HALDIMAND—Haldimand Council had a very busy year in 2023, from a series of public Nanticoke MZO meetings, to rejecting a provincially-requested housing target and the connected strong mayor powers, to Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley facing a campaign financial audit.
We spoke with Haldimand Council for a look back on a momentous year in local politics and a look ahead at 2024.
Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley
Bentley’s first year as mayor has been eventful. While she still faces charges for alleged contraventions of the Municipal Elections Act, which could lead to her removal from office if found guilty, Bentley found a lot to be positive about in 2023. She shared the following accomplishments:
- Advocating for the public to be heard on the MZO and making sure residents were fully informed on the proposed Nanticoke development.
- Pride for the community engagement work, including involvement in “events that bring people together and showcase what makes Haldimand a truly amazing place.”
- Raising awareness about important causes, from gender-based violence to mental health to affordable housing, and working with different levels of government on these issues.
She praised Haldimand County administration for “staying on top of our finances in a challenging economic time,” noting, “We’ve continued to stay on budget while providing the high-quality services our residents expect and deserve.”
On how well Council worked together, Bentley replied, “As a new Council we are learning together. We respect each other’s thoughts and perspectives…. For the most part, we’ve had positive outcomes and I trust that this will continue.”
She said many of the challenges Council faced over 2023 originated outside the municipality, instead being “downloaded from the Province with little notice, unanswered questions, and tight deadlines.”
She listed housing targets, strong mayor offers, and battery storage initiatives as some of those challenges, adding, “Keeping up with those external factors and responding to those changes while working on day-to-day matters has certainly been a challenge, but also very rewarding.”
She said she will remain focused on issues like the Nanticoke MZO, affordable housing, battery storage facilities, responsible growth, physician recruitment, and “balancing Provincial direction with the needs and values of our community” in 2024.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the Hagersville Library + Active Living Centre project continue moving forward, as well as the new Fire/EMS station in Caledonia. These are both long-awaited projects that are so important for our community,” added Bentley.
She shared a new year’s message: “Be kind, look after your neighbours … as is the Haldimand County way. I encourage everyone to focus on lifting one another up and coming together – instead of creating divide – and bringing forward ideas that will make our community even better.”
Ward 1 – Stewart Patterson
Councillor Patterson listed working with constituents one-on-one and “bridging that communication with County staff” as one of 2023’s most rewarding challenges.
“We are elected to be responsive to the needs of residents. Gathering information and putting the proper steppingstones in place to resolve constituent’s concerns is definitely a WIN-WIN in my books,” he said.
He touted the County’s recruitment team for filling key roles vacated over the year, adding, “Having a great team, not just in Council, but all throughout Haldimand Country staff, provides a strong foundation to look after resident’s needs. Staff and Council have worked very well together.”
Patterson noted how Council brings seven mindsets to every discussion: “As a Council we openly discuss these topics and while we may not always agree, we actively listen to each other…. Once a decision has been voted on, we work together to carry out the decision.”
He listed lobbying upper levels of government for financial assistance, such as for the County’s tri-party water-sharing initiative with Norfolk and Six Nations, as particularly challenging.
“We must coordinate the ask and keep the project front and centre in the minds of our ministers,” he noted.
Patterson said the decision on who ultimately owns 4,200 acres of land next to the Stelco plant in Nanticoke is a primary issue for him in 2024: “This decision will not only affect Ward 1, but all of Haldimand County. On November 6, 2023 the judge ruled that both parties need to reach a resolution by February 29, 2024 or he would make a ruling. I believe the province is waiting for the outcome of this before deciding to approve or not a Minister Zoning Order, which will have a large impact.”
He shared in conclusion, “I hope everyone finds time to enjoy our beautiful community in 2024.”
Ward 2 – John Metcalfe
Councillor and Deputy Mayor John Metcalfe listed the ongoing Street Cemetery rehabilitation and the new parkette at the Cayuga Library + Heritage Centre as two items he was proud to see move forward in 2023.
“Our financial situation has remained stable and our tax and user rates are looking pretty good and relatively low compared to other municipalities,” said Metcalfe.
He listed the upcoming water supply agreement with Norfolk County as a “major win,” adding, “There’s still a lot of work to be done, but I’m glad to see so much progress was made.”
Asked about the divisive issues faced by Council this year, Metcalfe shared, “Council did a lot of research to gain knowledge on all the various issues that were presented to us. We debated and tackled a number of things; we paused before making decisions on things like the Strong Mayor, Housing Target, and Housing Pledge because we wanted to be fully informed of the implications…. (We) came up with solutions we thought were best for the community.”
He expressed concern over unpredictable inflation, which he anticipates will continue to put a strain on the budget: “There are some things that we just can’t control when it comes to our financial situation, and market increases will pose challenges no matter how well we plan for the future. That being said, we may need to take a hard look at some projects and prioritize accordingly due to budgetary pressures.”
He said that traffic concerns will remain a priority for his ward in 2024, noting, “There are more people traveling through our ward. Policing that traffic is definitely an issue…. We have put in traffic calming measures … and will actively communicate with the Police Services Board when concerns are raised.”
While acknowledging that housing affordability is an issue that Council has limited power over, he noted, “It’s important to be a voice and push for affordable housing wherever possible.”
Looking ahead, Metcalfe is excited about the Fisherville Lions’ ongoing solar panel project, the Street Cemetery restoration, and looking at options for a multi-use court, skate park, and splash pad.
“I hope everyone had a happy holiday season and healthy, prosperous new year. Be kind to each other,” concluded Metcalfe.
Ward 3 – Dan Lawrence
Lawrence started off with a list of exciting things on the go in Caledonia, including the upcoming new firehall at 270 Argyle St. N.: “We have finally made that a reality.”
Lawrence touted a potential new “Industrial Mall” for the northwest corner of Argyle St. and Greens Rd., noting proximity to transportation systems and Hamilton as things that enhance the potential of the site, but cautioning that any such development would take years to materialize and would require a huge amount of planning and preparation.
Lawrence praised his fellow Council team for working well to “migrate through a lot of distractions and issues that came about…. Not everybody got what they wanted. I can probably say that every member of Council didn’t get their way at different times this past year, but we talked about it, we debated, and at the end of the day everyone had their adult pants on and we continue to work together.”
Lawrence remains proud of County staff for keeping tax increases to a minimum despite ratcheting expenses “downloaded from the Province.”
He offered an example, “Take the new waste contract, and the Province getting out of recycling. That’s just one area that’s putting severe pressure on our budgetary process and keeping those taxes down.”
He said that Council continues to do their best to address the ongoing housing situation, compounded by the need to meet provincial targets and the growing need for more affordable housing, but noted that many factors, including market forces, remain out of the County’s control.
“What they’re dictating to us on several fronts, those pressures are just enormous.”
Lawrence concluded, “With the way things are economically it’s a difficult time for so many…. We’re being proactive with a lot of those issues that might affect the people of Haldimand County. We might not always get it right … but we certainly tried our best.”
Ward 4 – Marie Trainer
Trainer may be the newest member of Haldimand’s current team, joining this past summer following a by-election to replace Natalie Stam, but she has a long history in Haldimand having served as mayor from 1991-2000 and 2003-2009.
She’s most excited for Hagersville’s Library + Active Living Centre, which is “continuing to go forward with notable improvements. The building will now be 4,329 square feet larger than the original design.… I am very proud to be supporting this project in my home.”
Trainer is encouraged by her re-election, alongside the elections of Bentley and MPP Bobbi Ann Brady, noting, “The results send a clear message to the Province that Haldimand does not want to be their dumping ground.”
On returning after 14 years, she said this Council has done an “extremely good job dealing with DIFFICULT topics as they emerge. Council has worked cohesively overall. However, we must remember each member is beholden to their own constituents and conscience.”
As for challenges on the horizon, Trainer has questions about proposed battery energy storage facilities: “Naturally no one wants them in their backyard, including me. The decision rests entirely with the province, but please let your concerns be heard. The largest so far in all of Ontario is being placed in Haldimand but with no benefit for our residents.”
She also noted repairs to the Harrop Drain in Hagersville as an issue she will focus on in 2024, adding, “I will continue to advocate for the agricultural community and all landowners that have encountered flooding or have had to navigate the requirements of the Drainage Act.”
Trainer concluded, “A healthy and happy 2024 to all.”
Ward 5 – Rob Shirton
Shirton reviewed various 2023 infrastructure improvements, including the installation of new streetlights and expanded internet access: “It is a rural ward and lighting at night is limited. Roadwork and ditching were also needed and completed in 2023…. Having many rural residents now having the ability for high-speed internet was a homerun for the County.”
The need to keep improving his ward’s roads, while curbing speeding, is an ongoing challenge in 2024 for Shirton.
He praised Haldimand for keeping its budget low compared to neighbouring municipalities, “especially in this economy of rising interest rates, prices, and inflation.”
While Shirton acknowledged the controversial nature of some of the issues Council faced in 2023, he noted, “Council worked well together. We did not always agree but were respectful of each other’s view.”
He said Council is united in their frustration with the provincial government, adding, “When we make decisions, and they have to be approved by the Province, we assume we will get an answer in a timely matter – which in 2023 was not the case.”
He hopes to see the economy improve, with lower interest rates and inflation. He is looking forward to seeing plans for a new fire hall in Dunnville move forward and is still hoping for a discussion for an indoor pool – preferably in the Dunnville area, but noted that “might need to pushed out for a 2025 discussion.”
He concluded, “Wishing health, happiness and prosperity to all residents in Ward 5 for 2024.”
Ward 6 – Patrick O’Neill
As Haldimand’s youngest councillor, O’Neill spent much of 2023 cutting his teeth and absorbing everything he could about municipal politics, in addition to a flurry of community advocacy work, including helping organize the Dunnville Mudcat Festival, running a service club promotion event, and raising funds for student nutrition as one of the owners of the Dunnville Aeros hockey club.
He said one of his biggest takeaways this year is the value of County staff: “I didn’t realize how in conjunction you have to work. I think being able to rely on staff so much and their knowledge … has been incredible.”
He touched on the importance of working with his fellow councillors as a team: “People do come in with their own ideas and opinions. That’s the job, which is exciting, but at the same time you really have to manage that appropriately.… It’s not always easy.”
2023 was quite the introduction for O’Neill as Council “weathered some pretty big storms, including a change-over in CAO. We had quite a few tumultuous issues…. To come out after that first year with the confidence of the public is a big win.”
He is happy with how they balanced the budget very well and kept taxes “at a good level”. He feels he has a much better handle understanding the needs of the public now, noting that he is working to beef up his online presence in 2024 to communicate more with constituents through social media.
Seeing money budgeted for a physician recruitment coordinator is one of the bigger wins of the year for O’Neill: “That was something I really wanted to see happen…. It’s always been seen more traditionally as a provincial issue, but we know the need here in Haldimand County, so that was a big win.”
In 2024, O’Neill is hoping to lessen confusion on the roles of the different levels of government by further educating the public on municipal government responsibilities.
He concluded, “We have some really exciting things in Dunnville. I can feel a shift happening; I’m seeing the service clubs being a little more active, the hockey team’s been really exciting. There’s just a lot of things I see moving in the right direction. Hopefully we can keep that going for years to come.”
