CAO outDavid Clazie had since 2003 held senior roles Quinte West has received strong-mayor powers – and used them to dismiss its chief administrative officer We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentCity staff on Thursday issued separate news releases announcing each development David Clazie “is no long employed by the City of Quinte West,” reads one release That section of the act is included in the so-called “strong mayor” powers created by Premier Doug Ford’s government The city on Thursday was one of 169 more municipalities to be granted those powers officially many more municipalities received the same powers: Bancroft and Peterborough are among the 47 granted those powers previously Your weekday digest of the top stories from our newsrooms in Cornwall By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Eastern Ontario Midday Roundup will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Clazie was promoted in July 2020 to CAO, having been the director of corporate and financial services and the treasurer since 2003. “The City would like to express its appreciation to David for his contributions to the City of Quinte West,” the city’s release states. Members of the personnel committee appointed as interim CAO Chris Angelo, the director of public works and environmental services. Details of filling the CAO position permanently “will be provided as available,” the release continues. A second city release states the new powers are “aimed at helping municipalities streamline the delivery of key provincial priorities such as building more homes, transit, and other infrastructure.” The release adds those powers give the mayor authority to make a variety of decisions. They include choosing to appoint the CAO; creating and reorganizing certain city divisions and committees and hiring their leaders; vetoing certain bylaws if the mayor is of the opinion that all or part of the by-law could potentially interfere with a prescribed provincial priority, such as housing, transit and infrastructure;” bringing forward matters to council and proposing bylaws if they could satisfy a provincial priority; and proposing the municipal budget. Council can pass such bylaws if more than one-third of members approve. A budget proposed through the powers is still “subject to council amendments and a separate mayoral veto and council override process,” the release states. Clazie is the second Quinte-area chief administrative officer to depart recently. Prince Edward County and then-CAO Marcia Wallace “mutually agreed” to part ways, the county announced April 17. transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Bay of Quinte 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings 223 of 223 polls are reporting as of 4:20 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election 223 of 223 polls are reporting as of 4:20 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election Malette has 32,844 of 65,174 votes (50.39%) is in second place with 29,124 votes (44.69%) and Kate Crothers Williams has represented the riding since 2021 22,866 voters cast ballots at advance polls Looking for another riding? Here are the full results for the 2025 federal election. The Liberals have 169 races called in their favour They have 8,535,128 votes and 43.69 per cent of the popular vote The Conservatives have 144 races called in their favour They have 8,059,938 votes and 41.26 per cent of the popular vote The Bloc Québécois have 22 races called in their favour They have 1,232,095 votes and 6.31 per cent of the popular vote The New Democrats have seven races called in their favour They have 1,231,198 votes and 6.3 per cent of the popular vote The Greens have one race called in their favour They have 243,471 votes and 1.25 per cent of the popular vote There were three independents and four vacancies in the 338-seat Commons the Commons has grown by five ridings starting with this election This article was automatically generated using data provided by Canadian Press and will update as riding results become available Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account An event that has put the Bay of Quinte on the map across Ontario and beyond for four decades will see a flotilla of fishing boats hit local waters this weekend on the hunt for prize-winning walleye a sports fish highly sought after by aspirant anglers We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentAn estimated 2,500 anglers are expected to descend on Quinte West on Friday through Sunday to register for the 42nd Annual Kiwanis Walleye World Fishing Derby hosted and organized every year by Trenton Kiwanis Club to raise funds for youth in the community. The derby kicks off in earnest for registered anglers at 12:01 Saturday as entrants compete for a raft of big prizes donated by local businesses. Derby fishing continues until noon on Sunday followed by closing ceremonies and prize distribution at 1 p.m. in a variety of categories at derby headquarters  at Trenton Duncan McDonald Memorial Arena in Centennial Park. Lisa Kuypers, Kiwanis Club president, said all systems are go for the biggest event to be hosted in Quinte West all year requiring a huge effort by dozens of club members and volunteers. “This is a big deal every year for the Quinte area.  We bring over 2,500 anglers from the United States, from the far north, past Toronto, London, Ontario. We get people from Sarnia, right up until Cornwall,” Kuypers said in an interview with The Intelligencer. “We have just about 200 tagged fish this year to be caught in the Bay Quinte all the way from Picton to Brighton Bay.” The derby start coincides with the opening of walleye fishing season by Ontario fishing regulations at 12:01 Saturday morning. To prepare for the season opener, Kuypers said, “we sell [derby] tickets right up to 11:59 p.m. Friday night and ticket sales start at 12 o’clock Friday afternoon.” The good news for Quinte West and the region is the event is a huge drawing card that generates huge spinoffs in spending by visitors on accomodations, restaurants and retail outlets. “This brings huge economic development dollars to the Quinte area, not just Trenton, as well as  Brighton, we have a weigh station in Brighton and in Picton and Belleville. Some people stay in hotels. Restaurants are always booming, worm sales are all always high at all the local tackle shops which make sure they have lots of minnows for sale, too,” Kuypers said. Derby organizers remind registrants the Ontario Provincial Police and Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers will be present for the weekend. For more details, log on to www.kiwaniswalleyeworld.com. The Bay of Quinte Relay for Life is off to a strong start with efforts raising funds for the Canadian Cancer Society’s (CCS) annual donation from the region This year’s fundraising initiative theme is ‘It Takes a Society.’ The CCS has supported Canadians affected by fatal diseases for over 80 years We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentDonations to Relay for Life help and support thousands of people getting to cancer treatments, fund community peer support programs, provide wigs, headwear, and breast prostheses, and fund the minds behind the ongoing cancer research in Canada. Community members are encouraged to purchase and dedicate a luminary for the ceremony on May 7th at the Bay of Quinte Relay for Life to remember, and honour loved ones and support and inspire participants as they walk around Trenton High School’s track. The event is scheduled from 2 p.m to 11 p.m. The illusionary ceremony will begin lighting up the track at dusk. Eighteen fundraising teams are registered to participate in this year’s annual event. “We could always use more teams. Our goal is to encourage more teams to join. We want 20-25 teams registered,” said Karen Lee White, Bay of Quinte Relay Director. To register a team, visit the CCS website and see the Bay of Quinte Relay for Life page. White’s team of three members, ‘P S I Love You,’ has raised $5,139.30 so far at the time of writing this article, followed by the ‘Ladybugs,’ a team of five who have raised a $2,114.50 contribution. Fundraising is ongoing, and donations to a team of choice can be made at relayforlife.ca OJHL Wellington Dukes and the Trenton Golden Hawks both provided fundraising opportunities and according to White, they raised around $1,100 between the two game nights hosted at the local facilities selling gift baskets. Boston Pizza in Belleville showed generous support by hosting a fundraising night at the establishment and contributed 10% of their sales to the Bay of Quinte Relay for Life, explained White during an interview. “The community continues to support the Canadian Cancer Society through our event,” she said. Family entertainment from bands and dinner choices from two food trucks will be on-site at the track during the event. “The Binge Box has supported us for the last couple of years. This year, we also have plant-based options from Virgin Mango for people that need to sustain themselves while they walk the track,” said White, looking forward to the upcoming event in May. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Malette and Tory Ryan Williams battled for a divided riding Full Screen is not supported on this browser version You may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen “We did it,” Malette told a cheering crowd at Belleville’s Sans Souci restaurant early Tuesday. In a stunning comeback, the Liberals held on to power for their fourth term, with leader Mark Carney elected in Nepean to his first seat in the House of Commons. The Liberals won a minority government, missing a majority by three seats. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre lost the Ottawa-area Carleton riding to Liberal Bruce Fanjoy by five per cent. Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-François Blanchet was re-elected. New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh lost his seat and resigned his leadership. Green Party co-leader Elizabeth May was re-elected; co-leader Jonathan Pedneault was not and later resigned. People’s Party Leader Maxime Bernier also lost. With all Bay of Quinte polls reporting, Elections Canada’s preliminary results showed Malette had scored 32,884 votes, or 50.4 per cent, to Williams’ 29,124 votes, or 44.7 per cent. Far behind was New Democratic Party candidate Kate Crothers of Picton; she received 2,373 votes, or 3.6 per cent. Next was the Green Party’s Erica Charlton with 833 votes and 1.3 per cent of ballots. Charlton and Crothers did not respond by press time to a request for comment. Voter turnout was a stunning 69.5 per cent – far higher than seen locally in elections at any level of government, and one per cent more than the national rate.  Of the riding’s 93,784 eligible voters, 64,115 actually did. The numbers do not reflect those who registered on election day. Clearly revelling in the victory, Malette stepped before a microphone, pumping his fist in the air and leaning backward, beaming at the ceiling, and letting out a long cry of, “Oh, baby! “I’m ready to head to Ottawa to work with Mark Carney in protecting Canadian jobs, standing up for Canadian sovereignty, and championing policies that will benefit the people of our riding,” he said. “I will always be representing the people here in the Bay of Quinte: from Belleville to Trenton, Picton and Wellington, to Batawa and Frankford. “Tonight, we’re sending a clear message to the rest of the world that Canada stands for democracy. Canada stands for community. Canada stands up against divisiveness, and Canada stands together: Canada strong,” said Malette. Malette grabbed the lead from the moment the first two polls reported; results varied depending on the organization reporting it, but in some, he held it throughout the night. Yet the race was too close for an early call. For much of the night, the Conservatives assembled just across the Moira River at The Local Social House in Belleville appeared confident, The Intelligencer’s Derek Baldwin reported. The Liberals, watching CBC television coverage, celebrated the national network’s early prediction of a Liberal government, but later became subdued yet hopeful as the Tories gained ground as results from the prairie province arrived. Like many ridings nationally, Bay of Quinte was a two-horse race between the Conservatives and Liberals – or, more accurately here, between two now former members of Belleville council. Both were elected in the 2018 municipal election. Williams won his federal seat in 2021 after declaring his candidacy partway through his first council term; Malette completed one term before entering the federal race earlier this year. “Ryan is a friend,” Malette told reporters just prior to his federal win. Williams at 1:23 a.m. arrived at the Liberal gathering to concede, with Malette greeting him between the entrance’s double doors. Williams, wearing a dark-blue suit and tie, smiled as he and Malette, in a bright-red sweater, had a long handshake and spoke quietly. They then stepped onto the Front Street sidewalk to share a brief and private discussion. Of his council post, Malette said, “I am genuinely sad to be leaving that role.” The group indoors was, from the beginning, in party mode. An eventual crowd of perhaps 80 people, mostly ages 50-plus, packed into the restaurant. The polls closed at 9:30 p.m. Guests watched national television coverage – on CBC, which the party has pledged to preserve – though local results were slow in coming. Supporters cheered at 10:25 p.m. upon hearing a projection of a Liberal government. “Hot damn! Here we go,” said an animated Malette. Among the former Liberal candidates present were longtime federal cabinet minister Lyle Vanclief of Prince Edward County; Belleville mayor Neil Ellis, defeated in 2021 by Williams, after two terms as MP; repeat federal candidate Bruce Knutson of Belleville, Malette’s campaign co-chair; and Quinte West Coun. David O’Neil, the Liberal candidate in the Feb. 27 Ontario election and the son of late MP Hugh O’Neil. The room grew quieter as the Liberal lead narrowed nationally and locally. The tension didn’t lift until shortly before 1 a.m., when party calculations showed Malette to be within a few hundred votes of what the Liberals deemed to be their unspecified “win number.” Malette called the NDP and Green candidates, then took the stage at 1:08 a.m. after campaign co-chair Bruce Knutson announced him as the projected victor. “This is a victory for Canada,” Malette said in his speech. “I can’t wait to get to Ottawa.” He thanked his wife, Sandi Wight; his daughters, Nicole and Rachelle; campaign co-chairs Bruce Knutson – a past candidate – and Taylor Russett, among many others. awaiting details on waste collectionMost collection dates expected to change as Ontario implements new approach to recycling; may increase types of materials allowed for recycling Quinte West could save at least $1 million annually after Ontario’s changes to legislation governing recycling take effect in July We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentCity council on April 16 heard that news and more from Chris Angelo the city’s public works and environment services director Kitchener-Waterloo in 1983 made Ontario’s first mandated curbside recycling program nine municipalities in 1990 created what is now Quinte Waste Solutions more than two-thirds of Quinte West’s total waste is now diverted from landfills He said the province has introduced what it terms “extended producer responsibility,” requiring the makers of paper and plastic products to be responsible for those items’ fate when they’re no longer used That firm has hired contractor E360 to collect garbage All three forms of waste will be collected on the same day Quinte Waste Solutions will, however, continue to collect hazardous and electronic waste until year’s end, when a new contractor – not yet chosen – will be retained. Belleville has joined the city in the search for a contractor, he said. The change in contractors will take effect Jan. 1. Mobile collection events for hazardous and electronic waste will continue and the depot at 75 Wallbridge Cres. in Belleville will remain open, said Angelo. He said the expectation is there will be an Ontario-wide list of recyclable materials “that will hopefully encompass” more materials to be recycled. Collection dates, including those for yard waste and large items, will be listed in a calendar to be released in 2026. “We’re spending about $1.6 million on recycling” Angelo said of the present system. Starting in 2026, he said, “we’re going to estimate a savings of about $1 million or better” and that savings will be part of this fall’s talks to prepare the 2026 budget. “The only thing you left out is how smooth everything moved ahead,” quipped Mayor Jim Harrison. “It’s been a difficult process, to say the least,” replied Angelo, adding staff are “still trying to understand the changes” in switching to Circular Materials Ontario. He said it helps, however, that the contractor slated to pick up all waste through the new system is the same one now collecting garbage and organics in the city. Angelo said his greatest concern is the city’s inability, after July 17, to take action or answer questions when residents report concerns. “Because we’re not part of that program … we really have no control over that.” The city does not yet know full details of the system, he said Efforts to inform the public through various notices is underway. A dream inspired by local craft markets and vendor shows has come to life in Quinte West with the opening of Grand Trunk Market and Marshland Creations We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentLong-time friends and neighbours Sherry Kuipers and Wendy Ervine have turned their shared passion for crafting, preserving, and vintage decor into a thriving local business. “We wanted to create a calm, welcoming atmosphere where people can shop for unique, locally made goods while supporting small businesses in our community,” said co-owner Kuipers. “The support from our families and the community has been overwhelming, and we can’t wait to share our vision with everyone.” Grand Trunk Market and Marshland Creations offers a carefully curated selection of handcrafted and vintage items, including antique decor, preserves, seasonal produce and plants, maple syrup, farm-fresh eggs, live-edge wood products, chalk home decor, candles, silk-screened clothing, denim purses, and homemade crafts for the whole family. With a love for thrifting and recycling, the duo also features unique, repurposed pieces that bring new life to forgotten treasures. Their husbands, Lou and Paul, have also played a key role, using their woodworking skills to construct the beautiful timber-frame market space where visitors can browse and shop. Located at 28 McMaster Road in Trenton, Grand Trunk Market and Marshland Creations will be open weekends from April to December, 9 AM – 2 PM. Customers can connect with the business through Facebook and Instagram under Grand Trunk Market and Marshland Creations or via email at grandtrunkmarket@gmail.com and marshlandcreations@yahoo.com. Quinte West council’s April 16 session included multiple verbal presentations and votes on mostly housekeeping matters We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentAmong them: “Our community looks so much better because of all their work,” said Reid Bylaw enforcement supervisor Carrie West said the city had received a request to create an exemption, but staff recommend declining it. “It would be very difficult, if not possible, to provide an exemption for an animal based on its origin,” West explained, saying staff and animal control officers would have “no way of knowing” details of cats’ travels. “How are you going to enforce that?” asked the mayor. “We are currently enforcing this” by responding to complaints, said West. Fines may be issued and cats may be impounded, she said, but fines are rare if the animal is returned home. A Belleville judge has convicted a Quinte West man in the 2021 traffic deaths of two local women We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentAfter a January trial which spanned more than a week, Superior Court Justice Kristin Muszynski on Friday found Aysar Younes, 23, guilty on all counts: two counts each of dangerous driving causing death and impaired driving causing death. Hastings County Assistant Crown Attorneys Mike Lunski and Monica Rodrigues prosecuted the case. Toronto lawyers Craig Bottomley and Allison Shields defended Younes. The two-vehicle collision occurred at about 12:25 p.m. Oct. 3, 2021 near CFB Trenton on Old Highway 2 east of RCAF Road. Quinte West’s Rebecca Beatty, 22, and Anastasia Collins, 23, of Belleville were passengers in the eastbound vehicle struck by a sport-utility vehicle driven by Younes. Both women died at the scene, police reported later that year. Younes was also 23 at the time; he was injured in the crash, Assistant Crown Lunski said after Friday’s hearing. In the judge’s verdict, he added, “She accepted that at the time of the collision, he was driving 98 or 99 km/h per hour in what was a 60 km/h zone.” The court heard Younes drank alcohol and admitted to using cocaine during an overnight party that began the previous evening. Lunski noted the judge’s finding on Younes’ impairment was limited to alcohol. She accepted test results indicating his blood-alcohol was 110 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. The legal limit is 80 mg. The case is adjourned until April 17, when the lawyers and judge may set a date for submissions on sentencing. Lunski said Muszynski is not expected to sentence Younes until a later date yet to be determined. It appears a tainted opioid crisis in the region is reaching directly into the corners of Quinte West City Hall We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentSpeaking during the public-input segment at Quinte West city council Wednesday Hennessy stunned councillors when she informed them her husband witnessed two people injecting themselves with needles in a washroom adjacent the library inside City Hall on March 6 A mother who homeschools her two children and meets regularly with other homeschool parents and their children in the library every Thursday Hennessy said her husband was deeply disturbed at the sight of two people who he believed were using illicit drugs in a municipal building Although she had no evidence illicit drugs were used she posited that it was highly unlikely they were injecting insulin for health purposes noting diabetics do not tie their arms off with rubber bands when poking needles Hennessy told council her husband entered the washroom nearest City Hall entrance “and found two men at the sink using intravenous drugs with paraphernalia strewn about the counter. He left the washroom immediately and went back to the library to notify the staff about the issue. He spoke to someone at the entrance of the library and left hastily out of frustration for the situation. “After informing me of what he had experienced, we both sat together quite shocked given our 13-year-old son uses that washroom alone regularly and we take our four-year-old son to use it as well. Obviously, this poses a massive problem, given that drug paraphernalia on a surface can leave behind residues and grains of fentanyl which could kill a child or an adult,” she said. Hennessy said she called police later that evening to report the incident and spoke again with librarian staff, she said. She asked council members, “if my kids aren’t safe coming here into this building to go to their library or to witness their local government, then where are they safe to go in this city? So, I would like to propose that a security guard is hired and put in place so that there are eyes in that hall room at all times to keep this crisis at bay and away from our children.” She suggested security was needed to protect city staff, visiting patrons and the janitors who clean the washrooms. Mayor Jim Harrison replied, “I’ve been here a long time and I haven’t seen it and I use the washroom periodically, but we’ll certainly take a look at it.” “If somebody, and I don’t care where they are, are doing something illegal than the first thing that should be done is call the police. That’s the first thing. No contact with anybody in the library, call the police,” Harrison said. Both Coun(s). Zack Card and Egerton Boyce suggested the city could consider options such as bringing security into City Hall, similar to Belleville City Hall’s practice now for several years, for the safety of visitors. Harrison asked Chief librarian Jeri-Lynn Thomas to comment on the scenario presented by Hennessy. Thomas approached Hennessy at the podium and replied, “in the two years I have been here, we have not filed a formal incident report with a drug incident. Now, I am really sad that you and your boys and your husband witnessed that, I know that was something that was really scary and terrifying, but it is not the norm in this building.” “I have been dealing with these issues in public libraries,for a very long time and it’s going to happen but it’s very, very rare here. So, I don’t know if that’s going to give you any comfort, but we are very aware and we do spend a lot of time making sure that everybody’s safe.” “Now, having said that, again, you are responsible for your children when they’re in the library and these things are going to happen,” Thomas said. Her suggestion raised the ire of Hennessy and a small group of her supporters seated in the gallery nearby who bristled at the notion that collateral drug exposure can be avoided by a watchful parent. Hennessy asked why city officials were “putting the onus on the parent to deal with any criminal activity that’s going on in this building.” Mayor Harrison chided, “it’s your responsibility as a parent to look after your child.” Hennessy was informed that her speaking time allotted had extended well beyond the three–minute limit – around more than 20 minutes, in fact – and when she would not stand down from the podium, council called a short break to the evening session. When council resumed, Bill Jeffs — a friend who spoke in support of Hennessy — told council he witnessed drug abuse inside Joyceville Institution and Kingston penitentiary while working as a former career prison guard and watched as a fellow corrections officer was inadvertently poked with a syringe and died. He said the thought of his own son being exposed to life-threatening substances while visiting a city library was unimaginable. He warned council that it would only take one fatality from being unwittingly exposed to a drug “and that’s a death on your head.” David Clazie, Quinte West CAO, said a meeting will be held with Hennessy to field her concerns and city staff will report back to council with possible next steps. Quinte West council has supported a move to again offer paper ballots in addition to online voting during the 2026 municipal election We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentCouncil on Wednesday made the decision in a special meeting at city hall Though council endorsed both methods of voting members must also support on April 16 a bylaw formalizing the decision City clerk and corporate services director Josh Machesney briefed council on the options “Online voting is growing with each election cycle,” he said Machesney said voter satisfaction with that method is also increasing Both Quinte West and Belleville permitted only online voting in the 2022 elections Machesney said voter turnout across the province declined by about 5 per cent, matching the decline seen in Quinte West. He said voter apathy was one reason and blamed, at least in part, on there being three elections – federal, then provincial, then municipal – in the 13 months between September 2021 and October 2022. There were also fewer candidates in municipalities: 553 of 2,842 municipal leaders were acclaimed. “Voters were less inclined to go to the polls, especially when the mayor seat went uncontested,” said Machesney. He said some people may also have stayed away from in-person voting due to concerns about COVID-19. Quinte West staff have since conducted multiple public surveys and council interviews to gauge satisfaction with 2022’s election process. The surveys found 846 people preferred voting in person via paper ballots, while 706 prefer online voting. Eighty-two chose mail-in ballots as their top choice; 47 preferred telephone voting. Machesney outlined the benefits and risks of all four options before recommending the use of both paper and online methods. He said mail voting is costly and could be disrupted by a postal strike; it was also used by only five per cent of voters. Telephone voting presents logistical difficulties for staff and voters alike, Machesney said. Ward 3 Coun. David McCue proposed allowing online voting for the first six weeks of advance voting, but not the final two weeks. Ward 1 Coun. Zack Card said that could lead to confusion. No motion was made. Paper voting is the default option; a council vote was required to adopt other methods. Online is cheaper and more accessible than paper, the clerk said, and with more voter satisfaction and less chance of human error. It is, however, the most vulnerable to cyberattacks, including data breaches, and is more prone to online coercion of voters. Paper ballots are more costly but less vulnerable to technological threats and voter fraud. The use of tabulating machines to count votes delivers quick results, said Machesney. He later said the city would likely lease the machines. “I know that polling stations are very, very important, as are paper ballots, to a lot of the constituents,” said Ward 4 Coun. Lynda Reid. Ward 2 Coun. Karen Sharpe agreed. She was 2022’s second-place mayoral candidate and later appointed as a councillor after the death of Coun. Terry Cassidy. She said “many people were disappointed” at the time by the online-only process. Sharpe asked if signs could be posted to identify voting locations prior to the election. Machesney replied it was a possibility, but not all polling stations are in municipal buildings, and the owners of some may not agree. Machesney said paper voting is wasteful, since not all ballots are used, yet it is a backup option should the online system fail, as it did in 2022. “The system went down right before all the votes came in,” Ward 2 Coun. Shelley Stedall recalled. The cost of paper ballots can be limited by ordering only enough ballots for 40 or 50 per cent of voters, since voter turnout was slightly less than 30 per cent, said Machesney. He said there are ways to mitigate some risks, and that certain violations are “very serious crimes. “I’ve seen the OPP actually investigate and successfully charge people with things like voter fraud before.” He said the province now controls the list of eligible municipal voters, but the municipality still urges voters to pre-register to reduce errors. Candidates will be able to file their nomination papers between May 1, 2026 and Aug. 21, 2026. Advance voting will begin a few weeks later, on Sept. 26, with election day being Oct. 27. The current term of office will end Nov. 14, 2026, with the new one starting on the following day. Machesney said it was premature to announce in-person voting locations, but the intent is to have at least one location per ward. “In the last election we learned at every poll, you have to have somebody there” in case of problems, Mayor Jim Harrison said. Easter bunny Peter Cottontail made appearances at two Easter-egg hunt events in Quinte west on Saturday during the holiday weekend We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentAnd children naturally gravitated to Mr. fuzzy bunny for pictures taken by parents for the family photo album. In Trenton Ward, moms and dads carrying little ones were on hand in large numbers at the Easter Market Egg-Stravagant vendor event held at the 413 Air Force Association of Canada building at 230 North Murray St. More than 50 vendors offered a plethora of handcrafted Easter-themed foods, goodies and keepsakes inside the packed venue. Children poked their faces through a pair of rabbit-shaped cutouts donning big smiles for parents while PeterCottontail greeted visitors in the main lobby. The event also offered free face painting, a petting zoo, cotton candy, an Easter egg-hunt and cookie decorating. Mother Sheena Nelson from Belleville said it was a “fun event to celebrate the holiday” with her son Kaiden Nelson and daughter Katarina. In Batawa, Peter Cottontail was also a popular figure for children large and small at the annual Easter Egg Hunt hosted jointly by the Batawa Lion’s Club, the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) and the Batawa Development Corporation. Families thronged the Batawa Community Centre to involve the children in the Easter-egg hunt, a pancake breakfast, face painting, a petting zoo, balloon animals, as well as displays by Quinte West Firefighters and OPP. There were two egg hunts including a junior hunt for children age 1-5 years and a senior hunt for kids aged 6-12 years. The Batawa egg hunts were limited to 700 children this year, said organizers. Quinte West prosper: chamber CEOsPart 2 in Postmedia's "How Canada Wins" series on the region's future prospects Belleville and Quinte West must attract and retain new workers – especially young people – to ensure success We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentNew workers and post-secondary education are crucial to the economy “We need to perhaps do a better job of attracting more young families into Quinte West and so the demographics continue to work against us,” said Suzanne Andrews the chief executive officer of the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce and while younger seniors are buying homes and filling part-time jobs here The Belleville Chamber of Commerce is now working with the Halton Industry Education Council as part of a provincially-funded program called Ontario Career Labs for students in Grades 9 and 10 Ontario chambers are recruiting career coaches to help young people on their career paths is youth retention,” Belleville chamber CEO Jill Raycroft said We want to get them excited about being from Belleville because every time I talk to someone who’s made Belleville their home in the last few years they can’t say enough about how much there is to do how much they love the location on the water “So there’s a small-town feel with the opportunity to do all of these amazing things.” Raycroft said gaining further understanding of the area’s current business landscape “may help identify a gap,” showing chambers where to focus their efforts for the future in general Businesses are among those concerned by Loyalist College’s cutbacks in programs and staff amid a crisis in post-secondary funding Raycroft spent 17 years working at Loyalist and said there is “real value” in supporting the college much of the funding for skilled trades never reaches colleges: it goes to private entities A federal cap on international students has also hurt post-secondary schools and Raycroft said the city needs those students and graduates to fill jobs here and we will see the loss of that in the coming months.” She said local students may now study elsewhere and immigrants may gravitate to areas in which there is a diaspora Quinte West and Belleville share more common ground with each other than they do with many other municipalities locally and in eastern Ontario Their location between Toronto and Montreal continues to attract manufacturers and tourism sectors are bringing in people and investment She said Belleville businesses are quite balanced between professional services and trade-related industry and an “impressive array of restaurants offering everything from international flavours to familiar chains.” but it’s a very small percentage of our employment,” Raycroft said Only about 10 per cent of the chamber’s membership is in that sector and 53 per cent of members have one to five employees There are 49 businesses with six to 10 workers Fifty-six members support social services or charities; Raycroft noted charity work isn’t a popular career option yet charities hire people from many skill sets chamber staff attended 44 ribbon-cuttings for new businesses It’s a sign of entrepreneurs establishing themselves here and also “indicative of the opportunity people see in Belleville to create interesting and exclusive and unique types of business opportunities.” Belleville’s specialized offerings include downtown’s Lavish Studio Creations which offers sets for photographing self-portraits and the Children’s Safety Village – a charity “We have got a few companies here in Quinte West that have really found their niches,” added Andrews globally-respected Research Casting International which mounts and casts dinosaur skeletons and more for institutions worldwide It started very small and now has markets not only in Canada but in the United States and Ireland “We’ve got these layers …of the different types of businesses,” Andrews said “They build it into something that is very robust and a little bit more stable because of that diversity.” there’s the stabilizing effect of the air base which employs thousands in well-paying jobs and is set for still more redevelopment “As long as the base is in a healthy place it just gives us a really great starting point,” said Andrews She said the Bay of Quinte and the Trent-Severn Waterway also continue be draws Raycroft said each year brings greater understanding of how chambers can promote local success stories. “It’s good news in the face of the uncertainty with tariffs in the U.S. and the need for us to almost look inward as a country.” Raycroft said advocacy is part of chambers’ role, and Belleville’s is one of 17 chambers in a social-action working group discussing homelessness and the lack of funding for more mental-health and addictions services. In partnership with Loyalist College, the chamber will launch in April a study of how communities are serving the most vulnerable. Approaches differ, Raycroft said, but the process may help identify effective strategies, as well as similar ones. That, she said, could align the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and its members for a more unified approach – namely to request provincial funding for solutions that could benefit many areas. | Apr 15, 2025 | Comments 1 People can also vote at the local Elections Canada Electors who have not received a voter information card may register at their assigned polling station just before they vote on election day. Find your voting location online at elections.ca MARCH 27: Three candidates have been named to take on Conservative Ryan Williams for the April 28 federal election Retired journalist and Belleville councillor Chris Malette has been named the Liberal candidate Hastings Prince Edward District School Board trustee has been confirmed to return as the Green Party candidate Williams was a hotelier and a Belleville councillor Voter turnout in the Bay of Quinte region in 2021 was 64.95 per cent as 62,105 of 95,615 voters cast their ballot Prime Minister Mark Carney asked Governor General Mary Simon to dissolve parliament Sunday March 23 and call a federal election for Monday Carney was sworn in as prime minister March 14 and appointed a cabinet March 24 after parliament being prorogued on Jan following the resignation of prime minister Justin Trudeau The federal leaders in the 2025 election are: Liberal Leader Mark Carney and Green Party co-leader Jonathan Pedneault Filed Under: Local News Leave a Reply | Trackback URL There’s also an advance polling station in Wellington on the Lake this weekend Quick action by first responders in Quinte West led to a dramatic ice rescue unfolding on the Trent River Thursday afternoon when a woman was returned safely to the western riverbank in the downtown area We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentQuinte West OPP, Station 1 Fire Emergency Services, and EMS responded to a call at 2:26 p.m. that a person was seen on thin ice in the river. Emergency personnel with the Firefighter Ice Water Rescue Team gathered along the western shore at Front Street just south of the Dixon Drive bridge wearing brightly coloured water-safety gear. They deployed a large life raft about midway into the river to retrieve the woman from the Trent about 15 minutes after the rescue operation began. Several firefighters on shore held onto lifelines attached to the rescue boat as it made its way toward a concrete bridge support. A second raft was placed on standby onshore for backup. A weather advisory in effect at the time of the call noted the ambient temperature was -3C and the windchill felt like -9C. Paramedics tended to the woman when she was brought on shore and transported to Trenton Memorial Hospital for examination. The condition of the woman was unknown at press time.