About 50 people turned out to a meeting on Tuesday for a chance to question the mayors of the Quinte area.
The session at the Quinte Sports Centre, sponsored by CARP, put Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison, Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk, Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson and Brighton Mayor Brian Ostrander, in line for the questions.
The lengthy wait for affordable housing was first up, with the mayors outlining public housing that is being built, but more government money is needed to catch up with demand.
Panciuk said the need is way ahead of what is being done. “Statistically we’re making progress but it gets worse and worse.”
CARP Chair Louise Warr.
“We want the government there specifically, because it’s not their responsibility, but the government to also raise the AOS ( Old Age Security) for those 65 to 74.”
Warr noted there are a number of issues CARP is concerned about.
“Affordable housing is a big one. Our chapter here has been involved with it since 2019.”
“Asking the mayors to make some changes and do what they need to do to get more housing here. And affordable housing.”
Warr also emphasized, “We want changes in long term care. There are other models that are much better for the residents and the staff.”
The mayors answered questions from the public for nearly two hours, almost all of them about housing.
Harrison noted his city is working on updating service and land supply and encouraging developers to build smaller houses.
Panciuk said Belleville has a list of affordable housing and that list of housing includes the former police station which is being used now.
Ferguson indicated that the county has 884 applicants on the wait list with 230 being 65 plus years old.
He said there can be a five- to seven-year wait.
Mayor Ostrander noted 10% of new houses have second units in them.
They noted that government funding is being designated for housing, some for smaller more affordable units.
Ferguson pointed to the fact the County has a “large, disproportionate seniors population.”
Panciuk noted the city pays Hastings County to handle the issue for Belleville, and “it does a good job with old stock it has to deal with.”
He added, “We’re dipping water out of a raging river with a coffee cup.”
Hastings County Warden Rick Phillips noted that, “The city managers of Belleville, Quinte West and Hastings County are all working on a plan, and adjusting it. They are part of it all.”
Warr explained that CARP is the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, non-partisan, not-for-profit advocacy organization, national, for older adults and seniors.
Warr explained that CARP is the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, non-partisan, not-for-profit advocacy organization, national, for older adults and seniors.
