County News
Mayor’s Levee
Mayor Ferguson outlines Council priorities in final year of term
Mayor Steve Ferguson welcomed members of the public and officials from neighbouring communities to the New Year’s Levee held at the Prince Edward Community Centre on Sunday, January 4, where he reflected on the accomplishments of the past three years and outlined the priorities for the final year of this term of Council. The levee format was the same as last year’s, with indoor and outdoor family activities, hot beverages and treats provided by the Friends of the Museums, and free skating in the arena. Local firefighters were on hand to offer fire safety tips and to spread the word about the new Ontario requirement for carbon monoxide detectors to be installed in every level of a residence with fuel burning appliances, fireplaces, or an attached garage. There were activities for children including cookie decoration, making a pine cone bird feeder and learning all about birds from educator Cheryl Chapman. There were also local history displays from The County Museums and the Prince Edward County Heritage Conservancy.
Mayor Ferguson thanked all those who attended and introduced visiting officials, including MP Chris Malette, MPP Tyler Allsopp, Belleville mayor Neil Ellis, Belleville councillor Garnett Thompson, and Quinte West deputy mayor Jim Alyea. Former County councillors Mike Harper, Gord Fox, Monica Alyea and John Thompson also attended, as well as current councillors Sam Branderhorst, John Hirsch, Phil St-Jean, Kate MacNaughton, Bill Roberts, Dave Harrison and Brad Nieman. Mayor Ferguson thanked them for their dedication and commitment to serving Prince Edward County. “This is very tough work, requiring sacrifices at times,” he said. “As a group it’s rare that we see eye-to-eye on a particular item or concern, and we may disagree, but we try to do so respectfully without being disagreeable.”
Mayor Ferguson also thanked County staff for their work, noting that their efforts as a local level of government have the most immediate impact on residents’ lives on a daily basis. As an example, he referred to the dedicated work of the road crews in dealing with the snowfall on New Year’s Eve, ensuring the roads were safe for travelling.
This is the final levee for this term of Council, with municipal elections slated for this coming October. Mayor Ferguson said this term has been both challenging and rewarding. He said ripple effects from the COVID-19 pandemic are still being felt six years later and that the actions of the US Administration over the past year have had a significant impact. “We will prepare for more flux, unpredictable threats and uncertainty in the future,” he said, adding that Council is committed to delivering safe and sustainable services across Prince Edward County in a cost-effective way. He said the Asset Management Plan, created last year, was used to inform the 2026 capital budget, and of particular note is $14 million for road reconstruction and rehabilitation. He is optimistic that progress will be made on the reconstruction of County Road 49. The provincial government has committed nearly $20 million to the project, and the County had set aside $7.8 million in the 2024 budget towards the projected $50.3 million cost. Discussions with the deputy prime minister’s office facilitated by MP Malette have been taking place to secure federal funding for the remaining cost. “We’ve never been closer to getting this done than we are now. With continuous pushing and advocacy, I’m confident we will cure the County Road 49 problem this year,” said Mayor Ferguson. Another roads project of note is the installation of a roundabout at the intersection of Highway 62 and County Road 1. Construction is expected to begin in 2027.
Mayor Ferguson also touched on a few other achievements of Council. After almost a decade of work, construction of a new longterm care home is underway, with a projected opening in 2027. The new hospital build is progressing on schedule, and the Campfire Circle Development—a camp for families of children with cancer—has been approved on Wesley Acres Road. The County Docs program under the direction of Adam Hambly has successfully recruited nine new physicians to the County. Together with an initiative to encourage physicians to expand their patient rosters, 1,750 County residents have been moved off the Healthcare Connect waiting list and now have a primary care provider. Mayor Ferguson said the municipality is committed to providing affordable housing, with a projected 400 units across six sites. Also on Council’s radar is affordable rental units.
This is the final year of this Council’s term of office, and Mayor Ferguson encouraged County residents to seriously consider taking part in municipal politics. “It is time to pass the torch, and the next group will seek to make Prince Edward County a better place work, live learn and play. On one hand, being on council may be the toughest work you’ll ever do, but on the other hand it will very likely be the most rewarding work you’ll ever do,” he said.
Athol councillor Sam Branderhorst is one of those people who took up the challenge of running for council in 2022. The young mother said it has been a life-changing experience. “You see the community in a completely different way. You see what municipalities really do, but you also see the needs of your community completely differently. It opens your eyes to all the different demographics in the County and what they need, and what that means to grow and move forward. That’s one of the best things about being a councillor. You get to have that inside track with the community. And it’s also really unbelievable how the community steps forward and embraces you,” she said. For Councillor Branderhorst, 2025 was a year when some big projects came to fruition. She said that progress has been made on the fate of the H.J. McFarland building, getting the funding for the roundabout on Highway 62 solidified, and bringing a number of road asset management projects forward. She is currently working on a project related to housing and is excited about releasing the news later this year.
She encourages residents to consider running in this year’s municipal elections. “If you really love Prince Edward County and have an open mind, if you’re willing to listen and have a conversation—and that’s what the community needs, rather than saying ‘I have this plan’— then I encourage you to run. We just need people to support the community,” she said.
PART 2: Council Hours of Work; Communication with Residents; Living Wage in PEC; Professional Qualifications of Members of Council and CAO – on-the-job training
The hours of work submitted by the Mayor and Council [elected] positions vary in what each person is capable of giving, due to their personal situation. There are no set hours. There are no set days. So, the question remains, how much to pay these positions when we have no idea what each individual person is capable of providing their particular elected position. This should be stipulated in any pay-scale being considered. What do we need to do – have our Council submit detailed time-sheets each week at Shire Hall, in order to pay each person appropriately for the work they do, with a maximum salary being stipulated for the position of Mayor and Councillor? Here are some facts to ponder over:
NOTE: Part/Full Time designation for PEC’s Mayor/Councillors
Verified from Clerks Dept. and Corporate Customer Service Coordinator:
These are neither part-time/ nor full-time positions held by the Mayor and Council. It is an elected position whereby each member has the autonomy to work the number of hours needed to perform their duties as outlined in sections 224-226 of the Municipal Act.
NOTE: A Ward Councillor’s Obligations/Communications with the Ward Residents
Verified from Clerks Dept.:
1. Are the Councillors under any obligation, whatsoever, to tell the residents of the Ward who elected them, just what they’ve been doing on behalf of that Ward [NOT PEC as a whole, but the Ward itself] and, if so, how often is a reasonable expectation for them to give that report? [ie quarterly, annually?]
Response:
We encourage Councillors to connect with their ward residents in the way they see fit. Some choose to host town hall meetings, while others prefer to send regular newsletters. Ultimately, the approach depends entirely on each individual Councillor’s leadership style and the specific expectations provided to them by their constituents. To that end, the public also needs to actively communicate their expectations to their ward Councillor regarding how, and how often, they wish to receive updates.
Furthermore, as the leader of the team, the Mayor should also play a key role in setting clear communication and accountability expectations for Council as a whole. Because there is no standard, legislated timeline (such as quarterly or annually), establishing that direct dialogue, paired with leadership from the top is the best way to ensure a ward’s unique communication needs are being met.
NOTE: What is a “Living Wage” in PEC?
Verified by Human Resources and Organizational Development [Shire Hall]:
1. What is considered a “Living Wage” for a full time position in Prince Edward County? In 2026, the living wage is $22.20 per hour, which is the equivalent of $46,176 per year.
2. How many hours per week would that entail? This various by position. In most of our unionized roles, a full-time worker works 40 hours per week.
3. What would the hourly rate be? $22.20.
Prince Edward County is a member of the Ontario Living Wage Network, which is a non-profit organization which promotes the payment of a living wage to Ontario workers. Every year, they conduct research and then publish and communicate the Living Wage within various geographic areas across Ontario (because this changes depending on where a worker lives – obviously the cost of living is higher in Toronto than it would be in say, Timmins). PEC falls into the Eastern Ontario area. As a member of the OLWN, as a minimum, we pay the Living Wage to anyone who works at the County: full-time, part-time, casual, students.
NOTE: PEC Qualifications of CAO / PEC Qualifications of Mayor & Councillors
Verified by Executive Assistant to Mayor Ferguson:
Also Note: Please note below that according to what has been given to me, the CAO is a “professional”, our elected members of Council apparently are not. And yet, they were qualified enough to appoint the CAO. And while our CAO is appearing to do a great job, he has never held this position in his career, and so he “is learning on the job” regardless. While attempting to acquire the qualifications of our CAO as this recent position had not been advertised publicly [which eventually ended in my placing a Freedom of Information Request which should not have been necessary], I received the following response:
The Mayor and members of Council are elected officials. They are chosen by the electorate to provide political leadership, set policy direction, and represent the interests of the community. There are no prescribed educational or professional qualifications required for elected office, as these positions are not careers, but democratic mandates held for a fixed term.
The Chief Administrative Officer, by contrast, is a professional, non-elected position and the most senior employee of the municipality. The CAO is appointed by Council and is responsible for the administration of the municipality, including:
Implementing Council’s decisions and policies
Overseeing all municipal departments and staff
Managing municipal operations, budgets, and resources
Providing professional, non-partisan advice to Council
There is no single legislated credential or licensing requirement for a CAO under Ontario law. Instead, qualifications are determined by Council at the time of recruitment and typically include a combination of education, senior level management experience, and demonstrated expertise in public or organizational administration.
In practice, CAOs are commonly appointed based on:
Extensive leadership and executive experience
Proven knowledge of governance, administration, and organizational management
Strong financial, strategic planning, and human resource oversight skills
Experience gained through progressively senior roles over many years
This is not on-the-job training in the sense of learning the role from scratch. A CAO is expected to arrive with substantial prior experience and professional competence and then apply that expertise to the specific municipal context.
Council is responsible for determining whether a candidate meets the qualifications and experience required for the role. In this case, Council has made that determination and has expressed its confidence in the appointment.
We trust this explanation clarifies the distinction between elected office and senior administrative leadership, and we consider your questions addressed.
[Note also, I questioned how this was worded by the Executive Assistant, as I’d found it a little offensive concerning the credentials of our elected officials, when there is absolutely no professional qualifications for the position of a Chief Administrative Officer [I know. I checked.]. However, I was provided with verification of the wording and it is official.]
PART 1(b): Question on marking election ballot
Response from the Clerks Dept.:
You are absolutely permitted to handle your ballot in the manner you described [below].
Under Sections 52 and 54 of the Ontario Municipal Elections Act, the law explicitly accounts for voters who wish to use their ballot to make a statement or vote selectively. Here is exactly how each method works at the polling station:
Decline your ballot: When the election official hands you your ballot, you immediately return it to them and state, “I decline my ballot.” This is a formal, public process. The official will mark it as “Declined” on the back. It never goes in the tabulator/box, and it is explicitly counted and published in the official final results as a declined ballot.
Under vote: You can choose to vote for only one candidate when you are allowed to choose two, or you can leave a specific office (like Mayor) completely blank while filling out the rest. The tabulator will still count the votes you did cast, and leaving sections blank is completely acceptable.
Spoil your ballot: If you make a mistake, change your mind, or purposely deface the ballot before putting it in the box, you can return it to the election official. They will mark it as “Spoiled” or “Cancelled” and issue you a fresh, clean ballot so you can start over.
Reject your ballot: If you mark a ballot for too many candidates (an overvote), mark it with identifying information, or leave it completely blank and drop it directly into the ballot box/tabulator, the machine or Clerk will “Reject” the ballot from the final tally. Like declined ballots, rejected ballots are tracked and published in the final election summary.
What you described [below] is a completely acceptable way to vote and ensure your voice is heard in the exact manner you see fit.
PART 1(a): What happens if no one comes forward to be a Councillor?
Response from the Clerks Dept.:
This is in [the] election procedures, which outline what the Municipal Elections Act mandates.
If, at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 24, 2026 (the date I as Municipal Clerk/Returning Officer) have to certify the nominations), the number of certified nominations filed for an office is less than the number of persons to be elected to the office, additional nominations may be filed between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. The Clerk shall post a “Notice of Additional Nominations”, Form EL17(B), advising that additional Nomination Papers may be filed for that office during the specified time. If, at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, additional Nomination Papers have been filed, the procedure to certify or reject Nomination Papers shall be followed. If between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, there are more than a sufficient number of certified Nominations to fill the office(s), an election shall be conducted with the names of the persons who have filed certified Nomination Papers.
Equivalent to Number of Offices (Section 35(2) and 37(2))
If, at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 there is a sufficient number of certified Nomination Papers filed to fill the office(s), the Clerk shall post a “Declaration of Acclamation to Office – Additional Nominations”, Form EL21. If the number of candidates certified is insufficient to form a quorum of the municipal council, the relevant part of the election is void and a by-election shall be held under section 65 of the Municipal Elections Act.
[To my knowledge,] there have been acclamations (where you win automatically because no one ran against you) but not an insufficient number of candidates whereby the nomination period had to be extended or, after an extension, and there still are no candidates, a by-election has to be held in the future.