Part 1: Land Sale, Growth Pressures, and Emergency Services in Focus - 10/24/2023
- PECConnect
- Oct 24, 2023
- 5 min read
The County Council met in regular session on October 24, 2023, at Shire Hall in Picton, with the meeting chaired by Mayor Steve Ferguson. The meeting followed a closed session held earlier in the evening and covered a wide range of County business, from the sale of municipal land for affordable housing to long-term growth trends, emergency services performance, and major policy directions that will shape planning and budgeting decisions in the years ahead. The meeting was livestreamed, with no members of the public present in the gallery.
The meeting opened with a traditional land acknowledgement, followed by confirmation of the agenda and disclosure of pecuniary interest, of which there were none. Council then moved into closed session to consider matters related to municipal land disposition and labour relations, before reconvening in open session at 7:00 p.m.
View the entire PEC Council meeting, or continue to speaker comments and councillor votes>
Sale of Municipal Land to Support Affordable Housing
Council’s first major decision after returning to open session was to approve the sale of municipal land in Picton to Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward–Hastings. The motion authorized the sale of portions of several lots for $31,362.90, with Council also approving a by-law to complete the transaction.
As part of the decision, Council directed Habitat for Humanity to pre-consult with the Development Services Department regarding a future zoning amendment needed to support the proposed development. While the details of the project itself were not discussed in depth during open session, the decision formally cleared the way for Habitat to proceed with planning work tied to the site.
Later in the meeting, a representative from Habitat for Humanity publicly thanked Council, noting the decision would result in permanent homes for local families and expressing appreciation for the County’s support.
Notices of Motion and Community Announcements
During announcements, Council members flagged several issues expected to return for formal debate at future meetings. Councillor John Hirsch announced that Councillor Bill Roberts intended to bring forward a resolution related to poverty and guaranteed livable income at the November 14 Council meeting.
Councillor Janice Maynard gave notice of a future motion concerning a Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks proposal to expand permit-by-rule systems for waste management, stormwater, and water-taking activities.
Council also paused for lighter community updates. Councillor Phil St-Jean shared the results of a recent Picton Farmers Market hot sauce competition, noting that $620 had been raised for the Prince Edward Learning Centre Fresh Market, with unsold products also donated to support fundraising efforts.
Mayor Ferguson then read and referenced several formal proclamations, including Indigenous Veterans Day, Financial Literacy Month, Miss Supertest Day, and dates recognizing efforts to end violence against women and girls. Residents were encouraged to review the full proclamations on the County website.
Regional Growth Analysis: Population, Housing, and Economic Change
The longest portion of the meeting focused on a detailed presentation by Jamie Cook, Managing Partner at Planning & Land Economics, who presented the Hastings–Prince Edward Regional Growth Analysis. Cook explained that the study was commissioned to better understand long-term population, housing, and economic trends across the County and surrounding municipalities.
The presentation highlighted that growth pressures in Eastern Ontario have been building well before COVID, driven by housing affordability challenges in larger urban centres, shifting work patterns, and renewed regional economic activity. Forecasts now point to moderate but sustained growth, with the County projected to grow slightly faster than the broader region.
Cook walked Council through data on migration trends, showing that most recent population growth is coming from other parts of Ontario, particularly the Greater Golden Horseshoe, alongside a rising share of international immigration. He emphasized that an aging population, especially rapid growth in the 75-plus age group, will significantly affect housing needs, municipal services, and labour availability over the next 30 years.
Housing affordability emerged as a recurring theme. While housing prices across Eastern Ontario remain lower than major urban markets, Cook noted that prices have risen sharply relative to local incomes, increasing pressure for medium- and high-density housing and purpose-built rental units. Council members questioned how economic uncertainty, high interest rates, and global instability might affect these projections, with Cook acknowledging near-term volatility but remaining confident in the underlying long-term trends.
Council ultimately voted to receive the growth analysis, positioning it as a key reference document for future planning, infrastructure, and budget decisions.
Paramedic Services Update and Response Times
Council next heard from Carl Bowker, Chief of Hastings–Quinte EMS, who provided an update on paramedic service performance following Council’s approval of additional ambulance staffing earlier in the year.
Bowker reported early improvements in response times within the County, including a reduction of more than 30 seconds in average response times compared to the previous year, despite higher seasonal call volumes. He also noted that a higher proportion of calls are now being handled by the County-based ambulances, reducing reliance on neighbouring municipalities during overnight hours.
Council members asked questions about cross-border ambulance coverage, staffing shortages, and the challenges of recruiting paramedics. Bowker explained that while geography dictates that the closest ambulance always responds, new deployment strategies aim to keep County ambulances in the County as much as possible. Council voted to receive the EMS presentation, acknowledging both the improvements and ongoing system pressures.
Key Takeaways for PEC Residents
Council formally approved the sale of municipal land to Habitat for Humanity, advancing plans for affordable housing in Picton and setting conditions for future zoning work.
The regional growth analysis confirmed that the County is entering a period of moderate but sustained growth, driven by migration, housing pressures, and an aging population, with major implications for housing supply, infrastructure, and municipal services.
Early data from expanded paramedic staffing shows improving response times and coverage, even as the system faces ongoing challenges related to staffing shortages and regional demand.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 3:20:19. 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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