Questions · 14 so far
We read Deep River's financial reports and meeting minutes, and compared its numbers with 30 similar Ontario towns. These are the things that stood out.
These are unusual enough that residents deserve a clear answer from council.
+59%running the town office, 2019 to 2025
Deep River spent $1.3M on running the town office in 2019 and $2.0M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 3 of 30 similar towns had faster growth here.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$3.1Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2025
At the end of 2025, $3.1M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 38% of everything billed. None of the 30 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $931K.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
$5,538per home on long-term debt, 2025
Deep River spent about $5,538 per home on long-term debt in 2025. The typical similar town spent $807. Only 1 of 30 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
There may well be a good reason. It is still worth asking what it is.
$5,777,017liability for asset retirement obligations at December 31, 2023, which the 2023 auditor could not fully support
An audit ends with an opinion on whether the statements are fair. A "qualified" opinion means the auditor was fine with most of it but could not be sure about one part. For 2023, Baker Tilly REO LLP said the Town did not give enough evidence for a new liability it recorded for asset retirement obligations (the future cost of closing landfills and removing asbestos from old buildings). The amount was $5,777,017. For 2024, a different auditor, KPMG, told council the Town had new information about its asbestos costs, and the liability fell by $3.9 million. That change added to the Town's accumulated surplus.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$0.1 millioncash and investments at the end of 2024, down from $1.5 million, according to the Town's auditor
At the end of 2023 the Town held $918,615 in cash and $630,646 in investments. KPMG says that by the end of 2024 cash and investments were about $0.1 million, after $5.8 million was spent on capital assets (roads, pipes, vehicles). KPMG also says the Town has an "accumulated deficit" of $5.9 million that comes mostly from paying for capital projects out of its own funds, and that council approved $4.4 million of new borrowing in 2025 to deal with part of it.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$2,425,500planned transfer to reserves in the 2025 corporate budget line, against $1,122,812 in the 2024 budget
A reserve is savings set aside for later costs. The 2025 budget asked for $9,704,318 from property taxes, 7.7% more than in 2024. The budget book says it would raise the average home's tax bill by about 4.2%. The corporate line for transfers to reserves went from $1,122,812 in the 2024 budget to $2,425,500. The Town explains part of this: extra payments in lieu of tax (PILT) from the federal nuclear site, a new reserves policy, and paying for all capital work from reserves instead of directly from taxes. This is a draft: we found the version council saw on March 19, 2025 but not the adopted one.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$360,689projected closing water and wastewater reserves after 2025, from $1,000,302 estimated at the end of 2024
Water and sewer are paid for by user fees, not property taxes, and any surplus goes to their own reserves. The 2025 budget planned $3,960,306 of water and sewer capital work, including $2,770,305 for work to bring down THM (a by-product of water treatment). Grants were to pay $2,030,926 of the total. The water and wastewater reserves were estimated at $1,000,302 at the end of 2024 and projected at $360,689 after 2025. The Town also says its water price to the nuclear site was set for much more water than the site actually uses.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 3 sources
$369,050counted in the 2025 capital budget as possible funding from neighbouring municipalities
The 2025 capital budget counts on $369,050 from other municipalities toward the arena and the Community Pool, split by population and households: 39.7% from Laurentian Hills and 3.8% from Head, Clara and Maria. The budget says that for the 2024 request "no commitments have been received from our neighbours". The Community Pool is also closed, and the budget says so.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
+10%town property tax, 2024 to 2025
In 2025, Deep River collected $854K more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 10% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 5 of 30 similar towns raised theirs by more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 3 sources
$5.3Min savings at the end of 2025
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Deep River had $5.3M saved at the end of 2025, up from $2.7M in 2019. That is 42% of one year's spending. Only 6 of 30 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 2 sources
Background that helps make sense of the rest.
$2,354,725one-time catch-up PILT payment from AECL, received in 2023
The Town's budget calls Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) its largest ratepayer. AECL pays payments in lieu of tax (PILT) because it is federal land. A 2021 agreement led to a one-time catch-up payment of $2,354,725 that came in 2023 and was put into capital projects and reserves in 2024. KPMG says total revenues dipped in 2024 because that one-time payment did not repeat, and that the PILT owed by AECL/CNL fell by $559K. The 2025 budget again counts on extra PILT for buildings the site added.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
$193,470.10total remuneration and expenses paid to council and others in 2025, against $161,023.17 in 2024
Each March the treasurer reports what was paid to council and to appointed board members. The 2024 report gave a total of $161,023.17 and the 2025 report gave $193,470.10. By our own subtraction (worked out by us) that is $32,446.93 more. The 2025 report explains one part: there were 27 pay periods in 2025 instead of the usual 26, which meant an extra pay period of salaries and benefits. It also lists conference registration and travel for several named conferences. We do not compare members to one another.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 2 sources
3councillors who declared an interest on item 6.3.1 on January 14, 2026
The Town's public registry shows that on January 14, 2026, three councillors each declared an indirect interest on agenda item 6.3.1, "Second Resolution of Council as employed with CNL". On September 20, 2023, two councillors declared a direct interest on item 6.1.8 because they are CNL employees. Declaring is what the law asks. Canadian Nuclear Laboratories runs the site of the Town's largest ratepayer.
Found by reading the town's own documents · 1 source
$369per home on garbage, dump and recycling, 2025
Deep River spent about $369 per home on garbage, dump and recycling in 2025. The typical similar town spent $202. Only 2 of 30 similar towns spent more.
Found automatically from the town's financial reports · 1 source
+59%running the town office, 2019 to 2025
Deep River spent $1.3M on running the town office in 2019 and $2.0M in 2025. Prices only went up about 21% in that time. Only 3 of 30 similar towns had faster growth here.
| Year | Running the town office | Prices (inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +0% | +0% |
| 2020 | +0% | +1% |
| 2021 | +10% | +4% |
| 2022 | +17% | +11% |
| 2023 | +32% | +16% |
| 2024 | +31% | +18% |
| 2025 | +59% | +21% |
Change since the first year shown. The grey line is how much prices rose overall, for comparison.
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.
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 Deep River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Running the town office: 2019 $1.3M, 2020 $1.3M, 2021 $1.4M, 2022 $1.5M, 2023 $1.7M, 2024 $1.7M, 2025 $2.0M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Biggest driver: Senior management, from $581K to $1.8M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 40 · archived copy
Typical growth among similar towns: 35%. Deep River ranks 4th of 31.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 30 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 · archived copy
$3.1Mowed in unpaid property tax, end of 2025
At the end of 2025, $3.1M of property tax had been billed but not paid. That is 38% of everything billed. None of the 30 similar towns had a higher share. A year earlier it was $931K.
| Year | Unpaid property tax at year end |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $333K |
| 2020 | $345K |
| 2021 | $373K |
| 2022 | $1.5M |
| 2023 | $592K |
| 2024 | $931K |
| 2025 | $3.1M |
When taxes go unpaid, everyone else carries the cost, and the town may borrow to cover the gap. The Province's financial indicators treat 10% to 15% as a moderate risk and more than 15% as a high risk. Collection is the town's job, so a rising number is worth asking about.
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 Deep River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Taxes receivable: 2019 $333K, 2020 $345K, 2021 $373K, 2022 $1.5M, 2023 $592K, 2024 $931K, 2025 $3.1M. Of the 2025 total, – was from earlier years.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 70, lines 0610 to 0699 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: 8.7% of taxes billed.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 30 similar municipalities · Schedules 26 and 70 · archived copy
$5,538per home on long-term debt, 2025
Deep River spent about $5,538 per home on long-term debt in 2025. The typical similar town spent $807. Only 1 of 30 similar towns spent more.
Spending more than neighbours is not wrong by itself. It might buy better service. But it is the first place to look for costs that could be lower, such as contracts that were not competitively bid.
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 Deep River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Long-term debt per home: Deep River $5,538; typical similar town $807; ranked 2nd highest of 31.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 30 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy
$5,777,017liability for asset retirement obligations at December 31, 2023, which the 2023 auditor could not fully support
An audit ends with an opinion on whether the statements are fair. A "qualified" opinion means the auditor was fine with most of it but could not be sure about one part. For 2023, Baker Tilly REO LLP said the Town did not give enough evidence for a new liability it recorded for asset retirement obligations (the future cost of closing landfills and removing asbestos from old buildings). The amount was $5,777,017. For 2024, a different auditor, KPMG, told council the Town had new information about its asbestos costs, and the liability fell by $3.9 million. That change added to the Town's accumulated surplus.
A liability this size is a large share of what the Town owes. If the estimate is wrong in either direction, the Town's books are too bad or too good. The 2024 statements are posted only as an image, so we could not read the 2024 auditor's opinion.
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 Deep River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Auditor's report, "Basis for Qualified Opinion": "The Town has not provided sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the completeness and the valuation of the amounts recorded and the disclosures required in respect of this liability." The table shows an asset retirement obligation liability of $5,777,017 for 2023 and $5,635,560 for 2022, and accretion expense of $128,152 for 2023.
2023 consolidated financial statements (Baker Tilly REO LLP, December 18, 2024) · Independent Auditor's Report, PDF pages 4 and 5
KPMG's 2024 audit slides: "During the year, the Town obtained additional information concerning its asset retirement obligation relating to asbestos and other contamination. As a result, the Town has recorded decreases in its asset retirement obligation and net book value of tangible capital assets, with a corresponding increase in its accumulated surplus." Another slide says the obligation "decreased by $3.9 million due to change in estimate for asbestos remediation costs".
KPMG Year-End Audit Report, 2024 fiscal year (October 8, 2025) · slide 3 (Audit Highlights) and slide 7 (Financial Statement Overview), PDF pages 3 and 7
$0.1 millioncash and investments at the end of 2024, down from $1.5 million, according to the Town's auditor
At the end of 2023 the Town held $918,615 in cash and $630,646 in investments. KPMG says that by the end of 2024 cash and investments were about $0.1 million, after $5.8 million was spent on capital assets (roads, pipes, vehicles). KPMG also says the Town has an "accumulated deficit" of $5.9 million that comes mostly from paying for capital projects out of its own funds, and that council approved $4.4 million of new borrowing in 2025 to deal with part of it.
Cash is what pays bills between tax instalments. Paying for projects from savings now and borrowing later is a choice that can be reasonable, but it moves cost to future taxpayers and leaves little cushion if a grant is late.
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 Deep River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Statement of financial position, December 31, 2023: Cash $918,615 and Investments $630,646. Net financial assets (net debt) $(13,511,119).
2023 consolidated financial statements (Baker Tilly REO LLP) · Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, PDF page 7
"Cash and investment balances decreased from $1.5 million in 2023 to $0.1 million in 2024", with acquisition of capital assets of -$5.8 million and principal repayment of long-term debt of -$0.5 million.
KPMG Year-End Audit Report, 2024 fiscal year · slide 4 (Financial Statement Overview), PDF page 4
The Town has a "reported surplus of $27.6 million" made up of tangible capital assets $32.6 million, reserves and reserve funds $4.5 million, amounts to be recovered in future years ($3.6 million) and an accumulated deficit ($5.9 million) "due primarily to internal funding of capital expenditures". "The Town has approved $4.4 million in debt issuances during the 2025 fiscal year, which will address a portion of its accumulated deficit position."
KPMG Year-End Audit Report, 2024 fiscal year · slide 8 (Financial Statement Overview), PDF page 8
$2,425,500planned transfer to reserves in the 2025 corporate budget line, against $1,122,812 in the 2024 budget
A reserve is savings set aside for later costs. The 2025 budget asked for $9,704,318 from property taxes, 7.7% more than in 2024. The budget book says it would raise the average home's tax bill by about 4.2%. The corporate line for transfers to reserves went from $1,122,812 in the 2024 budget to $2,425,500. The Town explains part of this: extra payments in lieu of tax (PILT) from the federal nuclear site, a new reserves policy, and paying for all capital work from reserves instead of directly from taxes. This is a draft: we found the version council saw on March 19, 2025 but not the adopted one.
Putting money aside is sound if the Town has big repairs coming, and the Town says its spending on roads and buildings is still below what its asset plan calls for. The question is whether residents can see how much of the tax increase goes to savings and what that savings is for.
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 Deep River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Operating budget line "Transfers to reserves" under Corporate - Administration: 2024 Budget 1,122,812; 2025 Budget 2,425,500; change 1,302,688 (116.0%). Comment on the line: "Remainder is as per reserve policy and expected surplus $1.3 million; adjusted by $(49,500) to keep tax rate (and burden the same after change in large industrial".
Report 2025-FIN-11, Draft 3 - 2025 Operating and Capital Budget · Attachment 2, operating budget detail, PDF page 33
"The proposed 2025 municipal operating budget requires that $9,704,318 be raised from municipal taxation, an increase of 7.7% compared to the 2024 municipal operating budget." The average residential tax bill is expected to rise "approximately 4.2%".
Report 2025-FIN-11, Draft 3 - 2025 Operating and Capital Budget · Budget Management Discussion and Analysis, sections 2 and 4.2, PDF pages 9 and 22
"Note the increase in transfers to reserves and reserve funds from approximately $1,640,000 to approximately $2,680,000." Table 6: reserves 2024 estimated closing balance 5,102,259, transfers from reserves (991,154), projected 2025 closing balance 6,710,548 including the AECL PILT Agreement reserve of 1,050,000. "In 2024, direct funding of capital projects accounted for $330,000."
Report 2025-FIN-11, Draft 3 - 2025 Operating and Capital Budget · Section 4.3 and Table 6, PDF page 28
$360,689projected closing water and wastewater reserves after 2025, from $1,000,302 estimated at the end of 2024
Water and sewer are paid for by user fees, not property taxes, and any surplus goes to their own reserves. The 2025 budget planned $3,960,306 of water and sewer capital work, including $2,770,305 for work to bring down THM (a by-product of water treatment). Grants were to pay $2,030,926 of the total. The water and wastewater reserves were estimated at $1,000,302 at the end of 2024 and projected at $360,689 after 2025. The Town also says its water price to the nuclear site was set for much more water than the site actually uses.
If a grant is late or smaller, the gap comes out of reserves that are already low, or out of borrowing, or out of higher water and sewer rates. A 2026 household water and sewer bill is already $1,749.24.
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 Deep River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Table 7: total capital budget for water and wastewater 3,960,306, of which grant 2,030,926, transfer from reserve 1,729,380, debt 200,000. "THM Remediation" 2,770,305, grant 2,030,926, reserve 739,380. Table 9: water and wastewater reserves, 2024 estimated closing balance 1,000,302; transfers from reserves (1,729,380); transfers to reserves 1,089,767; 2025 projected closing balance 360,689.
Report 2025-FIN-11, Draft 3 - 2025 Operating and Capital Budget · Section 5, Tables 7 and 9, PDF pages 29 and 30
"The current rate model is solely consumption-based, and was developed in 2012, under the assumption of 1,500 to 2,000 m3 of utilization per day. Actual volumes have consistently been substantially lower than this, resulting in shortfall to fully fund infrastructure asset management and operational costs."
Report 2025-FIN-11, Draft 3 - 2025 Operating and Capital Budget · Section 3.9 Water and Wastewater, PDF page 15
2026 Water & Sewer Rates: "The annual water and sewer rates for 2026 were approved by Council on February 25, 2026. The annual rate for a residential property is $1,749.24".
Town of Deep River, Finance department page · 2026 Water & Sewer Rates section
$369,050counted in the 2025 capital budget as possible funding from neighbouring municipalities
The 2025 capital budget counts on $369,050 from other municipalities toward the arena and the Community Pool, split by population and households: 39.7% from Laurentian Hills and 3.8% from Head, Clara and Maria. The budget says that for the 2024 request "no commitments have been received from our neighbours". The Community Pool is also closed, and the budget says so.
If a neighbour says no, the Town either pays the share itself from reserves or borrowing, or delays the work. The Town has been open that this is a request, not a deal.
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 Deep River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
"Deep River requested that both the Town of Laurentian Hills and the Township of Head Clara Maria contribute to the Community Pool repairs on a population- and number of household proportional basis." "At this time, no commitments have been received from our neighbours regarding the 2024 request."
Report 2025-FIN-11, Draft 3 - 2025 Operating and Capital Budget · Section 3.4 Recreation and Culture, PDF page 13
Table 3: Arena - slab replacement, lobby flooring, total 1,568,000 with potential funding from neighbouring municipalities of 356,000. Footnote: "39.7% contribution from Laurentian Hills; 3.8% contribution from Head Clara Maria." Total contributions from other municipalities: $369,050 of $3,796,120 in municipal capital spending.
Report 2025-FIN-11, Draft 3 - 2025 Operating and Capital Budget · Section 4.1 and Table 3, PDF pages 20 and 21
+10%town property tax, 2024 to 2025
In 2025, Deep River collected $854K more in its own property tax than in 2024. That is a 10% jump, while prices went up about 2.1%. Only 5 of 30 similar towns raised theirs by more.
| Year | Town property tax |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $6.7M |
| 2020 | $7.0M |
| 2021 | $8.4M |
| 2022 | $7.8M |
| 2023 | $8.1M |
| 2024 | $8.8M |
| 2025 | $9.7M |
A big one-year jump usually means something changed: a new cost, a service that grew, savings being rebuilt, or a problem from earlier years being paid for now. Residents should be able to see exactly which. Spread across every home, it is about $458 more each year.
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 Deep River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Town property tax: $8,847,156 in 2024, $9,701,268 in 2025.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 10, line 9940 · archived copy
Typical increase among 30 similar Ontario towns: 6.3%. Deep River ranks 6th highest.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 30 similar municipalities · Schedule 10, line 9940 · archived copy
Prices (inflation) rose 2.1% over the same year.
$5.3Min savings at the end of 2025
Towns keep savings (called reserves) to pay for new trucks, roof repairs and surprises. Deep River had $5.3M saved at the end of 2025, up from $2.7M in 2019. That is 42% of one year's spending. Only 6 of 30 similar towns had less, compared with what they spend.
| Year | Savings (reserves) |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $2.7M |
| 2020 | $2.3M |
| 2021 | $2.9M |
| 2022 | $4.6M |
| 2023 | $4.1M |
| 2024 | $5.8M |
| 2025 | $5.3M |
With little saved, a broken bridge or a storm has to be paid for with a sudden tax increase or a loan. Low savings can also mean past budgets were balanced by spending savings instead of facing the real cost.
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 Deep River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Savings (reserves and reserve funds): 2019 $2.7M, 2020 $2.3M, 2021 $2.9M, 2022 $4.6M, 2023 $4.1M, 2024 $5.8M, 2025 $5.3M.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2019 to 2025 · Schedule 70, line 6420 · archived copy
Typical among similar towns: savings equal to 78% of a year's spending. Deep River: 42%.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 30 similar municipalities · Schedules 40 and 70 · archived copy
$2,354,725one-time catch-up PILT payment from AECL, received in 2023
The Town's budget calls Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) its largest ratepayer. AECL pays payments in lieu of tax (PILT) because it is federal land. A 2021 agreement led to a one-time catch-up payment of $2,354,725 that came in 2023 and was put into capital projects and reserves in 2024. KPMG says total revenues dipped in 2024 because that one-time payment did not repeat, and that the PILT owed by AECL/CNL fell by $559K. The 2025 budget again counts on extra PILT for buildings the site added.
One-time money in a budget can make a year look better than the next one will be. The Town is open about it. The question for residents is how much of the yearly tax base rests on one payer.
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 Deep River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
"The outcome of this process was concluded in 2023 and resulted in a one-time retroactive AECL PILT payment of $2,354,725. These funds were invested into capital projects and reserves in 2024." AECL is described as "the Town's largest ratepayer".
Report 2025-FIN-11, Draft 3 - 2025 Operating and Capital Budget · Section 3.2 AECL PILT Agreement, PDF page 12
"Total revenues decreased from $15.6 million in 2023 to $15.5 million in 2024 (-1.0%), reflecting higher taxation and user fees (+$1.2 million) offset by one-time funding adjustment from AECL in 2023 not present in 2024." "Lower taxes (PIL) receivable from AECL/CNL -$559K."
KPMG Year-End Audit Report, 2024 fiscal year · slides 4 and 11, PDF pages 4 and 11
$193,470.10total remuneration and expenses paid to council and others in 2025, against $161,023.17 in 2024
Each March the treasurer reports what was paid to council and to appointed board members. The 2024 report gave a total of $161,023.17 and the 2025 report gave $193,470.10. By our own subtraction (worked out by us) that is $32,446.93 more. The 2025 report explains one part: there were 27 pay periods in 2025 instead of the usual 26, which meant an extra pay period of salaries and benefits. It also lists conference registration and travel for several named conferences. We do not compare members to one another.
Council pay is public money, and a jump in a total is worth a plain explanation, even when a calendar quirk accounts for part of 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 Deep River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
"The total remuneration and expenses paid to or on behalf of Members of Council and others by the Town of Deep River and other bodies and local boards for 2025 was $193,470.10." "There were 27 pay periods in 2025, which resulted in an extra pay period of salaries and benefits."
Report 2026-FIN-02, 2025 Council Remuneration and Expenses · Financial Implications and Table 1 note, PDF pages 3
The 2024 report gives the total paid for 2024 as $161,023.17.
Report 2025-FIN-12, 2024 Council Remuneration and Expenses · Financial Implications, PDF page 3
3councillors who declared an interest on item 6.3.1 on January 14, 2026
The Town's public registry shows that on January 14, 2026, three councillors each declared an indirect interest on agenda item 6.3.1, "Second Resolution of Council as employed with CNL". On September 20, 2023, two councillors declared a direct interest on item 6.1.8 because they are CNL employees. Declaring is what the law asks. Canadian Nuclear Laboratories runs the site of the Town's largest ratepayer.
When several members step out of a vote, fewer people decide it. Residents may want to know how council makes sure these decisions still get a proper vote.
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 Deep River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Registry rows: January 14, 2026, Council, three councillors, item 6.3.1, Indirect, "Second Resolution of Council as employed with CNL". September 20, 2023, Council, two councillors, item 6.1.8, Direct, "Is an employee of CNL".
Public Registry of Pecuniary Interest · Public Registry table, rows dated January 14, 2026 and September 20, 2023
$369per home on garbage, dump and recycling, 2025
Deep River spent about $369 per home on garbage, dump and recycling in 2025. The typical similar town spent $202. Only 2 of 30 similar towns spent more.
Spending more than neighbours is not wrong by itself. It might buy better service. But it is the first place to look for costs that could be lower, such as contracts that were not competitively bid.
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 Deep River? Send us your answer and we will publish it with this question.
Garbage, dump and recycling per home: Deep River $369; typical similar town $202; ranked 3rd highest of 31.
Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR), 2025, 30 similar municipalities · Schedule 40 and Schedule 2 · archived copy