Northumberland County has released its 2023 annual report and the county’s warden says among the items that stand out most is the need for the provincial government to better-fund housing and social services.

In recent years, regional governments like Northumberland County have been asked to spend more money in areas traditionally funded by the province. When Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander considers the key takeaways from 2023, he said that’s one recurring theme for him, along with the need to continue to efficiently share services between local and regional governments.

“We must continue to drive a shared services environment between upper and lower-tier municipalities where we can partner and work together to help build on each other’s successes,” Ostrander told kawarthaNOW.

“We’re of course doing good work in that realm, from coordinating public works efforts and working across municipalities to build a seamless emergency service/public works communications system, to the development of a policing study to offer advice on next best steps for policing in Northumberland.”

Further, when it comes to managing services and taxpayers’ dollars, Ostrander said, “we must also continue to pressure our provincial partners for a better socioeconomic deal.”

“We simply cannot keep providing services like social services and housing services using property taxes,” he said. “Property taxes only make sense for linear projects like roads and bridges — but even then, in small and rural communities we don’t have the base to adequately keep up with the networks that we have.”

On that note, Northumberland County and the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus continue to advocate for a social and economic prosperity review, Ostrander added.

Northumberland County released its 2023 report on August 14, following county council’s receipt in June of externally audited financial statements for that year.

The report intends to reflect “Northumberland County’s commitment to transparency and accountability, providing community members with a clear view of how their tax dollars are being used to address key priorities and deliver essential services,” the county noted in a media release.

The 104-page report includes community statistics and facts, program and services highlights from 2023, and key priorities for 2024, with the aim of keeping residents informed of county governance and administration. It also provides a visual summary of 2023 financial performance and the complete audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2023.

“The annual report remains an important tool for us to demonstrate our commitment to transparency and accountability with community members and interested parties,” said Northumberland County CAO Jennifer Moore in a media release.

“Through this report, we share updates on our key initiatives and programs, providing the community with an engaging and informative resource to learn how their tax dollars are being put to work in our community.”

The report identifies the tangible outcomes delivered in alignment with the county budget and highlights Northumberland’s efforts to advance key priorities outlined in its community strategic plan and annual business plans, the release noted.

The report shows county council approved a $213.5-million budget in 2023, allocating $128.5 million toward operating costs, $9.2 million for future strategic and infrastructure needs, and $75.6 million for investments in capital and critical infrastructure.

A total of $68.1 million of revenue in the 2023 budget was garnered through property taxes, with $60.2 million hailing from grants and subsidies. The remaining dollars were generated through a combination of debt, reserves, fees for services, and other revenue-generating activities.

“As county council and staff look ahead to the future, continued focus is on monitoring progress and measuring success to ensure quality service for the community,” the release said.

In early 2024, the county introduced an online dashboard of key performance indicators in a move to provide greater insight for community members and interested parties on the status of the county’s priorities and initiatives. The additional reporting tool is intended to complement the county’s formal annual reporting process, the release noted.

“This report provides an assessment of our progress during the past year, identifies opportunities and priorities for 2024, and reaffirms our commitment to strategic and prudent administration of taxpayer dollars,” Ostrander said in a statement.

“As we officially close out the 2023 fiscal year with this report, I want thank staff, council, community partners and our residents for helping us move forward our shared priorities.”

The 2023 annual report is available on Northumberland County’s website at northumberland.ca/annualreport.

Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for the northern Kawarthas region for Sunday (August 18), with a special weather statement for significant rainfall continuing for the remainder of the region.

The rainfall warning is in effect for Haliburton County and Hastings Highlands and the special weather statement in effect for Peterborough County, City of Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue on Sunday. Haliburton County and Hastings Highlands can expect additional rainfall amounts of 40 to 60 mm, for total weekend rainfall amounts of up to 100 mm. Other parts of the region can expect additional rainfall amounts of 20 to 40 mm, for total weekend rainfall amounts of 60 to 70 mm.

Locally higher amounts in thunderstorms are possible in the afternoon and evening.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to taper to isolated showers by the evening.

Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible.

The Town of Cobourg is setting the wheels in motion to provide residents with a new limited fixed bus route service, as part of a pilot project.

Cobourg will launch the pilot in September through Cobourg Transit, in addition to its existing on-demand service. The fixed route program features 35 strategically located stops throughout the town and will operate on an hourly schedule, according to a media release.

The limited fixed route bus program is being offered as a one-year trial project, aimed at offering “more flexibility and convenience” for Cobourg residents.

“We are thrilled to introduce this new bus pilot as part of our ongoing efforts to improve public transportation in Cobourg,” said Town of Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland in the release.

“This change in service is a direct response to community feedback that aims to offer an efficient, reliable, and user-friendly transit option. With the limited fixed route and on-demand services, residents will have more options than ever to stay connected around town.”

The town said features of the limited fixed route service include:

35 well-placed stops

The new route covers the highest demand and popular locations, aimed at ensuring comprehensive coverage of the town. The new fixed route is a combination of the previous Route 1 and Route 2 loops, offering service from the east end of Cobourg to the west end of town and areas in between.

Hourly service

Buses will run every hour, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the goal of providing consistent and dependable service. Bus schedules and signs will indicate how many minutes past the hour the bus is scheduled to arrive.

Enhanced convenience

“The fixed route and frequent service mean that riders who need flexibility with their timing can access transportation with greater ease.”

The new limited fixed route bus system will officially begin operations on Tuesday, September 3. Information is available online at cobourg.ca/transit, with brochures also available at municipal buildings including Victoria Hall, the Cobourg Community Centre, and the Cobourg Public Library.

Cobourg’s on-demand transit service will continue to operate, using current stop locations. The on-demand system allows for online booking with 184 stops throughout town and real-time tracking of rides.

To improve the user experience, Cobourg is also launching a new app called “Cobourg Transit” for booking on-demand services. The app, which will be available in the Apple App Store and Google Play at the end of August, will be used for bookings on and after September 1. Bookings can also be made on the web at book.cobourgtransit.rideco.com or by calling at 905-373-0582.

On-demand service hours are Monday to Friday from 6:15 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 8:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., and Sunday from 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

In addition, Cobourg Transit offers an origin to destination service called WHEELS for eligible riders. Riders who are unable to utilize the conventional, stop-to-stop, transit service due to cognitive, physical, sensory, visual or environmental limitations, may apply for the WHEELS program.

There will be a single cash fare of $2.50 for both on-demand and fixed route services, with children five and under riding free. Meanwhile, 30-day passes are available on the town’s website or at the finance office in Victoria Hall, located at 55 King St. W.

Cobourg Transit riders can pay by cash on board the bus, through a reloadable “smart card” that can be purchased online at cobourg.usetransit.com or in person at Victoria Hall, use bus tickets or pay via the app for the on-demand service.

For more information about the bus system, including route maps, schedules, and fare details, visit cobourg.ca/transit or contact the Town of Cobourg’s engineering department at 905-372-4555.

Currently, Cobourg Transit offers an accessible service that has three buses running the on-demand services, in addition to WHEELS.

Earlier in July, the federal government announced the launch of the Canada Public Transit Fund, a new $30-billion investment over the first 10 years to expand public transit and make it more accessible across the country. The government said it is the largest public transit investment in Canadian history.

“The Canada Public Transit Fund will transform the way we deliver transit funding to communities across the country,” a media release noted.

“This permanent ongoing program will invest an average of $3 billion per year to help cities and communities deliver better public transit systems for Canadians.”

Public transit shortens commute times, grows the economy, and keeps the air cleaner, the government noted.

North Kawartha Mayor Carolyn Amyotte has put a call out to her fellow mayors along Highway 28 to form a coalition to better advocate for greater safety along the provincial highway.

The proposal was sent to the mayors of Douro-Dummer, Selwyn, Highlands East, Faraday, and Bancroft under the goal of coming together to lobby to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) and other provincial officials to address the growing safety issues on Highway 28.

The movement comes following several serious motor vehicle accidents on the highway, including a multi-vehicle collision south of Bancroft on August 6 that killed two people and seriously injured four more.

Extending from Highway 7 east of Peterborough to Highway 41 in Denbigh, Highway 28 is a major route connecting many municipalities in cottage country.

“If we can unite with my fellow mayors and with the MTO and have a stronger voice, it’ll make a positive impact because every accident is a life-changing event for all those involved, whether it’s a fatality or not,” says Amyotte.

Amyotte says the concerns have “snowballed” since reconstruction began in June on the Eels Creek Bridge, located around 13 kilometres north of Burleigh Falls and 13 kilometres south of Apsley.

The northbound and southbound lanes have been reduced to a single lane at the Eels Creek Rest Area, with vehicular access being controlled by a timed temporary traffic signal allowing one lane of traffic to proceed at a time.

The Township of North Kawartha has received numerous complaints about the traffic backup this causes during peak commute times around weekends — including long weekends when traffic is especially heavy.

“We weren’t even notified that the construction was beginning,” says Amyotte. “The weekends in particular are brutal, when you have the main flow coming up on Friday night and going back on Sunday or the Holiday Monday.”

Bellai Alliance Civil Inc., the contractor hired by the provincial government to complete the work, issued a “stakeholder notification” about the construction dated May 28, just six days before construction began.

On Tuesday (August 13), township council approved a motion for Amyotte to contact the other mayors along Highway 28 to consider forming a coalition, and also to send a letter to MTO and other provincial officials regarding the significant delays caused by the Eels Creek bridge construction, with reference to specific data on traffic volumes.

Amyotte’s letter to MTO outlines that on the Civic Holiday Monday, the line of traffic waiting to travel through the construction site was around 18 kilometres long. The following Sunday, it was around 15 kilometres long.

“A 150-metre construction site should not be causing such unreasonable traffic back-ups and delays,” Amyotte wrote in the letter. “This has been the situation all summer long and it is not sustainable nor acceptable.”

Some drivers have had to wait up to an hour or longer to get through the construction site, according to the letter.

“When traffic is backed up 18 kilometres along the roadway, that’s not acceptable and only exacerbates the problems with frustrated drivers, which can lead to greater safety concerns,” Amyotte says.

Concerns outlined in the letter include the lack of communication when beginning the construction, the economic impact from travellers spending more time on the road and less time at local businesses, and the safety concerns in drivers having to come to a full stop on an 80 km/h stretch of highway with little advance warning.

Drivers only encounter warning signage close to the construction zone, putting unfamiliar and unsuspecting drivers at risk. It should also be noted that many drivers regularly exceed the speed limit on Highway 28 by 10 to 20 km/h or more.

North Kawartha Township is requesting the MTO control the flow of traffic at the construction site with human intervention (flag person) or an automated flagger assistance device, ensure travellers are aware of the construction zone well before the current signage locations, and improve traffic study requirements and stakeholder consultation for these types of projects in designated tourism regions .

“It’s been a challenge to connect with the MTO and work with them,” Amyotte admits. “We thought we could reach out to the other mayors, communicate, and collaborate because this roadway has a huge impact on all the communities it goes through.”

Replacement of the bridge over Eels Creek is scheduled to be completed in August 2025, with a winter shutdown of operations between December and May before construction resumes for next summer.

On a separate issue related to Highway 28, North Kawartha Township wrote to the MTO in July requesting a safety review and improvements of the highway’s access points to Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park, which lies west of Highway 28 from north of Burleigh Falls to north of Apsley.

The concern lies in the absence of a turning lane at most of the entrances to the provincial park, including Coon Lake Road, Long Lake Road, and Anstruther Lake Road.

“We’ve had concerns and complaints brought forth over the years about how scary it is to make a left turn into the park when someone’s coming around the corner and they’re worried they’ll get rear-ended or somebody will go off the road,” Amyotte says. “It’s not a simple fix and it’ll cost money, but what’s the cost of lives lost?”

It’s not the first time during her time in office that Amyotte has focused her efforts on raising public awareness about safety on Highway 28. In 2022, two zones along the highway in North Kawartha Township became designated “community safety zones,” with penalties for driving infractions doubled in those areas.

Recognizing other safety issues with the highway, Amyotte explains that part of the goal in forming a coalition with other Highway 28 mayors is to “raise public awareness to help modify driver behaviour.”

“You are coming into a wilderness area, so it’s really important to be aware and look around,” she says, noting wildlife is the number one cause of vehicle accidents. “But after that, it’s driver behaviour from not driving for the conditions, speeding, unsafe passing, and distracted driving.”

In addition to driving cautiously, Amyotte suggests travellers be aware of the extended traffic on the roadway during busy times on the weekend and adjust their schedules accordingly.

With drivers doing their part and fellow township mayors forming the coalition, she is hopeful it will lead to change and making Highway 28 safer for the many thousands who travel it each year.

“It would be great if we come together, make a list of concerns and a list of ideas and suggestions on how we can approve, and go together as one voice to advocate for this, because it’s worth seeing what we can do,” Amyotte says.

“It’s my sincerest wish that everybody who travels on that road gets to their destination safely and if we all do our part, drive with care and be aware, that’ll happen.”

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the entire Kawarthas region for significant rainfall on the weekend.

The special weather statement is in effect for Peterborough County, City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.

Rainfall amounts of 40 to 80 mm are expected, with rainfall rates of up to 40 mm in an hour.

Rain will begin near midnight on Friday (August 16) and continue into Sunday night

The heaviest rainfall is expected on Sunday. Locally higher amounts are possible Sunday afternoon and evening.

“This weather pattern typically brings rapidly changing conditions between sunny skies and heavy downpours,” Environment Canada notes. “Rainfall warnings may be required and issued on short notice to reflect rapidly changing conditions.”

Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible.

Ensuring patients who have dementia or those who are suspected of having that diagnosis “receive the specialized care they need” is the goal of a new initiative being launched at Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH).

The Trent Hills hospital has announced it is teaming up with the Baycrest Virtual Behavioural Medicine (VBM) Program with the goal of better supporting its patients with cognitive impairment.

CMH describes the VBM program as “a pioneering initiative” that’s designed to improve the care and support of patients who have dementia.

“This collaboration ensures that CMH’s inpatients who have, or are suspected of having, dementia and are exhibiting responsive behaviours, receive the specialized care they need,” the hospital noted in a media release.

“Our partnership with the (VBM) Program aligns with CMH’s mission to provide comprehensive care to our community,” said Heather Campbell, vice-president of patient care at CMH, in the release.

“By collaborating with this program, we ensure that individuals with dementia receive the specialized support they need to improve their quality of life and help reduce repeat hospitalizations.”

The VBM Program provides a short-term, behavioural medicine consultation service that leverages virtual consultations to address challenging neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as severe agitation and physical expressions of anger.

By working closely with the patient, family, and care team, the Baycrest team reviews medications, medical and family histories, co-morbidities, and symptoms to determine the most effective medication and behaviour support strategies, according to the release.

“This comprehensive approach not only addresses the immediate needs of the patients but also lays the foundation for a successful transition home or to long-term care.”

Through its inpatient unit, CMH began referring eligible patients to the VBM Program in February, with the vision that it can have a significant impact on managing responsive behaviours and improving the overall patient experience.

CMH views the partnership as a part of its “ongoing commitment” to enhance dementia care within the community and provide patients and their families with the support they need during critical times.

Patients referred to the VBM Program undergo a thorough assessment, which may include virtual appointments lasting between one to two hours, followed by shorter, focused follow-up sessions. These consultations are conducted via accessible platforms such as the Ontario Telehealth Network, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams, “ensuring that care is both timely and convenient,” CMH noted.

The VBM Program is a collaboration between the Sam and Ida Ross Memory Clinic at the Pamela and Paul Austin Centre for Neurology and Behavioural Support at Baycrest, and the Toronto Central Behavioural Support for Seniors Program.

The VBM Program team includes specialists in behavioural neurology, geriatric psychiatry, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, neuropsychologists, and behavioural support clinical navigators.

According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, researchers project that by 2030 nearly one million people in Canada will be living with dementia. In addition, researchers forecast that more than 1.7 million people in Canada will have dementia by 2050.

The term “dementia” doesn’t refer to one specific disease. It’s an overall term for a set of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain, the Alzheimer Society noted on its website.

For more information about dementia, visit the Alzheimer Society of Canada website at alzheimer.ca. For more information about Baycrest’s VBM Program, visit baycrest.org.