Minden Hills council has knocked back a request from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to place a sea can on their property along Hwy. 35.

Staff Sgt. Robert Flindall wrote to council last month seeking an exemption to the township’s bylaws to add the storage device.

“The size of our detachment limits our usable space for storage and we are currently quite full, including a pre-existing shed at the rear of our property,” Staff Sgt. Flindall said. He added the container would not be used for hazardous waste or dangerous goods as they do not allow those items on site.

He said the detachment received approval to purchase the sea container, but needed the township to grant them an exemption.

Mayor Bob Carter said the sea can would be hidden behind the trees at the back of the lot.

“This is generally what’s being done with OPP detachments across the province, that this is the solution that they have come up with.”

Coun. Ivan Ingram said while a great idea, he asked if they even had a bylaw regarding sea cans.

Chief building official, David Rogers, said it was in the zoning bylaw and currently they are not permitted in any zone.

Ingram said, “to my point then, we allow it at the OPP station, then I’m going to go and get one tomorrow and stick it in my back yard for storage. I mean there’s hundreds of them around town which at this point now are probably going to have to be grandfathered in if we ever do get a bylaw in place, and a staff member that actually inspects them.”

Ingram added while he understood what the OPP wanted to do; he didn’t think it was good practice.

Carter said they were not changing a bylaw but making a specific exception for OPP.

“But what about the 100 other people that have them sitting around?” Ingram pressed.

When Carter tried to respond, Ingram interrupted with, “no, we have to deal with it now because we can’t just allow…”

Carter said, “Coun. Ingram, we can’t necessarily change that bylaw right here today. It is something that will be taken up by the planning committee in a proposal put forward. Yes, I do know that we have them out there and we have to deal with them even though they shouldn’t have been there in the first place but this is a specific request and a specific exemption for our police force who have a specific need.”

Coun. Pam Sayne said it was probably the first time someone had asked permission first. “I don’t want to turn this down just because we have so many other sea cans that are built illegally.”

Coun. Tammy McKelvey said it was a bit “embarrassing” that OPP were asking permission for something the township has allowed elsewhere. She suggested a temporary exemption, or institutional zoning.

Carter said, “I think we’re making this way too complicated. I recognize that we have an issue with these and it is something that we have to deal with. But this is our police force who have a particular need. They have a solution that is approved provincially. They did come to ask for permission because they’re recognized the situation. I think we should comply to help them out. This is something they need.

Ingram said while it may meet OPP needs, it does not meet township needs. He also criticized Carter for putting off putting the item on agendas since January.

The request was denied.

The Haliburton Highlands Long-Term Care Coalition is planning to join provincial allies for a massive rally at Queen’s Park in September, but wants people to know the deadline for getting a seat on their rally bus is July 20.

Spokesperson Bonnie Roe said the Ontario Health Coalition and local coalitions such as theirs are “upping the ante” from a citizenled referendum in May.

During that poll, more than 400,000 Ontarians voted ‘no’ to health care privatization. In Haliburton County, there were 30 voting stations and 5,504 votes cast. Roe said only 104 people said ‘yes.’

However, she said the coalition’s work is not over, “as we need to stop the Ford government’s privatization of our local hospitals.”

The Ontario Health Coalition is planning a mass protest at noon on Sept. 20 during the opening day for the fall session of the Ontario Legislature.

“We will fill the lawn with Ontarians from across the province. We need to stand together and raise our voices to let our premier and MPP (Laurie Scott) understand that we are not going away,” she added.

To help with travel, Roe said they are renting a bus from Coach Canada with a washroom.

She asks members of the public to reserve their place on the bus by July 20 with a deposit of $20.

Roe said the cost of a full bus of 56 is $55 per person. A tip for the driver is optional. Some subsidies are available if needed.

She said they would leave at 8 a.m. from the Minden Community Centre and depart Queen’s Park at 2 p.m. People are encouraged to bring beverages, snacks and lunch as eating is not easily accessible.

“This will be a day to show the value of community engagement and democracy,” Roe said.

She added privatization is a reality across Ontario and will continue to close hospitals such as the Minden ER.

“This is our chance once again to represent Haliburton County on this crucial issue. Can we count on you to join us?” Contact Roe at bonnieroe08@gmail.com or 705-457-6579.

Following a slow start to the summer tourism season, Highlands operators are hoping the lifting of a six-week fire ban and improved air quality will bring more visitors to the region in coming months.

Corina Mansfield of Deep Roots Adventure recently started a conversation on the private Haliburton Highlands Tourism Stakeholder Group Facebook page.

Mansfield told The Highlander she’d been fearing “a tourism collapse” prior to the lifting of the fire ban July 12. At the time, she said her business revenue was down about 40 per cent from last summer.

However, she said it’s been more than just the fire ban and wildfire smoke.

“There are so many factors out of our control. We had a really cool, rainy start to the season. May and June were terrifyingly slow.

“Others are saying it’s the economy. I don’t know what it is but it feels like we’re being walloped from every direction.”

Mansfield conceded some tourism operators benefitted from COVID as visitors fled the city when they could not travel internationally.

Although she feels as though she is doing everything within her budget to bring people to the area, she said she had been struggling to cover payroll in July, which is virtually unheard of. While many in tourism rely on lines of credit in winter, they usually replenish the coffers in summer.

Sector won’t recover until 2025

Mansfield said she wondered if it was just her, since her business is in Harcourt, so did a Facebook page post. It came following a Saturday in July with just one walk-in customer. “Which was bonkers.”

She noted other operators said their numbers were also down by 40 per cent, including in downtown Haliburton, so, “it’s not just me but you want to share that people are doing well because hopefully that will indicate that things will get better.

“I like seeing people busy. A rising tide floats all boats. I’m really hoping that everybody picked up this week but it’s been kind of scary. It really felt like a tourism collapse.”

More international visitors

General manager of Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve Ltd., Tegan Legge, said it had been a slow start to the season. They had cancellations due to the fire ban and air quality. However, things are picking up, she said, “and it finally feels like summer is here.”

Legge added with a drop in domestic tourism, their hard work to get more international bookings is paying off.

“It is more important than ever to be working in travel trade and we are seeing the fruits of our labours over the last seven years, building relationships around the world along with Destination Canada and Destination Ontario,” she said.

“What would typically be a dozen or so direct bookings a year for international guests has resulted in more than 65 for just spring, summer and fall with more coming in weekly. Guests are coming from Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, etc. and are booking accommodations for multiple nights, along with the canopy tour.”

Legge said they anticipate a busy season moving forward, especially once August hits and into the fall.

County weighs in

County tourism manager, Tracie Bertrand, said they’re hearing about a variety of different circumstances this tourism season.

She said many tourism stakeholders are reporting that international travel is up this year; some businesses are ahead of 2022 results; and some are comparing their 2023 numbers with a more realistic 2019, and indicating good results.

“With travel restrictions being lifted, domestic travel (which has been strong the last few years) has reportedly decreased as folks are eager to get back to their normal travel habits. This, in combination with increased interest rates and fear of a recession has seen some visitors putting a hold on their travel budgets,” Bertrand said.

She added a recent survey conducted by Nanos Research indicates more Canadians are planning on spending less on summer travel or putting their vacation plans on hold completely compared to previous years. Further, the tourism manager said research indicates the sector will not fully recover until at least 2025 or 2026.

Bertrand noted many businesses that received federal or provincial loans are still not able to begin repayment. The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) is advocating for longer repayment options to help tourism businesses make it through this year.

Despite that, she said, “there are a lot of positive things to celebrate. We’ve seen many incredible partnerships form between businesses in Haliburton Highlands in the last year-and-a-half. There is still a lot of optimism. Our tourism stakeholders are resilient, creative, and innovative. Partnership, promotion and support of each other, product and experience development, and destination marketing is important as we move through this year and the next few years.”

This year, CanoeFM celebrated 20 years along with their annual radiothon from July 7-9.

CanoeFM had a full schedule of events last weekend. Community members were able to bid on surprise pop-up auction items along with an online auction.

Station manager, Roxanne Casey, said they had raised $55,175 as of July 11. “The volunteers have worked very hard over the last 20 years to create a radio station that belongs to the people of Haliburton County. I applaud volunteers past and present who bring their passion and personalities into the station to provide this incredible service of community radio to listeners far and wide,” said Casey.

They encouraged people to come into the station and see the action live. All donations were entered into a draw to win one of five $100 gift cards to Haliburton Foodland. Anyone who made a donation of $100 or more received a limited edition 20th anniversary CanoeFM T-shirt.

The radiothon was presented by Minden Subaru and sponsored by NOMI Resort Club and Minden & Haliburton Home Hardware & Building Centres.

For more information on the 2023 annual radiothon: canoefm.com/radiothon-2023.