added.

He said various local businesses have helped fund the event. As a thank you to them, Hart said Water Ambassadors Canada is buying gift cards and certificates from them as prizes and draws for the golfers.

They are hoping to use the funds raised this year for well repairs in Honduras, chlorinators in Colombia, and a well drill in Guatemala.

Water Ambassadors Canada is a registered Canadian charity founded in Haliburton 23 years ago. They drill and repair wells, install filtration and chlorination systems and teach hygiene. They have worked in more than
20 countries.

“We have helped give clean drinking water to half a million people,” Hart said. “We deeply appreciate the support that we have received from the community.” Hart said sponsors, donors and players are always welcome.

Meanwhile, Help a Village Effort, based out of Minden, said it is hosting its fifth annual Ron Reid HAVE charity golf tournament Aug. 14 at Gull River Golf Club. Spokesperson Michele Coneybeare said they are currently seeking sponsors and prizes; as well as registrations. Coneybeare said the charity had helped build more than 700 wells since 1982. Contact micheleconeybeare@gmail.com.

Other charity tourneys

• Returning for its 26th year, the Matt Duchene Charity Golf Classic in support of the HHHS Foundation will take place at Blairhampton Golf Club July 18. Melanie Klodt Wong said it’s a sold-out event every year, with strong
community participation. She asked people to contact Susannah Moylan (smoylan@hhhs.ca) to volunteer or for
sponsorship opportunities.

• The Abbey Gardens 7th annual golf tournament fundraiser is Aug. 25. It raises money for educational and
environmental programming. This one is at Blairhampton Golf Club. They, too, are looking for sponsors and
players. People can register via janis@parkerpad.com

If you are hosting a charity golf tournament, email mike@thehighlander. ca, and we can get it into our What’s On
column

The Halls and Hawk lakes system in Algonquin Highlands has been selected for a new Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) pilot seeking to protect “valuable and vital” sources of drinking water across the province.

The chain, a key cog on the Trent Severn Waterway, was one of three watersheds announced for the pilot last week. Shelley Fellows, president of the Halls and Hawk Lakes Property Owners Association (HHLPOA), said this is a big deal for waterfront residents in the immediate area.

“Overall, our lakes look fairly healthy but there are certain things that are a concern… the thing that terrifies me is blue-green algae. We have not had any blooms on the lakes yet, but there was one upstream from us on Kennisis Lake in 2024,” Fellows said.

For years, the association has conducted its own monitoring through the Woodlands and Waterways Ecowatch, a program coordinated by U-Links. That provides a chemical analysis of samples, painting a picture of the lake’s general health but doesn’t identify bacteria that may be in the water, Fellows said.

A successful pilot project could spread to other Highlands lakes

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Walkerton drinking water tragedy, when seven people died and more than 2,300 fell ill following an E. coli contamination. The event led to significant changes in Ontario’s drinking water regulations and practices, including regular bacterial and chemical testing of municipal systems.

A special report by Ontario’s auditor general, released in March, identified ongoing gaps affecting drinking water safety for nearly three million Ontario residents who rely on non-municipal systems for their drinking water. On Halls and the Hawks, where water is pulled from the lake, there’s no legislation requiring upkeep, meaning many systems remain untested and unregulated.

Fellows said HHLPOA applied to be part of the pilot – a second phase for FOCA – in March, shortly after hearing from members on what they feel the association should prioritize in its 20-year lake plan update. A new document will be rolled out next year, replacing the one completed in 2006.

Almost unanimously, water quality was the number one concern heard.

“We asked people about things like boat noise, wakes, water usage, but the top issue by far was this feeling that preserving the quality of the water was paramount,” she said, noting that survey was submitted o FOCA as part of the application. “It definitely helped us land this pilot.”

FOCA’s CEO Lesley Lavender said there were 12 applicants, noting the three selected stood out based on their demonstrated experience, strong volunteer commitment and enthusiasm to build capacity provincially for source water protection. Others selected are based in Sundridge and Perth.

“All lake associations, including those in Haliburton County, are encouraged to explore source water protection,” Lavender said. “FOCA aims to help extend a culture of multi-barrier drinking water protection into rural and waterfront communities, starting with the source – our precious freshwater.

The work

Last year, FOCA partnered with Ontario’s Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and the Kinmount Park Estates Association to develop a source water protection plan for the waterfront community on Crego Lake.

Working with consulting engineers and volunteers on the lake, the pilot assessed threats to the community’s drinking water, including risks posed by septic systems, fuel storage, and the area’s vulnerable fractured bedrock geology. It provided practical recommendations to help the community mitigate risk and safeguard private water sources.

These include maintaining a naturalized shoreline buffer at the water’s edge, avoiding pesticide use, using biodegradable cleaning products, testing well water, and having septic systems inspected. Fellows anticipates similar recommendations for Halls and Hawk lakes.

A five-person working group has been established, formulating a plan for the summer. She hopes to grow that core group to 10 people, ideally with representatives from each of the three lakes, as well as the Kennisis River. Fellows said HHLPOA has also invited Algonquin Highlands township to participate in the pilot.

The project will kick-off this month at the association’s upcoming AGM, happening June 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Shalom by the Lake resort on Little Hawk Lake Road.

“Then, for the rest of the summer, we will be doing another survey, taking a look at publicly available information on water quality, nearby land uses, and geography and topography of the region to identify risk to source water quality,” she said. “Then, in the fall, we should have a list of risks to drinking water quality and a very specific source water protection plan.”

There will be another meeting late fall to present findings, with a final plan expected by the end of the calendar year. That information will also be used for HHLPOA’s updated 20-year lake plan. She noted that document will likely see several changes from the last one.

“The community is very active and aware about things that were acceptable 25 years ago but aren’t today. Before, many wouldn’t think anything of sending kids into the lake with a bar of soap, but people aren’t doing that anymore,” she said.

“It will be like a strategic plan for our waterbodies, guiding us to ensure the sustainability and health of the lake going forward. Having the FOCA piece this year too just means this latest plan will be the most informative one yet,” she added.

Anyone interested in joining the working group can contact president@ hallshawklakes.ca.

County of Haliburton CAO Gary Dyke wants to continue tackling the service delivery review – tabling a fulsome report to the May 28 County council meeting.

His proposal for a second phase garnered council approval.

The County began the review of 66 services it, and member townships, provide, in 2022. That review found 12 high priority services that could be targeted for efficiencies. Six of them (solid waste management, fire services, economic development, bylaw enforcement, procurement and IT/digital strategy) were addressed in 2022-23.

Dyke said phase two has identified engineering, communications, human resources, and planning.

He said the next detailed review and analysis would be done by County and township staff, led by CAOs. Final reports on recommended options would be provided to County council in September, and to member municipal councils in October.

Dyke said, “on an overall basis, the ones that were implemented were implemented successfully and resulted in increased productivity and service delivery efficiencies.”

Some were not, however, such as councillors rebuking the idea of centralizing solid waste management.

The CAO talked about some of the challenges that have bogged the review down.

He said staff were presented with 12 “significant” tasks, but “a minimal implementation plan.” He said the strategy going forward is to break it down into manageable chunks. In addition, Dyke said there were “no clearly articulated” service agreements between the County and the townships, leading to “ambiguity and misremembering.” He’d like detailed service agreements going forward so, “everyone understands what their role is, who’s lane is what lane, and what to do in the event of conflict.”

No job cuts in County’s services delivery review

He also called for “accountability and effective valuation of what we are doing.” He also felt they need a review of all staff vacancies, when people leave, “to determine the relevancy and value of each role to the organization’s strategic goals.”

Deputy warden Liz Danielsen agreed, “one of the greatest challenges we ran into right off the top was there was so much, so many recommendations, so much work to do.” She said it was “overwhelming.” She felt service agreements are needed.

Overall, she said for the service delivery review to work, “we really need to have buy-in here from all of us in order to go forward. We’ve talked about this an awful lot and we seem to keep kind of stumbling and not going ahead the way we should be.”

Coun. Bob Carter said another difficulty was turning the work “over to a group of people in which jobs could be potentially redefined or threatened. You almost need an outside person to lead the task force… just having somebody maybe a bit more neutral.”

But Dyke said they’d never discussed job cuts. “We’re not thinking of getting rid of people. When someone is leaving, really take a look at it, is there an opportunity for efficiencies here? That gives a sense of security to staff. Finding efficiencies doesn’t mean someone is going to lose their job.”

Coun. Walt McKechnie said he personally felt the process was taking them towards a one-tier government and, “I don’t believe in a one-tier government in Haliburton County.”

But Dyke said they have no intention of looking at single-tier. He said municipal governments do, however, face challenges with a regressive property tax system and spending demands. He said it’s about creating efficiencies and, “how we keep ourselves tenable” with extra pressure for services. Danielsen expressed a “desire to work better together … not taking power, control…no desire for the A (amalgamation) word.”