News

Good afternoon. From the heart of Prince Edward County, I'm Will Pearson with your County FM News.
The County is preparing to remove development charges for farm properties. During last night’s last meeting for the current council, Sophiasburgh Councillor Bill Roberts tabled a motion intended to support agricultural business. The motion would have municipal staff prepare a report on an exemption from development charges for farmers building on agricultural land. The proposed exemption would apply only for farmers registered as farm businesses, and only for non-residential buildings. During discussion of the motion, outgoing North Marysburgh Councillor David Harrison proposed an amendment to have municipal staff stop collecting development charges for qualifying properties in the interim. Council voted to approve the motion as amended. The staff report will come back before the new council in the first quarter
of 2027.
The County is calling for the restoration of train service to previous levels, and work on improving rail service. During last night’s council meeting, Picton Councillor Kate McNaughton noted that train schedule adjustments which took effect late in October resulted in fewer trains across the Quebec-to-Windsor corridor. In her motion, Councillor MacNaughton cited the importance of rail transit and highlighted the negative effects of the reduction in service. She also said that commuters could be seriously affected by the cancellation of an early morning train. Council voted to approve the motion without debate. Copies of the motion will be sent to Prime Minister Mark Carney, Federal Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon, Bay of Quinte MP Chris Malette, and President and Chief Executive Officer of VIA Rail Canada Mathieu Paquette, along with all 444 municipalities in Ontario.
Council has agreed to allow the Picton Pirates to name the broadcast booth in their arena the Dennis Calnan Crow’s Nest. The Pirates proposed the idea of honouring the long-time, in-game public address announcer, who died in August. County staff will have to approve a sign, but the Pirates will cover all the expenses involved with the sign, which will remain as long as the current building is used as an arena.
Council received an update on the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan. The County is well ahead of other local municipalities in its development of a formal plan that will take the County into 2031. Ontario municipalities are required to have such a plan, which acts as a roadmap for tackling social issues, and often highlights how municipalities can collaborate with other community agencies, police services, and health care organizations. Following the public consultation last summer, another public consultation period will start on November 19th. Council will receive another update early next year.
Council also received the final quarterly departmental reports from Corporate and Legislative Services, Fire and Rescue, Water and Wastewater Services, and Community Services, Programs and Initiatives.

Finally, StatsCan reports Canada's national poverty rate for 2025 was just over 11 per cent, representing about 4.6 million people living below the poverty line. At just over 12 per cent, Ontario has the second highest rate in Canada, after B.C. The rate for seniors is 7 per cent, an increase from the rate for 2024, which was 5.4 per cent.

That’s your County FM News. Your Sports report is next.

Sports

Now your County FM sports.
In PECI soccer yesterday, the junior boys won the gold medal at COSSA with a 3 – 0 win over St. Paul’s. The senior boys won their semi-final 3 – 0 over Norwood, but lost 3 – 0 to St. Paul’s in the final, to take home the silver.
Staying with soccer: European Nations League soccer returns tomorrow. In League A, Group 1, first-place France takes on second-place 2 Italy. In League A, Group 3, first-place Spain faces Czechia, and second-place England plays Croatia.
In local hockey action, the AHL’s Belleville Senators are on the road tonight in Utica, to face the Comets. The Sens are in fourth place in the North Division on a three-game winning streak, but the Comets are in second on a five-game streak.
In the NHL last night, four Canadian teams were in action, all at home. The Colorado Avalanche beat the Leafs 6 – 3, for their fourth loss in a row, all at home. The Washington Capitals defeated the Ottawa Senators 3 – 2 in overtime. The Montreal Canadiens also lost in overtime, 2 – 1 to the Minnesota Wild. The Winnipeg Jets were the only Canadian winners, 4 – 2 over the New Jersey Devils in Connor Hellebuyck’s return to Winnipeg. Tonight, two more Canadian teams play at home. The Calgary Flames host the New York Rangers, and the Philadelphia Flyers visit the Edmonton Oilers, now in first place in the Pacific Division.
And in the NBA tonight, the Toronto Raptors host the Boston Celtics, who are in first place in the Eastern Conference on a four-game winning streak.
That’s your County FM sports.