Part 2: Worker Housing, Asset Plan Direction, and Development Charge Changes – 07/25/2024

This article looks closely at Committee of the Whole meeting on July 25, 2024 that focuses on who spoke, how council voted, and where the decisions land locally.

Skilled Trades and Workforce Housing

Discussion on the skilled trades and construction workforce report drew some of the longest exchanges of the meeting.

Councillor Phil St-Jean, Chair and Councillor for Picton, spoke repeatedly in support of the report. He disclosed that he was one of the 22 interviewees and emphasized that skilled labour shortages are widespread and persistent. St-Jean supported all recommendations, including exploring temporary worker housing, and argued that the County has a responsibility to create conditions that help businesses grow.

Councillor David Harrison (North Marysburgh) highlighted the hospitality sector’s ongoing struggle to house seasonal workers. He said the demand for temporary housing is strongest in restaurants and tourism-related businesses and supported initiatives that would ease that pressure.

© PEC Council (YouTube)

View the entire PEC Council Meeting; or view our recap.

Councillor Roy Pennell (Ameliasburgh) raised caution around Recommendation 5. He questioned whether allowing temporary housing tied to construction projects could create long-term planning problems or financial exposure if developments stalled. Pinnell argued that planning controls, not economic development policy, should govern how and where such housing is permitted.

Councillor Janice Maynard (Ameliasburgh) focused on rural impacts. She pushed for broader thinking around Recommendation 3, which inventories underused employment land, and asked how rural landowners and tradespeople could be supported if their properties are poorly suited for agriculture but viable for workshops or storage. She briefly attempted to broaden Recommendation 5 to include other worker sectors, then withdrew the amendment.

Councillor Brad Nieman (Bloomfield) supported separating Recommendation 5 for a standalone vote, stating that temporary worker housing warranted deeper consideration on its own.

Council voted unanimously to approve Recommendations 1 through 4. Recommendation 5 was voted on separately and carried after clarification that it directs staff to explore measures, not approve housing outright.

Asset Management Plan: Broad Agreement, Future Decisions Deferred

The Non-Core Asset Management Plan was presented by Aaron Nickel, Director of Corporate and Legislative Services.

© Prince Edward County

Sam Branderhorst (Athol) clarified that the plan inventories assets and condition but does not yet set final service standards or funding strategies. Those decisions will come in 2025 workshops involving council.

Albert Paschkowiak, Environmental Services and Sustainability Supervisor, stressed that service standards will directly determine long-term tax impacts.

Councillor Maynard questioned how council can prioritize non-core assets when core infrastructure already faces funding shortfalls.

Councillor Pennell asked whether spending patterns appeared to dip in election years. Nickel responded that timelines are driven by asset condition, not political cycles.

Council voted to receive the report and direct staff to use it to inform the 2025 capital budget. The motion carried.

Development Charges and Affordable Housing

Changes to multiple development charges bylaws and the Municipal Housing Project Facilities By-law were explained by Adam Goheen, Director of Housing.

He stated that provincial definitions of affordable housing are often too low to work locally, making projects financially unviable. The proposed amendments clarify that the County will rely on local market data and clean up ambiguous language.

Councillor Harrison asked whether individuals, not just developers, could benefit from exemptions. Branderhorst said staff would confirm how the bylaw applies and report back if clarification is needed. Council approved the full slate of bylaw amendments.

What This Means for Residents

Council signaled continued support for skilled trades and development activity, while beginning formal work on temporary worker housing options tied to construction sites.

Councillors raised unresolved questions about how zoning and employment land policies affect tradespeople operating outside settlement areas.

The asset management plan confirms that major infrastructure decisions are coming, with service levels and tax impacts still to be decided in 2025.

Council endorsed clearer, locally grounded definitions meant to make affordable projects more feasible, while acknowledging provincial rules remain a constraint.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 3:23:21. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.