I felt compelled to send in a letter after seeing a news article about Councillor Engelsdorfer’s announcement of a motion of non-confidence to be moved against Mayor Steve Ferguson.
I am extremely disappointed.
If Councillor Engelsdorfer has lost confidence in the collective Council’s ability to serve, he should approach the Province to dissolve the Council. That will yield actual impact versus what appears to be performative governance.
The attacking of councillors and staff, both in meetings and using local media to serve personal grudges by individual members of council, is behaviour demonstrating a complete abandonment of duty to the community, and appears to be self serving.
In addition to wasting Council’s time (paid for by taxpayer dollars) and the time of staff members, this behaviour is also contributing to bullying and hate in our community. Why would anyone with true community values run for Council in 2026? Those who don’t want to be attacked by neighbours, news media outlets or fellow councillors will invest their desire to serve the public elsewhere. If this continues, there will be a mass exodus of staffers and potential lawsuits, which will come at a cost to us, the taxpayers.
This is not a Mayor issue, this is a Council issue. The Mayor has one (1) vote, and in the meetings I have seen, there appears to be a coalition among a select group of members of council, of which the Mayor is not a part.
As a former elected official, I have experience serving among others whom I don’t always agree with. By centering the needs of who we serve, we always found a path forward.
I am urging the responsible and accountable members of Council to prevail so you can complete your term acting like the professional Elected Officials we saw during your campaign.
Alison Kelly, Athol
The Elbows Up! day in downtown Picton brought back a flood of memories—bittersweet ones. As someone who spent much of my publishing career in the U.S., I’ve long observed the cultural and economic push-pull between Canada and our powerful neighbour to the south. The Free Trade Agreement of the late 1980s, a turning point in our history, still echoes today.
Back then, John Turner warned of the geopolitical risks of tethering ourselves to the American empire, while Brian Mulroney sold it as an opportunity for nation-building. Those debates divided not only Parliament but families and communities.
In academic publishing, I watched economists and political scientists wrangle over what was truly at stake. And now, as we enter another period of economic uncertainty, those questions return—sharper than ever.
Many Canadians once assumed our institutions, families, and industries were secure. But the fallout from free trade—especially for American workers in hollowed-out Midwestern towns—has shown how economic integration can fracture social cohesion. Though we were shielded somewhat by our stronger safety net, we were never immune.
Donald Trump didn’t create this populist moment—he’s the product of a deeper failure in market capitalism. That same populist current is now flowing into Canada, influencing campaigns like Pierre Poilievre’s, which echo anger rather than offering answers.
I’ve always supported the NDP, inspired by my father Albert’s commitment to social democracy. He introduced David Lewis at rallies and believed passionately in justice and equity.
But for this federal election, I’ve chosen to support Mark Carney. His vision for Canada’s future feels grounded, globally aware, and deeply Canadian.
Standing in Picton, watching children and neighbours share what makes Canada special, I was reminded of what we risk losing—and what we can still build. We can’t turn back the clock. But we can move forward: East to West, True North strong and free.
We are fortunate to have three strong parties. After April 28, I hope we push for proportional representation and more democratic reform. But right now, we need leadership that understands the risks of American decline and sees Canada’s place in a changing world.
It’s time to stand tall, act fast, and choose a new path forward.
Chris Spavins, Picton
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