Ernie Margetson and the County’s Next Chapter: His Priorities, His Approach, and the Questions Ahead
It’s official: Ernie Margetson is Prince Edward County’s next mayor! The Municipal Clerk has declared the certified election results, wrapping up the October 26 vote.
Whether you voted for Ernie or were hoping to see Brad Nieman or Terry Shortt take the lead, we all have a part in where the County goes from here. The election may be over, but the conversations about our community’s future are just getting started… and every single one of us has a role to play.
But, before we get to Ernie, let’s take a moment to focus on you.
*For now, Ernie is mayor-elect. Ontario’s 2026–2030 council term runs from November 15, 2026, to November 14, 2030. Confirmation of an election result and taking office are separate steps; council members must also make their declarations of office before taking their seats under the Municipal Act’s rules for organizing a new council.
Your place in the County continues beyond the ballot
A decision made around the horseshoe can eventually reach your kitchen table: a municipal bill, a housing opportunity, a road you depend on, or a service that helps someone you care about. Following those discussions gives us opportunities to explain what a proposal would mean in our own lives, while there is still a chance to inform the decision.
You can support something Ernie brings forward, suggest an adjustment, or disagree with it. You can speak with your councillor, other members of council, or the mayor about the reasons behind your view. Having voted for someone else does not make your experience less relevant; having voted for Ernie leaves you just as free to question a decision. This freedom is the most important part of our democracy, and we have a responsibility to exercise it productively and respectfully.
That does not mean attending every meeting or becoming an expert in municipal finance, but there are ways to stay informed and in tune with your priorities. Choose an issue you care about. Read a little more, ask a question, or share something the people making the decision might otherwise miss. Residents have different amounts of time and energy to give, and there are different ways to take part.
At PEC Connect, we want to help make those conversations easier to enter. If you would like to keep exploring local issues with us, subscribe to the PEC Connect blog or join our Facebook Community for Locals. We welcome thoughtful disagreement and the information that helps all of us understand an issue more clearly.
With that in mind…
What do Ernie’s own words tell us about the approach he hopes to bring to the job?
Our conversation on Ernie’s front porch offered some personal context for the positions he shared during the campaign. He had been planting oak trees before I arrived, and our discussion moved between his connection to the County and the responsibilities of caring for a place over time.
Chatting with Ernie Margetson: Getting to know the approach behind the answers
Describing the lives and work invested in an old property, he spoke about being a caretaker for the County.
“I am always drawn back to Prince Edward County, and that's why I invested a lot of my time and energy into creating this place and a legacy for the future. When you build something like this, you know that it's going to go on beyond your time.
That's what I find interesting about people who buy old places here—you actually buy different people's lives or what they've invested into a place like a farmhouse that's 150 years old. It's gone through all that time and energy with trees planted, gardens, and fences.
You're just a caretaker for a certain period of time, and then it goes on. That's like Prince Edward County as a whole—our cultural history here and our natural heritage.” Shares Ernie about his perspective on caring for Prince Edward County.
I heard a similar concern for what comes next in his discussion of municipal obligations. He wanted future costs understood and prepared for, alongside decisions that move the municipality’s work forward. That is my reading of a recurring theme in our conversation, rather than a prediction of how he will handle every choice.
His own description of growth also happens to fit the image of a PEC puzzle. During our conversation, he called it “one big, complex puzzle that you have to put together.” He was connecting growth with housing, economic opportunities, and infrastructure. From a community perspective, the people experiencing those connections have something important to add: a worker may see a gap that an employer misses, just as a household may experience a municipal cost differently from the person calculating it.
I was lucky to get to know Ernie’s platform across several opportunities, and below, I’m sharing what I’ve learned with you.
The Mayoral Debate, held at The Regent on October 5, 2026, shaped my first fuller perspective on what County folk can expect from Ernie, based on his responses to 15 pre-submitted questions that were picked for discussion (more on this below).
A few days later, there was an all-candidates meeting in my ward, that included the mayoral candidates, council candidates, and prospective trustees.
Lastly, I got to meet Ernie personally, for a chat on his front porch. Let’s start there.
A Deeper Dive into My Chat with Ernie:
During our conversation on his front porch, I asked Ernie how he would help rebuild confidence among people who feel unheard by their local government. His answer connected the relationships within council with the way council communicates beyond the horseshoe. He hoped councillors could work respectfully together and explain what was happening so residents felt less in the dark.
When I asked how he would begin, he pointed to council orientation: starting conversations with fellow councillors early, helping people feel included, and establishing a collaborative tone before they began tackling public business together.
He also made room for disagreement:
“Not that we're all gonna agree, but that we feel like we're doing it with respect.” Ernie says on his intended approach for collaboration with council.
That distinction matters for the community, too. We can ask questions about a proposal or disagree with its direction while continuing to participate constructively. For residents following the next council, one useful consideration will be how different perspectives are acknowledged and how decisions are explained, particularly to people who hoped for another outcome.
Our chat also explored how differently neighbours can experience the same County.
Ernie recalled hearing concerns about water and wastewater costs at one home, then encountering a different priority a few doors away. When we discussed people feeling unheard, he described complaints he had heard about the regional water strategy: people wanted recognition of what they were saying, beyond an opportunity to speak. That was his account of concerns raised during the campaign, and it helps explain why communication featured in his intentions for the role.
His approach to affordability came with financial guardrails. He hoped to maintain established community support, while expressing doubt that the municipality had the resources for significant expansion. He left room for budget discussions to establish what was possible. Residents who rely on those programs will have their own feedback to contribute about whether maintaining existing support meets their needs and where gaps remain.
Elsewhere, he connected growth with housing and economic opportunities, including the possibilities he associated with reliable fibre internet.
“One big, complex puzzle that you have to put together”, Ernie speaks about connected municipal challenges.
From PEC Connect’s perspective, that also invites us to consider the people experiencing those connections. A housing proposal can look different to someone seeking a first apartment, an employer trying to retain staff, or a neighbour concerned about servicing costs. Each brings information worth considering.
Looking further ahead, Ernie wanted environmental considerations included when the municipality undertakes work such as building upgrades or vehicle purchases. He also hoped a future council could demonstrate that it understood its liabilities and had prepared for coming costs. Those intentions give residents something to follow as specific proposals emerge, with budgets and practical details to consider.
Taken together, our chat suggests he hopes to connect respectful working relationships with decisions that account for the County’s longer-term needs. How that develops remains ahead of us. In the meantime, understanding Ernie’s approach can help us identify where we agree, what we want clarified, and what experience we can bring to the conversation.
Ernie Margetson’s Positions at the Mayoral Debate: Find the issues that matter to you
We have brought together Ernie’s answers to the Mayoral Debate questions below. Each topic has a short summary, and an opportunity for you to share your thoughts and opinions (and I really, really hope you do!).
In Part 2, we’ll explore Ernie’s responses to all 15 mayoral debate questions, from household costs and housing to tourism, farmland, and how council makes decisions. Each topic includes a link to our fuller examination and an invitation to share your perspective.
Which issue would you most like the incoming council to understand better, and what would you want them to know? Share your thoughts below or email hello@pecconnect.ca.
Subscribe to PEC Connect to continue exploring the County’s next chapter with us.
Ernie Margetson has a new role ahead of him, and every one of us still has a piece to contribute. Let’s chip in!
— Andreea, PEC Connect
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