Prince Edward County has approved a hiring freeze on municipal staff.
During Tuesday’s council meeting, Councillor Roy Pennell put forward a motion, seeking support from the other councillors, to freeze any hiring not already budgeted for in the 2025 budget.
The motion also forbids unbudgeted extensions of working hours for municipal employees, except where approved by a motion of council.
Councillor Pennell said that the freeze was needed to manage future financial uncertainty.
“Our staff made it very clear to us that we’ve got to be careful on how we move ahead,” said Councillor Pennell. “I think we’re all aware of the financial state that the county is at this point now.”
The motion sparked a debate in the council chamber, with Councillor Phil St-Jean speaking against the freeze.
“I think it should be a question that is raised, not now, because we’re only two months in, a week or two beyond approving our 2025 budget,” said Councillor St-Jean. “I think we should have had the conversation then, and I think it’s a valid conversation to have at the 2026 budget deliberations, not on a whim of a councillor.”
After significant debate, council passed the motion 7 to 6, with Mayor Steve Ferguson and councillors Phil Prinzen, Phil St-Jean, John Hirsch, Kate MacNaughton, and Janice Maynard voting against the freeze.
