By Emily Stonehouse
I believe it is the responsibility of local newspapers to use their pages to hold organizations and civil servants accountable for their actions.
It’s something I am mindful of, and put into practice when applicable.
Sometimes editorials may seem cutting, but they take a stance; posing the possibilities of change and tangible momentum.
And the same way I will hold individuals accountable, I will also celebrate the actions of others.
Gary Dyke, the CAO of the County of Haliburton, alongside his current roster of staff, deserves a round of applause.
He carried forward an idea that’s been floating in the minds of locals for decades. And while he never said the cursed “A-Word” (amalgamation) during the duration of the council meeting last week, he planted a seed, lit a fire.
The split-tiered system of governance has been put into play for the lifetimes of the vast majority of residents. I’d hazard a guess that many still don’t fully understand it. And while charts and infographics are circulated on social media splitting up municipal, provincial, and federal responsibilities, the great divide between upper and lower tier local governments often falls through the cracks.
When I worked for the Township of Minden Hills, we would often say that items would be “bumped up the hill”; meaning that certain tasks were County projects. And honestly, I was a senior staffer for Minden, and there still seemed to lack rhyme or reason for the projects that stayed down the hill versus up.
It was one of the major reasons I stepped away from the role. Behind closed doors, there were a whole lot of circular conversations; spinning topics that were chasing their tails, seeking an answer, and never quite knowing where they landed.
I am not one for inefficiencies.
And the only solution to this constant tailspin, is to bring the groups together.
Gary Dyke brought that to the table. But he did it properly. He laid the groundwork, he explored the options. “When you look at the complexities of a municipality in 2026, being asked to solve twenty first century problems and complexities with a system of governance that was created in the nineteenth century,” he said. “Is it the best system we have?”
He said exactly what we’ve all been thinking. For decades. And he didn’t push or challenge councillors, he laid it out flat. Change has to happen. We don’t know how, don’t know when, but it absolutely needs to happen.
It was clear that the major decision around the A-Word would be a future council problem. But this is a bigger start than I’ve seen before. This is an encouragement to move forward, a challenge to think outside the box, and an opportunity to move ahead without the gaping holes of inefficiencies; tightening the circle of responsibility and allowing for our community to actually grow.
I look forward to seeing how this pans out. Unfortunately, there’s a risk it may die between the council terms; dropped through the gaps of conversation when new faces take their seats at the table. But I believe the seed has been plated, the fire lit.
Let’s keep this conversation going, and filter through the inefficiencies to create a community that prioritizes the possibilities of change, and tangible momentum into the future.
