LAURIE WEIR
Mayor Arie Hoogenboom has released his formal rationale for vetoing the bylaw that would have sent the Chantry municipal office retrofit to tender, citing provincial housing priorities and fiscal concerns.
In the document, titled Mayoral Decision MD-2025-01-a, Hoogenboom states that By-law 2025-69, the confirmatory bylaw passed May 12, is contrary to Ontario’s goal of building 1.5 million new homes by 2031 and does not align with the need to invest in infrastructure that supports rural growth.
He argued that placing a $5-million public facility in the hamlet of Chantry will not encourage new housing development or economic expansion. Instead, he pointed to an alternative proposal involving a donated five-acre parcel of land along the highway, which could support housing development tied to a new subdivision.
“This option was not properly considered by council,” the mayor wrote.
He shared his intentions earlier on May 26 during the community services meeting. He spoke to the veto during his regular mayoral updates – it was not on the agenda specifically.
In his statement, Hoogenboom also raised concerns about the township’s rising debt load, stating that limited borrowing capacity should be reserved for “infrastructure such as roads that serve our growth and local housing and provincial goals.” He said it was inappropriate to ask contractors to bid on a project that lacks broad public support and may not be backed by hired staff and engineers.
“As such,” he concluded, “the confirmatory bylaw which authorizes staff to put to tender the retrofit and addition to municipal offices in Chantry is hereby vetoed.”
The mayor’s decision triggers a 21-day window in which six of eight councillors would need to vote in favour of overriding the veto for the project to proceed.
The next regular meeting of Rideau Lakes council is scheduled for June 3, when the issue is expected to return for debate.
Related: For background on the original veto announcement and council’s response, read: Mayor drops veto bomb on Chantry office tender in Rideau Lakes
