News

Last night, County Council heard an update from Scott Robertson, manager at Prince Edward – Lennox & Addington Social Services, regarding programs, housing, and homelessness services. Social Services operates 298 affordable housing units across the county, provides financial services to help maintain housing, and refers people to other appropriate social programs. Robertson focused on the 1200 requests every night for an affordable place to stay, and the 5 to 8 year waiting list for subsidized housing. He also said there are currently 39 unhoused people in the County, but in reality the number is 3 or 4 times more. And Robertson stated that 40 to 50 per cent of unhoused people have an acquired brain injury. Job loss, end of a relationship, and mental illness and addiction issues all factor into the problem but he reiterated that changes in government funding have complicated outcomes. On the positive side, 44 people have gone through the transitional housing program, and compared to other municipalities, Prince Edward County is ahead of the game with its safety and wellbeing plan.

Also last night, Amelisaburgh Councillor Janice Maynard had an issue with the bylaw regarding the ballot question for the municipal election: “Are you in favour of a third-party review of council size and related ward boundaries?” She questioned the cost involved and expressed concern that constituents will not understand the implications. The bylaw passed 10 to 4, with Councillors Maynard, David Harrison, Roy Pennel and John Hirsch opposing.

Council also decided to make some adjustments to the system for municipal fines. The County currently operates a penalty system which is an alternative to provincial courts for handling by-law infractions. Council established the penalty system in 2019 for parking infractions and breaches of the Short-Term Accommodation By-Law. Since then, council has expanded the number of by-law infractions that can result in a fine. The proposed by-law changes include introducing specific criteria for the hiring of screening and hearing officers to ensure impartiality, adjusting the requirements for serving paperwork to ensure notices are not missed, and allowing the cancellation of a fine without a hearing if the municipality determines that an error was made. The motion was later passed eight to six on a recorded vote.  Councillors Roy Pennell, Brad Nieman, Bill Roberts, David Harrison, Corey Englesdorfer, and Chris Braney were opposed.

And finally, our Brenda Little has a report on the Flashback February event in Wellington.

As part of the Flashback February events, Ernie Margetson gave a talk on the history of 24 Wharf street in Wellington that is now the Drake. The room was packed to hear the history of the property dating back to the 1800s, when it was a thriving fishing community, a major shipping port and then a foundry producing farm equipment. With renovations, it changed

over the years as did its purpose. Margetson is a county boy who loves history and architecture so has a soft spot in his heart for the property. He was instrumental in the development and construction of the current hotel the Drake. 

Sports

Last night, the Wellington Dukes were defeated 5 – 2 by the Collingwood Blues, the West Conference’s second-place team. The Dukes are still in sixth place in the East, and have clinched a playoff spot. 

The PWHL resumes its season after the Olympic break with the Montreal Victoire visiting the New York Sirens tomorrow night. Montreal is the only Canadian team currently in a playoff spot. 

The NHL resumes tonight after the break, with four Canadian teams in action: the seventh-place Leafs are in Tampa Bay to face the first-place Lightning in an Atlantic Division match, the Winnipeg Jets visit the Vancouver Canucks, and Anaheim hosts the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers are second in the Pacific Division, while the Leafs and Jets are currently out of the playoff picture, and the Canucks continue in the league basement.

In the NBA, the Toronto Raptors are in the middle of a back-to-back, two-game homestand against the top two teams in the Western Conference. Last night, they lost 116 – 107 to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Tonight, the Raptors face the San Antonio Spurs, who are on a nine-game winning streak. 

In MLB pre-season action yesterday afternoon, the Toronto Blue Jays came up short in an 8-7 loss to the New York Yankees, to fall to 1 win and 3 losses. This afternoon, the Jays take on the Detroit Tigers.