Highlands East councillors disagreed over new restrictions of the political activity of councillors on social media, which passed in a contested 3-2 vote.

Staff brought forward adjustments to a new code of conduct policy at a March 26 meeting. The policy, originally passed Feb. 12, was changed based on consultation with the new integrity commissioner hired by all Haliburton municipalities. Deputy mayor Cec Ryall and Coun. Suzanne Partridge voted against it.

The policy originally stated council and committee members are to refrain from negative statements against the municipality, staff, a member of the public or council on social media. However, the change extends the restriction to include political parties and other levels of government, including their officials.

Ryall questioned the measure and said councillors should be able to comment on decisions that impact municipalities.

“We have the right to criticize the government above,” Ryall said. “If you do it effectively, intelligently and respectfully.”

Chief administrative officer Shannon Hunter said it is meant to be a commonsense approach.

“No one is saying you don’t get to weigh in. Just do it in a positive way,” Hunter said. “You still have a right to say ‘I am disappointed.’”

Partridge questioned if that was really the case based on policy wording.

“I’m disappointed in the actions of the government’ is a negative statement, so we can’t say that,” Partridge said. “I really object to not being able to be politically active.”

Whether fundraising to build hospitals at home or contributing to international aid efforts, the Rotary Club of Haliburton has worked to help people over its 75-year existence.

The club celebrated that history with an event at the Pinestone Resort and Conference Centre on the anniversary of its founding March 27. More than 200 people made up of members, district representatives and political leaders attended to recognize the club’s legacy of service to Haliburton.

Club president Ted Brandon said the group has made a lasting impact on the community.

“One of our members in the room often says when he was a kid growing up, if anything good happened in our community, rotary was involved,” Brandon said. “No matter what the size or makeup of our membership, they’ve always been a positive force in our community.”

The club received recognition from across the world. Rotary International and Rotary Foundation general secretary John Hewko sent a video message recognizing the club’s efforts over the past 75 years, including raising more than $500,000 for a new local hospital, putting on the Music in the Park concert series for over a decade and hosting international exchange students.

“This list just scratches the surface of all you have done in the past 75 years,” Hewko said. “What is certain is all these efforts have provided and will continue to provide a better quality of life or life-changing experiences, for people both here and around the world.”

Dysart et al Mayor Andrea Roberts said the club has contributed to so many different community projects.

“The Rotary Club has been a key player here in the Village of Haliburton and in Dysart. What a community partner you’ve been,” Roberts said. “I can say that this club has made Haliburton a better place.”

The club also looked towards the future. Brandon teased the club’s next major local initiative to the crowd.

“Our goal in our 75th anniversary is to build nice washrooms in Head Lake Park,” Brandon said. “We are working towards that. We’re going to make a presentation to council in the next month or so.”

Brandon reflected on the date of the group’s founding, which happened March 27, 1944.

“I thought about the office in Chicago where they put the stamp on the Rotary Club’s application. I wonder if that person had any idea on the impact that decision made on the small town of Haliburton, Ontario, Canada,” Brandon said. “We have a lot to be proud of.”

Haliburton Solar and Wind was the biggest winner of the night at the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce 13th annual Business and Community Achievement Awards Gala March 30.

The energy company was recognized for four different awards at the Pinestone Resort and Conference Centre: innovation and creativity, customer first, business achievement as well as the skilled trades and industry award.

President Brian Nash said all the recognition came as quite a surprise.

“We leave with a great amount of pride,” Nash said. “We’ve worked terribly hard over the last five-to-six years to build a great business and it’s wonderful to be recognized for that from our peers tonight.”

The event honours excellence from businesses and non-profit organizations with 12 different awards through a public nomination process. This year, a total of 127 nominations were received. Nash credited the successful night to the passion of the people who make up the company.

“We strive every day to create incredibly innovative energy solutions and we work very hard to provide our customers with fantastic support,” Nash said.

The award for Highlander of the Year went to Steve Todd of Todd’s Your Independent Grocer.

“I try to do as much as I can in the community,” Todd said. “It’s an honour. There’s a lot of people in this community that do a lot of things and it’s just an honour to be nominated.”

The Warden’s Choice Award, chosen by Liz Danielsen, went to Harvest Haliburton. It was presented by deputy warden Dave Burton.

“Through a series of partnerships and strong collaboration, Harvest Haliburton has done extraordinarily well to identify, develop and grow culture and build environments necessary to cultivate sustainable food systems within the county,” Burton said.

Chamber president Andrea Strano said she wants to work to welcome new ideas and continue to support local businesses.

“We all want to shoot for the same goals. To have a healthy, robust and thriving community for years to come. This is really about businesses supporting one another,” Strano said. “We support each other, we face the challenges together and we embrace change together.”

Category winners:

Not-for-Profit of the Year Award: Rotary Club of Haliburton

Customer First – Employee: Shontel Neville (Heat-Line Freeze Protection Systems)

New Business of the Year: Haliburton County Chiropractic & Rehabilitation

Tourism & Hospitality: Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve

Young Professional of the Year: Dr. Kassie Wright (Haliburton County Chiropractic & Rehabilitation)

Entrepreneur of the Year: Brandi Hewson (WAI Products Ltd.)

Students led a demonstration outside the Dysart et al municipal office to protest climate change inaction March 22.

More than 20 people participated in the demonstration, including high school and elementary school students, parents and concerned citizens. It was organized by Haliburton Highlands Secondary School student Jürgen Shantz, who was inspired by the strike of Swedish student Greta Thunberg.

Shantz said people need to take responsibility for climate change for the sake of the children of tomorrow.

“You might not think it’s important. But years later, down the line, your children, your nephews, your grandchildren, might ask you, ‘what the hell were those guys doing?’” Shantz said. “You have to say, ‘well, I knew, and I didn’t do anything.’ You kind of have to live with that unless you show up.”

Shantz, who skipped school to do the protest, said he intends to do it again for another three weeks. The action mimics Thunberg, who has become internationally recognized.

Shantz said he read through news stories about Thunberg and watched one of her speeches.

“Near the end, she was talking about talking to her grandchildren about doing the best she could,” Shantz said. “I want to do the same thing.”

A contingent from the advocacy group Concerned Citizens of Haliburton County also attended. Member Bonnie Roe said the demonstration increases awareness about the issue.

“There’s hope to get something going that’s bigger,” Roe said. “The momentum’s just going to increase.”

Parent Arlene Cochrane attended and said the children participating will learn that they can make a difference if they stand up.

“We’ve known it’s been an issue for very many years and it doesn’t seem anything is significantly changing,” Cochrane said. “Hopefully, the voices of children will help it escalate.”

The demonstration attracted the attention of municipal leaders. Dysart et al Mayor Andrea Roberts said she talked to demonstrators about what they would like to see her do.

“It’s nice to see young people get involved and take a stand on something,” Roberts said. “If we all did our part a little bit, we can make change.”

Dysart et al Environment Committee chair and Coun. John Smith approached Shantz and said he would like to work with him.

“Small steps, that’s what’s going to change the world,” Smith said to Shantz. “We’re building awareness right? That’s why I’d like to help you … Well done. Keep at it, don’t give up.”

Shantz said he would like to see serious action on a large scale, including at the municipal and provincial levels.

“I never thought of this as the most eco-friendly place, so it’s really cool to see people caring that much,” he said.

The protest continued on for a second consecutive week, with students again demonstrating outside the building March 29.

Haliburton Highlands Secondary School students slept among the shelves of the school library to raise awareness and learn about homelessness March 22.

The school’s Interact Club hosted its first-ever Sleepover for Homelessness event, with more than 30 students participating. Students slept on the ground in the library, without their home’s luxuries. They also discussed stories of homelessness and different myths about it.

Club staff advisor Christine Carr said it was a way to counter misconceptions about homelessness.

“A lot of students don’t realize it is a problem in this area,” Carr said.

The evening was done in solidarity with Places for People’s Sleeping in Cars event March 1, which had participants sleep out one night in their vehicle. Club president Josie Quigley said they were initially invited to participate in that. Due to liability and logistical issues, however, the club hosted their own event instead, which was more accessible to students.

“It’s more about opening up the conversation about something that we don’t really talk about, especially as youth,” Quigley said. “Everybody knows somebody that’s been kicked out, but we don’t really refer to it as homelessness and we don’t really realize what an epidemic it is.”

Participant Hailey Brisco said the event was a chance to better understand what homeless people go through.

“There are so many things you take for granted, like having a roof over your head, and so many people don’t have that,” Brisco said.

Quigley said she was shocked by the number of people who attended.

“It’s because it’s so relatable. We all know someone that’s been homeless, or that’s been in-between houses, couch surfing,” Quigley said.

Carr said the event helps students better know their community.

“It helps them be able to help others if they’re aware of it (homelessness),” Carr said. “There’s a lot of stigma around it. By trying to take away some of the stigmas, it can help people be more likely to reach out for help.”

The province is giving Haliburton municipalities an unexpected, one-time funding windfall which amounts to more than $500,000 for each of them.

It was announced by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing March 20 for small and rural municipalities. The money is aimed at helping them to improve service delivery “by finding smarter, more efficient ways to spend money,” according to a press release.

“This funding will help small and rural municipalities improve how they deliver services and reduce the ongoing costs of providing those services,” Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark said.

The County of Haliburton will receive the largest allotment locally at $725,000. Dysart et al and Minden will receive
$542,255 each, Algonquin Highlands will get $532,292, and Highlands East $534,469.

County Reeve Liz Danielsen said she is grateful for the extra cash.

“This is ‘found’ money coming in after we have completed our budget discussions. It is difficult to say at this point what county council will determine as best use,” Danielsen said.

Highlands East Mayor Dave Burton said the funding makes a big difference to Highlands East’s bottom line. He added the municipality could explore a service delivery review, but it would not take all the money.

“I don’t really know what we’ll do with the rest of it. It could go to the other reviews we’re doing,” Burton said. “It’s huge. It’s just what we needed.”

At a Dysart et al council meeting March 26, deputy mayor Patrick Kennedy said the county has committed to examining service delivery, instructing staff to compile an inventory for the end of May. He said it would be a great exercise to identify shortages and challenges but also areas that are working extremely well together.

Later in the meeting, during the discussion on the one-time funding, he said he thought modernizing service delivery referenced “get your own ducks in order or we will.” He added some of the money could be used to put towards a larger pool of money for a countywide local government service review.

Municipalities will also be benefitting from a one-time funding windfall from the federal government, which is doubling this year’s gas tax allotments to municipalities.

The allotment goes toward local infrastructure. At the county level, the 2019 budgeted gas tax contribution before the doubling was $547,933, Danielsen said.

“We have a number of outstanding projects including roads and bridges and council will be discussing where the funds are best spent with the guidelines provided,” Danielsen said.

However, Danielsen said she is concerned about what the impact of the extra money could mean for funding programs in 2020 and beyond.

“We have been clear that we expect our partners, including municipalities, to be taking steps to become more efficient,” the ministry said in a press release. “This funding supports Ontario’s commitment to reduce the cost of government.”

The province announced Dec. 21, 2018 it would be reviewing the Ontario Municipal Partnership Funding (OMPF) as part of its effort to reduce its deficit. The funding is the province’s main assistance grant to municipalities.

The province opted to maintain OMPF funding levels for 2019. But Burton said municipalities would have to be prepared for that to change in 2020.

“It may not be there next year, that same opportunity,” Burton said.

The City of Kawartha Lakes unveiled its ideas to address affordable housing and homelessness over the next 10 years through a public consultation session March 14.

The session, held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 129 Haliburton, invited the public to offer feedback on the municipality’s efforts to address those issues in the city and County of Haliburton. The consultation is part of an effort to create the new 10-year plan.

Twelve people attended, including government officials, landlords and affordable housing advocates. City of Kawartha Lakes manager of housing Hope Lee said it was good to get a broad range of feedback.

“Things we can now incorporate into the plan before it’s finalized,” Lee said. “Even though it was smaller, we still got a lot of involvement. Everybody was enthusiastic.”

The city’s presentation highlighted efforts to address issues to date. It noted the waiting list for financially-assisted housing has expanded 375 per cent since 2013, with nearly 1,700 households on the list today.

The city also presented several policy areas to inform its new plan, including ending homelessness, better co-ordination with other community services, improving energy efficiency of affordable housing and supporting non-profit housing corporations. Each policy had a detailed list of objectives, with consultation participants offering more ideas.

“This is unbelievable, the work that you’ve put into every one of these policy areas,” commented participant Debbie Sherwin. “How many staff hours you’ve put together coming up with all these.”

Kathy Sweeney with the Minden Hills Housing Task Force said the plan is well thought out with a lot of useful background information.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” Sweeney said. “It doesn’t really address the need as much as it needs to, but I don’t think it’s entirely up to this group to do that. They need assistance from the private sector.”

Public feedback will be built into the final housing and homelessness plan, which is scheduled to be presented in June.

“There has been interviews, there has been these public consultations, there has been a survey,” Lee said. “We’ll double check to see what was said, has it been incorporated already and if it hasn’t, how do we incorporate it.”