Part 2: Council Advances Fisheries, Health, and Safety Actions - 10/10/2023

This portion of the October 10, 2023 Committee of the Whole meeting focused on who spoke, what actions were taken, and how those decisions connect to real impacts across the County. The discussion was shaped heavily by public deputations, especially around commercial fishing and Point Traverse, alongside key council decisions on public health representation, rural health care advocacy, financial reports, and accessibility and traffic planning.

As the meeting progressed, councillors responded directly to what they heard in the room, moving motions, asking targeted questions, and setting direction on several issues that continue to affect residents at both the community and County-wide level.

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Commercial Fisheries and Point Traverse

The strongest and longest discussion of the night centred on commercial fishing.

Rosalind Adams, a County resident, addressed Council first, speaking about the historic and present day importance of commercial fishing and raising concerns that the County Official Plan does not clearly recognize it. Her deputation directly led to action.

Councillor John Hirsch acknowledged during questions that commercial fisheries were not clearly referenced in the Official Plan. He then moved the motion asking staff to explore adding commercial fisheries to the Official Plan and report back in early 2024. The motion was seconded by Councillor Phil Prinzen and carried unanimously.

Jordan McCormick, a sixth generation commercial fisherman, spoke next. He focused on federal actions affecting Point Traverse and urged stronger advocacy. Council members asked questions but no policy change was introduced at this stage. His deputation was formally received, moved by Councillor Janice Maynard and seconded by Councillor Brad Nieman.

Amy Bodman, speaking for the South Shore Joint Initiative, followed with a presentation focused on documenting fishing history and arguing that conservation and fishing can coexist.

After Bodman spoke, Councillor David Harrison introduced an advocacy motion requesting that the Mayor write to the federal Minister of Fisheries Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard in support of commercial fishing at Point Traverse. The motion was seconded by Councillor Brad Nieman and carried by Council.

All three fisheries deputations were formally received, with Council taking two concrete steps tied directly to what was said in the room.

Public Health Board Resignations and Appointments

Public health governance came up during audience comments and later in formal business.

A resident speaker urged Council to ensure strong voices remain on the Hastings Prince Edward Public Health Board. When Council reached the agenda item, Councillor Roy Pennell asked whether the resigning councillors could be reappointed. Mayor Steve Ferguson opened the floor for nominations.

Councillor Hirsch declined reappointment. Councillor MacNaughton also declined reappointment.

Councillor Prinzen nominated Councillor St-Jean, who accepted. Councillor Nieman nominated Councillor Roberts, who accepted.

The final motion to receive the resignations and appoint St Jean and Roberts was moved by Councillor Brad Nieman, seconded by Councillor Corey Engelsdorfer, and carried.

Rural Primary Care Strategy Support

Mayor Steve Ferguson brought forward a resolution supporting Hastings County’s request that the Province develop a rural primary care strategy.

The motion was seconded by Councillor Phil Prinzen and supported during discussion by multiple councillors who referenced local doctor shortages and infrastructure limits.

Council voted in favour, agreeing to send the resolution to provincial and regional officials.

Financial and Operational Decisions

Several financial reports were received without opposition.

The 2022 Development Charges Financial Statement was moved by Councillor Prinzen and seconded by Councillor Hirsch, then carried.

The 2022 year end financial report was moved by Councillor John Hirsch, seconded by Councillor Phil Prinzen, and received for information.

Operational spending did raise questions.

On the cold patch supply contract, Councillor Janice Maynard moved the motion and Councillor Kate MacNaughton seconded it. Councillors asked about costs and budget timing but Council ultimately approved the two year contracts.

On the highway salt contract extension, Councillor Phil Prinzen moved the motion and Councillor Kate MacNaughton seconded it. Council asked staff to provide cost comparisons but still approved the extension.

Accessibility and Traffic Decisions

Accessibility planning saw several amendments.

Councillor St-Jean and later Councillor MacNaughton moved amendments to adjust how accessibility checklists and zoning bylaw feedback are handled. Council agreed to focus on early consultation rather than mandatory reporting back from developers.

All accessibility related motions were carried as amended.

Traffic and road safety items were largely supported, with some debate around committee naming. Council agreed to refer the possible name change back to the committee and Clerk for further review rather than approving it outright.

Seasonal parking restrictions, school safety zones, and speed adjustments were approved, with Councillor Prinzen moving the main motion and Councillor Engelsdorfer seconding it.

What This Means for Residents

Council formally committed to reviewing how commercial fishing is recognized in County planning and agreed to advocate directly to the federal government. This does not change federal decisions immediately but it puts the County on record as supportive and engaged.

For residents concerned about health care access, Council aligned itself with other rural municipalities in pushing the Province for structural solutions rather than short term fixes.

For those affected by roads, parking, and accessibility, Council approved near term safety changes while signalling that longer term planning and clearer processes are still being worked out.

Overall, the votes show a Council responding directly to public input, especially where residents showed up in numbers and stayed focused on specific asks.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 2:05:28. 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.