News

County Council met last night, and the big-ticket item on the agenda was the question of compensation for council members and the mayor. Brenda Little has more. 

[Council met last night and the big-ticket item on the agenda was the question of compensation for council members and the mayor.] As per the direction of council to staff, The Stafford group had been retained to undertake an independent review of Council renumeration. The result

being 4 options for council to consider. Discussion was complicated and lengthy but it came down to option two and four to be voted on. Option two where renumeration was based on the average compensation levels within the six single tier municipalities and option four to maintain the current Council renumeration framework. Voting on the options, Council was split down the middle resulting in both options failing 6 to 6. After more lengthy discussion, a motion to defer to the next council meeting was accepted 7 to 5 with councillors Brany, Harrison, Prinzen, Neiman and Pennel voting against the motion.

Also at last night’s meeting, Council decided to update the municipal noise by-law. One proposed change would allow municipal staff to process requests for exemptions on noise permits. Previously, those requests had to go to council. Another change would make business operators liable for misbehaving tourists in short-term accommodations. Previously, only the person making the noise was liable, and fines to tourists weren’t working as a deterrent. Otherwise, the new by-law made no change in noise levels or enforcement. The update also included direction to municipal staff to work with “Good Neighbours Together,” a group of county residents, to find additional improvements that could be made to the by-law. Picton

Councillor Phil St-Jean put forward a motion to remove that clause, saying that it was too late in the term for municipal staff to complete such a report and report back to council. The amendment passed, and the main motion was then passed as amended.

In other county news, the municipality is hosting a public information meeting regarding the County Road 49 rehabilitation. The designs for the project are complete, and work is tentatively scheduled to begin this year. At least one lane of traffic will be maintained at all times throughout construction. For more information, contact Garrett Osborne, the County’s Project Manager. You can learn more about the work plan and ask questions about the project at the public meeting which starts at 5 tonight in the Prince Edward Community Centre. 

Finally, the County is developing a Community Safety and Well-being Plan for 2027-2030, as required by the Ontario government. The plan is intended to make life safer, healthier, and more supportive for everyone, to prevent problems before they happen, and to make sure people get the right help at the right time. The plan will include basic needs, mental health, education, and community belonging. Residents have until this Friday, June 12th, to participate through the online Have Your Say platform, or by picking up a printed survey from any library branch or Shire Hall. Council will receive the findings of the consultations in late August, and the final copy of the Plan early next year.

Sports

In the NHL’s Stanley Cup finals last night, the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 5 – 3, to even the series at 2 wins apiece.

Game four of the NBA Finals goes tonight in New York, with the Knicks ahead of the San Antonio Spurs 2 games to 1.  

In the WNBA tonight, the Toronto Tempo host the Connecticut Sun in the third of six in-season tournament games for the Commissioner’s Cup. The Tempo are 1 and 1 in Cup play so far, while Connecticut is 0 and 3. 

In MLB, the Toronto Blue Jays are in the middle of a nine-game homestand, with three games against the Philadelphia Phillies. They split the first two games, so Toronto has an opportunity to win the series tonight. The Jays have won three of the five home games, but they’re still below .500 and in third place in the A.L. East. 

The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup starts with two games tomorrow in Mexico, then Canada plays Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday afternoon in Toronto. 

The No. 9 Canadian women’s national soccer team defeated No. 43 Costa Rica 6–0 in a friendly last night.