council

A picture of the newly sworn in Chief and council for the Qalipu First Nations. There are 11 people in the picture. They are staniding in a large open room with heavy wooden beams holding up the structure.

New Qalipu First Nation Chief and Council creating a path forward

December 13, 2024 by Tonya Organ

Now that the Chief and Council of the Qalipu First Nations have been sworn in, the focus is on a wholesome orientation.

A ceremony was held on November 29th at Marble Mountain. Chief Jenny Brake says council is starting to set priorities and a path forward. She says they are looking at ways to support each other in community engagement because that’s what members want. Brake says a four year term goes by quickly and accountability and transparency are important.

She says each councillor will be assigned to a committee in the new year and they will honour their commitments. Brake says that education is important to help them make decisions and serve the community, and that, fortunately there are educational resources available to help them.

A white water tower with green and orange leaves and the words Mapleton Drayton on the top.

Former councillor fills vacant seat in Mapleton Township

November 13, 2024 by Arlene Dowell

The empty seat on Mapleton council has been filled by a familiar face.

Lori Woodham was named the new councillor following a vote during last night’s council meeting. The former Mapleton councillor and current Committee of Adjustment Chair, won the seat with a 3-1 vote, read by Clerk, Larry Wheeler.

Former Mapleton mayor and councillor Neil Driscoll, and Alma resident Jason Hutten, also put their names in the hat.

Each candidate was given five minutes to speak and then councillors were each allowed to ask one question.

Chantal Corriveau wins Calumet by-election for council seat three

November 7, 2024 by Caleb Nickerson

The Municipality of L’Ile-du-Grand-Calumet held a by-election on Sunday (November 3) for council seat three, which has been vacant since the death of former councillor Pierre Jolicoeur back in July.

There were two candidates for the position, and Chantal Corriveau was the winner with 168 votes, ahead of Francine Tremblay’s 62 votes.

Corriveau told CHIP 101.9 that she was born and raised on the island and has been involved in a number of community activities through the local leisure committee. This is her first time in municipal politics and she thanked everyone that supported her.

Joining an established council with only one year left in its mandate, Corriveau said that she would do her best to support them in their ongoing projects.

A number of stalls with canopy tents and a number of people around them stretch out on the grass on the right side, with a sidewalk on the left side, green hills in the background and clear blue sky.

Envision Saint John expresses concerns about new federal immigration targets

October 31, 2024 by Iona Coe

During Envision Saint John’s presentation to the City Council this week, the regional growth agency’s CEO Andrew Beckett voiced concern about the federal government’s announcement last week in relation to reduced immigration targets.

Noting the need for population growth in Saint John, he raised the prospect of this policy bringing a drop in numbers of people coming to the region, and an overall decline in the region’s population.

While he acknowledged it could cause problems in terms of securing talent for the local workforce, he also suggested that such a policy could counterproductively cause more issues in the area of housing, rather than help solve them. However, alternate views of the likely effects of the federal immigration policy came from the City Council, with Counsellor Brent Harris noting the importance of inter-provincial immigration to the region.

Cape Breton Regional Municipality voters elect Cecil Clarke for third term

October 21, 2024 by Bill MacCuish

Cecil Clarke is returning to the CBRM mayor’s seat for the third time. In a field of nine candidates, Clarke got 34 percent of the vote. His closest challenger Joe Ward garnered 24 percent.

The 56 year old was mayor from 2004 to 2008 and from 2016 to 2020. Clarke came second to Amanda MacDougall-Merril in the previous municipal election.

After the votes were counted, he arrived at his campaign headquarters to a room full of cheering supporters.

Clarke told the crowd he plans to start working this week as the municipality’s new mayor, even though the official swearing-in ceremony won’t happen until later this month.

Five CBRM councillors were acclaimed, two incumbents return to city hall and there are four new councillors. Voter turnout numbers haven’t been released yet.

The group of seven people in business dress pose for a photo. A man in the centre front is wearing a chain of office around his neck. There are five men and two women in the picture.

Cobourg Mayor blames Northumberland County council for encampment response

August 30, 2024 by Jeff Gard

Who is responsible for ensuring the well being of encampment residents was the subject of some heated words at Northumberland County’s regular meeting on August 14.

Northumberland County Councillor and Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland said council, not staff, is to blame when it comes to local encampment response.

County council, which is comprised of mayors from seven Northumberland municipalities, had just heard a report from Manager of Homelessness Services Bill Smith and Associate Director of Housing and Homelessness Rebecca Carman at its August meeting, and was ready to move on when Cleveland made his statement.

The other members of Council had many things to say in response. CFWN News summarizes the discussion and how it ended.

A sign in front of an arena and a ball diamond reads "Haldimand Memorial Arena and Park". The ball diamond is in the foreground and the arena in the back behind a small parking lot full of cars. It is a grey and raining day and there are no leaves on the trees. The grass is brown. It looks like a late fall or early spring day.

Consultant studies will help determine fate of arena facility in Grafton

July 24, 2024 by Jeff Gard

Alnwick/Haldimand Township council voted to direct staff to commence preparation for a Request for Proposal to hire a consultant for the completion of a feasibility study for the Haldimand Memorial Arena in Grafton at its regular meeting on Tuesday.

The framework for the decision was based off a notice of motion brought forward by councillor Mike Ainsworth. With amendments, the RFP will also now include a facility condition assessment for a 30-year lifespan, a detailed needs assessment study and three conceptual designs.

The final motion also asks staff to bring forward a draft RFP to council for approval before its issued, that the reports be funded as recommended by the treasurer, and that the CAO and staff prepare a report and recommendations for the Oct. 8 regular council meeting with a plan to proceed with the hiring of a contractor through the tendering process to begin the project by January of 2025.

Two people, a man and a woman, stand across from each other speaking into microphones in a municipal council chambers. There are two people at a wooden desk behind them.

New Port Hope councillor sworn in following by-election win

June 25, 2024 by Jeff Gard

Darrell Toms was sworn in as Port Hope’s new Ward 2 councillor on June 13 after topping the polls of the by-election the previous week for voters in the rural area of the municipality.

Toms also ran in the 2022 municipal election, but was the runner-up behind Chris Collins and Vicky Mink.

One of the two Ward 2 seats was left vacant in January when Collins was appointed as a justice of the peace by the province.

Council initially chose to appoint Toms to replace Collins a committee-of-the-whole meeting in February before reversing course at its regular meeting in early March and choosing to hold a by-election instead to fill the vacant seat.

Toms’ first meeting is Tuesday night, June 25th, when council will sit in Committee-of-the-Whole.

A stop sign and street sign markers at an intersection of a small town. The intersection is in a downtown area and several stores can be seen across the street.

Queens councillors want enforcement beefed up at busy intersection in Liverpool

April 25, 2024 by Rick Conrad

Region of Queens councillors want the RCMP to step up enforcement at a busy intersection in downtown Liverpool.

The intersection at Main and Market streets has been the scene of some close calls between motorists and pedestrians. And in January, a 79-year-old woman was hit in the crosswalk and taken to hospital in Bridgewater. A driver was charged with failing to yield to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk.

The incident reignited concern in the community about that intersection and others in town.

At their Tuesday meeting, councillors discussed installing crosswalk beacons or traffic lights at the intersection. They also talked about adding fluorescent orange flags for pedestrians to use while they cross. They settled on urging local RCMP officers for better patrols in that area.

Three people sit behind wooden desks with a video screen behind them.

Region of Queens to give more low-income earners a property tax break

April 25, 2024 by Rick Conrad

The Region of Queens plans to increase the income threshold for people eligible for the low-income property tax exemption.

As part of budget discussions on Tuesday, District 6 Coun. David Brown asked council to consider increasing the income brackets for those eligible for the tax break.

Property owners who make $20,000 a year or less are eligible for a maximum $400 tax exemption. Those who make between $20,000 and $25,000 get up to $350, and those making between $25,000 and $30,000 get as much as a $300 break.

The revised income amounts would add $5,000 to each of those brackets. So the lowest income bracket would now be up to $25,000, and then $25,001 to $30,000 and $30,001 to $35,000. The tax exemption amounts would not change.

A council chambers in a municipal hall. Six people sit at a table. One seat is vacant. There are three flags and a painting behind the middle person at the table.

Port Hope will now hold by-election to fill vacant council seat

March 8, 2024 by Jeff Gard

A by-election will be held in late spring or early summer to fill the vacant Ward 2 rural council seat.

On Tuesday night (March 5), Port Hope council was set to approve an appointment option that it decided at its Feb. 20 committee-of-the-whole meeting. Council had decided that night to fill the vacancy with the runner-up in Ward 2 in the 2022 municipal election, but it required formal approval at Tuesday’s regular council meeting.

That previous appointment decision was defeated as Councillors Les Andrews and Vicki Mink, who both opposed it last week, were joined by Mayor Olena Hankivsky and Councillor Adam Pearson in their opposition. Only Deputy Mayor Claire Holloway-Wadwani and Councillor Todd Attridge remained in support.

The next councillor will now be chosen through a by-election, which is expected to cost around $25,000.

A two story red brick historic building with two flag poles in front .

Port Hope council to fill vacant Ward 2 seat with appointment

March 4, 2024 by Jeff Gard

After two defeated motions, Port Hope council opted to choose to appoint Darrell Toms, the first-runner up in Ward 2 from the 2022 municipal election, , to fill its vacant seat at its committee-of-the-whole meeting.

The decision will be finalized at Tuesday night’s regular council meeting.

Chris Collins resigned last month after being appointed a justice of the peace by the province. He was one of council’s two Ward 2 rural representatives.

Mayor Olena Hankivsky said in her discussions with council members, the unanimous opinion was that a Ward 2 constituent should fill the vacant seat, either by by-election or different appointment options. The mayor said all the choices available were democratic as they were options available through the municipal act.

Mink and Collins both received more than 600 votes in the last election and the next highest vote getter was Toms, who received 374.