Consider This Northumberland

Since the amalgamation of the town of Port Hope and the former Hope Township in 2001, it has been a strained marriage. Taxes, services, and the urban versus rural tensions have fueled heated debates over the years.

The ongoing battle over the handling of a low-level radioactive waste reserve fund used to compensate rural residents went all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, only to be dismissed. You will learn more about what that is in the interview.

There were also attempts to reverse the amalgamation in 2014. Those went nowhere.

The current system divides the municipality into two Wards, with Ward 1 consisting mainly of urban residents living in the town. It has four councillors. Then, there is Ward 2, which is primarily rural residents. It has two councillors. The mayor is elected by both wards.

In this interview, Port Hope Deputy Mayor Viki Mink will discuss a public review of the boundaries and ward system initiated by council recently. She will discuss the fairness of the current system and its ability to represent both urban and rural residents. Mink will also explore the rationale for the review and the nearly quarter of a million dollars being spent on this just before a municipal election next fall.

Labour Day has a long history in Canada. It was first declared in 1894 as a federal statutory holiday. But its roots can be traced back to multiple local demonstrations and celebrations decades earlier.

Just under one-third of Canadian workers, or 5.3 million people, are represented by a union. Yet, this past Labour Day, the commemoration was concentrated in only a few cities like Toronto, Ottawa, Oshawa, Windsor, and Thunder Bay in Ontario.

Meanwhile, the amount of unrest between unions and employers is on the rise. Air Canada, Canada Postal Worker, the rail and port strikes recently demonstrate a growing strain.

Northumberland Labour Council President Dan Tobin will share his thoughts on current union actions and his response to attempts to legislate union members back to work. Plus, he will also explain why Labour Day is not such a big deal as it was in the past. See if you agree with him or not.

Municipalities across Northumberland are already working hard to set budgets for 2026. For all the staff, it is a busy time. For residents, it is a time to keep an eye on what it all means for property taxes.

With all the rising costs of groceries, gas, and other essentials, the pressure is on to keep any increases reasonable. Often, when cuts come, a favourite target are soft services like arts, culture, grants, and the like. But what about libraries?

In this interview, Councillor Aaron Burchat will discuss the budget pressures on the Cobourg Public Library. He is the councillor assigned to sit on the library board. The Cobourg Public Library serves Cobourg and multiple locations in Hamilton Township.

Cobourg’s Mayor Lucas Cleveland used his strong mayor powers to set an overall target of a three percent increase. He set a five percent target for the overall draft budget. It will go before council for further deliberation and final approval.

Burchat will talk about the current level of service for both Cobourg and Hamilton Township. He will also look at some of the impacts, plus give his position going into budget deliberations.

Recently, the Ontario Bird Atlas completed a multi-year project counting all the various bird species that live and migrate through Northumberland County.

The project is done by many volunteers who go to multiple pre-designated spots. Sometimes it is at the crack of dawn, and other times when birds are at their peak.

The results are entered into a massive database, which is then compiled into a book and made available as an open resource for researchers and officials to study.

In this interview, you will meet the two regional coordinators for Northumberland, who will tell you how all this happened and what it means for everything from backyard bird feeders to major migrations. Have a listen.

Every August, local politicians truck off to the annual conference for the Association of Municipalities of Ontario or AMO. It is a chance to learn and network. But most importantly, it is a chance to lobby. All the provincial cabinet ministers, associate ministers, and the like attend. It is a rare opportunity to speak directly to those in power to express concerns or make a case for funding.

On today’s show, Cobourg Deputy Mayor Nicole Beatty shares her insights after attending multiple meetings with her fellow councillors and others, raising concerns and seeking funds.

During this interview, Beatty will discuss municipal service organizations. These are independent corporations that provide key services. Think of Lakefront Utilities as an example. She will also mention development charges, often referring to them as DCs. 

Listen carefully as she presents her case for the time, money, and other resources allocated to this event. Is it a good deal for taxpayers?

Grab the kids, get out your bike, and don’t forget the leash for the dog. The annual Hike, Bike, and Bark for Hospice is taking place in Victoria Park on September 28. So, why talk to them now? Well, it is early bird registration, and there are prizes for those who enter early.

This is a major fundraiser for Ed’s House. It is the hospice care centre providing compassionate end-of-life and palliative care for resident of Northumberland County and their families.

Trish Baird, CEO of Community Care Northumberland, will share all the details about the event.

Community Care is the organization behind Ed’s House. She will provide all the details and give an update on what is happening at Community Care. Have a listen.

Two areas in Cobourg started a Neighbourhood Watch pilot program recently to boost safety. One is in the east end and the other is in the west end.

It is the culmination of several months of work by residents in collaboration with the Cobourg Police.

Neighbourhood Watch is a program in Canada dating back to the 1970s. Originally, it was a grassroots effort to reduce burglaries in residential homes. In the 1990s, the program took off.

It can be described as simple as neighbours looking out for neighbours.

In this interview with Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf, you will learn that it is much more. Beyond the safety and protection of property, you will hear how police are working with homeowners to educate and engage people to address concerns. You will also hear about some early successes.

With so many people concerned about public safety, have a listen and see if you think this is part of the solution.

When does a community grant to a local charitable organization become a strategic investment?

Port Hope council is looking to overhaul its community grants. At a recent meeting, politicians sent a request to staff to revamp the funding to streamline its approach to allocating around $200,000 to various groups. The new system is called the Community Strategic Initiatives Funding program. It was introduced by Councillors Todd Attridge and supported by Les Andrews, with the support of council.

The idea is to align the money spent with groups that advance the community’s goals within the strategic plan. Supporting these organizations will drive change, making them greater contributors to the town and creating a more resilient community, according to a press release.

Have a listen and see if you think this will be a better way to spend taxpayers’ money.

Things between the public and local politicians are not always smooth sailing. Concerns about transparency, accountability, and relationships between residents, staff, and council can be problematic at times. When complaints arise, every municipality in Ontario has an integrity commission to act as a mediator.

In this interview, Alnwick Haldimand Township Mayor John Logel talks about the most recent Integrity Commissioner’s report. He will give his perspective on how politicians, staff, and the public are getting along. Listen and see if it matches what you think?

Many community groups, non-profits, and organizations across Northumberland struggle to raise money. It is highly competitive, and donor dollars are limited. That is why it is becoming increasingly important how the dollars are used efficiently, effectively, and with complete transparency and accountability.

To meet this new reality, the United Way has revamped how it will distribute its funding to organizations. Executive Director Alicia Vandine will outline the changes and explain how the new system works.

Have a listen and see what you think about where your donations go.