Committee says ‘no’ to marijuana festival

By

-

October 10, 2019

cannabis — Dysart's events and recreation programming committee voted 4-1 against a marijuana festival.

Proponents of a marijuana festival for Dysart et al will have to make significant changes if the event is to get off the ground for 2020.

Dysart’s events and recreation programming committee voted 4-1 against Potapalooza at their meeting Oct. 8.

Diana Gomes and Maureen Rogers appeared before the committee this past Tuesday with more details of the fair they first brought to the committee in June.

They said the festival is geared towards the de-stigmatization and healthy teaching of how and when to use cannabis.

“Due to the legalization of cannabis, we are aware that a lot of people are still not correctly informed of all the advantages of cannabis. We intend to cover all genres of cannabis production and what is available to the consumer,” they told the committee.

Their proposal is for Sept. 11-13 in Head Lake Park. They estimated they would have 100 vendors and attract 6,500 people. They said proceeds would go to area youth but had no specifics.

Committee member Laurie Jones was the only one to vote in favour of a motion supporting a cannabis education expo, Sept. 11-13, 2020 with organizers working with staff on a park use agreement. Voting against were: Coun. Walt McKechnie, committee member Nicki BrazierHagarty, Mayor Andrea Roberts and Coun. Larry Clarke.

Jones said the proponents could help their cause by changing the name from Potapalooza to something such as the cannabis education festival. She also suggested they scale it back for a first-time event. Jones quoted the information from Gomes and Rogers about de-stigmatizing and healthy teaching. She acknowledged there is a large seniors’ population in Dysart et al that might be opposed to such a fair, but also a lot of people using cannabis and CBD oil. She said the popularity of Capturing Eden demonstrated a need. She added it would give accommodators another weekend to make money.

Roberts said she’s fine with Capturing Eden but she’d had ratepayers approach her to say they don’t want a marijuana festival and the committee had to decide if it was something they were prepared to support. “What we put our name to is endorsing it.”

Roberts, who researched a recent Baysville event in the Township of Muskoka during the meeting, said there’s was a one-day event, with 20 vendors, eight speakers, and held indoors at an arena. She said she’d be more likely to support something on that scale, rather than the proposed Potapalooza.

During a lengthy discussion, Clarke said when area seniors hear Potapalooza, they’re thinking Woodstock. That’s not what it is.” He suggested organizers come up with a name “to properly describe what you’re trying to do.”

Gomes said Potapalooza was simply a working name and it could change.

Brazier-Hagarty thought the idea was good in principle, but organizer’s expectations over-zealous.

McKechnie said he was not open about the issue and thought council should make the final decision.

After the vote, Jones asked if the proponents could come back with a smaller scale event at a different venue. Clarke said he would encourage them to do so.

Gomes and Rogers expressed frustration throughout their delegation. They said they had researched similar festivals, gathered information and sought out interested vendors. They said they would have had even more vendors if they had a date locked down with the township. They also presented a budget to the committee, estimating a cost of $45,000. They said they planned to fence in the event and keep it far from the children’s playground and donate proceeds to charity.

Gomes, who uses cannabis to manage her fibromyalgia, said, “I’m a functioning pothead.” She added, “The last thing we want to do is screw up.”

Service, pumps and propaganda

By

Jack Brezina

-

October 9, 2019

0

I was standing there quietly daydreaming as I squeezed the trigger.

The familiar whoosh of the liquid and faint whiff of petroleum confirmed that I was indeed pumping gasoline into my car. My gaze wandered from the distant hills, to the hypnotic spin of the digital readouts to the dire warning from our Ontario Government that if we don’t do something about global warming, Doug Ford is going to raise the price of petroleum like an arrow going straight to the moon.

I may have got the last bit wrong, because the sticker had been brutally vandalized by someone with a sharpie, but I was sure he was taking the blame for it all … after all the provincial logo was right there.

But surely, I digress: My purpose was not to launch into a rant about a Premier whose family business made millions selling stickers, forcing gas stations to add yet more stickers to the world. I’ll leave that to the anti-sticker league. No. My mind wandered to the days when one pulled into a service station, you know a place where they could service your car as well as sell gasoline. Driving over a hose as one approached the pumps would activate a clang inside the station and several chaps would drop what they were doing and run out to greet the driver. These attendants, often in uniform with company insignia on their jackets, a cap with a shiny visor and another insignia, would rush to the driver’s window to take the gas order … regular or super. They would ask if you would like to have your oil level checked and, in some cases, the air pressure in your tires as well. And while all this was happening, someone would be cleaning the windshield and headlights. After all, this was a service station.

Emblematic of that service was an actor who endeared himself to most Canadians like a close friend. Murray Westgate was the face of Imperial ESSO on Hockey Night in Canada television broadcasts starting in 1952. Saturday night hockey became a country-wide ritual. His rich baritone voice and friendly, some might say folksy, manner, made Westgate synonymous with the ESSO brand. In the commercial’s catchphrase, he promised “Happy Motoring” to anyone who pulled into an ESSO station. Westgate died in August 2018, just four months after celebrating his 100th birthday.

You would probably be hard- pressed to find a service station that provides the kind of attention drivers got back when Murray Westgate was on television. Now you not only pump your own gas, but you have the option of being the cashier as well with the pay at the pump systems. Need your oil checked or windows washed? Today’s gas stations provide a paper towel dispenser so you can wipe the dip stick and your hands and there is usually a container of window washer fluid somewhere near the pumps and a sponge and squeegee on a stick so you can do it all yourself. There is no hose for you to run over to activate the bell because there are no attendants in spiffy uniforms just waiting to rush out to service your vehicle.

As I noted at the beginning, however, there is one diversion to capture your attention while you wait for the tank to fill. The newest addition at the pumps: you can also catch up on some political propaganda while you fill up.

Candidate profiles: Green Party – Elizabeth Fraser

By

Lisa Gervais

-

October 9, 2019

0

FEDERAL ELECTION Elizabeth Fraser Greens-web — Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock Green Party Candidate Elizabeth Fraser. Photo submitted.

Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock Green Party candidate Elizabeth Fraser is doing a lot more while studying than your average university student.

Fraser is pursuing a degree in environmental studies at Carleton University in Ottawa and is in her third year. She became involved in student politics, kick-starting the Green Party club at her school.

She said she did not imagine running at the age of 21. But after being approached to run by the party, it made sense to her.

“This election is really important just because of the issues we’re facing in society in general, especially with climate change,” Fraser said. “If you’re at all concerned about climate change, you really need to take action, and getting involved in politics is one of the best ways you can do that.”

Fraser hails from Bethany, a village in the City of Kawartha Lakes west of Peterborough, where she has lived for 20 years. She said she has kept herself involved in both political and environmental groups during her schooling.

“I have a really good sense of the important issues that need to be tackled.”

The three biggest issues she said she wants to address as an MP are affordable housing,
health care accessibility and improving the job market through investing in small businesses as well as the green sector.

“Jobs definitely are the number one issue for most people,” Fraser said. “Small businesses are the backbone of Canadian economies and so ensuring small businesses have the funding they need, for the investments that they need, to grow.”

Climate change is making headlines as student-led protests are taking place around the world. Fraser said she supports the initiative.

“It’s bringing a topic to light. This is something we should be concerned about. As someone that falls into that younger generation, I know for myself and for people my age, it’s a huge concern,” she said. “These kinds of protests on a huge level are so important to raising awareness to people already in Ottawa and the people who will be in Ottawa after the election.”

The riding is historically Conservative, but Fraser said she remains optimistic and wants to ensure people know what the Green Party is about.

“I really just want to make sure the Green Party is a feasible and realistic option for them,” Fraser said. “There are quite a few areas where the Green Party and the Conservative Party kind of agree, especially on issues of supporting small businesses.”

The campaign trail has been positive, Fraser said. But she added as a candidate from a smaller party, her campaign may be shorter.

“It’s a lot harder to run a very full-scale campaign,” Fraser said. “I’m making an effort to get out into the communities and talk to as many people as I possibly can and kind of understand their pain points.”

Fraser is the youngest candidate in the riding. She said she understands her age could be a challenge for some voters but said she would be driven as an MP.

“I’m very passionate about improving people’s lives,” Fraser said. “I decided to run because I really do care about improving people’s quality of life and strongly believe the Green Party’s policies can do that.

“I hope people can see I would work really hard for them if I were elected.”

Stewards stymied in fight against zombie plants

By

Lisa Gervais

-

October 9, 2019

0

JQ - Eurasian Milfoil - 2-web — Eurasian Milfoil, also known as the “zombie plant” is causing concern for the Drag and Spruce Lake Property Owners’ Association. Photos Submitted.

Drag and Spruce Lake Property Owners’ Association lake steward Bert Bicknell has spent the past four years trying to combat the spread of the infamous “zombie plant” in Drag Lake.

The association has cordoned off the patch of Eurasian Milfoil. The invasive species, which earned its nickname from multiplying even when cut, is known to reduce biodiversity, reduce oxygen levels and hinder recreational activity.

Fearing its spread, the association tried to introduce new technology – coconut fibre mats – to stomp out the milfoil this summer. But Bicknell said the group has run up against provincial regulations, costing them a season of work.

Bicknell said for lake stewards, addressing invasive species like this can be difficult – if not impossible.

“We are aware that it’s important to check for them, but there’s very few things we can do to prevent them,” Bicknell said.

Eurasian Milfoil has not yet sprung up in other Haliburton lakes but has grabbed headlines for its spread in places such as Quebec. It has also spread to several lakes in the Kawarthas, whether through boats, fishing gear or water currents.

The association has connected with Trent University professor Eric Sager, who has worked with other lake associations with the fibre mats. The mats are placed over the milfoil to prevent growth. They are also biodegradable, introducing new competition for the milfoil to deal with.

But Bicknell said it was unable to get the approvals it needed from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to install the mats, due to the association not being an incorporated entity.

“We have applied but it takes several weeks to get that,” Bicknell said. “We hope that we will get approval to do it next spring.”

Although the plant has yet to spread far, Bicknell said the association remains fearful that could happen if it is not addressed quickly enough. He added there have been reports of Milfoil parts drifting into other areas of Drag Lake.

“What we’re really worried about is the possibility it could spread substantially,” Bicknell said.

However, Sager said those fears may be exaggerated. Sager said the biggest impact of Milfoil is on human activity. He noted the milfoil can create a good habitat for fish and said news coverage has exaggerated how much harm it really does to lake health.

“People get desperate with this plant and they just want to try,” Sager said. “There’s a fear with it that it’s going to destroy their lake so they want to try and stop it. Whether that fear is a realistic fear or not, that would be up for debate.”

But despite the challenges and costs involved, Bicknell said the association is intent on addressing the zombie plant sooner rather than later.

“It could propagate significantly and cause many more problems,” Bicknell said.

Veterinarian opens new eco-friendly facility

By

Lisa Gervais

-

October 9, 2019

0

JQ - Animal hospital - 1-web — The Minden Animal Hospital held a tree planting ceremony as part of its open house celebration Sept. 28. Left to right: Dan Allison, Warden Liz Danielsen, owner Jenn Morrow, Minden Hills Mayor Brent Devolin. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

Minden’s pet owners hailed the opening of a new care facility for their furry friends as the Minden Animal Hospital held a grand opening celebration Sept. 29.

The new hospital was built over the last year, with staff moving in May 27. The facility features a slew of added features and brand-new equipment.

Owner Jenn Morrow said the Minden Animal Hospital will be able to offer better treatments for its patients.

“The one philosophy we had when designing this building was about caring,” Morrow said. “We want to care for our furry friends foremost. Our clients, our environment, our staff and our community.”

More than 40 people attended the opening, with staff providing tours of the building. It boasts an array of new elements to improve patient care, from an isolation room to a separate dental suite.

“We all kind of worked together to build the best layout we possibly could,” registered veterinary technician Morgan Fisher said. “We all love the building.”

Eco-friendliness was also front of mind in the design. The structure features recycled rubber flooring, solar power generation and LED lighting. Open house attendees were also treated to a demonstration of permeable paving, the first example in Haliburton County. The paving absorbs most rainfall, preventing run-off and filtering out pollutants like phosphorous before they reach lakes.

Morrow said being environmentally conscious is important to her.

“Climate change is scary. I moved up here because I loved living in the Haliburton Highlands and all it has to offer, being close to nature,” Morrow said. “I want to do my part in reducing my footprint, and not only personally but also through the business.”

It was not a problem-free build. Morrow said it went eight per cent over budget.

“Every build has its surprises and challenges, and this was no exception,” Morrow said. “But overall, I’m very pleased with the end result and it is what we wanted.”

Steve Tripp attended the open house. He said he has two golden retrievers he takes to the Minden Animal Hospital and said the added features should mean a lot to the community.

“I just wish them the best of luck,” Tripp said. “The staff is awesome and friendly and they seem very caring.”

“I’m happy with what we have achieved,” Morrow said. “Just looking forward to providing excellent services to our clients and our patients.”

Summit set to launch new tourism greenway

By

Lisa Gervais

-

October 7, 2019

0

JQ - TAG project - 1-web — TAG co-ordinator Pamela Marsales presents to an audience about an upcoming summit for the tourism initiative. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

The gateway to a massive path between Toronto and Algonquin Park is set to begin with a summit scheduled for Nov. 3-4 in Haliburton.

Toronto-Algonquin Greenway (TAG) organizers presented that vision to the public in a presentation at the Rails End Gallery and Arts Centre Sept. 17. The Haliburton Community Cooperative committee seeks to create a new tourism destination through a massive cycling route joining the two locales using existing infrastructure.

Co-ordinator Pamela Marsales told the audience of approximately 20 people that the summit, which will invite partners from along the proposed route to Sir Sam’s Ski and Ride, will culminate in a new agreement to formally create TAG.

“This will become our founding, declared principles,” Marsales said. “Forevermore, in 10, 20, 50 years, people can look back at that moment in time and say that’s when Toronto Algonquin Greenway Alliance first started. It’s going to be pretty exciting.”

The committee based the project on models done worldwide. Examples exist connecting places such as Prague and Vienna and Florida to the Canadian border. Marsales said the groundwork is in place to make the route happen.

“Every part of the Toronto Algonquin Greenway it already exists, owned, managed, stewarded. Has public programming in place, it’s open to the public. All we’re doing is sort of stringing them together.”

The proposed route begins in Toronto along the Pan-Am Path, flowing into Rouge National Park and the York Durham Region. The Trans Canada Trail takes the route to Lindsay, flowing north from the Victoria Rail Trail into the Haliburton County Rail Trail. The project proposes to attract tourism to places along the route, with promotional material for each locale.

“All we’re doing is curating. We’re not managing a route,” Marsales said.

Audience members questioned how much municipalities will be willing to get on board and make improvements along the route. Marsales replied if groups band together, they can advocate to convince municipal leaders.

“We can help the powers at be to do whatever they need to do,” she said.

Haliburton Real Easy Ryders Cycling Club president Robin Bell said he thinks it is a great initiative but there is much work to be done.

“At the moment, we can’t really ride a bike easily on our own Haliburton County Rail Trail. If that’s the way it stays in the future, I don’t think many tourist cyclists would be interested in coming to ride here,” Bell said.

Although the TAG committee has not started promoting it as a destination yet, Marsales said work will soon be underway. She added the group will encourage municipalities to hire summer students to be trail ambassadors.

“We’re going to be taking steps to make this come to life,” Marsales said. “It will be a happening thing by next summer for sure.”

Garbutt Disposal presses council

By

Lisa Gervais

-

October 7, 2019

0

JQ - Minden Garbutt - 1-web — Garbutt Disposal owner Jim Garbutt presented to Minden Hills council Sept. 26. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

Minden Hills council and a longtime waste disposal company argued over the contractor’s requests for the municipality to adjust its practices.

Garbutt Disposal owner Jim Garbutt presented at the township council meeting Sept. 26, as a follow-up to a presentation he made May 30. He said the municipality had not taken much action regarding his presentation, despite him expressing the need for a quick response.

Although the township started paying a new $100 per tonne cardboard processing fee proposed by Garbutt, he said no official word came back from council about it. He also offered a list of issues that remain unresolved, such as his idea to have the municipality take over the Lochlin facility and his need for space at the landfill should the facility close this fall.

“From May 30 to this day, I never heard one thing develop,” Garbutt said. “Got paid for $100 a tonne but nobody told me I was really getting paid. But the only reason we continued was if we stopped, the township would be a mess.”

Garbutt also expressed issues he has had with staff and “misinformation” he received. He said staff had disallowed him dumping his garbage packer on Friday afternoons when the landfill was open, which he protested.

Mayor Brent Devolin repeatedly noted Garbutt was breaking protocol, such as going over time and not providing written information about the presentation beforehand. Devolin said the township is working on landfill and waste issues, including plans to hire a new employee for them.

“What we’re not doing is taking an ad hoc approach to cardboard in isolation,” Devolin said. “There’s a grocery list of all of this and we’d like a good, comprehensive long-term plan going forward that’s best for everybody.”

“Not to be disrespectful but I listen to all that and it doesn’t make sense to the general public or to me,” Garbutt replied.

Coun. Pam Sayne said there is a communication breakdown that needs to be resolved.

“This is crazy. Why can’t we get along here?” Sayne said. “I’m getting information that’s contradictory all over the place.”

Deputy Mayor Lisa Schell offered to be a point of contact for Garbutt to bring these issues forward and continue the dialogue.

“All I’m looking for is a direction on where do we go,” Garbutt said.

Canadidate profiles – Liberal Party Judi Forbes

By

Lisa Gervais

-

October 7, 2019

0

FEDERAL ELECTION Judi Forbes -Liberal-web — Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock Liberal candidate Judi Forbes. Photo submitted.

Knocking on doors in Cardiff and Haliburton this past weekend, Liberal candidate Judi Forbes said people were talking about the Justin Trudeau blackface scandal.

However, she said most opinions were, “we’ve all done stupid stuff in our 20s and it was 20 years ago. What’s he doing for me now? That’s really what I want to know about.”

Forbes is a former TD Bank employee, a bed and breakfast owner in Beaverton, and a former Liberal volunteer.

She told The Highlander this week that when the party came knocking, looking for a candidate for Haliburton-Kawartha LakesBrock, it was an easy “yes.”

She was recently retired from a career in financial services, with a lot to still give, including energy. The request also came at a time when she said she’d seen a lot of regressive policies in the United States and to some extent in Ontario under the Ford government. Politics of divisiveness were also getting her down.

“I just can’t complain on Facebook anymore. It was time to actually say ‘yes,’ I’m going to do something about this.” She said she could only help bring about change from inside, not outside.

She added that the Liberal party has the kind of values that align with her own.

“We pick people over money, care for those less fortunate, treat everyone with equality and respect.”

Visiting Cardiff Saturday, Forbes said some people commented they hadn’t had a candidate at their door ever. She said while she is spending a lot of time door knocking in Lindsay, she carves out a couple of days a week to visit smaller communities. “So, they know they’re being heard.”

She said some prevalent issues she is hearing in Haliburton County are around climate change and jobs to keep young county residents at home. She thinks the Liberals have a robust climate change platform and the recent Liberal commitment of $71 million to improve connectivity will help with local job creation and retention.

She said senior issues are also at the forefront. People are worried about housing and health care as they age. She said some are well off but “there are also a number of seniors in this riding who are living at the edge. And they need a little bit of lift. We’ve already lifted 60,000 seniors out of poverty.”

One of the party’s pledges is to raise old-age pensions by 10 per cent for those 75 and older. At the other end of the spectrum, they are looking to boost the Canada Child Benefit.

“The Liberal government is really just getting started with this. We’ve had four years to get our feet on the ground and start the process. You can’t do everything in week one of forming the government.”

She added while the Liberal deficit is high, the party’s ratio of debt to GDP has lowered.

“There is good debt and bad debt. Good debt goes towards investment. If you are making more on your investments than you are paying on your deft, that’s good debt to have.”

While the riding has been largely blue for years, and Incumbent Conservative Jamie Schmale is the front-runner, Forbes said, “Blue has been in for a long time. Maybe it’s time for a change. I believe Justin Trudeau and the Liberals are going to form the next government. I believe this riding deserves to have someone in the government that is running this county and if that happens, great things are going to happen for this community.”

Strike action forces school closures

By

Lisa Gervais

-

October 4, 2019

0

Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) will shut down all of its schools Oct. 7 if the planned support staff strike goes ahead.

The board announced the measure Oct. 4, in the wake of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) declaring strike action unless a deal with the province is reached before Monday.

In a statement, the board said they considered the situation carefully.

“Trillium Lakelands District School Board has carefully assessed the potential impact on school operations and determined that student safety cannot be ensured,” the board said in a release.

The closure applies to all elementary and secondary schools, as well as adult and alternate education centres.

“We understand that this can be very frustrating for families and hope that a provincial agreement with CUPE will be reached very soon,” the board said.

Local CUPE 997 president William Campbell said his members are supportive of the strike action, which they voted overwhelmingly in favour of Sept. 7.

He said he thinks the public supports them, even in the wake of school closures.

“The public understands we’re standing up not only for our members’ working conditions, but we’re standing up for the working conditions of the students,” Campbell said. “The schools don’t have the support because there’s reduced staffing, because of layoffs and cuts. If the schools aren’t as clean because they’ve cut custodial hours, I think the students suffer as well.”

Provincial funding cuts and declining enrolment prompted TLDSB in June to lay off the full-time equivalent of 54 support staff positions, including four educational assistants in Haliburton County.

TLDSB is advising families to make alternate arrangements for their children and watch for any notifications of changes in the situation prior to Oct. 7.

The school closures also mean an end to community use permits, which the board is cancelling after Oct. 4. Daycares within TLDSB schools that “rely on CUPE staff to provide services within the contracted area” will also be closed Monday until the job action is over.

Fight for your library

By

Lisa Gervais

-

October 3, 2019

0

Libraries are underrated as part of the bedrock of our communities.

The equitable access to knowledge through books, technology and programming is vitally important to our society, especially for disadvantaged people. Libraries are also important social gathering spaces for both work and play. It can be easy to overlook libraries in an age when the world’s information is at your fingertips, but they are still well used and necessary.

Which is why it is disappointing that the county is eyeing cutting branches. It is why we have to carry a message to all levels of government.

The County’s library board floated the idea at its latest budget meeting. Highlands East is an anomaly in the county with four library branches and with increased cost pressures, it is not an unreasonable consideration.

We have covered some of the cost pressures in recent months. The province cut and then brought back the interlibrary loan service, but left libraries paying much more to keep them. ebooks are very high in demand but are cost-prohibitive on library systems, leading to our municipal leaders to lobby for provincial and federal counterparts to implement rule changes.

Year-over-year wage increases and inflation are also a factor. With how few hours some Highlands East branches run, and how many of them there are, it is easy to see why the library board would consider a cut. The Dorset library branch was also cut and turned into a library depot, a model that could get applied in Highlands East.

But ideally, that would not be necessary.

We’re in the midst of a federal election campaign and through all of billions worth of promises, I have yet to hear “libraries” listed amongst them. I cannot recall the last time I have heard any election campaign talk about them.

Although you can find books about anything, I suppose libraries are not exactly sexy.

Perhaps that is why the Ford government thought it could suddenly cut library services. The backlash was significant and although they relented, they did not exactly fix it. As board vice-chair Reuben Maughan aptly put it, the province just passed on more responsibility to the municipalities. Municipalities that ultimately draw upon the same taxpayers.

If you love your library, send a message.

That message should go out to municipal officials. People should not be too kneejerk about the Highlands East branch discussion; it was very preliminary, and the board was cognizant of what kind of impact such a cut would have. The public should engage in this discussion but should do so in good faith. More than any other level, municipal leaders probably have the best understanding of the value of libraries.

But the message needs to be sent to higher levels of government too. We should be calling on provincial and federal governments to stick up for libraries. Federal candidates should get their ear bent about eBooks, which should be a no-brainer issue to address.

Libraries can be simple to overlook. They are a long-lasting institution that has survived through so much change and continually adapted to technological advances. If you judge them by their cover, they might appear unshakeable.

But we cannot take our libraries for granted. Fight for them.