As the calendar changes from one year to the next, at CollingwoodToday we decided to look ahead at what will be making headlines in 2025.
Here is our list of stories to watch in the coming year.
Affordable/Attainable housing
Over the past few years, rarely does a single council or committee of the whole meeting go by in any of Grey County, The Blue Mountains or Grey Highlands without the pressing issue of affordable/attainable housing being raised.
In 2024, The Blue Mountains declared a housing crisis and all three governments have been working on strategies to address the issue.
However, progress has been slow. Despite all the talk and attention on the issue, little has actually happened. Will 2025 be the year there is some true progress? Many would agree, the time for talking about the issue has passed. Now it’s time to do something about it.
Municipal Finances
Municipal finances and budgets are always a hot topic. And, 2025 will be no different. Grey County, Grey Highlands and The Blue Mountains all face big budget pressures. Asset management continues to be a struggle as elected officials weigh priorities and wants vs. needs. Tax increases are never popular, but are often necessary. We expect plenty of tough decisions to be made about money in 2025.
The Blue Mountains Mayor Andrea Matrosovs is Warden of Grey County
This will be one of the big stories of 2025. At times in the past, the relationship between Grey County and the Town of The Blue Mountains has been strained. Mastrosovs being in the warden’s chair could bring change to the dynamic.
Campus of Care
The Campus of Care project in The Blue Mountains has been terminated. Does that mean it’s over permanently? Can it or something similar be resurrected when economic times improve? The town still owns the 125 Peel Street property. The 160 long-term care beds are still there. What happens next on this file will be worth following.
The future of the Talisman property
What happens on the former Talisman lands in Grey Highlands will be a story to watch every year ... until something happens. The former ski resort and hotel complex is a high-profile property in the Beaver Valley that can be developed. Currently, there are two proposals for the land: a residential development and a hotel spa development.
Municipal Accommodation Tax in The Blue Mountains
It took a couple of years, but the Municipal Accommodation tax (a four per cent tax on hotel and short-term rentals in the town) will come into effect in 2025. How much money will this bring into the coffers of The Blue Mountains? What projects will be advanced with the cash? If the town is successful with this new revenue stream, will other local municipalities follow suit? Definitely a big story to watch in 2025.
Mandatory septic inspections in Grey Highlands
As 2024 came to a close, Grey Highlands council was looking at the possibility of mandating septic inspections for lakefront homes and bringing a system of voluntary inspections for other areas of the municipality. There is no doubt this will be controversial with the public. What will be the reaction? How will the program work? How much will it cost? There are many questions that will need to be answered in the coming year.
