'I actually cried': 1st-time homebuyer enters a northern Ontario market in financial crisis

Jonathan Migneault · CBC News

· Posted: Jul 16, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 6 hours ago

Coleen Thompson had been a renter her full big beingness until she jumped connected an accidental to acquisition a location successful the tiny bluish Ontario assemblage of Fauquier-Strickland.

"I'm approaching 50, person ne'er owned a home, person done a batch successful the past fewer years to get myself to a presumption wherever that was a reality."

Thompson is from Guelph, Ont., but closed connected a location successful Fauquier connected July 9, the aforesaid time Mayor Madeleine Tremblay announced the municipality was successful a fiscal crisis.

Tremblay says that if the state doesn't intervene, oregon the municipality doesn't raise spot taxes by astir 200 per cent, astir municipal services would person to unopen down by Aug. 1.

Thompson said she archetypal heard the quality erstwhile her parent shared a Facebook station from the municipality that outlined its fiscal troubles.

"I really cried," she said.

"I was truthful overwhelmed astatine the thought that this would beryllium happening and a cardinal things ran done my mind. What is the worth of the location that we conscionable purchased gonna look similar with our taxes?"

Thompson isn't the lone assemblage subordinate fearing for the future.

CBC also precocious spoke to a mates who moved to Fauquier-Strickland precocious past twelvemonth due to the fact that of the lower lodging costs and to unrecorded person to their grandchildren. At the opening of 2025, their property taxes went from astir $2,300 a twelvemonth to $5,600.

On Monday, the municipality held a peculiar assembly gathering to update residents connected its fiscal situation and adjacent steps.

Thompson watched it implicit Zoom, from her location successful Guelph.

"I was really appalled to the constituent of feeling truly affectional astir it. It seemed to maine that the gathering started with a truly antagonistic tone," she said.

At the commencement of the meeting, Tremblay was against hosting a question-and-answer league with residents, but assembly members voted successful favour of the exchange.

"It felt similar she was precise evasive," Thompson said astir the mayor's responses during the meeting.

"People would inquire questions and she answered the question with different question."

Tremblay said she volition conscionable with representatives from Ontario's Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing connected Wednesday to sermon the municipality's $2.5-million operating deficit. 

Among those attending Monday's assembly gathering was Dan Michaud, who ran for politician against Tremblay 8 years ago.

Michaud told CBC News that successful his opinion, the municipality has failed to pull businesses that would bring successful much taxation revenue.

He noted adjacent communities similar Smooth Rock Falls person been much proactive astatine attracting businesses, specified arsenic a ample state presumption that caters to truckers who transport goods down Highway 11.

Michaud said Fauquier-Strickland would payment from tiny businesses specified arsenic a campground to bring successful tourism dollars.

He said the municipality needs to contiguous the state with a program to ascent retired of its deficit.

"We asked her [Tremblay] if she had a plan," helium said. "Her reply was, 'No. I don't know. I'm going to hold for the minister.'"

Small bluish Ontario towns are struggling 

Other tiny municipalities accidental they are facing akin challenges.

Johanne Baril is the politician of the municipality of Val Rita-Harty, located astir 40 kilometres westbound of Fauquier-Strickland.

"What is happening determination is not an isolated incidental — it is portion of a broader situation facing tiny agrarian municipalities crossed Ontario," she said successful a statement.

Baril said her municipality won't past unless it changes the mode services are delivered. 

She said the municipality is moving connected a plan, present successful its last stages, to "help course‐correct, extremity the rhythm of situation management, pass our decision‐making, conscionable regulatory requirements, fortify policy and forge a financially sustainable future." 

Baril said her assemblage stands successful solidarity with Fauquier-Strickland arsenic it navigates its fiscal challenges.