Part 2: Council Splits on Queen Elizabeth School While Backing Health Care Expansion – 04/11/2024
- PECConnect
- Apr 11, 2024
- 4 min read
This article of the April 11, 2024 Committee of the Whole meeting focuses on where councillors stood, how they voted, and how those positions break down by ward and issue. The discussion revolved around two major items: expanding the Health Care Connect Premium Pilot Program and deciding whether to proceed with the purchase of the former Queen Elizabeth School property in Picton.
View the entire PEC Council Meeting; or view our recap.
Health Care Connect Expansion
Support for expanding the Health Care Connect Premium was consistent across Council, with councillors from multiple wards framing it as a practical response to an ongoing primary care shortage.
Adam Hambly, representing County Docs, fielded questions from councillors across urban and rural wards. Councillor John Hirsch openly supported the expansion, calling it a “no-brainer” and questioning why residents would avoid registering with Health Care Connect. Councillor Sam Grosso focused on physician retirements and asked about virtual care options for residents facing gaps in service.
Concerns about misinformation surfaced repeatedly. Councillor Phil St-Jean described confusion he had heard directly from newcomers, particularly fears about losing an existing doctor when joining Health Care Connect. Councillor Kate MacNaughton and Councillor Bill Roberts echoed the need for clearer messaging.
When the funding question came forward, Mayor Steve Ferguson moved to receive the deputation, followed by a motion to approve an additional $75,000 in 2024 funding from the Tax Stabilization Reserve. The motion passed, reflecting unified support across wards for accelerating patient attachment to family doctors.
Queen Elizabeth School: Sharp Divisions by Philosophy, Not Geography
The second half of the meeting revealed deeper divisions as Council debated whether to proceed with the Queen Elizabeth School acquisition ahead of the June 10 deadline.
Director of Housing, Adam Goheen, explained that the County no longer had grant funding lined up, making a third-party partnership essential to recover costs. He stressed that purchasing the property preserved control and flexibility, while walking away would likely send the site to the open market.
Mayor Steve Ferguson strongly supported moving ahead, framing the property as a rare opportunity to advance affordable housing in Picton’s largest settlement area. He emphasized the six-year effort to reach this point and argued that losing the site would undermine Council’s stated priorities.
Support also came from Councillor Phil St-Jean, who argued that securing the land was low risk given its value and stressed community interest in keeping control over future development. Councillor John Hirsch supported the purchase as a strategic move, highlighting the ability to sever land for housing while using partnerships to manage the building.
On the opposing side, Councillor Chris Braney said he could not support the purchase without secured funding, despite agreeing with the underlying goals. Councillor Phil Prinzen and Councillor David Harrison raised concerns about financial exposure and the County’s growing list of property obligations.
Councillor Corey Engelsdorfer questioned whether acquiring another building fell outside the proper scope of municipal government, particularly given existing infrastructure pressures. Councillor Roy Pennell acknowledged the value of the land but worried about taxpayer risk if partners or funding did not materialize quickly.
The Recorded Vote
When the vote was called, Councillor MacNaughton requested a recorded vote.
Voting in favour of proceeding with the purchase and due diligence were Mayor Steve Ferguson, Councillor Janice Maynard, Councillor Sam Grosso, Councillor Brad Nieman, Councillor Bill Roberts, Councillor Phil St-Jean, Councillor Sam Branderhorst, and Councillor John Hirsch.
Voting opposed were Councillor Chris Braney, Councillor Phil Prinzen, Councillor David Harrison, Councillor Roy Pennell, and Councillor Corey Engelsdorfer. The motion carried 9–5, sending the recommendation forward to Council.
What This Means for Residents
For residents across the County, these votes translate into two immediate impacts. First, thousands of locals waiting for a family doctor are likely to see faster progress through an expanded Health Care Connect Premium, especially in wards with aging populations and physician retirements.
Second, Picton residents and surrounding neighbourhoods now face a period of uncertainty but opportunity, as the County moves to secure the Queen Elizabeth School site while exploring partnerships that could shape housing, services, and development in the community for decades to come.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 2:49:15. 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.
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