News
The Planning and Development Committee will be meeting today. They will consider an application from a numbered company to develop a 17-lot subdivision at Flatt Point on County Road 13, and a second application to create a right-of-way for that proposed subdivision. The Committee is also expected to make a decision on an application by Base31 for a development of single detached lots, townhouse units, and stacked townhouse units at County Road 22 and Kingsley Road. You can view materials for each of the applications at the County’s Planning Portal. You can provide comments through the Planning Portal or to the Planning Department. The meeting is at 6 pm today in Shire Hall, with live stream on the municipality’s YouTube channel.
The County’s draft 2026 budget is now available for public review before consideration by Council from Dec. 1st to 3rd at Shire Hall. The operating budget is almost $91 million, of which $60 million will be raised through the property tax levy. Tax levy increases are required to maintain the same level of service the municipality delivers to the community every day. The main factors driving this increase are negotiated increases in wages and staff benefits, inflationary growth in costs, continued supply chain challenges, and rising prices for construction, materials, and supplies. Increases are also required for capital infrastructure investments to ensure the municipality is properly funding the maintenance, renewal, and replacement of its core assets, like roads, buildings, parks, vehicles, and equipment. In total, the tax levy increase will result in a homeowner paying about $100 more annually per $100,000 of assessed home value. The water and wastewater operating expenses and capital budget are also up slightly, but are supported entirely by rates, and not property taxes. You can view the budget online or by contacting the County clerk’s office. Following the Council meeting, staff will revise the draft budget based on Council discussions and public input. The final budget will come before Council for consideration and adoption in January next year.
In consumer news: New data from the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy shows an almost 5% annual increase in consumer insolvencies in the third quarter of 2025. The number of insolvencies is the highest quarterly total since 2009, and the third-largest since tracking began in 1987. Insolvencies also far exceed historic norms, at almost 30% above the recent four-year average. Business insolvencies, meanwhile, dropped more than 15% from last year, although that decrease might reflect delayed filings rather than improved conditions for Canada’s struggling businesses.
And speaking of business insolvencies: At its annual public meeting yesterday, Canada Post revealed that it continues to bleed cash and hinted at big job cuts of about half its 62,000 employees. The Crown corporation’s chief financial officer said Canada Post is effectively insolvent. Canada Post’s operating loss so far in 2025 totals more than $1 billion, and its latest quarterly loss is unprecedented at $541 million before tax. The chief financial officer suggested that continuing labour uncertainty and disruption caused by a year and a half long labour dispute with its workers contributed to the losses.
Sports
In the NHL, three Canadian teams were in action last night. In their game, the St. Louis Blues and the Toronto Maple Leafs started play as the two worst defensive teams in the NHL. With a 3 – 2 overtime win over the Blues, the Leafs snapped a five-game winless streak. The Winnipeg Jets defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 5 – 2. And the Calgary Flames lost by that same 5 – 2 score in Chicago to remain last in the league. Two Canadian teams play tonight, both on the road. The Edmonton Oilers are in Washington, and the Calgary Flames visit the Buffalo Sabres.
The eight-game PWHL pre-season is now over. The regular season starts this weekend, with a full slate of games for all eight teams, including the expansion Vancouver Goldeneyes hosting the Seattle Torrent on Friday night.
In the NBA, the Toronto Raptors visit the Philadelphia 76ers tonight. The Raptors have climbed into third place in the Eastern Conference with four wins in their last five games.
Eight of the top women’s and men’s curling teams in Canada will battle it out for the country’s Olympic berths at the Canadian curling trials from this weekend to Nov. 30th in Halifax. The winner of each division will represent Canada at the Milan-Cortina Olympics next Feb.
In MLB news, Toronto Blue Jays’ shortstop Bo Bichette declined a $22-million qualifying offer yesterday, which suggests he expects to do far better on the open market.
