An evening in Consecon

Candidates face the voters

Candidate meetings in Ameliasburgh are often lively high-spirited affairs. Residents in this corner of the County tend to be highly engaged in the issues, resentful that decision-making and spending are centralized in Picton, and weary that their community is often viewed as a place to drive through on their way elsewhere in the County. They want, at a minimum, better roads on which to do so.

The same themes rose to the fore again last Thursday in Consecon. CARA (the Consecon Area Ratepayer’s Association) hosted an allcandidates meeting at the Masonic Hall in the village. About 80 folks filled the hall to eyeball the three mayoral candidates as well as the six folks running for three Ameliasburgh seats.

Much of the curiosity, however, was centred on the three men who would be mayor.

The evening was dominated by the issue of waterworks in Picton and Wellington, and the unfairness felt by Consecon, Carrying Place and Ameliasburgh residents, who will be required to carry the burden of extraordinary spending and debt. They believe, with some justification, that they paid for their water system connected to Quinte West. Many say that if Picton needs a new water system, Picton residents should pay for it.

The poor condition of some Ameliasburgh roads also rose to the forefront. A Bryant Road resident complained he hadn’t seen a grader on his road in 50 years. It might have been an exaggeration. There was broad agreement that the current method of fixing potholes was ineffective and a waste of resources.

Anxious pleas called for the council to slow the rate of tax increases.

One current Ameliasburgh councillor tried to persuade her constituents that property taxes weren’t that high and that what matters is how the dollars are spent. The explanation, however, devolved into a confusing jumble of numbers that didn’t add up, and the audience couldn’t follow.

The lightest moment came early in the evening when the moderator called upon “the woman with grey hair” to ask her question. Nearly half the room rose to their feet.

Rough patch

There was no tamping frustration with Ameliasburgh roads

Few grievances are as widely shared in Prince Edward County as the state of its roads. Ameliasburgh has many—both roads and grievances. After waterworks spending, this issue caused residents to push their hands up to question the candidates.

Councillor Sam Grosso acknowledged several Ameliasburgh roads were in bad shape, but that he and his colleagues were doing all they could.

“We push and push and push,” assured the sitting Ameliasburgh councillor.

The other incumbent seeking reelection, Janice Maynard, knows roads are the number one issue in the ward, but wanted the residents to understand that “the vast majority of roads” had seen improvements recently.

Coun. Maynard explained that councillors don’t get to pick which roads to upgrade or improve—their role is to approve—or not— more money.

Diane O’Brien served 12 years as an Ameliasburgh councillor before two unsuccessful runs for mayor in 2018 and 2022. O’Brien says Ameliasburgh roads are “ridiculous”.

“If I am elected, I will make roads my number one priority,” said O’Brien.

Mayoral candidate Terry Shortt says politics should be taken out of road repairs.

“Take the worst roads, and fix them,” said Shortt. “Our dollars will go a lot further.”

Brad Nieman said the County works with a fiveyear roads plan, but when councillors get involved and deviate from the plan, costs go up. He explained that 10 per cent of the County’s roads saw some improvement in 2026, with a majority of that spending in Ameliasburgh.

Ernie Margetson explained that the County has more road needs than it has resources to fund them.

“We are never going to catch up with our roads,” said Margetson.

He said taxes would have to rise exorbitantly to do so.

The discussion turned to how potholes are repaired. Many Ameliasburgh residents have a poor view of what they see as the road crew dumping a shovel of asphalt into a hole and driving away.

“Have they never seen a hydraulic tamper?” asked one resident. He says without tamping the asphalt is gone in a day or two. “How about a different perspective?”

Ernie Margetson agreed that there were issues regarding the quality of service.

“Pothole patching is not working well,” said Margetson. “It’s a quality of work problem.”

Big spending

The candidates on waterworks spending

None of the mayoral candidates favours spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a waterworks plan that Council rejected earlier this month.

None will accept money from developers to fund their campaign, and none would use strong mayor powers to resolve a municipal issue. They broadly agreed on these points.

He says Picton’s water is safe and he questions whether the risks are rising. He cited data suggesting Picton’s water remains within provincial guidelines. He added that if the facts change, the province will have to play a significant funding role.

Brad Nieman also believes the process should be slowed, broken up into manageable pieces and reassessed. He said municipal plans were drawn up using forecasts of massive and sustained population growth. Even as those forecasts were scaled back, the infrastructure plans were not.

“I don’t support it,” said Nieman. “It is the wrong message being sent.”

Terry Shortt says Council shouldn’t burden water ratepayers with debt to help a developer.

“We need to concentrate on what we do well,” said Shortt. “There are cheaper ways to handle Picton’s water situation.”

COUNCIL CANDIDATES
Andreas Bolik, looking to return to council after taking the last term off, says that “nobody wants this [massive infrastructure spending]—except developers.”

“Let’s tell developers what we want,” Bolik urged the crowd.

Janice Maynard, running in her fourth council campaign, says a better case can be made for population growth in the County’s north end rather than Picton or Wellington. She says Ameliasburgh is closer to jobs and transportation routes, making it a more attractive destination for working families moving in.

Diane O’Brien said there is no need to spend the hundreds of millions of dollars the current waterworks plan envisions.

“Growth is never going to happen,” said O’Brien. “We need to hit the reset button.”

Doug Villeneuve, candidate for council, urged Shire Hall to look at other options.

“Keep up your equipment,” said Villeneuve. “Go small.”

Sam Grosso was the lone outlier among the candidates. “I’m for it,” said the current councillor seeking reelection, suggesting he didn’t care if it lost him votes in the room. He warned, without evidence, that if Picton’s water isn’t fixed, the province may step in.

“I have to speak my truth,” said Grosso.

Margetson stepped back into the discussion to make the point that he doesn’t believe ‘doing nothing’ is an option. But that all the waterworks planning must be put back on the table and re-examined piece by piece.

“It’s too big, too fast,” said Margetson.

Another thing

Taxes and other irritants

While several Ameliasburgh residents insist on better roads, they don’t have a lot of love for Shire Hall’s other spending choices. Most believe local government has grown too big and too fast—pushing their property taxes to the breaking point.

An Ameliasburgh resident seemed to speak for many in the room: Which candidate was ready to bring down the cost of local government?

Some candidates suggested there should be no increase in the budget next year— that Shire Hall needed to learn to live within its means. Others suggested capping increases to the cost of living. Another council candidate, Paul Boyd, suggested slashing the next municipal budget by six per cent.

Janice Mayard countered that “taxes are not so bad” when contrasted against other communities.

Diane O’Brien disagreed, pointing to a 44 per cent increase in property taxes in 10 years.

Andreas Bolik puts the responsibility for rising taxes on council members.

“Everybody has a good idea,” said Bolik, suggesting that too many worthy ideas are pursued and resources invested in them, but the municipal system lacks the rigour or discipline to set priorities—to say no. He also wants to see more extracted from the tourist economy.

Paul Boyd says Shire Hall staffing is out of control.

“Who can tell me what the letters P-S-W mean?” asked Boyd seemingly unaware of the term.

Several audience members explained the letters stood for personal support workers.

“Why does the County need seven PSWs earning more than $100,000 per year?” asked the Ameliasburgh candidate. Judging by the groans in the room, many were unhappy that Boyd circled these employees as an example of excess.

Terry Shortt explained that municipal-provincial relations is an “old boys club”, and that it is necessary to build connections and networks in that club.

“It’s critical to build relationships with the local MPP, neighbouring MPPs and other provincial officials,” said Shortt. “Otherwise you are riding against the wind, and the wind always wins.”

Brad Nieman said he would continue to lever the opportunities provided at conferences including ROMA (Rural Ontario Municipal Association) and AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) to advocate for County issues. He says those meetings provide direct contact with ministers and provincial decision-makers.

Ernie Margetson says the province must be made to understand that the County is a unique place. The municipality serves a vast area—1,000 kilometres of road—with a small population. The property tax base is too small to fund its needs.

“We need to change the funding formula to recognize the specific challenges we face in this community,” said Margetson.

ON VISIBILITY
Several residents complained the only time they see their representatives is just before the election. Some recommended holding council meetings periodically in the wards.

Shortt and Nieman said the idea was unworkable, as council meetings are livestreamed to the Internet and was not easily adaptable to municipal town hall settings.

Margetson said he was open to the idea.

“Livestreaming should not preclude getting closer to our communities,” said Margetson. “Especially if there is a file or issue that impacts the ward directly.”