Part 1: Housing Action, Long Term Care & Policy Decisions - 05/09/2023
- PECConnect
- May 9, 2023
- 5 min read
The County Council met at Shire Hall in Picton on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, for a regular council meeting that began at 6:30 pm and stretched late into the evening. The meeting was chaired by Mayor Steve Ferguson, who guided council through a full agenda focused on housing, long term care operations, provincial policy changes, and infrastructure spending. The meeting brought together councillors, staff, presenters, and members of the public, many of whom spoke directly about urgent community pressures.
View the entire PEC Council meeting, or continue to speaker comments and councillor votes>
Housing takes centre stage early in the meeting
Council made an early procedural decision to adjust the agenda to allow a presentation on the County Housing Plan, signalling the importance of the issue before discussion even began. Elis Ziegler, Co Chair of the Housing and Poverty Reduction Action Team under the Community Safety and Well Being Plan, presented the plan to council, describing it as the first county wide effort to consolidate economic, social, and community data through a housing lens.
Ziegler explained that the plan focuses on residents who have been priced out of both ownership and rental markets, including seniors, single residents, working residents, and people experiencing homelessness or precarious housing. Data shared during the presentation showed rising eviction prevention cases, growing demand on local agencies, and widening gaps between income levels and market rents. The plan outlined a housing spectrum, identified housing targets, and emphasized the need for coordination between municipal departments, community agencies, and funding partners.
Public voices reinforce urgency around homelessness
The housing discussion deepened during comments from the audience, where multiple speakers described firsthand experiences with homelessness in the County. Speakers spoke about living in tents, vehicles, and wooded areas, and about the lack of local shelter options, especially for people with pets or complex needs. Others spoke about the strain on service providers who have nowhere to refer people when short term supports run out.
These public comments reinforced a recurring theme throughout the meeting: the gap between planning and immediate action. Councillors referenced these stories repeatedly during their discussion of the housing plan, acknowledging that while long term solutions take time, immediate responses were also needed.
Council directs immediate homelessness action
When council formally considered the County Housing Plan, Mayor Steve Ferguson introduced an amendment that moved beyond endorsement alone. The amendment directed the Prince Edward County Affordable Housing Corporation to determine an immediate solution to homelessness, including the creation of a physical space for displaced residents, and to keep council informed of progress and funding efforts.
A recorded vote was requested, and all councillors voted in favour. Council then unanimously endorsed the County Housing Plan as a living document, intended both to guide local action and to support applications for provincial and federal funding.
Long term care update and questions about oversight
Council next turned to an operational update from the H.J. McFarland Memorial Home, covering legislative changes, staffing challenges, and the 2023 to 2024 Quality Improvement Plan submitted to Health Quality Ontario. Discussion focused on compliance with the Fixing Long Term Care Act, recruitment and retention pressures, and the use of agency staff to fill gaps in nursing and personal support roles.
A key discussion point was how often council should receive updates from the home. Some councillors argued for more frequent reporting given upcoming redevelopment decisions and ongoing staffing pressures, while others emphasized separating operational oversight from future build planning. After debate and a recorded vote on a proposed amendment, council approved continued biannual operational updates for the remainder of the term.
Council pushes back on proposed provincial planning changes
Following a brief recess, council moved up two resolutions to ensure timely discussion. The first addressed proposed changes to the Provincial Planning Statement, formerly known as the Provincial Policy Statement.
Councillor John Hirsch introduced a resolution urging the province to pause changes affecting agricultural lands, natural heritage, and municipal planning authority. Councillors discussed how the proposed changes could conflict with the county’s recently completed Official Plan, which prioritizes intensification in serviced settlement areas and limits fragmentation of farmland.
While there were differing views on how rural and agricultural lands should be distinguished, council largely agreed that the proposed provincial direction would undermine local decision making. A recorded vote was held, and the resolution carried with strong majority support.
Declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic
Council then considered a resolution declaring intimate partner violence and violence against women an epidemic, aligning with the first recommendation of the Renfrew Inquest. The resolution referenced the inquest findings, local domestic violence statistics, and the role of community organizations such as Alternatives for Women.
Councillors spoke about the heightened risks faced in rural communities and the importance of publicly acknowledging the scale of the issue. The resolution passed unanimously, adding the County’s voice to a growing number of municipalities calling for provincial action.
Roads, maintenance tenders, and budget pressures
Later in the meeting, council reviewed several road maintenance tenders covering surface treatment, microsurfacing, and line painting and pavement marking. Staff reported that the tenders came in under budget, which councillors described as a positive shift after previous years of cost overruns.
Discussion focused on road safety, the durability of pavement markings in poor weather, and the long term value of microsurfacing as a preventive maintenance strategy. Councillors debated whether savings should be redirected to gravel roads or spot repairs, but concerns about staff capacity and program scope led council to approve the tenders as presented.
Key Takeaways
Council unanimously endorsed the County Housing Plan and formally directed the Affordable Housing Corporation to pursue immediate homelessness solutions, marking a shift from planning toward action.
Council took strong public positions on broader policy issues, including opposition to proposed Provincial Planning Statement changes and unanimous support for declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic.
Council approved major road maintenance contracts and operational updates while showing caution about expanding programs or reporting requirements without clear capacity and scope, reflecting a balance between urgency and practicality.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 3:47:51. 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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