Not the full picture. Built from public records, which leave things out.Read by hand, Oct 2026DetailsThis is built from public records, which leave a lot out, and some of it may be wrong or out of date. Check the sources, and tell us if you spot a mistake. What this site can't tell you Read by hand. We read Cockburn Island's own documents for this site in October 2026; the Sources page lists which ones. The comparisons with other places still come from the Province's yearly reports.
Questions · 9 so far
Things worth asking about
We read Cockburn Island's financial reports and meeting minutes. These are the things that stood out.
What these are, and what they are not. A question here means a number or practice is unusual, or harder to see than it should be. It does not mean anyone did anything wrong. Most unusual numbers turn out to have ordinary explanations, and every question lists some. The only way to know is to ask.
Worth asking
Worth asking
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
Qualifiedopinion on the 2024 statements, signed February 27, 2026
The Township's auditor, BDO Canada LLP, said the 2024 statements are fair except for one thing it could not measure. The Township has not yet worked out what it will cost to retire its old assets (a rule called an asset retirement obligation, or ARO). The auditor's report is dated February 27, 2026, about 14 months after the year ended on December 31, 2024 (worked out by us). Council accepted the statements on March 11, 2026.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 6 sources
$95,126estimated present value of landfill closure and care, 2024 statements (2023: $240,830)
The 2024 statements say the present value of closing and caring for the landfill is $95,126. The year before, the same note said $240,830. The Township has recorded $76,200 of it so far. Council has since started saving, with a $10,000 term deposit, and has set a goal of at least $150,000 within 15 years. The note also says the landfill is expected to be full in 13 years.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 7 sources
$60,000.00estimated cost of soil testing, the first step in the dock repairs (2026 budget line: $20,000)
At the July 8, 2026 meeting, council heard that the first step for the dock repairs, soil testing with boreholes, is estimated at $60,000.00. About $10,000 had already been spent on engineering fees, and another $20,000 to $25,000 would be needed in the next 6 to 8 months. Council then authorized a member to proceed with the repairs and soil sampling. The 2026 budget has $20,000 for dock rehabilitation.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$130,756.10total approved on February 4, 2026 for a used boom mower, including parts and tax
On February 4, 2026, council approved buying a used 120 HP boom mower for $105,000 plus about $10,700 of parts, a total of $130,756.10 with tax, and a used dump trailer for $22,600. Both were to be paid from a $150,000 term deposit. The minutes we read do not record other quotes or a call for tenders for either machine. The two purchases together are $153,356.10, which is $3,356.10 more than the $150,000 deposit (worked out by us from $130,756.10, $22,600 and $150,000). The 2026 budget shows $130,000 for the mower and we did not find a line for a trailer.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 5 sources
$40,000yearly payment agreed with NCC in 2026 dollars (2026 budget line: 38,000)
The 2026 budget counts on 38,000 from the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), next to a general tax levy of 106,398 on homes and 1,002 on managed forest. We worked out that the NCC line is about 26 percent of those three lines together. The Township's minutes call part of this payment voluntary. Separately, the 2024 statements say about 46 percent of total taxation came from two ratepayers. We do not say who they are, and we do not link the two facts.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
The Township posts its minutes, by-laws and the 2024 audited statements. We did not find the 2025 audited statements, the earlier-year budgets, a council pay statement, agendas, or a conflict-of-interest registry on its site. The link for the October 8, 2025 minutes returned 'Not Found' when we opened it on October 7, 2026. The 2025 asset management plan is not posted; only a 2018 one is.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
In May 2025 council was told there were only five closed building permits since 2019. It then asked staff to find out which permits since 2019 had been paid for and to work with MPAC (the province's assessment agency) so the properties' assessments are updated. By September 2025 the minutes say all but one fee had been collected. In August 2026 council agreed to send letters asking for proof of a permit when none is on file.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 4 sources
In 2019, Cockburn Island had $116K more in cash and money owed to it than it owed to others. By 2024 it was −$110K. About 34% of that change ($76,200) is a new accounting rule from 2023: towns must now record the future cost of closing things like a landfill. That is not new spending or borrowing. Even leaving that out, only 0 of 0 similar towns are in a weaker position.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
Qualifiedopinion on the 2024 statements, signed February 27, 2026
The Township's auditor, BDO Canada LLP, said the 2024 statements are fair except for one thing it could not measure. The Township has not yet worked out what it will cost to retire its old assets (a rule called an asset retirement obligation, or ARO). The auditor's report is dated February 27, 2026, about 14 months after the year ended on December 31, 2024 (worked out by us). Council accepted the statements on March 11, 2026.
Why it matters
The audit is the main outside check on whether the Township's yearly numbers can be trusted. A qualified opinion means the auditor could not say how much the missing piece changes the expenses, assets and surplus. The Township's own minutes show it has started work on the fix, so the useful question is when the fix will be finished.
It could be because…
The ARO rule is new for small municipalities, and the Township's minutes say only its landfill is affected, so the fix may be one engineering study.
The Township is on an island reached by boat, which can slow site visits and the work that follows.
A very small township with part-time administration may simply take longer to hand its records to the auditor.
Questions you could ask
Has the engineering work on the landfill been finished, and when will the asset retirement obligation be recorded in the statements?
Will the 2025 statements still carry a qualified opinion, and when will they be posted?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Cockburn Island?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The auditor wrote that the statements present fairly "except for the possible effects of the matter described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion section of our report". The basis section says: "Management has not completed its assessment of the tangible capital assets for potential asset retirement obligations."
Council passed a motion: "That we accept with appreciation the 2024 audited financial statements as prepared by the township's municipal auditors, BDO LLP."
For the year before, council passed a motion: "That Council accepts with appreciation the 2023 municipal financial audit provided by BDO LLP of Sault Ste. Marie." This was on February 12, 2025.
The Township's own answer: council resolved to "begin the process to achieve compliance by soliciting a quote from Tulloch Engineering" for work its auditor described, including the estimated date of closure of the landfill and the cost of closure.
$95,126estimated present value of landfill closure and care, 2024 statements (2023: $240,830)
The 2024 statements say the present value of closing and caring for the landfill is $95,126. The year before, the same note said $240,830. The Township has recorded $76,200 of it so far. Council has since started saving, with a $10,000 term deposit, and has set a goal of at least $150,000 within 15 years. The note also says the landfill is expected to be full in 13 years.
Why it matters
A landfill has to be closed and watched for years, and a small township with about $107,400 of yearly property tax (the 2026 by-law's $106,398 residential and $1,002 managed forest levies, worked out by us) cannot easily pay a big surprise. A large change in the estimate also changes the yearly surplus, so residents should know what it rests on.
It could be because…
The earlier figure may have used older assumptions, such as a 2002 engineering report the minutes mention, and the new figure may reflect a newer method or a lower discount rate.
The savings goal of $150,000 also covers moving or enlarging the site, not only closing it, so it is not meant to match the closing estimate.
An engineer's study ordered in 2025 may soon replace both numbers.
Questions you could ask
What changed between the $240,830 estimate and the $95,126 estimate, and which engineer or report is each based on?
Will the Tulloch Engineering study replace the estimate, and will council publish the result?
Who will pay if the province, as owner of the land, asks the Township to move or close the site sooner?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Cockburn Island?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Note 4 says: "It is estimated that the total net present value of the closure and post-closure care is $95,126 (2023 - $240,830), of which $76,200 (2023 - $70,400) has been recognized to December 31, 2024." It also says the landfill is expected to reach its capacity in 13 years (2023 - 14 years).
Note 6 splits each year's surplus into parts. The part called 'Unfunded landfill liabilities' is (5,800) for 2024 and 111,300 for 2023, out of annual surpluses of $38,708 and $200,860.
Council resolved to save for landfill work "by investing instead in a series of Term Deposits with a notional goal of having no less than $150,000 saved for this purpose within 15 years."
The minutes say the land the dump is on is owned by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and that council would leave the question until the Ministry gives direction, while it continues to make transfers to the landfill fund.
By-law 2026-04, section 1: "there shall be levied and collected upon the assessable lands $106,398 Residential and $ 1,002 Managed Forest for the General Purposes of the Municipality."
$60,000.00estimated cost of soil testing, the first step in the dock repairs (2026 budget line: $20,000)
At the July 8, 2026 meeting, council heard that the first step for the dock repairs, soil testing with boreholes, is estimated at $60,000.00. About $10,000 had already been spent on engineering fees, and another $20,000 to $25,000 would be needed in the next 6 to 8 months. Council then authorized a member to proceed with the repairs and soil sampling. The 2026 budget has $20,000 for dock rehabilitation.
Why it matters
The dock is the only way on and off the island, so repairs matter to everyone. The numbers in the minutes are already several times the budget line, and no total for the whole job is printed in the documents we read.
It could be because…
The Township had about $346,981.82 in its operating account at the end of July 2026, so it may be able to pay from cash and savings.
Council is applying for outside money, including a provincial accessibility grant of up to $60,000 for the marina, so the Township's own share may be small.
Council has said the dock repairs are its first priority, and the cost may have grown as engineers looked at the concrete and the ground under it.
Last year's dock project came in at an estimated $45,000 against $55,000 approved, so the Township has finished a dock job under budget before.
Questions you could ask
What is the total expected cost of the dock repairs, including engineering, soil testing and construction?
How will it be paid for, and how much of it depends on grants that have not yet been awarded?
Will council set a spending limit before the work is awarded, and will the engineer's report be posted?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Cockburn Island?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The minutes say: "The first step required for the dock repairs is to soil test through boreholes at an estimated cost of $60,000.00." They also say "approximately $10,000 already spent on engineering fees" and "An additional $20,000 to $25,000 will be needed in the next 6-8 months." Council authorized a member to proceed with the dock repairs and soil sampling.
Council authorized an application to the provincial EASE grant, which "awards up to $60,000" for small capital projects, for access improvements at the marina (lighting, dock ramps and dock resurfacing).
The operating account balance was $346,981.82 as of July 28, 2026. The minutes also say the soil-sample drilling is "progressing slower than expected".
Cockburn Island spent $81,369 on running the town office in 2019 and $164K in 2024. Prices only went up about 18% in that time.
Why did the cost of running the town office grow 102% in 5 years?
Running the town office
Prices (inflation)
−50%+0%+50%+100%+150%
+102%
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Running the town office
Prices (inflation)
2019
+0%
+0%
2020
−3%
+1%
2021
+18%
+4%
2022
+52%
+11%
2023
+58%
+16%
2024
+102%
+18%
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
Why it matters
Money spent running the office is money not spent on roads, water or safety. When office costs grow much faster than the services people see, it is fair to ask what the extra money is buying.
It could be because…
The town added a service, a building or staff that residents asked for.
Costs were moved from another area, so the total did not really change.
Accounting rules changed how costs are sorted.
Large one-time costs, like a study, lawsuit or repair, landed in one year.
Questions you could ask
What did the extra $82,598 a year pay for?
Why did council go from $19,832 to $159K?
Was each increase approved by council as a separate decision, or did it happen through the yearly budget?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Cockburn Island?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
Running the town office: 2019 $81,369, 2020 $79,195, 2021 $96,389, 2022 $123K, 2023 $129K, 2024 $164K.
$130,756.10total approved on February 4, 2026 for a used boom mower, including parts and tax
On February 4, 2026, council approved buying a used 120 HP boom mower for $105,000 plus about $10,700 of parts, a total of $130,756.10 with tax, and a used dump trailer for $22,600. Both were to be paid from a $150,000 term deposit. The minutes we read do not record other quotes or a call for tenders for either machine. The two purchases together are $153,356.10, which is $3,356.10 more than the $150,000 deposit (worked out by us from $130,756.10, $22,600 and $150,000). The 2026 budget shows $130,000 for the mower and we did not find a line for a trailer.
Why it matters
This was about 40 percent of the 2026 capital list, and most of the Township's savings in term deposits. The Township asked for quotes on other jobs, such as the street lights. Residents can reasonably ask how this price was checked.
It could be because…
Used machines of this kind are sold one at a time, so there may be little to compare, and council may have looked at others without recording it.
The asking price of $110,000 was brought down to $105,000, so some bargaining did happen.
The old machine was failing and needed frequent repairs, so council may have judged that waiting was costly.
The Township sold its old tractor and trailer by tender in July 2026, so it does use tenders for some sales.
Questions you could ask
Did the Township compare other machines or ask for other quotes for the mower and the trailer? If so, can the comparison be posted?
Does the Township have a written rule for when quotes or tenders are required, and at what dollar amount?
Where in the 2026 budget does the $22,600 trailer sit, and how was the $3,356.10 above the $150,000 term deposit covered (interest on the deposit may account for it)?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Cockburn Island?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
A member of council described a 2018 John Deere 120 HP boom mower, saying the old brush-hog tractor needs frequent repairs. The minutes say: "Current asking price is $110,000 which he would try to have reduced." Council authorized that member to investigate and possibly proceed on council's behalf, subject to finances and a test run.
Council approved a purchase price of $105,000 plus about $10,700 for parts, "for a total before tax of $115,713.36 (Taxes= $15,042.74 Grand Total= $130,756.10)", and authorized staff to redeem the township's $150,000 GIC (a term deposit) at NCU for it.
Council also approved a used 2016 tandem axle dump trailer for $20,000 plus HST ($2600), "Grand Total = $22,600", using what was left of the $150,000 term deposit.
The 2026 capital list has "JOHN DEERE BOOM MOWER, 120 HP" at 130,000, a total capital of 325,500, and a net of "FROM RESERVES (GIC)" of 121,639. We did not find a dump trailer line.
For the street lights, council recorded that "two (2) quotes were received for the repair of streetlights" and noted that the bids "were both well over the Township's budget".
$40,000yearly payment agreed with NCC in 2026 dollars (2026 budget line: 38,000)
The 2026 budget counts on 38,000 from the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), next to a general tax levy of 106,398 on homes and 1,002 on managed forest. We worked out that the NCC line is about 26 percent of those three lines together. The Township's minutes call part of this payment voluntary. Separately, the 2024 statements say about 46 percent of total taxation came from two ratepayers. We do not say who they are, and we do not link the two facts.
Why it matters
When a small share of payers covers most of the bill, a change by one of them can move the whole budget. The Township has already written down a plan to make the NCC amount more predictable.
It could be because…
The payment replaces tax that is lower because forest land was changed from residential to managed forest or exempt, so it is a way to keep the Township whole.
The Township and NCC have agreed on a fixed amount that rises each year by the Township's tax increase, which makes it steadier.
On a small island, a few large landowners are expected to carry much of the levy.
Questions you could ask
Is the NCC agreement in writing, and how long does it last?
What would the Township do if either the NCC payment or one of its largest tax accounts changed?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Cockburn Island?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The 2026 budget lists "NCC Levy Contribution est'd" at 38,000, "Gen Levy Res. & Farm" at 106,398 and "Levy on Managed Forest" at 1,002.
Council wrote that NCC "has, for years, voluntarily provided a support grant" and set out a plan for NCC, which "would continue to provide annual payments of $40,000 (in 2026 dollars)".
The Township posts its minutes, by-laws and the 2024 audited statements. We did not find the 2025 audited statements, the earlier-year budgets, a council pay statement, agendas, or a conflict-of-interest registry on its site. The link for the October 8, 2025 minutes returned 'Not Found' when we opened it on October 7, 2026. The 2025 asset management plan is not posted; only a 2018 one is.
Why it matters
Residents mostly live elsewhere and follow the Township online. Documents they cannot find are documents they cannot check.
It could be because…
The Township has very little staff, and staff turned over on May 1, 2026, so posting may lag.
Some items may be posted somewhere we did not look, or can be had by asking staff.
The broken link may be a simple filing error.
Questions you could ask
When will the 2025 audited statements and the 2025 asset management plan be posted?
Will the Township post the yearly council pay statement and the October 8, 2025 minutes?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Cockburn Island?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The Council/Minutes page lists "Council Minutes: Oct 8, 2025" with a link to docs/2025/Minutes_251008.pdf. That link returned 'Not Found' when we opened it on October 7, 2026.
The minutes say the 2025 asset management plan "has been submitted to the Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure" and ask whether to upload it to the website.
In May 2025 council was told there were only five closed building permits since 2019. It then asked staff to find out which permits since 2019 had been paid for and to work with MPAC (the province's assessment agency) so the properties' assessments are updated. By September 2025 the minutes say all but one fee had been collected. In August 2026 council agreed to send letters asking for proof of a permit when none is on file.
Why it matters
Permit fees belong to the Township, and unpermitted buildings may not be assessed, which affects taxes. The Township has already acted on this, so we raise it as context.
It could be because…
Many island buildings are small seasonal ones, and the inspector can only visit between May 15 and October 31 and when the weather allows.
The Township had no permit by-law and no steady inspector for some years and has since fixed both.
One unpaid fee out of the list is a good result and may be closed soon.
Questions you could ask
Has the last unpaid fee been collected, and have all the affected properties been reported to MPAC?
How many buildings with no permit on file have been found since the Township began asking?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Cockburn Island?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
The evidence
The meeting notes say that the township was told there are "five closed permits since 2019" and that inspections run "May 15 to October 31 only".
Council directed staff to determine which building permits since 2019 had been paid for, and to work with MPAC to make sure the properties' assessments have been updated.
In 2019, Cockburn Island had $116K more in cash and money owed to it than it owed to others. By 2024 it was −$110K. About 34% of that change ($76,200) is a new accounting rule from 2023: towns must now record the future cost of closing things like a landfill. That is not new spending or borrowing. Even leaving that out, only 0 of 0 similar towns are in a weaker position.
Cockburn Island went from having money in the bank to owing more than it has. What changed?
−$300K−$200K−$100K$0$100K$200K
−$110K
201920202021202220232024
Show as a table
Year
Net financial position
2019
$116K
2020
$116K
2021
$147K
2022
−$51,560
2023
−$230K
2024
−$110K
Why it matters
This number is one of the clearest signs of whether a town is living within its means. The accounting-rule part is a bill that will come due when the landfill closes, not money already spent. The rest is real borrowing and spending of savings.
It could be because…
A new accounting rule (asset retirement obligations, from 2023) added a large future cost to the books all at once.
Borrowing for a planned project, such as sewage lagoons, which is paid back over many years.
Questions you could ask
What is the plan and timeline for paying the landfill closing cost?
Without the accounting change, is the town's position getting better or worse?
You can ask during the public part of a council meeting, by writing to the clerk, or by contacting your councillors. How to reach council.
Speak for Cockburn Island?Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
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