Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has named Peterborough-Kawartha MP Michelle Ferreri as the opposition critic for the federal minister of families, children, and social development.

Poilievre released the list of his “shadow cabinet” on Wednesday (October 12), naming 52 ministerial critics and 37 associate critics.

“I am very honoured to be appointed as Shadow Minister of Families, Children and Social Development under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre,” Ferreri said in a statement. “This is a very significant file for Canadians at all stages in their life, from early childhood to Canadians collecting EI, to seniors collecting OAS, CPP and GIS.”

Under former Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, Ferreri was the shadow minister for tourism and focused her efforts on criticizing wait times for passports as well as the federal government’s ArriveCAN app.

Ferreri said in her statement she “will work to hold the Minister to account to ensure essential services like getting a passport in a timely manner are met.”

Karina Gould is the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. Although Gould is responsible for Service Canada, which provides passports to Canadians, her primary mandate is to deliver a national early learning and child care system (including for Indigenous families). Ferreri did not mention child care in her statement.

Gould is also responsible for implementing the Community Services Recovery Fund to help charities and non-profit organizations adapt and modernize as they recover from the pandemic and implementing the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of Black-led and Black-serving organizations,

“We need a government that is not just talking and virtue signalling but acting and delivering on their mandates,” Ferreri said in her statement.

Ferreri’s appointment as shadow minister for families and children will likely raise eyebrows among her critics. In March, Ferreri came under fire after she called herself “a single mom with six children” in the House of Commons. Ferreri is mother to three teenage children from a relationship with her former spouse, and is currently in a relationship with Ryan Moore, who is father to three children from a relationship with his former spouse.

Other MPs in the greater Kawarthas region are also included in Poilievre’s shadow cabinet, although two have lesser roles than they did under former Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole.

Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MP Jamie Schmale retains his previous role as shadow minister for Indigenous services.

Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Philip Lawrence, previously shadow minister for the Federal Economic Development Agency for southern Ontario, is now associate shadow minister for finance and middle-class prosperity (tax reform).

Hastings-Lennox and Addington MP Shelby Kramp-Neuman, previously shadow minister for seniors, is now associate shadow minister for national defence (recruitment and retention).

A full list of all the opposition critics is available on the Conservative Party website.

There’s now a rain garden at Beavermead Campground’s new gatehouse, thanks to Otonabee Conservation and students in the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board’s Youth Leadership in Sustainability Program.

Installed on Wednesday (October 12), the rain garden includes over 100 native trees, shrubs, grasses, and flowers, including native species of purple coneflower, big bluestem, red osier dogwood, and black-eyed Susan which will provide habitat for pollinators. They are also drought tolerant and will therefore require minimal maintenance and watering.

Otonabee Conservation owns and operates Beavermead Campground, located at 2011 Ashburnham Drive, which provides camping services from May to October.

“This project will create a welcoming entrance to Beavermead Campground and highlight best practices for habitat enhancement and water conservation,” says Otonabee Conservation CAO and secretary-treasurer Janette Loveys Smith in a media release. “Working together with City of Peterborough and our community partners demonstrates our collective commitment to climate change adaptation and watershed health.”

With support from local community partners at GreenUP, the rain garden was designed to capture runoff from the roof of the new gatehouse. Rain will then be temporarily stored in the garden during a storm event and will slowly drain away reducing flooding, filtering pollutants, and channelling runoff into the ground.

The demonstration rain garden will provide opportunities for visitors to the park and campground “to see how beautiful native species are” and to learn more about the benefits of water conservation, according to the media release.

“In the face of the climate and biodiversity crisis, it’s so important that students have opportunities for hands-on activities like this where they are engaged in constructive, restorative, solutions-based work and can connect this positive experience with classroom learning,” says Cam Douglas, teacher and Youth Leadership in Sustainability Program coordinator.

Dane Record is frustrated, bordering on angry.

Following a recent debate of Peterborough mayoral candidates hosted by the United Way of Peterborough & District at All Saints’ Anglican Church, the executive director of PARN – Your Community AIDS Resource Network took to the organization’s Facebook page to urge municipal election candidates to “listen to the people” leading up to the October 24th vote.

The October 5th debate that focused on homelessness and issues connected to that challenge was “a fine display of candidate dodgeball,” according to Record’s Facebook post.

“The discussion on homelessness exposed an ongoing sampling of drug-related and HIV-related stigma that 30-plus years later, we are still confronting,” wrote Record, noting PARN’s mission to provide support and health promotion for people HIV-infected and HIV-affected as well as harm reduction. “Not all homeless people use drugs. Not all people who use drugs are homeless. Listen to the people and influence the changes necessary from the seats you hope to occupy for the next four years.”

kawarthaNOW spoke to Record about the reasons behind his Facebook post.

“When candidates are faced with these questions (around homelessness and substance use) and are really put on the spot to give a response, unless they’ve done their homework, they don’t know how to respond,” Record explains. “I can understand that to a point. Candidates may or may not have their own lived experience, if they wish to share it, but for those that don’t, it becomes evident in the conversations and what comes out of their mouths. It’s maddening. It’s upsetting really.”

“Are they (candidates) listening to the people who they can count on for votes, or are they just saying ‘Well, we’ve gone and spoken to everybody but they’re not going to vote for us, so who cares?’ Candidates need to take the time to hear everybody. Take the time to read the (City of Peterborough’s) Community Safety and Well-Being Plan. A number of organizations took time to put that together over the last year and a bit, providing detailed notes and examples, videos, and such. I know that wasn’t read by folks that really should have read it.”

From what he’s hearing, Record adds, voters are asking “the right questions.” The problem, he says, is candidates “aren’t hearing all of the questions or suggestions.”

“People are offering some really good opportunities to do things differently and, ultimately, do things right, but does it get distilled at the end? Is somebody who’s looking for the votes of the affluent really going to listen to somebody who can’t even keep a phone? If we’re being real about it, that’s what it boils down to.”

Before any serious progress can be made by city and county governments on the provision of affordable housing, Record says “they’ve got to look at housing in general. There’s none. When we look at who has purchasing power, it’s not the folks that candidates get on the spot about. It’s the voters. The folks who don’t have a strong voice at the table, the strong advocates, are being continually missed. It’s not cool.”

As for his Facebook rebuke, Record’s hope is that “not only elected officials but also voters and folks that don’t vote” read it, or hear of it, and “take some action.” Further, he hopes people with living or lived experience are provided a seat at “decision-making tables.”

“Spend municipal money on repurposing unused and underused stock and turn it into housing, or hand that off to organizations and agencies that can do the housing bit. We’ve got the CMHA. We’ve got Fourcast. We’ve got One City. We have a number of buildings that, if they were re-sourced, we would see those numbers decrease in the next Point In Time Homelessness Count. That would be some positive change.”

Record noted in his Facebook post that Peterborough’s Consumption and Treatment Site — which provides a safe environment for people to use their own substances — came to fruition not only as a result of the advocacy efforts of various agencies, but also because people with lived and living substance use experience greatly contributed to the conversation.

Asked if his executive director colleagues with other local agencies have an obligation to speak out more regularly and forcefully on pressing social issues such as homelessness, Record has a guarded response.

“There are some folks in lead positions who have to protect their funding, us included, but I’m also young and dumb, so what do I know?” he says, adding “PARN isn’t a housing agency but we know our place in the discussion about housing security.”

Of note is the United Way Peterborough & District’s release on October 11 (World Homeless Day) of its 17th annual Housing is Fundamental report, whose author Paul Armstrong had some strong words about the state of the housing market, including the statement that “There is both an injustice and immorality when the well-being of so many people is left to the manipulation of the private marketplace.”

“In playing the game, there are different ways to do so,” Record says. “As one executive director, if I can support another executive director or folks doing the work on the ground, whether it be by blasting out their message, or supporting some of the bids they’re doing, or ditch dig or bulldoze so folks get a path to the right answer or at least to the door that has the right answer, that’s my contribution. That’s something that other leaders, if they’re not already doing that, have the ability to do so. You’ve just got to have the will.”

The cloud that hangs over the homelessness challenge, and remains a serious roadblock to any sustainable progress, remains stigma, says Record.

“Go for a walk. Peterborough has one of the largest urban Indigenous populations in Ontario. We have an over-representation of Indigenous folks who are living rough, sleeping rough, and in conflict with the law. Stigma continues to perpetuate by continuing to go after the same people who do not look like me.”

Politicians who make decisions about issues affecting people who aren’t represented in the decision-making process will not result in meaningful progress, according to Record.

“Until everybody has an opportunity to provide their voices and everybody has the opportunity to be heard, we’re going to have this same conversation in a year when the federal (election) comes, in two years if the federal (election) goes again, and definitely in four years when provincial and municipal (elections) go.”

Kawartha Lakes police are seeking a suspect in a break-and-enter at a Lindsay business early Sunday morning (October 9).

At 5:09 a.m., a lone male suspect arrived at the William Street North business riding an electronic bike.

He then entered the business through a window and left minutes later with a cash box.

The suspect was captured on video surveillance and is described as white, wearing a black helmet, dark-coloured work pants, a dark long-sleeved sweater with an insulated vest over top, brown work gloves, and boots.

Anyone who may have information about the incident is asked to call the Kawartha Lakes Police Service at 705-324-5252.

If you prefer to renmain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at khcrimestoppers.com.

A four-year-old Peterborough girl is fighting for her life after a Thanksgiving Day tragedy in Norwood.

Sophie Foley was with her family and other families crossing Alma Street after attending the Norwood Fair on Monday (October 10) when she was struck by a pickup truck.

“Sophie is still in the ICU on life support at Sick Kids in Toronto,” her father Daniel Foley posted on Facebook on Tuesday night from the hospital. “She had an operation today to have a catheter put in her brain. She made it through the operation and is still fighting.”

According to Tanya Stanley, who has set up a GoFundMe campaign to support the family (Sophie’s parents Daniel and Natasha Celene have two other children), Sophie suffered a fractured skull and extensive brain injuries, along with a laceration on her liver and other injuries.

“Her father having to hold his baby girl’s limp body as her heart stopped on impact, screaming for help while the driver drove away,” Stanley writes on GoFundMe.

“If it wasn’t for the angel nurses that came to their aid, little Sophie would not be able to receive the help she is right now.”

Police are still investigating the incident and have not announced any charges against the driver of the pickup truck.

Proceeds from the GoFundMe campaign, which has raised over $19,000 of its $30,000 goal as of the time of this story, will be used to support the family with expenses.

“Please everyone keep her in your prayers and let’s not waste time being angry and vengeful, that’s just pointless right now,” Sophie’s father Daniel wrote on Facebook. “For now let’s just all pray for her recovery.”

On Facebook, Sophie’s father Daniel has also posted several videos and photos of Sophie enjoying the Norwood Fair before the tragedy.

“That’s how my daughter was, always there to help anyone or anything in need,” he wrote. “The kind of kid to try to help a insect if it was hurt. She would literally give the shirt off her back to help somebody. The kindest sweetest little kid you’ll ever meet in your life.”

“This is a tragedy for EVERYONE involved and I just want the community to see my daughter as she was … not just an accident victim.”

The housing crisis for renters in the Peterborough area got worse in 2021, with rents growing at rates never before seen, the vacancy rate the lowest in Ontario at one per cent, and average asking rent for vacant apartments 22.4 per cent higher than the average rent for occupied units.

There are some of the key findings of the United Way Peterborough & District’s 17th annual Housing is Fundamental report, which the organization released on Tuesday (October 11) — World Homeless Day.

Other key findings of the report include a 10.5 per cent increase for the average rent of a two-bedroom unit (at $1,316) in 2021, the need to have an annual income of $52,640 to afford a two-bedroom unit, and no growth in rental supply despite an increase in demand of 1.5 per cent.

In the report, author Paul Armstrong emphasizes the impacts of long-standing income inequality on housing affordability, which have only been further exacerbated by the pandemic and the increased demand for housing in Peterborough. Part of the problem, Armstrong states, is that shelter is being treated as a commodity rather than as a human right.

“The flood of investors into real estate has increased prices both within ownership and rental markets,” Armstrong writes in the executive summary of the report. “Completely ignoring housing’s shelter value, these investors treat housing like any other commodity, their only interest being profit. Here, we see almost no intervention from governments to protect households from rising costs.”

“There is both an injustice and immorality when the well-being of so many people is left to the manipulation of the private marketplace,” the report quotes Armstrong.

In reacting to the report’s release, homelessness researcher Dr. Naomi Nichols of Trent University’s Research for Social Change echoed Armstrong.

“We need to stop ceding the provision of housing — a fundamental human right — to the private market where it is commodified and traded as a financial asset, inflating prices and giving landlords and investors power to determine who gets housing in our community and who doesn’t,” Nichols said.

The report describes growing income inequality despite continued economic growth, driving the housing crisis, with the pandemic further exacerbating inequality and, in turn, worsening the housing crisis.

Dawn Berry Merriam, a planning and research associate of Merriam and Associates, pointed out the social importance of housing in supporting the growth and well-being of communities.

“We immediately think of sustaining the physical environment and its infrastructure after years, decades, and centuries of neglecting it,” Berry Merriam said. “What is not always recognized is that for our communities, and in turn our world, to be sustainable we must foster strong social infrastructures as well.”

“This includes appropriate and innovative housing for all older adults to continue to live and thrive in the communities where they have social connections thus reducing isolation and increasing housing supports.”

Housing is a key social determinant of health, according to the United Way’s manager of community impact Betsy Farrar.

“Without a safe and stable home, achieving other social determinants of health becomes exponentially more difficult,” Farrar said. “The rising cost of housing puts immense strain on our most vulnerable community members, impacting their mental and physical health, ability to maintain jobs, and restricting their spending power on other necessities like food.”

“Our community continues to be in crisis and recovery from the pandemic will not be possible without significant investments in rent geared to income housing, rent supplements, and truly
affordable housing,” she added.

I am working to convene a special Council meeting next week to discuss the plans and funding for safe, accessible indoor space for our unhoused neighbours in the coming months. I’ll share details when confirmed. #ptbo

— Diane Therrien (@DianeNTherrien) October 5, 2022

The release of the report comes two days before a special general committee meeting of Peterborough city council to receive a “verbal update on housing and homelessness” according to a city media release, after which council will respond to the update and also hear from delegations.

Peterborough mayor Diane Therrien called for the special council meeting, which will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday (October 13), to discuss options to address the homelessness issue this winter.

The call for the special council meeting came after city staff advised $200,000 in city funding for a drop-in program at the former Trinity United Church on Reid Street could not proceed due to a “lame duck” provision of the Municipal Act that prevents city council or staff from making any expenditure over $50,000 during a municipal election campaign.

PDF: 2022 Housing is Fundamental report
2022 Housing is Fundamental report

The report is also available on the United Way Peterborough & District website.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for most of the greater Kawarthas region for strong winds on Wednesday (October 12).

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

Strong southerly winds, with wind gusts of 70 to 90 km/h, will develop ahead of a cold front Wednesday afternoon.

There is also a possibility of even stronger wind gusts during showers or thunderstorms.

Winds will ease Wednesday evening or overnight with the passage of the cold front.

Gusty winds can damage soft shelters, tents, and awnings at outdoor events. Loose objects may be tossed by the wind and cause injury or damage. High winds may result in power outages and fallen tree branches.

Peterborough police are advising the public to be aware after a man allegedly approached a young girl walking home from school last week and offered her a ride.

A resident contacted police were last Thursday (October 6) to report their daughter was walking home from school on Glenforest Boulevard when she was approached by a man in a vehicle who asked the girl if she needed a ride home.

The man was described to police as possibly being in his 40s, with darker skin, buzz-cut dark brown hair, and a sparse moustache.

He was reportedly driving a gold Jeep with a black tire on the back.

After the man offered the girl a ride, he drove off when a friend of the girl approached.

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough police at 705-876-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.stopcrimehere.ca.

Artspace Peterborough has launched an art and craft supply drive in October for its new maker space, scheduled to open early next year.

Funded through an Ontario Trillium Foundation Resilient Communities grant, the maker space will expand Artspace’s existing media lab into a welcoming and comfortable place where community members can access a broad range of equipment, tools, and materials for art-making and creative exploration.

Since becoming Artspace’s maker space coordinator in July, Jillian Ackert has been consulting with community members about what they want and need in a maker space. Art supplies, workshops, a zine library, and accessible lighting options are some examples of what community members said they would like to see.

If you have new or gently used art and craft supplies you no longer need, Artspace is accepting donations of the following materials and supplies:

• Magazines (for collage)
• Art and/or craft books, patterns, magazines, etc.
• Glue guns, glue gun sticks, and glue
• Markers, drawing pencils, watercolour pencils, pencil crayons, crayons, and pastels
• New or gently used paintbrushes and paint (acrylic, watercolour, gouache, etc.)
• New or unused paper pads, sketchbooks, and canvases
• Scissors and rulers
• Fabric and yarn
• Knitting supplies (needles, crochet needles, stitch markers, knitting looms, cable needles, etc.)
• Embroidery hoops and thread
• Bins

You can email Ackert at programming@artspaceptbo.ca to arrange for a drop-off or a pick-up (Artspace is offering pick-ups every Monday morning during October). All donated supplies will be used in Artspace programs and offered for free community use.

Over the next couple of months, Ackert and Artspace interim director Leslie Menagh will be preparing the maker space, including building furniture, painting walls, installing equipment, and planning the 2023 maker space workshop series.

For updates on the Artspace maker space, visit artspaceptbo.ca/maker-space.