Part 1: Climate Funding, Rain Gardens & Youth Engagement – 06/04/2024

The Environmental Advisory Committee met on June 4, 2024, with the meeting held virtually and live streamed to the public. The session opened with several minor technical issues involving audio and online connections before quorum was officially confirmed.

Once underway, the committee approved the agenda, confirmed there were no pecuniary interest declarations, and adopted the minutes from the May 14 meeting without amendment.

The meeting focused heavily on climate adaptation planning, environmental funding opportunities, stormwater management, and long-term community engagement, particularly involving youth participation in environmental decision-making.

© PEC Council (YouTube)

View the entire PEC Council meeting, or continue to speaker comments and councillor votes>

Federal Climate Adaptation Funding Discussion

One of the first major discussions centered on a newly announced federal climate adaptation funding program through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Committee members reviewed the structure of the funding program, which includes up to $70,000 for planning and feasibility studies and as much as $1 million for implementation projects through a long-term national climate adaptation initiative.

The discussion emphasized that Prince Edward County may be in a strong position to compete for funding because of its increasing exposure to flooding, shoreline erosion, infrastructure vulnerability, and climate-related risks.

Members noted that while funding opportunities are significant, municipalities must first establish a formal climate adaptation plan before becoming eligible for larger implementation grants.

The conversation reflected growing recognition that climate adaptation is no longer theoretical for the County. Instead, it is becoming a practical infrastructure and financial issue tied directly to roads, shorelines, stormwater systems, and public safety.

Community Environmental Events and Local Engagement

Committee members shared updates on several upcoming environmental and climate-related events happening across the region.

These included a local home heating and heat pump information session, a shoreline management event in Westlake, and ongoing public consultation opportunities related to parkland dedication planning.

The discussion reinforced the committee’s broader goal of keeping environmental work connected to residents through education, participation, and community partnerships rather than relying only on formal municipal policy discussions.

Members also encouraged broader public participation in environmental consultations already underway at the County level.

Bay of Quinte Rain Garden Program Presentation

The meeting’s main deputation featured a detailed presentation on the Bay of Quinte Rain Garden Program, an initiative aimed at reducing stormwater runoff while improving water quality and local habitat.

The presentation explained how rain gardens work by capturing and filtering stormwater before it enters municipal systems or waterways. Residents participating in the program can receive rebates of up to $750 to help offset installation costs.

Examples of existing rain gardens in Picton were highlighted, along with explanations of how these systems reduce pressure on stormwater infrastructure, lower runoff volumes, and support native plant species and pollinator habitat.

Committee members discussed the practical value of smaller-scale environmental projects that residents can implement directly on private property.

The deputation was formally received by committee vote.

Youth Engagement and Long-Term Participation

A significant portion of the meeting focused on how the County can better involve young people in environmental discussions and climate planning.

Committee members agreed that youth engagement should become a major priority, but stressed that meaningful participation requires more than a one-time public event.

Ideas discussed included school outreach, youth-focused town halls, committee recruitment strategies, partnerships with local youth groups, and informal pre-consultation sessions designed to better understand what issues matter most to younger residents.

The committee emphasized that youth engagement should focus on education, relationship building, and long-term involvement, rather than simply asking for feedback after decisions are already underway.

This discussion reflected growing awareness that climate and environmental decisions being made now will have long-term impacts on younger generations living in Prince Edward County.

Working Group Updates and Environmental Planning

Updates were also shared from several committee working groups, including the Natural Cover Working Group, Climate Action Group, and Communications Team.

Discussions included ongoing work related to potential tree and site alteration bylaws, environmental review of planning applications, green design guidelines, and efforts to improve local greenhouse gas data collection.

Members also discussed the possibility of receiving research support from a University of Guelph graduate student to assist with emissions tracking and environmental analysis. These updates demonstrated that much of the committee’s work continues behind the scenes through smaller task groups that feed information and recommendations back into larger County discussions.

Parkland Dedication Concerns

The committee also discussed ongoing concerns related to provincial rules governing parkland dedication funding. Members expressed frustration that current rules often require municipalities to spend parkland funds quickly and within narrow geographic boundaries, limiting flexibility for larger long-term environmental or recreational projects.

While concerns were raised, the committee acknowledged that decisions around parkland allocation remain primarily a Council responsibility, with advisory committee members encouraged to participate individually through consultation processes.

Key Takeaways:

1. The County is well positioned to access federal climate adaptation funding, but must first develop a formal adaptation plan.

2. The Bay of Quinte initiative offers rebates and practical solutions to reduce stormwater pressure while improving local ecosystems.

3. The committee emphasized long-term involvement through education, outreach, and listening to youth voices rather than one-time events.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:26:13. 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.