June 2025 Municipal Update
June 2025 Newsletter
From the Mayor’s Desk
Over the past two and a half years, I have truly appreciated the opportunity to work with my fellow council members and dedicated staff to serve our residents and build a stronger, more vibrant community. Together, we have undertaken meaningful work to make our municipality one of the best places to live and work in all of Prince Edward Island.
During my time as Mayor, we have:
Completed significant repairs and upgrades to our water and sewer systems;
Approved thoughtful development proposals to support growth;
Engaged the community to develop a strategic plan;
Finalized and adopted our official land use planning document;
Streamlined and improved administrative practices; and
Worked tirelessly to advocate for the funding we need to deliver services effectively.
This progress would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our council members, committee volunteers, and staff, who continue to give generously of their time to ensure residents receive the services expected from the tax dollars entrusted to us. To help us continue this good work, I urge all residents to consider how they can use their talents to support the work of the community, possibly applying for the upcoming council member vacancy, serving on one of our committees, or volunteering for some of the work that our municipality performs.
Strong local governance depends on mutual respect, cooperation, and adherence to established standards. Our Code of Conduct Bylaw and Procedural Bylaw provide essential guidance for how council and committee members are expected to conduct their work—and themselves. Council members have received mandatory training from the province, and as your Mayor, I expect the standards outlined in our bylaws and training to be respected and upheld.
At our June 9th council meeting, we were informed by our CAO that he would no longer be able to serve as the municipality’s Emergency Measures Coordinator. Given the CAO resides some distance from our community, it was agreed that he would not be ideally positioned to respond quickly in an emergency situation, especially as we move toward fully operationalizing our Emergency Management Plan.
We are now actively seeking a community member to take on this important role. The Emergency Measures Coordinator plays a key part in ensuring our emergency response efforts are effective and ready to deploy when needed. The responsibilities are outlined in our emergency measures bylaw and plan, available on our website. If you are interested, please reach out to either the CAO or Eric Gilbert, Chair of the Emergency Management Planning Committee.
I have also written to the Deputy Minister of Public Safety to express our concerns and highlight the challenges we face in meeting our emergency planning obligations under the Municipal Government Act and provincial regulations. I look forward to building a stronger relationship with the provincial government to better serve our residents.
Unfortunately, I must also share a serious incident that occurred during the closed session of our June 9th regular council meeting. A resident entered the building unannounced and forcefully kicked open the meeting room door before angrily confronting those present. Despite requests from staff and council members, the individual remained in the room for several minutes before finally leaving. Staff promptly secured the building and contacted the RCMP, who have since reviewed the incident and taken the appropriate actions.
Following the incident—and in response to ongoing concerns raised by staff—a special council meeting was held on June 12th, where the CAO outlined the need for enhanced safety measures for council, committee members, and municipal staff. Until we have a clearer understanding of what additional security protocols are appropriate and feasible, the CAO has made the decision to temporarily close the municipal office beginning June 16th. Both he and our Financial Assistant will work remotely during this period. Residents may continue to contact the office by phone or email, and business will proceed without interruption.
As many of you know, administering a small municipality comes with unique challenges—particularly when we are expected to meet unrealistic provincial legislative and service demands with limited resources.
I encourage all residents to stay engaged and reach out with questions, ideas, or feedback on how we can continue improving our municipal services. You can contact your council representatives or the Municipal Office directly. I am also available at 902-388-7584 or by email at allenfarm17@gmail.com. For updates and more information, please visit our website.
Martin Ruben
Mayor
From the Municipal Office
Amar Seafoods Temporary structure
Following a public presentation made on June 4th, 2025 by Scott Travers, Amar Seafoods CEO, about the project to install temporary structures (containers) at 1 Causeway Road, the Planning Board made a positive recommendation to Council about this application. On June 9th, the Council mandated the Municipal Office to deliver a development permit for this project.
Emergency Measures Committee Coordinator
After consideration, CAO Yves Dallaire asked Council to be replaced at the position of Emergency Measures Committee Coordinator due to the distance between his residence and Victoria. The volunteer position is now open for residents of Victoria and the surrounding area. If you are interested in this position, please contact the chair of the Emergency Measures Planning Committee, Councillor Eric Gilbert or the Municipal Office.
Strategic Plan Follow-up
The first quarter strategic plan follow-up (April-June 2025) has been presented to Council on June 9th. The plan is in progress with an application for grants to assess the status of the water and sewer infrastructures, with new bylaws, new housing development projects, one childcare project, the beautification of nine properties in Victoria, the collaboration of community organisations and other initiatives.
2024-2025 Financial results
Last year’s budget was completed and presented to Council. The Municipal Office had total revenues of $343,943 while its expenses totaled $268,754 for a surplus of $75,189. This is an exceptional financial result due to rebates/grants associated with the last year investments at the Wharf and for the back-up generators.
On the W&S Corporation side, the total revenues (W&S fees) are $121,108 while the expenses totaled $130,468 for a deficit of -$9,360.
Overall, the Municipality had a surplus of $65,829. The Municipality financial statements are currently undergoing the audit process.
2025-26 Budget
While last March the 2025-26 budget was approved by Council, a revised budget was presented to Council due to a new financial framework adopted by the Provincial Government. The projected overall revenues for the Municipal Office should total $262,283 and the expenses should total $250,385 for a $11,898 surplus.
The W&S Corporation should have total revenues of $124,675 with expected expenses of $119,751 for a projected surplus of $4,924.
New Community Events Calendar
A first output of the new collaboration of the community organisations is the community events calendar now available on the Municipality’s website. Each member can now add in real time any event they plan while a coordination effort is made to share out the activities over a longer period of time. This new calendar is a precious tool for residents as well as for visitors.
The Municipality is Applying for Major Grants
Considering the content of Victoria’s strategic plan, the Municipal office has applied for major grant programs such as the Active Transportation Program and the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF) for a total of $4,125,000. The CHIF program is of importance to support the new housing projects currently under consideration by the Planning Board. We should know later this year if these applications will be approved by the provincial agencies involved.
The Temporary Closure of the Municipal Office
Starting June 16th, the Municipal Office will be temporarily closed during which time new security equipment will be installed. The residents can contact Yves Dallaire, CAO or Marsha Empson, FAA using the email address (victoriamunicipalitypei@gmail.com or marsha.victoriamunicipality@gmail.com) or by calling the Municipal Office (902.658.2541).
Otherwise, the Municipal Office will take a one week break for the week starting July 21st.
New Bylaws in Progress
Two new bylaws will be worked on during the coming months. A procurement bylaw and a bylaw enforcement bylaw should be submitted to Council later this year. The existing election bylaw will be revised for the coming by-election.
That’s all for this month! See past issues at www.RMVictoria.com/newsletters
Questions or feedback? Info for a future newsletter or photos you’re willing to share?
Contact staff at victoriamunicipalitypei@gmail.com
Victoria Historic Schoolhouse
730 Victoria Road, Victoria, PE,
C0A 1J0, Canada