Latest / North Shore News / October 16th, 2026

Transcript

October 16th, 2026 · North Shore News

0:07
Welcome to North Shore News and Interviews on
0:10
Amherst Island Radio. Each week we keep you updated
0:14
on newsworthy events, happenings and conversations
0:17
that we've had with people in the local community
0:20
and beyond. Greater Nappany Council approved
0:29
an amendment to increase maximum project capacity
0:31
for the proposed Quinty Energy Storage Center.
0:34
The project capacity is now approved for 650
0:37
megawatts instead of the 500 megawatts originally
0:39
proposed. A screening review of all previously
0:42
submitted technical issues assessed operational
0:44
noise, planning considerations, excavated materials
0:47
management, and decommissioning. water sourcing,
0:50
and ground water, as well as agricultural and
0:52
transportation impacts. General Manager of Growth
0:55
and Infrastructure with the Town of Greater Napanee,
0:57
Michael Nobes, explains the reasoning behind
0:59
the proposed increase. The reasoning for this
1:01
was HydroStor went back and looked at the project
1:05
economics and felt that increasing the size of
1:08
the project capacity would probably show better
1:13
in the eyes of the ISO and likely have a higher
1:15
chance of success through the round of procurement.
1:18
Nob speaks about the proposed changes. The site
1:21
would increase modestly from an occupied footprint
1:26
of 80 acres to 95 acres. The agricultural impact
1:30
assessment that was completed contemplated up
1:33
to 100. acres of land for such use. So there's
1:39
no change in the findings of the agricultural
1:41
impact assessment that was supplied and reviewed
1:44
and concurred with previously under the 500 megawatt
1:47
proposal. But however, HydroStor's proposal is
1:51
to add effectively a fifth powertrain. NOBES
1:54
went on to describe the new proposal. Previously
1:57
it was four powertrains oriented in a north -south
2:01
fashion. The proposal now is to relocate those
2:05
power trains in an east -west fashion and push
2:08
them as far south on the property as possible.
2:11
So while adding additional capacity and potential
2:14
noise generating equipment, it's actually pushed
2:17
it back further from the sensitive receptors
2:19
in the vicinity and results in a very small net
2:24
decrease in off -site noise levels. Relocating
2:28
further south and adding that additional train
2:30
really ultimately doesn't result in a change
2:33
of the anticipated noise levels from the development
2:37
itself. Council received correspondence at their
2:39
September 22nd meeting expressing concern regarding
2:42
the potential noise effects associated with existing
2:44
and proposed energy infrastructure in the southern
2:47
area of the municipality. NOBE spoke about noise
2:49
levels including ambient noises from other sites.
2:52
It will ultimately be assessed and reviewed.
2:56
The issue that the ministry sees is they recognize
3:02
that noise or they measure that noise, but they
3:05
might not have the ability to require that development
3:09
over there to make a change to better this development
3:11
over here, because that development over there
3:13
is compliant as well. Councillor Michael Shank
3:16
spoke about the response to concerns about the
3:18
noise. What I can see and what I've read and
3:20
what HydroStore has done, they have moved it
3:23
back as far as they can possibly move it back
3:25
in that property. They've mitigated any of the
3:29
sound decibels that you could, you know, that
3:32
might come back, but there's a site plan agreement
3:34
anyway that goes afterwards and that'll all be
3:37
dealt with at that time. I think they've covered
3:39
pretty well everything that you could have covered.
3:44
The proposal ultimately comes along with an increase
3:48
to the community benefits fund that was proposed
3:51
by HarderStore. This would result in an increase
3:56
from approximately $1 million annually to $1
3:59
.3 million annually since the commitment of $2
4:03
,000 per megawatt of project capacity would be
4:06
provided to the town through community benefits
4:09
funds. And previously, as proposed by HydroStor
4:13
and agreed to by council, between any project
4:16
award by the ISO and commissioning, $100 ,000
4:20
annually be provided to the town to assist with
4:23
review and implementation or general use by the
4:27
municipality as the town sees, as council sees
4:30
fit. For Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
4:33
Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
4:36
News. Greater Napanee Council decided against
4:48
adding Springside Park and the new in -town trails
4:51
to the town's sensitive use area. The matter
4:53
was brought to Council in September by Councilor
4:55
Bill Martin who said the town should act immediately.
4:58
Martin noted the designation in other areas.
5:01
Our beautiful Springside Park down there is visited
5:04
by so many visitors every day and I know that's
5:08
for a fact. I've been down there seven days a
5:09
week. Twice a day I try to get down there and
5:12
monitor what's going on and I do agree that Conservation
5:17
Park needs a designation of sensitive use area.
5:19
And I also agree, Lions Park did. But what's
5:22
happened is the problem hasn't been solved. It's
5:25
been moved from Conservation Park down to Springside
5:29
Park. Martin explained his stance. People shouldn't
5:33
have to live like that. And I'm not suggesting
5:36
that we are mean to the homeless people in the
5:40
encampments, because I'd like to give them help.
5:43
But as we all know, the province, the county,
5:47
whatever you want to go, the federal government,
5:50
they've got to downstream some resources to us
5:54
because we can't do it. The town will not be
5:56
reviewing their encampment by -law until next
5:58
term. Members of staff and council noted two
6:01
ongoing appeals in Ontario in which the outcomes
6:03
will have impacts provincially and locally. Manager
6:06
of Legislative Services and Municipal Clerk Jessica
6:09
Walters spoke about encampments in the area.
6:11
Overall, in 2026, we were seeing higher numbers
6:14
than we saw in 2025, which was higher numbers
6:17
than we saw in 2024. We continue to see our largest
6:21
spike in August and then a slow decline through
6:24
the winter. We expect that we will probably see
6:28
our December numbers higher again this year than
6:31
last year, just based on the larger unhoused
6:35
population that we have in our community compared
6:37
to last year. But we are still seeing that same
6:40
trend where our numbers peak in August and then
6:43
start to go down as the weather turns cooler.
6:46
We also know that With the warming center opening
6:50
on November 1st, we will see a change in how
6:53
encampments are located in the community when
6:54
that happens as well. The case law in Canada
6:59
regarding unhoused individuals right to shelter
7:02
is still in a bit of a holding state. There are
7:05
two appeals outstanding that have the potential
7:08
to impact our ability to enforce encampments
7:12
on public property. There was a case in Hamilton
7:16
where the outcome of that case was to determine
7:19
that Hamilton could ban daytime camping in their
7:23
parks, although they had to permit overnight
7:25
camping. That decision was appealed. The appeal
7:28
has been heard. A decision has not yet been rendered.
7:31
Waterloo earlier this year had a case where the
7:34
finding was that the city could not or the region
7:37
could not clear an encampment because they had
7:39
not provided any alternate place for those individuals
7:42
to go. That decision is being appealed by the
7:46
region and the province has requested intervener
7:49
status. No date has been set yet for that hearing
7:52
so we don't know when to expect the outcome of
7:56
that decision but we do expect that that decision
7:59
will have a significant impact on how we approach
8:01
encampments. At this point we know that we can
8:04
expect either change or clarity, but we don't
8:09
have a timeline for when we can expect that,
8:11
which does make it challenging to try to determine
8:14
what our position should be in the interim. Mayor
8:17
Terry Richardson spoke about the appeals and
8:19
their impact. The Superior Court decision in
8:22
Hamilton has been heard by the Ontario Court
8:25
of Appeal. And so we're just waiting on a decision
8:28
which could come tomorrow, could come next week,
8:30
could come next year. The decision with respect
8:34
to the Waterloo Region matter was accepted. The
8:38
province of Ontario has partnered up with Waterloo
8:41
Regional to, for better lack of word and policing
8:44
terms, take a run at the Superior Court decision
8:48
that's outstanding in Waterloo. We're knee deep
8:52
into case law or knee deep into waiting on decisions
8:55
from other levels of government, I guess is the
8:57
best way to put it. But with respect to conflicting
9:00
decisions, we're expecting some decisions here
9:02
in the not too distant future in order to add
9:05
possibly some clarity with respect to the homeless
9:09
situation. CAO Matthew Grant noted the current
9:12
situation. If there is not enough shelter in
9:14
a community, the courts have deemed that individuals
9:17
have a constitutional right, a charter right,
9:19
to shelter themselves. And Napanee has no shelter
9:23
space at the moment. Also key in the case for
9:27
the city of Hamilton was that the bar to require
9:31
enough shelter for everyone when those numbers
9:34
are continually changing and growing was an unreasonable
9:36
bar to set. and that the judge deemed that it
9:40
was an infringement on property rights to allow
9:42
no management of park space at all. And I would
9:45
say what they found was a compromise position
9:50
where people have the right to shelter themselves
9:52
at night, but they don't have the right to live
9:55
there continually. I think there's a lot of eyes
9:58
on that, both of those case laws, because that
10:00
could dramatically change the reality as we know
10:03
it. Grant went on to speak about widespread effects.
10:06
With respect to Kingston or other municipalities,
10:08
I think it's also important to note that any
10:12
court case decision that happens for municipalities
10:15
doesn't just apply to that municipality, it applies
10:18
to every municipality. So people tend to be quite
10:22
careful about the steps they're taking. There's
10:26
a lot of preparation and making any changes.
10:29
And there's also the awareness that any step
10:34
we take is going to impact our neighbors. There
10:39
is both what the court allows and what a municipality
10:42
is able to do. So should a case law be upheld
10:46
where it prevented daytime camping, we could,
10:49
in essence, be able to ask people to move along
10:52
from public spaces and return in the evening.
10:56
What I can tell you... is in Hamilton, the ability
10:59
to do that was a massive, massive undertaking.
11:05
A huge resource was required to do that. So I
11:10
would say that the solution that we've come up
11:15
with in terms of distances and conservation part
11:19
being off limits, is within our resource areas.
11:23
And should we decide to move in a different direction,
11:26
I would need to have a resource conversation.
11:28
Martin spoke about complaints he's received.
11:30
I also have the residents up on Palace Road to
11:33
think about and their rights. They pay taxes.
11:38
The residents up on up on the hill from Springside
11:40
Park all along Palace Road from Highway 2 over
11:45
to Centre Street. There's an area in through
11:48
there, and Bracken Street area is right there,
11:51
too. I get numerous calls from there, and I certainly
11:54
don't blame them. And part of my job is understanding
11:58
what's going on and for them to contact me as
12:01
well. I mean, our by -law doesn't work at night,
12:05
and OPP doesn't administer our by -laws. The
12:10
problems happen at night. Loud music, profane
12:13
language, utter control fires. The problem is
12:16
once everybody's back is turned, the fireman's
12:19
back is turned, our bylaws back are turned, the
12:22
activity that goes on at night is not fair to
12:24
the residents up top of that hill. It's not fair
12:26
to visitors that come to our park. Martin went
12:28
on to note the importance of Springside Park.
12:31
We've got residents in this area that used to
12:34
take their children down to the park. They used
12:36
to walk their dog down the park. People jogged
12:39
there. And now I'm getting comments like, well,
12:43
we don't go there anymore because we're scared.
12:46
We're intimidated. I'm afraid my child is going
12:49
to step on a discarded needle. And all I'm saying
12:52
is, Springside Park needs our attention. Springside
12:55
Park is just as important and even more important
12:59
than Conservation Park. There's a lot more visitors
13:02
to our park there daily than there is at Conservation
13:05
Park. And as far as the new trail is concerned,
13:07
I'm also concerned that encampments are going
13:10
to find that an easy area to encamp as well.
13:15
Councilor Bob Norrie shared his thoughts on Springside
13:17
Park. It has cleaned up a bit, but all summer,
13:21
like Councilor Martin been down there a lot.
13:23
People avoided going. I know my neighbors, they
13:25
have grandchildren. They didn't go down there.
13:27
They don't go down there. Wedding pictures, all
13:30
this. It's a tourist area, so it should just
13:32
be right off limits. I'm sorry, but it's too
13:34
important of an area, the beautiful area, and
13:36
the taxpayers should be allowed to use it with
13:37
their grandchildren. That's my feeling. Deputy
13:40
Mayor Brian Calver spoke about the park and not
13:42
rushing into a decision. Every day when I come
13:44
into town, every night before I leave town, and
13:47
if I have to come back in for something else,
13:48
we go there as well. I still do see people using
13:52
the park, but I agree we should soon be looking
13:57
at. I don't think we want to rush it. We've got
13:59
to get it right. But it has cleaned up a lot
14:03
more this year than other years. But I mean,
14:04
you go down there at any day. given time at lunchtime
14:07
and you have a hard time getting park to be able
14:09
to eat your lunch because there are people using
14:11
it. There are people walking it. Yes, people
14:14
are some people are saying they're afraid but
14:16
I mean this is unfortunately the new world we're
14:20
in but I think we do need to look at it. Would
14:23
it be great to get all of Springside Park clear?
14:25
Yes. We now have data. We know how much money
14:28
we've spent to clean up the messes and so on
14:31
and so forth to try to get more area clear. We
14:34
need to work, have more work done on our encampment
14:36
protocol, which is working. Seems we've had other
14:39
municipalities reaching out with what we've done
14:42
in the past, so I just don't want to rush into
14:45
it. I'd like staff to take their time and get
14:48
it right. Councillor Angela Hicks noted the activity
14:50
in Springside Park and recognized public concern.
14:53
I was down at Springside Park, couldn't get a
14:56
parking spot. I had a very unhappy granddaughter
14:58
in the back, so I sat and waited. and got that
15:03
situation sorted out. But as I was there, I sort
15:06
of looked around and I thought, what is everyone
15:09
talking about? There were people, there were
15:11
kids, there were people fishing, there was people
15:14
walking up and down right next to the falls,
15:16
they were walking down the road, there were kids
15:19
over in the skateboard, the pizza truck was busy,
15:22
there was... So many people out enjoying the
15:24
day and enjoying their community. It was like
15:27
I was in a different town. Like when I actually
15:30
stopped and thought about it, I thought I didn't
15:32
see any of this. I understand that the people
15:35
on Palace Road do have issues. The same issues
15:39
were experienced over in Conservation Park. People
15:41
that did not sleep for nights at a time slept
15:44
in shifts in absolute terror that their house
15:46
was going to burn down in the middle of the night
15:48
from uncontrolled fires. I understand. But I
15:52
don't think rushing this in two weeks is going
15:56
to help the situation either because then something
15:59
gets missed. Richardson spoke about the town's
16:02
current encampment bylaw. The encampment bylaw
16:05
that we have looked at the total of the community
16:09
and we come up with some very viable ways to
16:13
protect the most sensitive areas of our community.
16:17
Again, is it perfect? Absolutely not. It's not
16:20
perfect. We know that. Is it the best we got
16:22
right now? Probably is, especially in the light
16:26
of much larger municipalities trying to sort
16:30
this matter out at the highest levels of court
16:33
in this province. We have spent an inordinate
16:36
amount of time coming up with a plan, albeit
16:40
not the best plan. The best plan would be have
16:44
nobody in our parks, but we've come up with something
16:47
that we feel is something that we're not going
16:50
to get challenged on. And as I say that somebody
16:52
will challenge us tomorrow. But I think it's
16:54
very defensible that the plan that we have. I
16:57
think, at least in my humble opinion, that the
17:01
direction that we're on in reviewing the sensitive
17:04
area matters holistically for all of the community,
17:08
as opposed to cherry picking certain areas as
17:10
a municipality. I don't think we're going to.
17:14
hurry to to start to cherry pick certain things
17:17
without taking into account the community as
17:20
a whole as far as a sense of use areas. The recorded
17:23
vote ended three to two defeating the motion.
17:25
The motion on the floor is that staff do not
17:28
wait until winter or next term to review our
17:30
encampment by -law and further we act immediately
17:33
to add Springside Park and our new in -town trail
17:36
to the sensitive use area. Or two Councillor
17:38
Hicks? No. Or Councillor Norrie? Yes. Five Councillor
17:43
Martin? Yes. Albert? No. Mayor Richardson? No.
17:49
That motion is defeated. For Amherst Island Radio
17:52
and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted
17:54
Evans. This is North Shore News. The town of
18:06
Greater Napanee will be revitalizing the Alcorn
18:09
Francis Memorial Soccer Field at 16 MacPherson
18:11
Drive. Staff noted the field is a recreation
18:14
asset that supports youth and adult sport programming.
18:17
The project will cost nearly $275 ,000. Director
18:21
of Parks, Recreation and Culture, Chris Brown,
18:23
noted concerns and how staff are addressing them.
18:26
The field quality has been identified as a concern
18:28
for a number of years due to uneven playing conditions.
18:31
So to address these concerns, town staff met
18:34
with representatives from Belcon Design Builders
18:36
Limited, Willoughley Sod Farms and Kerr Sprinklers
18:39
to develop a rehabilitation strategy. The preferred
18:42
approach focuses on a complete renewal of the
18:45
primary planning surface and installation of
18:47
a permanent irrigation system to protect the
18:49
town's investment and support long -term turf
18:52
health. Brown explained the upgrades. The project
18:55
will upgrade approximately 9 ,000 square meters
18:58
of soccer or field area and apron. It'll include
19:01
the relocation of three light posts to expand
19:04
the width of the planning surface, installation
19:06
of a new irrigation system, field grading, regrading
19:10
and leveling, addition of sand and soil, removal
19:13
of the existing turf surface, installation of
19:17
new Kentucky bluegrass sod, temporary fencing
19:20
and site protection during the field establishment
19:23
and the existing subsurface drainage system has
19:26
been reviewed and is considered functional and
19:28
will remain in place. Operationally, the project
19:34
team's objective is to complete this construction
19:36
during the fall of 2026 to allow for winter dormancy
19:40
and establishment resulting in a playable field
19:43
for spring of 2027. Additional considerations
19:46
include weather -dependent construction activities.
19:49
So the only thing that could potentially hold
19:51
us up is that weather, which we can't predict.
19:56
But everyone involved is super confident that
19:59
we can definitely get this project done in the
20:01
fall this year so that it's ready to play in
20:04
the spring. Brown spoke about the contract for
20:06
the work. Looking at the financial implications,
20:08
the work is being delivered through the Canoe
20:10
Procurement Group of Canada job order contracting
20:13
program. with Belcon Design Builders Limited
20:16
serving as the primary contractor and project
20:18
manager. The total fixed price work order is
20:21
for $273 ,416 plus applicable taxes. Additionally,
20:27
Town staff have separately procured the relocation
20:30
of the three light posts on the south side of
20:32
the field to ensure the playing surface is FIFA
20:34
regulation size. Bar electric will perform the
20:37
work for a total of $35 ,000. So the total project
20:41
cost comes to $308 ,416 plus applicable taxes.
20:46
The capital budget for this project in 2026 was
20:49
only $235 ,000 and therefore we have a shortfall
20:52
of $73 ,416 plus applicable taxes. Brown noted
20:57
future upgrades they'll be looking into as well.
20:59
We're looking to add enhancements like spectator
21:01
bleachers, pole padding, permanent fencing, additional
21:05
signage and some backstop netting to go along
21:08
with the improvements that we're making in 2026.
21:11
Staff's intention is to bring these enhancements
21:13
to council during our 2027 budget deliberations.
21:17
Brown spoke about an incident at the field and
21:19
perimeter security. The perimeter security is
21:23
top of mind. Not too long ago, I believe it was
21:27
the holiday weekend in September, we did have
21:29
a truck drive up there and rip a couple donuts.
21:33
So not a big deal right now because no one's
21:35
playing on it. We are going to... rehabilitate
21:38
that turf field but it will be a massive deal
21:40
once we invest in this field. So we do want to
21:43
put permanent fencing all the way around the
21:45
perimeter with lockable gates so that the field
21:48
can be opened and accessed by people who are
21:50
actually booking the space to use it for the
21:53
intended purposes. That's certainly a high priority
21:55
for sure and we are going to put temporary fencing
21:58
around the perimeter in the meantime to ensure
22:02
that the investment is protected. Mayor Terry
22:05
Richardson spoke about the extra funding. This
22:07
additional funds that we're spending isn't affecting
22:10
the taxpayer by any stretch of imagination. It's
22:12
funds that were created or given to us in order
22:14
to do the exact same things that we're doing
22:16
now, which is investing in our infrastructure.
22:19
Brown noted the additional funding. This is exactly
22:21
what the community benefit fund is for, and so
22:25
staff felt that this was the best use to make
22:28
sure we can get this project over the finish
22:29
line in 2026. Staff's goal is to complete construction
22:33
during the fall of 2026. For Amherst Island Radio
22:36
and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted
22:39
Evans. This is North Shore News. Greater Napanee
22:51
Council voted 3 -2 against sending a letter to
22:54
Premier Doug Ford urging him to use the Not Withstanding
22:57
Clause to implement measures for encampments
22:59
and mental health services. The motion was brought
23:02
forward by Councillor Bill Martin. Council's
23:04
vote means they will not be sending the letter.
23:06
Although council members agreed the current situation
23:08
needs attention and more funding, they felt this
23:10
was not the right approach, nor the right time.
23:12
Martin spoke about his intentions behind the
23:14
letter. Back in May of 2024, the 13, I believe
23:18
it was, 12 or 13, larger municipalities spoke
23:21
to Doug Ford, Premier, and he requested them
23:25
put it in writing, which they did. What I'm doing
23:27
here is hopefully trying to bring attention back
23:31
to the very reason that they did that. back in
23:34
2024, just to draw further attention to what's
23:37
going on with the encampments. And like I say,
23:41
I'm not trying to harm folks who need shelter.
23:46
What I want to do is get them help. We need addiction
23:51
clinics and we need emergency shelters. And what
23:55
I'm hoping is us smaller communities can band
23:58
together and we will grab the attention of The
24:03
Premier grabbed the attention of our MPP. Ministers
24:07
in the provincial government, the county, all
24:10
have to have their feet put to the fire because
24:13
we cannot supply the resources here. We've literally
24:17
spent hundreds of thousands of dollars just this
24:20
year. And I'd like to see Premier Ford use the
24:24
notwithstanding clause if that's necessary to
24:27
get it done. And I think it is. Councillor Angela
24:29
Hicks spoke about the current shortage of mental
24:31
health services. I don't think that this is the
24:34
right approach. I agree 100 percent that we should
24:37
be holding both provincial and federal governments,
24:40
the proverbial feet to the fire and where we
24:43
need the money. We hear boots on the ground dealing
24:47
with it face to face, need the money. But I honestly
24:51
don't think that the notwithstanding clause is
24:54
going to get us where we actually want to be
24:56
to help those people. I really don't think because
24:59
there's no place to send them put them there's
25:02
there's not enough doctors and nurses and psychologists
25:07
and psychiatrists and therapists now to deal
25:11
with people with run -of -the -mill health problems
25:13
let alone addiction. Councillor Bob Norrie noted
25:16
the importance of getting the attention of higher
25:18
levels of government. We have to get the especially
25:21
the federal government's attention I mean they
25:23
can give 80 million to study the oceans and we
25:25
can't look after our homeless. I think we have
25:27
to get their attention and if it's a small wheel
25:30
we got to start squeaking then we start and when
25:32
they see the cost of this stuff maybe they'll
25:33
say okay we can do something. Mayor Terry Richardson
25:36
explained his thoughts on not sending the letter.
25:38
We are now in the throes of waiting for a decision
25:41
from the court of appeal. I just don't think
25:44
this is the right time to be sending this letter
25:45
out. If we want to support the premier two years
25:48
from now If he loses the Ontario Court of Appeal
25:52
decision, that would be the time to do it then.
25:55
I don't think it's going to get the credence
25:57
or the credibility it should get. We need addiction
26:00
treatment centers. We need we need an addiction
26:03
treatment center and virtually every community
26:05
about the population of 20 ,000 people in this
26:08
country, because every community about the and
26:11
a lot of them below 20 ,000 have got substance
26:14
abuse problems. The ball has been dropped and
26:16
the ball has been dropped. decades ago, not just
26:18
years ago, where I do have the issue is using
26:22
a piece of legislation. This is a really, really
26:26
big hammer. The recorded vote ended three to
26:28
two. The motion on the floor is that the Council
26:31
of the Town of Greater Napanee send a letter
26:33
to Premier Doug Ford with copies to MPP Rick
26:36
Brisey, MP Shelby Cramp Newman, County of Lenox
26:40
and Addington, and the other 443 municipalities
26:42
of Ontario requesting the following. One, the
26:46
provincial government become an intervener in
26:48
any court case restricting municipalities ability
26:50
to prohibit encampments. Two, strengthen the
26:53
existing system of mandatory community -based
26:56
residential mental health care and expand service
26:58
to treat those who have severe and debilitating
27:00
addictions. Three, implement a drug and diversion
27:03
court system across the province and ensure that
27:06
there are necessary resources to allow a focus
27:08
on rehabilitation as opposed to incarceration.
27:11
Four, to amend the Trespass Property Act to include
27:14
a separate provision for repetitive acts of trespass
27:16
and to permit a police officer to arrest a person
27:19
who commits repetitive acts of trespass after
27:21
being told by police not to engage in such activity.
27:24
These amendments should also include an option
27:26
for referral to divisional court for charges
27:28
of repetitive trespass. We urge the Premier to
27:31
use the notwithstanding clause to ensure these
27:33
measures are implemented in a timely and effective
27:35
way. Word to Councillor Hicks. No. Word for Councillor
27:42
Norrie. Yes. Ward 5, Councillor Martin? Yes.
27:46
Deputy Mayor Calvert? No. Mayor Richardson? No.
27:50
That motion is defeated. For Amherst Island Radio
27:53
and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted
27:56
Evans. This is North Shore News. Council and
28:08
staff at Loyalist Township are preparing for
28:11
the 2026 fall term of their 2024 to 2027 strategic
28:15
plan. Staff will continue with planned initiatives
28:17
and will have a final report at the end of 2027.
28:21
Objectives within the plan followed strategic
28:23
priorities such as strong communities, organizational
28:26
effectiveness, balanced growth, as well as sustainable
28:29
infrastructure and services. CAO Rebecca Murphy
28:32
spoke about the term. This is the last report
28:34
on the strategic plan for this term of council.
28:37
We're very pleased with the progress that's been
28:40
made with respect to the initiatives that were
28:41
set by council in 2024. And the strategic plan
28:46
does go to the end of 2027. So there's still
28:49
about another year of things that are going on.
28:52
For the most part, everything is in progress
28:54
or planned to be completed. Council should be
28:59
very pleased. There is a very long list of...
29:02
of initiatives that under that strategic plan
29:05
that council and staff set. And I'm pleased to
29:08
say that we've accomplished most of them there
29:10
and looking forward to the next strategic plan.
29:16
So the plan would be for the next term of council
29:18
sometime next fall. We would come back to council
29:21
with an update and look at reviewing and revising
29:25
our strategic plan if that's council's direction
29:27
and then to set another set of initiatives for
29:31
the next term. Several initiatives may be ongoing
29:33
into 2027, some of which may have impacts on
29:36
future operating budgets. Mayor Jim Hagedorn
29:39
noted staff's work. It was a very aggressive
29:41
term along with some pretty major projects, so
29:46
it is good to get all this work done and well
29:48
done by staff. Staff will be bringing a report
29:50
back to council in early 2027 to get direction
29:53
for their next strategic plan. For Amherst Island
29:56
Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm
29:59
Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. Loyalist
30:11
Township Council has directed staff to look into
30:14
laws and regulations surrounding electric bikes
30:16
in the Township. Councillor Paul Proderick made
30:18
a direct motion regarding the matter. I would
30:21
put a motion forward that Council direct staff
30:23
to provide a report considering the options relating
30:25
to regulating the use of e -bikes within Loyalist
30:28
Township. The motion was seconded by Councillor
30:30
Mike Buderick and passed by Council. Proderick
30:32
spoke about the use of electric bikes in Loyalist
30:34
Township. It's becoming more and more prevalent
30:37
in the community that the use of these micro
30:40
bikes or whatever you want to generally call
30:42
them. It's becoming a safety issue. People on
30:44
the sidewalks, on the streets for the kids without
30:47
helmets and so on and so on. And I think the
30:50
Township needs to come up with some kind of statement,
30:53
regulation, whatever you want to call it, to
30:56
try and get that under control. you know just
31:00
as an aside we need to engage the OPP at some
31:03
point for you know in terms of what they can
31:05
do etc and the biggest piece is going to be public
31:08
education because it's sort of the Wild West
31:11
and whether we have to get people out to schools
31:13
etc etc but I'd like to get that process started
31:16
and not wait another year or so to do it. Councillor
31:19
Lorna Willis noted the growing use of electric
31:21
bikes in the area. Having some connections with
31:24
teachers in the local schools I know that the
31:27
e -scooters are are an extreme concern so while
31:30
they're illegal they're widely used and and I
31:34
think that you know we have the potential for
31:37
a tragedy in our township so I would strongly
31:39
encourage then that we encourage the OPP to enforce
31:43
that law. Councillor Carol Park spoke about help
31:46
from the OPP. The OPP is actually going to be
31:48
doing more enforcement and education on this
31:50
so we'll probably see some things implemented
31:53
on that end too which will help support what
31:55
we want to do. Staff will be bringing a report
31:57
back to council at a future meeting. For Amherst
32:00
Island Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative,
32:02
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. Loyalist
32:15
Township Council agreed to support and circulate
32:18
a letter calling for the provincial government
32:19
to increase the municipal rebate for harmonized
32:22
sales tax. The initiative, Building Ontario Together,
32:25
HST Reinvestment for Municipal Infrastructure,
32:28
was put together and released by the Eastern
32:30
Ontario Wardens' Caucus. The group is asking
32:32
the government of Ontario to increase the municipal
32:35
rebate for the provincial portion of HST from
32:37
78 % to 100%. This would eliminate the current
32:40
1 .76 unrecoverable provincial HST costs taken
32:44
on by municipalities. They're hoping the provincial
32:47
government will recognize this measure as a fiscally
32:49
responsible investment that supports infrastructure
32:52
renewal, housing infrastructure, long -term asset
32:54
management, and essential municipal services,
32:57
while reducing pressure on local property taxpayers
32:59
and businesses. Staff's report noted unrecoverable
33:02
provincial HST represents millions of dollars
33:05
annually that could otherwise be reinvested into
33:07
municipalities. Returning the remaining provincial
33:10
portion of HST to municipalities would not increase
33:12
taxes for residents or businesses. Municipalities
33:15
in Ontario currently receive a 100 % rebate of
33:18
the federal 5 % portion of HST, but only a 78
33:21
% rebate of Ontario's 8 % provincial portion.
33:24
This results in municipalities permanently absorbing
33:27
the remaining 22 % of the provincial share. This
33:30
is equivalent to 1 .76 % of eligible municipal
33:33
expenditures. Mayor Jim Hagedorn speaks about
33:36
the letter. So this was something that has come
33:38
through the EOWC and as being warden of the county,
33:42
I'm a member of the EOWC. The HST that the municipality
33:46
collects, the federal portion, we are able to
33:50
retain all of it. So the EOWC looked at it and
33:54
with all of the initiatives that are being taken
33:57
right now, as well as once we've done our infrastructure
34:02
assessments and master plans and the deficit
34:06
that every municipality in Ontario is running.
34:10
with trying to keep up with their infrastructure.
34:12
EOWC figured this was a easy catch, is just if
34:16
we could keep all of the provincial portion,
34:20
that would give us money back without actually
34:23
raising taxes at any level of government. Hagedorn
34:26
explained the intention of the letter and noted
34:28
their presentation to ministers. We presented
34:31
it at AMO to all the ministers that we met with,
34:35
both on the Conservative side and on the other
34:39
sides so both sides of the house we presented
34:42
it to everyone that we had a delegation with
34:45
and we had I believe it was something eight or
34:47
ten delegations so they're well aware of what
34:50
we're requesting so now we're just putting it
34:52
out looking for endorsement from all the municipalities
34:56
basically saying that you think this would be
34:58
a good idea what we were saying to them is we
35:01
would expect that there would be a provision
35:03
to this funds to be reinvested in the infrastructure
35:07
within the municipality, not go into general
35:10
budget. So it would go towards like capital costs
35:13
or maintenance costs to maintain our infrastructure
35:16
in an acceptable manner. Councillor Paul Proderick
35:19
offered his thoughts on the initiative. Given
35:21
what I've read on the kiosks from the East Ontario
35:24
Caucus is we need sustainable funding and the
35:28
government of Ontario is always looking at reducing
35:30
red tape. Here's a classic example of all the
35:33
red tape that would go to recover 1 .76%. It's
35:37
gotta be a savings everywhere and a gain for
35:39
all the municipalities. For Amherst Island Radio
35:41
and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted
35:44
Evans. This is North Shore News. The future Sports
35:56
Hall of Fame at the W. J. Henderson Community
35:58
Center will be named the Marion and Mason Buderich
36:01
Sports Hall of Fame. This is in recognition of
36:03
the family's contributions in the community and
36:05
a $50 ,000 donation towards the W. J. Henderson
36:08
Community Center Renewal Project. Mason Buderich
36:11
founded the current Amherst View Jets Junior
36:13
Hockey Club in 1989. Following his passing in
36:16
2005, his legacy has continued through the Mason
36:19
Buderich Memorial Fund, which helps local children
36:21
play hockey. Marion Buderich has held leadership
36:24
positions with the organization in the past,
36:26
including the president of the Amherst View Jets.
36:28
The family's decades of volunteer service and
36:30
leadership have had a great impact on the local
36:32
hockey community. Staff with the township will
36:34
also be assisting the Amherst View Jets in the
36:36
management of a fundraising sub campaign looking
36:39
to raise $50 ,000 to rename the Jets dressing
36:41
room in memory of Don Lee. Lee is remembered
36:44
for his passion, leadership, and community spirit.
36:47
He was a lifelong advocate for youth and sport
36:49
in the community. His dedication to the Jets
36:51
and developing young players in the community
36:53
has left a lasting impact both on and off the
36:55
ice. CAO Rebecca Murphy speaks about the fundraising
36:58
goal for the W .J. Henderson Community Centre
37:01
renewal project. We're very excited from the
37:03
fundraising campaign that we're nearing in our
37:06
goal. This contribution makes it... takes us
37:08
over the $1 .7 million mark. So we're over 85
37:11
% of the way there to our goal and it's very
37:13
good and we're trying to wrap up some loose ends
37:15
to be able to get us to the final goal. So this
37:18
is another one of our another announcement that
37:20
we're happy to make and hopefully we get there
37:23
before our October 4th grand opening. Murphy
37:26
noted the campaign for renaming the dressing
37:28
room. I know there's been lots of discussion
37:30
amongst the community too about naming something
37:33
after Don Lee and the Jets letters really supports
37:37
kind of marketing this and branding this naming.
37:41
Council is awaiting a final decision on the location
37:43
and eligibility requirements for the Hall of
37:45
Fame. Staff will be bringing a report to the
37:47
next term of Council with a new policy for the
37:50
space. For Amherst Island Radio and the Local
37:52
Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is
37:56
North Shore News. Cataract Way Conservation is
38:07
looking to restore nearly 23 hectares of degraded
38:10
meadow to functional native grassland habitat
38:13
at the south end of Lemoyne Point Conservation
38:15
Area. Previous monitoring of the site identified
38:18
nesting pairs of both bobalink and eastern meadow
38:20
lark. two native bird species listed as threatened
38:23
under the Federal Species at Risk Act. However,
38:26
extensive encroachment by gray dogwood and other
38:28
shrub species had reduced habitat suitability.
38:31
The project will look to reestablish a structurally
38:33
native grass and forb community suitable for
38:36
bobalink, eastern meadowlark, and other native
38:38
ground nesting grassland species and pollinators.
38:41
According to Cataraqui Conservation, the restoration
38:43
plan for this project has been designed in accordance
38:45
with the Migratory Birds Convention Act and Species
38:48
Conservation Act. It will prioritize long - Long
38:50
-term habitat function and ecological resilience,
38:53
ensuring the restored meadow develops the vegetation
38:55
structure and plant diversity required to support
38:58
breeding grassland birds. The timeline for the
39:00
project has been designed to have the least amount
39:02
of disturbance for species at risk. The project
39:04
will run until spring of 2027. The work has been
39:07
structured using an integrated pest management
39:09
approach. A range of available methodologies
39:12
have been combined to most effectively restore
39:14
the grassland habitat at the south end of Lemoyne
39:16
Point Conservation Area. The goal is to minimize
39:19
negative environmental impacts and use only the
39:21
minimum amount of chemical intervention necessary
39:23
to successfully remove gray dogwood and establish
39:25
the native grassland ecosystem. Certain activities
39:28
will require restricting access to the project
39:30
area and surrounding trail network. Restrictions
39:33
and closures will be limited to a few hours or
39:35
a few days. Closures will be posted on social
39:37
media and signage will be placed in parking areas
39:40
and trails to notify visitors. Cataract Way Conservation
39:43
notes the project will ultimately enhance biodiversity,
39:46
provide critical habitat to threatened species,
39:48
as well as improve the site's overall resilience
39:50
to climate change and invasive species. For Amherst
39:53
Island Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative,
39:56
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore news. Loyalist
40:08
Township Council agreed to proclaim October 21,
40:11
2026 as the 26th Annual Child Care Worker and
40:14
Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day. The
40:17
day is in recognition of the education, dedication,
40:20
and commitment of child care workers to children,
40:22
their families, and quality of life within their
40:24
community. The proclamation request noted that
40:27
trained and knowledgeable registered early childhood
40:29
educators are the key to quality in early years
40:32
and child care programs. It stated that early
40:34
learning and child care promotes the well -being
40:37
of children. and responds to the needs of families
40:39
as well as the broader community by supporting
40:41
quality of life. Each year, the day is proclaimed
40:43
by the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care,
40:46
the Canadian Union of Public Employees, as well
40:49
as municipalities and school boards across Ontario.
40:52
The day is marked by hundreds of child care centres,
40:54
unions and allies. Councillor Paul Broderick
40:57
showed his support for proclaiming the day. Having
40:59
spent 30 years in education, this is a... core
41:03
group both within the school system and within
41:06
child care that are vastly underpaid and underappreciated
41:10
at times, but their contribution to youth is,
41:13
it can't be measured. For Amherst Island Radio
41:16
and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted
41:18
Evans. This is North Shore News. The Bath Museum
41:31
and Visitor Center is welcoming the community
41:33
back for another season of Culture Talks, a speaker
41:35
series celebrating history, heritage, and storytelling.
41:38
Hosted at the museum, the series brings together
41:40
local historians, musicians, and researchers
41:43
who share unique perspectives on the region's
41:45
history. Held on the third Monday of the month
41:47
from 6 to 7 p .m., Culture Talks offer an opportunity
41:50
to explore fascinating cultural topics in an
41:52
intimate setting. Tickets are $5 per person and
41:55
seating is limited. Monday, September 28th at
41:57
6 p .m., Steve and Bruce Med will be presenting
42:00
a combination of song ballads and storytelling.
42:03
The evening will cover historical events and
42:04
people in pre -Confederation Canada, including
42:06
Indigenous connections, French explorers, loyalist
42:09
refugees of the American Revolution, The War
42:12
of 1812, and more. Stephen Bruce Med is a performing
42:15
songwriter of historical ballads and spiritual
42:17
songs. His songs are inspired by Canadian history,
42:20
the remote and beautiful landscapes he explored
42:22
as a geologist, and social issues of the day.
42:25
Monday, October 26th at 6 p .m., Phil Norton
42:27
will be telling his 2021 bicycle camping journey
42:30
from Prince Edward County to the Mexican border.
42:32
Repeating a journey he did in 1979 and 1980 as
42:36
a 22 -year -old, Norton set off again in 2021
42:39
at the age of 63. Norton tells personal stories
42:41
about his adventure combined with the geography
42:43
and people he met along the way. Culture Talks
42:46
take place at the Bath Museum located at 434
42:49
Main Street in Bath. Tickets for each talk can
42:51
be purchased online. For more information about
42:54
Culture Talks and other upcoming programs, visit
42:56
Loyalist .ca slash events. For Amherst Island
42:59
Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm
43:02
Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. This has
43:07
been North Shore News and Interviews. If you
43:10
have an idea for a story or want to create stories
43:13
for the show, Consider joining our volunteer
43:16
team. Contact Amherst Island Radio for more details.