Part 2: Council Debate on Professional Services, Emergency Risks, and Land Sale - 01/15/2026

This coverage of January 15, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting breaks down where councillors weighed in, what positions were clearly stated, and how decisions moved forward. This section follows the meeting flow and focuses on voices, votes, and direction rather than background explanation.

© PEC Council (YouTube)

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

Business retention and professional services

The longest and most detailed discussion centered on the Business Retention and Expansion report focused on professional services.

Councillor Bill Roberts repeatedly emphasized scale and growth. He pointed out that small businesses with one to four employees are the fastest growing segment of the local economy and questioned why professional services are often overlooked in economic reporting. Roberts framed the sector as a quiet but powerful contributor that deserves more visibility and policy attention.

Councillor Phil St.-Jean took a more cautious lens. He raised concerns about taxation and classification, noting that many home based businesses are still taxed residentially and do not contribute to commercial or industrial tax classes. He questioned how this affects the County’s ability to demonstrate economic strength to upper levels of government. St Jean also stressed that business owners themselves need to play an active role in networking and visibility rather than relying solely on the municipality.

Councillor Harrison focused on retention and long term stability. He asked how many new businesses survive over time and whether reported jobs are full time or seasonal. Harrison also raised the issue of tariffs and future trade impacts, questioning how resilient the professional services sector would be if broader economic conditions change.

Councillor Janice Maynard leaned into community integration and future planning. She highlighted that many findings echoed what she heard while campaigning and stressed the importance of connecting business owners into existing community structures like recreation committees and libraries. Maynard also questioned whether County branding and economic messaging needs to evolve to better reflect remote work and professional services as a growing reality.

Mayor Steve Ferguson approached the topic from a strategic and regional angle. He focused on areas where the survey showed room for improvement and asked what single actions could most improve conditions for professional services. Ferguson emphasized connection and engagement over quick fixes and suggested models like newcomer groups as a way to better integrate new business owners into County life.

After extensive discussion, council voted unanimously to receive the report for information. No changes or directions were added at this stage, but the tone of discussion showed broad agreement that the sector matters and needs better visibility and connection.

Emergency management and preparedness

The emergency management compliance report was formally straightforward but quickly led to a serious discussion.

Councillor Bill Roberts was the first to raise concerns about global instability and whether current hazard planning adequately reflects emerging risks. He suggested that what once seemed unthinkable may now warrant closer attention.

Councillor Janice Maynard supported that concern by sharing personal experience from past emergencies and noted the County’s proximity to major military and communications infrastructure. She questioned whether local impacts could be more significant than in other Ontario communities.

Councillor Harrison asked about coordination with neighbouring municipalities and the County’s relationship with CFB Trenton, pointing to regional exposure and shared risk.

Mayor Steve Ferguson strongly supported advancing planning discussions. He referenced recent regional conversations and stressed that cyber threats and proximity to high value targets should be taken seriously. Ferguson urged planning rather than panic and emphasized that preparation is better than reaction.

Staff acknowledged the concerns but cautioned about the limits of public discussion. Several councillors agreed that deeper security related conversations may need to happen outside open session. Council voted unanimously to receive the emergency management compliance report for information.

Closed session and land decision

Council moved into closed session to discuss a proposed land transaction in Ward 1.

When council returned to open session, Councillor Phil St.-Jean brought forward the motion authorizing the sale of municipal industrial parkland to Josh McDonald, with staff directed to prepare a bylaw for the January 27 council meeting.

The motion passed with no opposition.

What this means for local residents

For residents who run home based or professional service businesses, this meeting signaled growing awareness at council that this sector is larger and more influential than it appears. While no immediate policy changes were made, councillors clearly acknowledged gaps in connection, visibility, and infrastructure that affect daily working life in the County.

The emergency management discussion showed council taking evolving global risks seriously while being careful about how and where those conversations happen. Residents should expect continued behind the scenes work on preparedness rather than public debate.

The approved land sale points to continued movement within the County’s industrial lands strategy, which can affect future employment opportunities and tax base growth, especially in and around Picton.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 2:14:55. 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.