Exploring the Future of Haliburton County: An Affordability and Governance Structure Study
Click here to complete the Community Survey
Current Status (June 17)
• Take the community survey now until Sunday, June 28.
• The Study team is engaging each municipal Council this week.
• Municipal CAOs, senior leaders and staff have been engaged.
• Participate in an upcoming Community Open House: June 23-25. See details below.
We need to talk about the future and what the local government should look like in the years ahead.
The County of Haliburton has launched a study to learn more about what we can do now to ensure that municipal governments can continue to deliver high-quality, affordable services over the long term. The Study will look at ways to simplify government processes and provide better value for taxpayers.
About the Study
The Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) is leading the Study. EORN is a well-respected group of independent advisors who know rural Eastern Ontario well. The Study is scheduled to run from April 30 to July 31, 2026.
EORN’s work to develop a final Study report includes:
- Reviewing the current two-tier system of municipal governance in Haliburton County.
- Reviewing key processes and financial information from all four local municipalities and the County of Haliburton.
- Carrying out a comprehensive community engagement strategy with the goal of hearing from as many people as possible in Haliburton County.
No decision would be made right away. The Study is about getting more information to help inform what we do next. EORN will provide a final Study Report that outlines options for different paths forward. Ultimately, any decisions around the future of Haliburton County will be made by the 2026-2030 councils.
What’s your opinion?
Your voice matters in helping to shape the future of our communities. What do you think local government should look like in Haliburton County? How have cost and tax increases impacted you? What could local governments be doing to help make services more affordable?
The success of the Study relies on hearing from as many people as possible. Complete the Public Survey and attend upcoming in-person and virtual engagement opportunities.
Upcoming Open Houses
We invite members of the public to participate in one of five public open house sessions in June:
- June 23, 2026
- 2 – 4 p.m. at the Haliburton Legion
- 6 – 8 p.m. at the Lloyd Watson Memorial Centre in Wilberforce
- June 24, 2026 – Virtual session Please click here to register.
- June 25, 2026 –
- 2 – 4 p.m. at the Dorset Recreation Centre
- 6 – 8 p.m. at the Minden Hills Community Centre
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