If you’re going camping or heading to a cottage in Haliburton County this weekend, you won’t be able to have a campfire.

Due to a lack of rainfall and extremely dry conditions, the fire chiefs in the four townships of Haliburton County have jointly declared a total fire ban for the entire county.

The fire ban went into effect on Thursday (May 12) and remains in effect until further notice for all residents, visitors, and contractors in Dysart et al, Algonquin Highlands, Highlands East, and Minden Hills. No outdoor fires of any kind are permitted. This includes bonfires, campfires (even for cooking or warmth), or any other open-air fires.

No fireworks, flying lanterns, outdoor candles and lanterns, tiki torches, chimineas, or charcoal barbeques are permitted (propane barbeques for cooking are permitted). Burning of leaves and brush is prohibited, and all daytime burning permits and firework permits are suspended until further notice.

Although the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has identified much of the northern Kawarthas region — including Haliburton, northern Kawartha Lakes, northern Peterborough County, and Hastings County — at an “extreme” forest fire danger rating, a fire ban is currently only in place for Haliburton County.

However, North Kawartha Township in Peterborough County has a new fireworks by-law in effect that only allows consumer fireworks to be set off on set dates and times, including between 7 and 11 p.m. on the Victoria Day long weekend (including Victoria Day). The by-law prohibits the use of flying lanterns at any time.

An 87-year-old woman is dead following a collision in Selwyn Township between Peterborough and Lakefield on Thursday evening (May 12).

At around 7 p.m., two vehicles collided on Lakefield Road at Buckhorn Road.

One person was pronounced dead at the scene and two other people were transported to hospital with minor injuries.

Police have identified the deceased person as Dorothy Unrau, 87, of Selwyn Township.

Lakefield Road at Buckhorn Road was closed for four hours, with detours in place, while police documented the scene.

Police continue to investigate the cause of the collision. Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has dash cam footage and has not yet spoken with police is asked to contact the Peterborough County OPP Detachment at 705-742-0401 or 1-888-310-1122.

The second round of Peterborough-Kawartha candidates squaring off to demonstrate why they should become the region’s next MPP began on Thursday night (May 12) at Trent University — with one notable no-show.

Incumbent Dave Smith (Progressive Conservative), who was planning to attend, dropped out of the debate at the last minute because of a “family emergency.”

All parties with seats in the legislature were invited to participate and Jen Deck (NDP), Greg Dempsey (Liberal), and Robert Gibson (Green Party) turned up prepared to answered five questions they received in advance as well as never-before-seen questions submitted by community members.

Capably moderated by Trent University students Malaika Collette, Gabriel Trozzo Stamou, and Mary Ellen Abberger, the night began with a question about the biggest challenges and opportunities related to the climate crisis each candidate sees in the riding.

Deck started by touting the NDP’s green new democratic deal, “the boldest, most effective and achievable plan Ontario’s ever had.”

Gibson began by saying past governments have failed to curtail sprawl “resulting in the loss of natural spaces, [which] also locks the region into fossil fuel and coal dependency.”

Dempsey answered, “The biggest challenge to climate action in Peterborough-Kawartha is the Doug Ford conservative government. They’ve ripped up climate contracts, they put stickers on gas pumps, [and] they pretended the climate emergency doesn’t exist.”

In Smith’s absence, each candidate spent much of the night lambasting the Ford Government for the following:

• Promising to build the 413 that, if built, would run 59 kilometres from Vaughn to Brampton through the Greenbelt.
• The cancellation of Liberal-initiated green energy projects.
• “Trying to carve up the Greenbelt three times.”
• Going all in on gas-fired power plants thus increasing Ontario’s greenhouse gas emissions.
• Firing the Ontario environmental commissioner.
• Abuse of Minister’s zoning prders (which are only meant to be used in extraordinary circumstances) to override local planning authorities and allow for development on protected lands.

Closely matched on policy, Deck, Dempsey, and Gibson never meaningfully clashed. Instead, each took their time highlighting their respective party’s environmental philosophy, occasionally pausing for a respectful rebuttal or clarification.

Of special note was the thoughtful way in which each candidate centred Indigenous rights, knowledge, and ways of being in their remarks. At one point Dempsey said the Liberals would “meaningfully engage with Indigenous people.”

Gibson said the Green Party would “work towards decolonizing the environmental movement.”

Deck suggested the NDP, “is committed to implementing the United Nation’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and apply it to provincial laws.”

What else can Peterborough-Kawartha voters expect from each party on the environmental file if elected?

Gibson said the Green Party would push to cut Ontario’s pollution in half by 2030 and go to net zero by 2045. The Greens would do this by adopting a zero-carbon law that sets a “fair share carbon budget” for the rest of the century. They would also retrofit homes and businesses, electrify transit, de-carbonize electricity, and protect the natural environment.

Dempsey said the Liberal plan would reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2030. They will also make all transit fares across the province $1, and the Liberals would protect 30 percent of greenspace by 2030, which would include the creation of five new provincial parks.

According to Deck, the NDP would mandate all newly built public, residential, and commercial buildings to be net zero emissions by 2030. They would establish a retrofit program the NDP claims will produce $15 billion of annual economic activity and create 100,000 new jobs.

Deck said the NDP would also initiate a “zero emission vehicle strategy” aiming for 100 per cent electric vehicle sales by 2035, and would electrify all transit by 2040. Finally, Deck said, her party will “restore integrity to the land use planning process by revoking ministerial zoning orders.”

Organized by youth environmental activists, GreenUP, the Kawartha World Issues Centre, For Our Grandchildren, the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Association, the 70-minute debate was livestreamed on YouTube.

Peterborough-Kawartha candidates who were not invited to participate in the debate were Tom Marazzo (Ontario Party), Rebecca Quinnell (New Blue Party), and Dylan Smith (None Of The Above Party).

A month after releasing new video, photos, and details about the 2020 murder of 18-year-old Alex Tobin in Omemee, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged a 26-year-old Ajax man in connection with the murder.

On Friday (May 13), the OPP announced that, following information provided to the investigation team, police have charged Jeremy Brown, 26, of Ajax with second-degree murder and two counts of failing to comply with the condition of a release order.

Brown is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Lindsay on May 19. Police say the case is subject to a court-ordered publication ban.

Police are seeking at least two additional suspects in connection with the murder of Tobin, who was shot in his girlfriend’s apartment at 36 King Street East in Omemee on February 18, 2020 and later died in hospital

On April 14, the OPP held a virtual media conference where they provided previously unreleased details of the murder, along with video and photos of two suspects fleeing the apartment building at the time of the murder as well as three suspects at a Scarborough park believed to be discarding evidence connected to the murder.

At that media conference, police also revealed they had recovered the firearm, during an unrelated investigation, believed to have been used to kill Tobin.

VIDEO: Suspects in February 18, 2020 murder of Alex Tobin

A $50,000 reward continues to be offered for anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Tobin’s murder.

The OPP is urging anyone who may have information that would assist with the homicide investigation to call the OPP’s dedicated tip line at 1-844-677-5020.

Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit tips online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca/submit-a-tip/submit-a-tip.

Both the City of Peterborough and the Town of Cobourg announced on Thursday (May 12) that Canada Day parades are returning after a two-year absence due to the pandemic.

Following ceremonies at 10 a.m. at Peterborough City Hall, the Peterborough parade — with the theme “Back Together” — will begin at noon on Friday, July 1st, departing from the intersection of George Street North and McDonnel Street before proceeding south down George Street to Morrow Park.

Local community groups and businesses are invited to participate in the parade by entering a float. For more details and to complete a float entry form, visit peterborough.ca/canadaday.

The Cobourg Canada Day parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 1st at the intersection of William Street and King Street before proceeding east on King Street to Victoria Park.

The Cobourg parade will be followed by opening ceremonies for the Cobourg Waterfront Festival at 1 p.m. in the Victoria Park Bandshell, with fireworks over the harbour at 10 p.m. The Cobourg Waterfront Festival, which continues until July 3 at Victoria Park and Rotary Harbourfront Park, will feature musical entertainment, art shows, food and beverages, and activities for kids.

Local businesses and community groups who are interested in participating in the Cobourg parade can complete a participation form on the Town of Cobourg website.

Peterborough police say they are “actively investigating” a complaint in connection with a protest during Jagmeet Singh’s visit to Peterborough on Tuesday (May 10) where the federal NDP leader was accosted by protesters — and are asking anyone with additional video or other information to contact them.

“Anyone seeing the video should find it disheartening, morally unacceptable, and lacking in respect each resident and visitor deserves,” said acting chief Tim Farquharson in a statement on YouTube, referring to video widely circulated on social media showing protesters verbally abusing Singh.

“Your actions and belief systems are reprehensible, unconscionable, and in some cases criminal,” Farquharson said to those involved in the incident, adding that the police “will use every investigative tool possible to deal with your actions.”

Responding to widespread criticism there was no police presence during the protest, Farquharson blamed a lack of resources.

“We are aware that, due to our staffing shortages, we’re not always able to engage in pro-active policing patrols,” he said. “We also understand that public safety is of paramount importance, and encourage residents to contact us with their concerns or any evidence that could aid in our investigations.”

Police are asking anyone with any further video or information about the incident to call the Peterborough Police Crime Line at 705-876-1122 x555 or to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at stopcrimehere.ca.

VIDEO: Acting Peterborough Police Chief Tim Farquharson