HHHS, province must do better

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March 2, 2020

Highland Wood could be a bellwether for catastrophe to come.

The long-term care facility’s emergency closure has gotten scarce attention outside of our county, but it deserves a lot more notoriety. After a tumultuous evacuation due to a sudden roof failure last year, family, staff and management held nothing back in severely criticizing how it was handled. A report was released Feb. 21.

For the Ministry of Health and LongTerm Care (MOHLTC), and Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS), it is an embarrassment.

Highland Wood was a tragedy and exposes lapses in our health care system that need to be addressed. It is no surprise that people involved described long-term trauma. It cannot be understated how difficult it can be to move someone from a long-term care facility, many at the end of life. Though such moves do not necessarily lead to worse physical health, the mental and emotional toll on some families and residents was severe. Nobody should have to spend their precious final days dealing with this, but it happened, and at least two residents passed away after getting moved.

By all accounts, the powers were not fully equipped to handle the situation. Residents were moved quickly enough, but things got more difficult after that. Some families struggled with multiple moves. People complained about communications problems and a lack of support. There were issues with the repatriation process and staff struggled with the increased demands of the situation. The HHHS board was criticized for being absent, and deservedly so; it has been quiet on Highland Wood, when it is apparent it should have been very vocal.

This all raises questions about the state of long-term care infrastructure, both with Highland Wood and across the province. The roof nearly made it to its replacement date in the spring but failed unexpectedly ahead of time due to ice buildup, after a difficult freeze-thaw cycle in the winter. HHHS maintains the early failure could not be predicted, but it is apparent that families, management and staff do not buy that.

We cannot say whether HHHS should have been able to avoid this, though we will endeavour to answer those questions. But long-term care infrastructure is an issue the province must address. With long-term care projects assuredly on the rise, they must be built to withstand the elements and the more severe weather climate change will bring. Those facilities that already exist must get funding to guarantee proactive maintenance. Staff also must get proper support, lest a critical part of our health care sector suffer employment shortages due to burnout.

It is worth noting not every family found the experience onerous. Some felt the process went smoothly and their relatives received good care elsewhere after being moved. But the scope of negativity from staff, management and families shows that nothing can be brushed aside.

HHHS appears to be treating this seriously, but we will monitor closely to see their follow-through. We do recognize that HHHS showed courage in releasing this damaging feedback to the public. We also recognize that if the local health services didn’t have to worry so much about annual budgets, thanks to MOHLTC lack of funding, it wouldn’t have had to play “Russian roulette” [as one reported point of feedback called it] with the roof in the first place. It did gamble, but the MOHLTC was the one holding the gun.

We are at a turning point in our country. Our senior population is ballooning and our health care system is attempting to adapt to that. Haliburton is at the heart of it, with its large senior population. But If Highland Wood is any indication (and we have not even touched on waiting lists yet) our health care system is not ready to handle the influx.

Province-wide strike shuts local schools

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Lisa Gervais

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February 28, 2020

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Local secondary and elementary faculty joined a historic provincewide strike Feb. 21 as unions and the provincial government remain at an impasse in collective negotiations.

All four provincial teachers’ unions joined in the protest, the first time this has happened since 1997. The event is the latest in a series of strikes as the province has been unable to come to collective agreements with those unions, who say they are pushing back against cuts.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) has also spoken out against the province’s proposal to mandate some online high school credits. Haliburton Highlands Secondary School (HHSS) bargaining chair Jason Morissette said it is unfortunate the situation has escalated this far.

“We truly are out here today because the cuts they are proposing for schools, particularly, I believe, rural high schools, will be disastrous,” Morissette said. “We believe the government is definitely on the wrong track.”

The OSSTF has announced local schools will be part of another one-day strike March 5.

Minister of Education Stephen Lecce continues to criticize union action and said they are seeking wage increases. Unions have said they want a cost of living adjustment, pegged at inflation, which would be above the one per cent raise cap for public sector workers legislated by the province last year.

“While union leaders are continuing to organize further disruption, our government remains focused on getting deals that ensure students are learning each and every day,” Lecce said in a press release.

But Morissette said teachers would not be giving up days of pay by going on strike if they were solely interested in money. “This is about working conditions and it is about students, so we are standing up for that,” he said.

The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) members also demonstrated. The union announced its next phase of job action over the next two weeks, beginning Feb. 26. It will not include strikes but will see ETFO members not fill in for absences or use personal funds to pay for school supplies.

“Using their own money to ensure their students have what they need to learn is just another example of the lengths our members will go to support Ontario’s public education system,” ETFO president Sam Hammond said in a press release.

Meanwhile, high schools are still managing the Trillium Lakelands District School Board’s mandate for secondary school teachers to not leave for extracurriculars during the day. This is due to board concerns about being able to staff classes, as the OSSTF has decided its members will no longer cover for absent colleagues.

Although sports teams have managed to play games due to fortuitous scheduling and help from non-teaching staff coaches, they have been unable to attend all.

HHSS principal Chris Boulay reported at the school council meeting Feb. 11 the status of spring sports is uncertain due to the ongoing labour issues.

Citizens flood council chambers over shoreline bylaw

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Lisa Gervais

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February 28, 2020

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County council is planning to take its time to “get it right” on a draft shoreline preservation bylaw after concerned associations overflowed its chambers Feb. 25.

The Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners’ Associations (CHA) and the Haliburton County Home Builders Association (HCHBA) came out in force for their respective delegations to council on the draft bylaw, which would restrict development and activity within 30 metres of shorelines. Council voted to undertake another line-by-line review of the bylaw, engage citizens online and in public meetings, as well as consider a working committee or group to guide the process.

With more than 40 people in the room, Danielsen said it was the fullest she could recall council chambers ever being in the past decade. She said although it was initially hoped the bylaw could be finished before the summer, it is clear consultations would have to last longer than that based on input.

“We acknowledge that there’s urgency there, but we also have to get it right,” she said.

The bylaw disallows any removal, destruction or injury to natural vegetation within the 30-metre buffer zone, unless the activity is under an exemption or a permit is granted.

CHA board chair Paul MacInnes detailed the science of how the natural vegetation is vital to lake health by helping prevent contaminants from getting into the water. Failing to protect lake health leads to algae blooms, which can plummet property values, he said.

“There will be costs to this bylaw, absolutely,” MacInnes said. “But it’s our belief that the costs of this bylaw will pale, absolutely pale, in comparison to the costs if we don’t protect our lakes.”

HCHBA vice president Glenn Evans said his association is not adversarial to the CHA’s position. He said the bylaw needs to be more moderate in its limitations on shoreline development than it is currently. He added properties that harm shoreline vegetation with development before the bylaw is in place need to take some responsibility too.

“We believe that we can work together to protect our lakes. We believe there is room for mechanisms, policies to be put in place,” he said. “But we feel the bylaw is a little bit far-reaching.”

Council discussed options for public consultation and the need to start meetings before the busy summer season. The County previously conducted an online survey on the bylaw which attracted hundreds of responses, though Coun. Carol Moffatt said many did not know of it.

Danielsen said the bylaw should not have been too surprising to people, given it was a topic in 26 different municipal meetings throughout the County and lower tiers and had multiple newspaper articles about it.

“For anyone to suggest that we’ve been working under cloak of darkness and we haven’t been trying to get the message out is not fair,” she said.

Danielsen said council also needs to sort out the costs of making the bylaw possible. The County has set aside $50,000 in this year’s budget as start-up funding for the bylaw.

“There is going to be a rather extraordinary cost, because I’m not interested in us developing a bylaw we can’t enforce or manage,” she said.

Dysart changes septic program

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Lisa Gervais

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February 27, 2020

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Dysart et al is moving ahead with plans to eliminate mandatory pump outs in its septic re-inspection program and hire a third-party firm to handle inspections.

Council voted 6-1 on Feb. 25 to support staff’s proposed changes to the program and have a new bylaw brought forward. Only Coun. John Smith opposed.

Chief building official Karl Korpela said the mandatory pump outs are unnecessary and have been the most controversial aspect of Dysart’s program. He said removing them should help increase compliance and inspection speed. He proposed pump outs only occur under maintenance requirements of the building code.

“It was determined that mandatory pump outs don’t contribute towards protecting our lakes based on the results that we’re finding,” Korpela said. “Eliminating mandatory pump outs also allows us to concentrate on other issues we’re seeing.”

Coun. Larry Clarke spoke in support of the effort and only pumping out when it is felt to be necessary. Under the staff proposal, an inspector would do a sludge test to decide.

“What’s important in this area, to me, he’s come back to us with a workable and sustainable program,” Clarke said.

Smith was against, noting the Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners Associations (CHA) and several lake associations feel it’s needed.

“Every one of them says that pump out, it’s a really important part. They’ve pointed out several examples where flaws would not have been found if it were not for the pump out,” Smith said.

Korpela said he has also heard from those sources opposed to the policy change.

“I want to emphasize a lot of that is based on misinformation about how beneficial a mandatory pump out actually is,” Korpela said. “There’s no benefit to a mandatory pump out. We’re not degrading our program whatsoever.”

Other septic inspection programs, including in Algonquin Highlands and the one about to proceed in Minden Hills, do not include mandatory pumpouts. Other changes proposed in a slate of revisions includes owners being notified of inspection dates and having them change it if necessary, rather than having them book the inspections themselves.

The changes come after compliance issues experienced in the first area surveyed in the program, which included Kennisis Lake and Little Kennisis Lake. A total of 112 out of 964 properties failed to comply, or 12 per cent.

Korpela said dealing with even a quarter of the infractions is not possible under current staffing levels and has proposed non-compliant properties be included as the first batch in the revised program.

The hiring of a firm, as done in Algonquin Highlands, is expected to improve consistency over the Dysart’s current method of having owners select from a list of 12 qualified inspectors, Korpela said.

The new bylaw is slated to return to Dysart’s Environment and Climate Change Committee before getting approval at the March council meeting.

HHHS gets scathing feedback over Highland Wood closure

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 24, 2020

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Highland Wood long-term care home families, staff and management have severely criticized the local health services’ handling of the facility’s emergency evacuation last year.

Haliburton Highlands Health Services released a draft action plan Feb. 21, which details its ideas for improvement in the wake of the feedback. The criticism came during stakeholders’ sessions Dec. 9 and 10, to address what happened after HHHS relocated residents Feb. 7 due to serious roofs leaks at Highland Wood.

A third-party, external facilitator oversaw the process according to the report. Most of the feedback was negative, with the event reportedly creating long-lasting trauma.

“Every session had tears,” the report said. “Across audiences, there is a sense that answers have not been provided, that accountability has not been accepted and that there was a cover-up.”

Feedback included a “lack of compassion” from management and the Ministry of Health. Stakeholders expressed the need for a better emergency plan and communications and HR support, which the draft action plan calls for HHHS to address.

HHHS president/CEO Carolyn Plummer said the feedback was difficult to read through but she appreciated the honesty.

“We wanted to make sure we had an opportunity to understand that experience,” Plummer said. “We are taking this very seriously and actually as hard as it was to read, I really appreciate that people were as honest as they were.”

Another common perception was the sense that the situation was preventable. The roof was ageing and slated for repair in the spring of 2019, after Highland Wood’s sister facility in Minden, Hyland Crest, had its roof fixed the fall of 2018.

“It was preventable and it’s disgusting it was allowed to happen,” the report quoted from a staff feedback session. “Played Russian roulette and lost.”

HHHS maintains that the early failure of the roof “occurred suddenly without warning,” per the preliminary report of forensic engineering firm Michael Flynn & Associates Ltd., who inspected the roof on behalf of HHHS’s insurance company.

“This event occurred very early on within the service life of the roof and without the normal signs of early failure,” Flynn wrote after his inspection. “No one within your facility is at fault and certainly should not be blamed for this unfortunate incident.”

Other points of criticism included issues with covering travel costs for family members, a lack of presence from the HHHS board, a lack of government funding for infrastructure and labour issues, with staff reportedly feeling unsupported during the incident.

Plummer said the Ministry of Health was involved in the feedback process. She said she would like to see better infrastructure funding for long-term care homes.

“There are some avenues for infrastructure funding for hospitals, but we don’t have access to those similar avenues for long-term care,” Plummer said. “There needs to be something more in place to support homes or be able to keep themselves maintained and to sustain themselves. That’s certainly something I’ve been advocating for and continue to advocate for.”

But Plummer said HHHS will move ahead with long-term infrastructure renewal regardless of whether more provincial funding comes.

“That will continue to be our plan,” Plummer said. “We’re building on that plan, but we will end up needing to borrow money to make that happen if funding doesn’t come.”

HE passes budget with 3.81 per cent levy increase

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 24, 2020

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Highlands East passed its 2020 municipal budget with a 3.81 per cent levy increase Feb. 11.

The budget includes funding for an array of improvements to some roads, fire departments and Cardiff facilities. CAO Shannon Hunter said the budget this year avoids larger changes to the organization and infrastructure to do further review. With the County and education rates factored in, Highlands East residents can expect a total tax rate increase of 1.61 per cent, or $13.69 for every $100,000 of assessment.

Coun. Cam McKenzie complimented staff on the budget, adding council has generally not taken issue with budgets in recent years.

“I would just like to say to Shannon and her staff, well done,” McKenzie said. “I’ve been on council five years and we’ve never had a major disagreement or in-depth discussion on the budget.”

Highlights include $175,000 being transferred to reserves for a future, singular municipal office, recommended in an organizational review. The municipality is also allotting $50,000 for an asset management plan revision and $15,000 for a service delivery review.

Most fire halls are receiving repairs to add exhaust fans, with a couple receiving roof repairs. Station 6 is getting $59,600 for fans and roof repairs, station 4 is getting $42,560 for the same and Stations 1, 2 and 3 are each getting $20,000 for fans only. Road projects this year include $250,000 for Clement Lake Road, $150,000 for McColls Road and $48,000 for Magnificent Road.

Cardiff facilities are also getting improvements, including $200,000 for a new changeroom and bathrooms at the pool, as recommended by a facilities review. The Cardiff municipal office and library are getting $33,500 for concrete walkaways amongst other upgrades, while the Post Office and food bank are receiving $15,000.

The final budget removed $10,000 originally included in the draft for a consultant to review ward boundaries, Hunter said.

–with files from Lisa Harrison

High school curlers edge out win in dramatic finish

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 24, 2020

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Facing a championship-deciding shot, Haliburton Highlands Secondary School boys curling skip Jacob Dobson said he treated it like any other.

“We just said, here we go. Just another shot, another day,” Dobson said. “I knew exactly as soon as their rock stopped moving what I had to do.”

It was close – a matter of inches. Dobson said he could not see the result immediately. But Haliburton lead Owen Nicholls could, and he lifted his arms into the air and shouted the result: “We won!”

The team of Dobson, Nicholls, vice Liam Little and second Corin Gervais claimed the Ontario School Curling Provincial Championships in Chatham Feb. 13-15, winning the Schoolboys Trophy.

It was a dramatic finish to the tournament, which would see Haliburton go 2-1 in a round robin and best the favoured hometown Ursuline team 6-5 in the semifinals.

They surged ahead 5-0 against the Carlton Place Bears in the final, but the Bears battled back to make it 5-5 and send it to an extra end. The Bears were ready to score two in the final end, before Dobson made a strong draw to the button to come out ahead. But after Carlton matched his shot with one of their own, Dobson had to make another difficult draw to the button through multiple guard stones to win.

But after two previous years of provincial competition and years of practice, Dobson said he was ready for the moment, and succeeded. Dobson and Little placed fourth in the same competition in 2018, while Gervais joined them in placing fifth at the OFSAA provincial competition in 2019.

“It was something we worked three years for with this team,” Dobson said. “I was quite happy we were able to get that last shot out.”

It’s the first high school provincial title for Haliburton’s curlers since 2014, when a girls’ team took the title. The only other title came in 2009 with a boys’ team.

High school coach Darrell Dobson, Jacob’s father, said it is a mark of success for the Haliburton Curling Club’s youth program. He credited fellow coaches Hugh Nichol and Russ Duhaime for their efforts, which have helped result in a new championship banner being hung up at the club.

“The whole county can be proud,” the elder Dobson said.

Jacob Dobson said he is inspired by the curling greats – the likes of Mike Harris, Brad Jacobs, Brad Gushue, who sent a congratulatory message to Dobson, who attended Gushue’s curling camp.

One day, he hopes to join their ranks and bring home a Brier title and an Olympic medal.

“But at this point, just taking those steps, winning the games now,” he said.

The team was back in competition quickly and went on to win Kawarthas Feb. 18-19 and have now qualified for the regional COSSA competition March 7.

Jacob Dobson said the team worked well together with their combined experience and expects a strong showing.

“We just hope we’re going to have the same results as before,” Dobson said. “Take it game-by-game.”

TripAdvisor spurs tourism debate

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 24, 2020

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The County Tourism Committee remained at an impasse about spending on a TripAdvisor page and will seek more stakeholder feedback before coming to a decision.

The committee asked questions during a Feb. 16 meeting about investing $13,500 from the marketing budget for a Destination Sponsorship package with the company. The package would allow the County more control on a TripAdvisor destination page for the Haliburton Highlands, but some accommodators have expressed concern TripAdvisor could end up costing individual businesses.

The committee asked questions of TripAdvisor’s Emily Fowler over teleconference. Committee chair and Coun. Carol Moffatt said she wanted to ensure the County’s investment would not take extra money from local businesses.

“We don’t want to use public money to facilitate something that will force the hand of our small business owners into somewhere that they don’t want to go,” Moffatt said.

Fowler explained that with the purchase, the County would be able to control most everything on a central page for the Haliburton Highlands to promote the area. The County would be able to curate the content of the page and direct it to link out to different local businesses.

She also said TripAdvisor would not force the hand of those small businesses, who could benefit from a controlled central page directing traffic to them without having to pay into TripAdvisor themselves.

“Working with their tourism board, they’re able to have that tourism board post on their behalf,” Fowler said. “It’s really a win-winwin for stakeholders.”

But Rob Berthlot challenged that. He noted TripAdvisor offers sponsored placements to make a business feature more prominently on its website.

“If the County’s going to sponsor something, I don’t want it to sponsor something that makes me feel beholden to upgrade my thing in order to get my benefit out of it,” Berthlot said.

Fowler said she can work with businesses that do not pay into TripAdvisor directly and that the destination page does not favour businesses with a paid membership. She added algorithms for viewing habits can impact what someone sees as they browse the website.

County tourism director Amanda Virtanen said the page itself is only a $2,500 investment, for one year. The remainder of the funding is different advertising for the County on TripAdvisor, one of several different marketing initiatives being worked on, she added.

Committee member Tegan Legge said she supports it, adding TripAdvisor is important to online presence. “To me, it’s a no-brainer,” Legge said, adding her Haliburton Forest utilizes TripAdvisor readily despite not paying into it. “There are other platforms out there, but again, this is the top one, this is number one … I am very passionate that this should happen.”

The committee voted to accept the discussion as information and have staff bring back feedback from the tourism stakeholders’ group to the next County meeting.

Sweetening the pot for affordable housing

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 22, 2020

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Housing developers and advocates flocked to an information session in Haliburton Feb. 11 aimed at highlighting incentives that will help fill the regional affordable housing gap.

The City of Kawartha Lakes and County of Haliburton housing services hosted the session to discuss the new annual Affordable Housing Target Program. The initiative will guide developers through a yearlong process to help them take advantage of all the government financial incentives available to develop affordably. More than 50 people attended.

Places for People vice president Faye Martin said the new process should attract more interest into previously undersubscribed incentives.

“There was very poor take-up and part of the problem was people didn’t know about it,” Martin said. “The really, really smart thing this time around is they got Elise (Karklins, affordable housing program coordinator) here to basically hold your hand, take you through it.”

The program will accept expressions of interest for several housing types, including new rental and home developments, secondary suites, and multi-unit rehabilitation. Packages will be provided to developers based on their projects and what incentives they seek. After being filled out, the packages will be reviewed by the coordinator and a technical team, before eventually being forwarded to councils for approval. The amount of funding released by municipalities will depend on how much interest there is, according to city human services manager Hope Lee.

It is all to help the City and the County achieve their new affordable housing targets, committed to in 2019. The City is aiming to create 2,000 new affordable units over 10 years while the County is aiming for 750.

“It’s not competitive,” Lee said. “We’re going to look at each expression of interest based on its own merits and how it helps us achieve those targets.”

The incentives include a variety of funding programs that can be provided as an up-front grant, Lee said. In general, the amount of money available to an applicant is greater based on how long a developer keeps the proposed unit(s) affordable.

Haliburton Community Housing Corporation president Glenn Scott complimented the presentation and what is being offered.

“It’s actually getting close to rubber on the road,” Scott said. “This is the way to do it, is to give us a process where there is some opportunity for money at the end.”

However, he added the biggest test of the program will be seeing exactly how much funding it can provide.

“I love what they’re doing but let’s really see how they can help us out,” Scott said.

Maple View Apartments administrator Kathy Rogers said there is some real potential in the program.

“It’s a great step on starting to get us all together,” Rogers said. “There’s definitely a lot of interest.”

The pre-submission process is planned for March, with expressions of interest meetings planned for April. More information is available by contacting Karklins at ekarklins@kawarthalakes.ca or 705-324-9870 extension 3105.

Haliburton native in CBC Searchlight

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 21, 2020

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By Lisa Gervais

Haliburton native Mackenzie Robinson has made the top 100 of CBC Searchlight 2020, but needs voting help if he is to progress in the nationwide competition.

The contest invites musicians of any genre to submit an original song and compete for prizes courtesy of the Juno awards, the National Music Centre and CBC Music.

Robinson entered a song entitled I Know under the artist name Kashaga, a tribute to Lake Kashagawigamog, where he grew up.

During the last round, 50 artists made it through by popular vote and the other 50 advanced by internal judging from a team of CBC music producers. Robinson was one of them.

The contest proceeds to the top 10 finalists on Thursday, Feb. 27, and finally, the winner of Searchlight 2020 will be declared on Thursday, March 5.

“I can’t even explain how excited I am to have made the top 100 for CBC Searchlight 2020,” Robinson told The Highlander.

He said when he found out he was part of the hand-selected group, it “blew my mind. I never expected to move on to the next round, so this is huge for me. Even if I don’t make it to Top 10, I’m just happy I entered the competition.”

He said he’s doing his best to promote himself on social media to get as many people to vote for him as he can.

“This next step into Top 10 is a very short time period of five days, (voting ends Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. EST), so the pressure is on.”

Robinson said if he were to win the competition it would be a dream come true.

“Music is everything to me. It is my therapy, self expression, muse, escape, my best friend and my one true love.”

He started playing the drums at a very young age, largely inspired by early 2000’s Pop-Punk bands such as Blink 182, GOB, Billy Talent and others. He said his drumming transitioned into the world of Jazz and he is forever thankful he dove into that genre.

“It is so powerful and still such a heavy influence on the music I make and listen to today.”

He said that it was at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School that he found his love for Hip Hop through a collective called, Odd Future, which he said plays a huge role in inspiring the lyrical side of his music.

“When I began recording my own music, I labelled my self as a ‘Rapper’ but over the years I have found my voice in singing and I prefer the title of an ‘Artist.’ Although my music is mostly Hip-Hop based, I enjoy blending all of my favourite genres into one cohesive sound.”

He said the best way to follow his journey of music is through his Instagram, ‘Kxshaga’. He said all of his music content is on all platforms but he has the most attention from fans on Spotify. “There’s something nice about having a name that pays homage to the place that shaped who I am,” he added.
He said winning the competition would be the next step in making his passion become a career.

“I, like many other artists, doubt myself all of the time. Making the Top 100 has really shown me that what I’m doing is the right thing. If I win, then I will be more focused than ever to push this dream into reality and be successful in the music industry. I’m not looking for ‘fame’ or ‘clout’, but if my music can touch people and help get people through tough times, I will consider myself a success. The exposure from being in this competition will be a huge help in making this happen and I will be forever grateful if I make it to number one.”

To vote, go to cbc.ca/musicinteractives/searchlight