Steve Ferguson

Office of Mayor

For more than 30 years, the County has been part of the life of Steve Ferguson, who was first elected to council as the representative for South Marysburgh. The incumbent mayor said he is seeking another term to finish what he started. While noting that the flooding in 2019 and the pandemic consumed a lot of energy at Shire Hall, he said: “Despite those unprecedented challenges, we found ways to get many things done.”

Ferguson said Council has taken steps to confront the affordable housing crisis, including: reducing the minimum size of a rental unit; allowing tiny homes, staff ‘bunkhouses’, garden suites and modular units in certain zoning classifications; streamlining the zoning and site plan approval process to expedite the development of affordable housing; and introducing the Capital Facilities Bylaw that allows property tax exemptions for up to 20 years to private developers and nonprofit housing providers.

“Our Housing Corporation is working with developers and not-for-profit organizations to create several hundred affordable housing units,” he said, adding that the former Wellington arena property is being redeveloped into affordable housing ready for occupancy in mid-2024 and Council has agreed to begin work to secure the former Queen Elizabeth School property for affordable housing.

Another challenge, he said, is dealing with 1,100 kilometres of roads with limited financialresources. He said the County is using new techniques to improve major routes and investing in more heavy equipment to improve secondary roads. “In addition, we have taken all the steps necessary to be ‘shovel ready’ when funding from our provincial and federal partners becomes available to rebuild County Road 49, and construction of a roundabout at Highway 62 and County Road 1 is being actively pursued.”

Ferguson said Council is dealing with the shortage of doctors by investing in a dedicated physician recruiter. He also said the rebuilding of the hospital in Picton will help in recruiting physicians, adding: “We have provided financing and other incentives to attract new doctors, one of whom will be taking over a practice in May 2023.”

He said he is pleased to have facilitated conversations between Loyalist College and the owners of Base 31 that could lead to post-secondary programs in the County for young people. He also pointed out that the new official plan will protect the County’s environment and agricultural and natural assets to ensure a positive future for the children and grandchildren.

“Not all this work is complete, but it is all well underway,” Ferguson said.