05092024 May 9, 2024

LocalBusinesscelebratesaspecialday

Alocal business just celebrated an important milestone! Kathleen Bouchard an entrepreneur who movedhere27yearsagojustcelebrated25/26years in business! She had an Open House atAux Trois Moulins restaurantwithcoffee&cupcakesforherpast/present/future clients.Itwasanexcellentturnout.Kathleen'sofficeisinthe Aux Trois Moulins hotel on second floor. She offers therapeutic massage, hot stone massage, reflexology, reiki, facials, & some yoga private sessions. Her work is her passion and during the Pandemic she took 2 extra jobs in order to succeed.Shewantsto thank all her faithful clients and always welcomes new clients. Please contact her at 705 690-9140 She says thanks for your continued support Chapleau & out oftownclients!

WeatherSummaryforOntario April2024:Slightlywarmerand,forsome,muchwetter.

Temperatures

The mean monthly temperature map shows much weaker anomalies than in previous months for much of the province. Warmer conditions have continued to dominate provincewide.

The first half of the month saw mostly warmerthannormaldays.Duringthefirstweek, however, most of the south saw several consecutive days that were cooler than average. Warmer conditions gradually intensified throughout the first two weeks and daily maximumrecordtemperatureswerewidespread over southern Ontario on the 9th. Cooler air moved across the province in the third week although temperatures were still slightly above normal at the start. The final week saw mixed results, generally beginning colder and then ending warmer than normal. Northeastern Ontario saw overnight record low temperatures on the 24th (e.g. Kapuskasing at -15.8oC). The southwest and northeast had summer-like temperatures,suchasSarniawithamaximumof 26.8oConthe27th.

Precipitation

Precipitation amounts varied greatly mainly from northwest to southeast across the province where values were lower and higher than normal, respectively. In fact, some parts of thenortheastandsouthernOntariosawwellover double their mean monthly amount setting records for April. In contrast for the northwest, northofSuperiorandintotheFarNorth,amounts werebelow50%.Someofthelowestvalueswere around Sioux Lookout where only ~25% was recorded.

On finer time scales, significant precipitation occurred throughout the month. Generally, the second week was the wettest and thethirdweekthedriestformostlocations.Some of the highest daily amounts were recorded in Toronto (57 mm on the 3rd) and in Earlton (62 mmonthe12th).

Snowfallforthemonthwasnearnormalformost of the province but slightly below average for most of the north (except the northeast). Some stations, such as Ottawa and Sudbury, recorded more snow than normal by about 75-125%. A significant system brought widespread snow in thefirstweekwithSudburyairportreceiving32

cmonthe3rd.Towardtheendofthemonth,most oftheprovincewassnowfreeapartfromsections ofthenorthwest.

SignificantEvents

April 2-5. Significant major system produces multiplemulti-dayhazards.

A significant storm resulted in widespread impacts for southern and northeastern Ontario. It began with widespread strong wind gusts which resulted in widespread poweroutages.Duringthepeak,roughly312000 Hydro One customers were affected, and the UniversityHealthNetworkinTorontolostpower to5hospitalsfor5hours.Windsgustedfrom70 to locally 90 km/h. Following this, heavy snow and blowing snow resulted in many highway closures including highways 17, 101, 129 and 144.Schoolbuseswerecancelledinmuchofthe northeast.23cmoffreshsnowonthegroundwas recorded at Lake Superior Park. In Ottawa, 28 crasheswerereportedonthe5thwhere18cmof snow was recorded. On the 3rd, heavy rains caused urban flooding in Toronto causing road and lane closures. Abundant stormwater forced bypasses of sewage from Ashbridges Bay and Humber treatment plants. Two pileups were reported nearAurora in the morning on the 404 fromicyandslickroadsaftercoolingbehindthe system.

April 12-13. Drenching, windy spring storm forsouthernandnortheasternOntario.

Another intense low pressure system affected the province arriving on April 12th. Heavy rains (e.g. ~64 mm measured at both Earlton and Kirkland Lake) along with snowmelt wreaked havoc by flooding roads, sewage systems andbasements.Emergencieswere declared in several municipalities andtownshipsincludingKirkland Lake where 8 homes had to be evacuated. Numerous road closures were reported including alongHighway11(amajorartery) northofTemagami.Aburstbeaver dam closed Highway 118 near Bancroft. Strong winds (over saturated ground) following the delugeledtopoweroutagesforat least 135,000 customers (Hydro One) by noon on the 14th. Five hydro poles snapped north of Kincardine forcing the closure of part of Highway 21. Gusts recorded include 91 km/h at Goderich and 104 km/h at St

Joseph. Flooding related impacts remained a concern beyond the end of the month with additionalprecipitation.

IceConditionsintheGreatLakes

The 2023/24 ice season came to a close this month, solidifying its place as the lowest ice coverageseasononrecordsincerecordsbeganin 1972/73. At the beginning of the month, Lake Ontario,ErieandMichiganwerealreadyfreeof ice,leavingicecoverageacrosstheGreatLakes at just 0.4%. The remaining ice was confined mostly to Black and Nipigon Bays, with trace amounts in the North Channel of Lake Huron, WhitefishBay,ThunderBay,ChequamegonBay and within the Keweenaw Peninsula in Lake Superior. Low ice coverage coupled with below normal ice thickness, meant it did not take long fortheicetofullymelt,withtheNorthChannel meltingoutbyApril6th,southernLakeSuperior byApril14thandthelasticeinthethreenorthern baysofSuperiorbyApril21st.Theiceseasonon the Great Lakes came to a close 3 weeks earlier thannormal.

OutlookforMay

Longrangeguidancesuggestscontinued warmerthannormalconditionsmostlikelyfrom the Great Lakes into northeastern, central and eastern Ontario.The magnitude may be greatest insouthernportionsofnortheasternOntarioand over the lakes themselves. Guidance for precipitation suggests only weak and variable anomalies.

Chapleau Moments

by MichaelJ. Morris

TheChapleauRailroadYMCAwasoneof the most distinctive landmarks in Chapleau from its opening in 1908 until it was demolished in 1971, Ian Macdonald writes in 'Mile 615.1: BuildingaNorthernCommunity'.

Ian, who spent many of his growing up yearsinChapleau,workedontheCanadianPacific Railwayforatime,attendeduniversity,becamean architect,andin2005retiredasheadoftheschool ofarchitectureattheUniversityofManitoba.

Writing in a monograph which is an important part of Bill McLeod's newest book, 'Chapleau: Retrospective on Life in an Isolated Northern Community', Ian explains that the ChapleauYwasoneofninerailroadYMCAsbuilt by the CPR in Canada and one in Maine. The others were in Revelstoke, Field, Cranbrook (where I now live), Kenora, Ignace, Schreiber, White River, Cartier and Brownville Junction, Maine.

The usual arrangement was that the CPR paidfortheconstructionofthebuildingsandthen turnedownershipandoperationovertotheYoung Men'sChristianAssociation.

Thecompanyalsogaveacashdonationof $100 a month and provided steam heat in the winterandiceinthesummer.The CPR provided heat for all its operations and other Chapleau buildingsfromacentralplant.

Ian notes that the YMCAbecame part of the "social fabric" of the communities served, confirmed by Ron Brown in his book 'The Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore' who observed that theybecameasightandactivitycentreasmucha part of the community as the gardens, sitting roomsinthestationsornewwatertanks.

At the Chapleau YMCA, moving picture shows,accordingtoIan,wereroutinelypatronized byeveryoneintown.

"Thesubjectmatter,ofcourse,wasalways of the most wholesome variety, some of it even suppliedbytheCPR'sownfilminterests."

Therewerealsotwobowlingalleysinthe basement which were used by Chapleau citizens. Whenever anyone recalls the bowling alleys, it is tosharetheirexperienceasapinboy(orgirl),and to mention that Mrs. Mabel Young, Dr. G.E. Young's mother, was still bowling there in her nineties.

Quoting from a CPR publication Ian

ChapleauRailroadYMCAplayedimportantroleincommunitylifeas 'homeawayfromhome'forrailroadersfor63yearsuntildemolishedin1971

writesthatthefacilitiesweregiventotheYMCA tooperate"becauseofitsunselfishpurposetobeof servicetorailwaymenwithoutfinancialgain".

However,beforetheCPRandYMCAgot togethertobuildtherailwayYMCA's,therailway was concerned about how its employees were spending their time out on the road, away from home,whichisastoryofitown.

Onewriterin'NotJustaGame:Essaysin Sports Sociology' commented that soon after the first one was established in Revelstoke, British Columbia,"theYMCAmadelambsoutofthewild men (of Revelstoke) ..." Given the Revelstoke success, the YMCAs were quickly expanded to otherdivisionalpoints.

QuotingfromtheCPRBulletinofAugust 1922, Ian comments on the social role of the YMCA's.Thebulletinsaidinpart:"thebuildings are open day and night and provide a 'homelike place'attheotherendoftherun.

"Theengineersandtrainmen,afterdriving through the snow and cold, find an open fire, a good meal and cheerful companionship awaiting themattheendofajourney..."

Ian notes that the YMCA had characteristics of home including a carefully manicured front lawn and fence, rambling front porchandotherfeatures of homes at those times.

However,itwasnotonlyCPRemployees who stayed at the YMCA. George Tremblay, anotherChapleauite,inhiswonderfulbookabout themovies'BreakatNine'talksaboutthearrivalof Ruth and Cecil Smith in 1940 to take over the RegentTheatre.

In November 1940 they arrived in Chapleau on the CPR Train, the Dominion,

Number3,andlookedforataxi.

Len 'the taxi man' Perfetto, was there and awaytheywentasthetaxi"dashedupandaround the steep horseshoe bridge that spanned the railway yards, then through the downtown" and finally arrived at the YMCA on Lorne Street south.

George noted that it may "sound strange" tolearnthattheywouldstayattheYMCA"butin 1940itwastheacceptedthingtodo"astherewere nomotelsatthetimeandthetwohotelswerenow roominghousesandapartmentbuildings.

GeorgeTheriault,inhisbook'Trespassing in God's Country' writes that when he arrived in 1954, "I bunked down at the YMCA, bought an oldboathouseontheChapleauriverandhiredtwo carpenterstowinterizeit."Itwasthebeginningof TheriaultAirServices.

Iannotesthat"Timeandeventsgradually overtooktheestablishedsocialroleoftheYMCA in the years following World War II, and it was condemned and demolished in 1971, adding that one can "scarcely miss the irony when the ChapleauRailwayYwasdemolishedtomakeway forthenewLiquorControlBoardofOntarioretail outlet."

I have only touched upon the contents of Ian'smonograph'Mile615.1:BuildingaNorthern Community'andhavenotevenreferredtotherest ofBill'sbook,"Chapleau:RetrospectiveonLifein an Isolated Northern Community. Thanks to Ian for permitting me to quote freely from his work, and to Bill, who has been a friend since we were kidsgrowingupinChapleau.

Thanks, as well to George Tremblay and GeorgeTheriault.Myemailismj.morris@live.ca

from OTTAWA Rapport d’Ottawa

by/par Carol Hughes Federal member of Parliament Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing

Last week, Ottawa hosted the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international plan to combat plastic pollution, otherwise known as INC-4. The meeting was designed with the hope that UN Member States would agree to a shared approach towards combatting plastic pollution becausewehavealongwaytogotodealwiththis ever-growingproblem.

Fromtheoutset,letsbeclear:plasticsarea useful product that are an essential part of everyday life.The reason plastics are so useful is thattheycanbemouldedintovirtuallyanyshape wecanimagine,theyaredurableandinexpensive, and they decompose very slowly. While that last partisaverygoodreasontheyareusedinalotof products, from vinyl siding to plumbing to car manufacturingtomedicalproductsandeverything inbetween,it'salsothereasonplasticpollutionis suchamassiveproblem.

Plastic waste threatens our ecosystem, biodiversity and people's health. Worldwide, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world's oceans, rivers, and lakes every single day, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Plastic production is rising and is projected to account for up to 20% of carbon emissions by 2050.Very little plastics are recycled. In Canada, werecyclejust9%oftheplasticsweuse,placing us around the global average. Most of our plastic waste, 86%, end up in landfills. According to UNEP, the world produces around 460 million tons of plastic a year, and production is only expanding.Canadaalonediscardsmorethanfour milliontonnesofplasticwasteeveryyear.

Canada has also been sending our waste to developing nations under the guise of recycling. While many may remember the rising tensions betweenournationandthePhilippinesafewyears ago after they started returning shipping containerswithCanadianhouseholdwastebackto usin2019,mostofourplasticendsupintheU.S., where it is then often shipped to countries like Malaysia. Simply sending our waste somewhere wecan'tseeitisn'ttherightapproach.

This makes a worldwide treaty on plastic pollution important. Every part of the world is affected by plastic pollution. It's affected our oceanstosuchadegreethatwe'veactuallynamed acollectionofmarinedebrisinthePacificOcean the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (a bit of a misnomer, as itreferstoseveralseparategarbage

WeNeedtoSeeLeadershiptoReducePlasticPollution

patches in the Pacific and is composed mostly of microplastics.)

The UNEP treaty is vital to reduce our global plasticwaste,andCanadahasalargeparttoplayin boththenegotiations,andleadingthewayonreal actiontoensurethatwecanactuallyreduceplastic waste. In 2018, New Democrats successfully passed a unanimous motion to create a national strategytocombatplasticpollution.Followingits unanimousapprovalbyallpartiesintheHouseof Commons, the government has committed to banning single-use plastics, but there are still serious gaps in the approach the Federal governmentcantaketocombattheproblem.Their initial proposal included only six single-use plastics,representinglessthanonepercentoftotal plasticwaste.

While any formal treaty through UNEP won'tbefinalizeduntiltheirlastmeetingthisfall in Korea, the government has signaled that they will be moving forward with a Federal Plastics Registry, to be phased in over several years, that will require companies to report the types of plastics they manufacture and import, and make

plastic producers report on the life cycles of the products they create. The registry will start with plasticpackaging,electronicproductsandsingleuse items, and will eventually expand to include plastic resins, tires and plastic products intended fortheagriculturalsector.

It'sgoodthatnationsareworkingtogether to create a comprehensive treaty on plastic pollution, but the problem will continue to grow unless we work towards solutions. In the meantime, many have been dismayed by the fact that Conservatives have tabled a bill to delete plastic manufactured items from the list of toxic substances from the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Meanwhile, the NDP recently tabled a motion in hopes of drawing Parliament's attention towards the issue of plastic waste and getting us to commit to the entirety of the Basel Convention, specifically the Basel Ban Amendment which forbids the export of hazardouswastestodevelopingcountries. It's imperative that we get plastic waste under control sooner rather than later. Our health andthehealthofourplanetdependonit.

Nousavonsbesoindeleadershippourréduirelapollutionparleplastique

Lasemainedernière,Ottawaaaccueillila quatrième séance du Comité intergouvernemental de négociation chargé d'élaborer un plan international de lutte contre la pollution par le plastique,égalementconnusouslenomdeCIN4. La réunion a été conçue dans l'espoir que les États membres de l'ONU accepteraient une approchecommunepourluttercontrelapollution parleplastique,carnousavonsencorebeaucoup decheminàfairepourréglerceproblèmequine cessedeprendredel'ampleur.

D'emblée, soyons clairs : les plastiques sontunproduitutilequifaitpartieintégrantedela vie quotidienne. La raison pour laquelle les plastiques sont si utiles est qu'ils peuvent être moulésenn'importequelleformeimaginable,ils sont durables et peu coûteux, et ils se décomposenttrèslentement.Bienquecettedernièrepartie soit une très bonne raison pour laquelle ils sont utilisés dans beaucoup de produits, du revêtement en vinyle à la plomberie, en passant par la fabricationdevoituresetdeproduitsmédicauxet bien plus, c'est aussi la raison pour laquelle la pollution par le plastique est un problème si énorme.

Les déchets plastiques menacent notre écosystème,labiodiversitéetlasantédespersonnes.SelonleProgrammedesNationsuniespour l'environnement (PNUE), l'équivalent de 2 000 camions à ordures remplis de plastique est déverséchaquejourdanslesocéans,lesrivières etleslacsdumonde.Laproductiondeplastique augmenteetdevraitreprésenterjusqu'à20%des émissions de carbone d'ici 2050. Très peu de

plastiques sont recyclés. Au Canada, nous ne recyclons que 9 % des plastiques que nous utilisons, ce qui nous place près de la moyenne mondiale.Laplupartdenosdéchetsdeplastique, soit 86 %, se retrouvent dans des sites d'enfouissement. Selon le PNUE, le monde produit environ 460 millions de tonnes de plastique par année, et la production ne fait que croître.Àluiseul,leCanadarejetteplusdequatre millions de tonnes de déchets plastiques chaque année.

LeCanadaenvoieégalementsesdéchets danslespaysendéveloppementsousprétextede les recycler. Si beaucoup se souviennent des tensions croissantes entre notre pays et les Philippinesilyaquelquesannées,aprèsqueces dernières ont commencé à nous renvoyer des conteneurs d'expédition contenant des déchets ménagerscanadiensen2019,lamajeurepartiede notre plastique finit aux États-Unis, où il est ensuitesouventexpédiéversdespaystelsquela Malaisie. Le simple fait d'envoyer nos déchets quelque part où on ne les voit pas n'est pas la bonneapproche.

D'oùl'importanced'untraitémondialsur la pollution plastique. Toutes les régions du monde sont touchées par la pollution par le plastique.Celaatellementaffecténosocéansque nous avons en fait nommé une collection de débris marins dans l'océan Pacifique, la Grande plaque de déchets du Pacifique (un nom un peu erroné,carilfaitréférenceàplusieursplaquesde déchetsdistinctesdanslePacifiqueetsecompose principalementdemicroplastiques).

“ImprovementstoNorthernHealthTravelGrantisawinforNortherners”says MPPMichaelMantha

Algoma-Manitoulin MPP, Michael Mantha,welcomedthenewsthatthegovernment of Ontario has finally listened to hundreds of Northerners who've called for improvements to theNorthernHealthTravelGrant(NHTG).

“After years of advocacy and raising the issuesofinadequatecoveragebytheNHTG,the government has recognized the importance of making sure that Northerners have equitable access to medical treatment.” Said Mantha.

“Tuesday's announcement covered some of the many problems that have been raised by constituentstomyofficeincludingtheovernight accommodation allowance and making it easier toapplyandsubmitdocumentsonline.”

In February, MPP Mantha's bill to comprehensively study the NHTG through a committee was voted down by the governing Progressive Conservative party. The bill would have established a committee of Northern

patients and healthcare professionals to make recommendationsondeliveringthegranttomeet Northernersneeds.

“This announcement missed some aspectssuchasreimbursementratesformileage, whichremainsbelowtherecommendedlevelset out by the Auditor General's 2023 report. However, this is a victory for Northern Ontario and shows that when Northerners speak up together,wecangetresults.”

The NDP'sdentalcareplanwillbelife-changingforseniorsintheNorth

AsofWednesday,nearly2millionseniors can benefit from the NDP's dental care plan. Canadianseniorswon'thavetoavoidgoingtothe dentistbecauseitistooexpensive.

While Pierre Poilievre is campaigning on removing dental care, New Democrats are steadfastintheircommitmenttodeliverresultsthat willsignificantlyimprovethelivesofCanadians.

"I'm proud that New Democrats have forcedthisLiberalgovernmenttoincludeservices that will lower the costs for Canadian health coverage,"saidNDPMPCarolHughes(AlgomaManitoulin-Kapuskasing)."ButPierrePoilievreis tellingCanadianshe'lltakeitaway.Hewantsyou

to pay out of pocket even though Canadian taxpayers have paid for his coverage throughout hiscareer."

Over one-third of Canadians have no dental insurance, and nearly 7 million avoid the dentistyearlybecauseofthehighcosts.That'swhy the NDPhas been fighting to provide dental care foreveryonewhoneedsit.MoreCanadianswillbe covered in the coming weeks as the rollout continues.

"Noone should have to neglect their teeth because

theyareworriedaboutthecosts,butthat'sexactly whatwillhappenifPoilievrecutstheseimportant programs," said NDP MP Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay). "But New Democrats are prepared to fight him at every turn to protect Canadian'srighttofairandequaldentalcoverage. We will continue to make this government work forallCanadians,notjustthewealthy."

Northeast OPP–424Occurrencesrelatedto IntimatePartnerViolenceinvestigatedinApril

In the month of April 2024, members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in the North East Region have investigated a total of 424 occurrences related to intimate partner violence,where121ofthoseresultedin criminalcharges.

There are twelve detachment groupswithintheNorthEastregion,and callsbreakdownasfollows: AlmaguinHighlands(Burk’sFalls)–18 East Algoma (Elliot Lake, Thessalon, BlindRiver)–52

JamesBay(Kapuskasing,Hearst, Cochrane,Moosonee)–88 KirklandLake–39

Manitoulin (Little Current, Gore Bay,Espanola)–33

Nipissing West (Sudbury, Noelville,CacheBay)–54 North Bay (North Bay, Mattawa, Powassan)–25

South Porcupine (South Porcupine,IroquoisFalls)–15 SaultSteMarie–21

Superior East (Wawa, Chapleau, Hornepayne, White River, Foleyet)–25

Temiskaming (New Liskeard, Englehart,Temagami)–35 WestParrySound–19

Victims in abusive relationshipsarenotalone.Ifyou

are in an abusive relationship or know someone who is, there are local resources here to help. 211 is a helpline thateasilyconnectspeopletothesocial services, programs and community supports they need. Call 211 or visit https://211ontario.ca/

Atoll-free call can be placed to the Assaulted Women’s Helpline at 1866-863-0511 where your information will remain anonymous and confidential.

INSURANCE

No dot.com impersonal answers here. Justgreatpersonalservicewithgreatrates.

Wewillaskalloftherightquestionstomakesureyougetthe bestcoverageandserviceforyourneeds. Thenwewillshop aroundtogettherightprice.

U AutoU HomeU Commercial 219GreatNorthernRoad SaultSte.Marie, ON,P6B4Z2 Phone:705.949.9000

Email:onnserviceteam@brokerlink.ca

Lastweekssolutions

MOMENTS IN TIME

On May 20, 1506, the Italian explorer Christopher ColumbusdiedinValladolid,Spain.ThefirstEuropeanto explore the Americas since 10th-century Vikings set up coloniesinGreenlandandNewfoundland,hetraveledthe WestIndies,SouthAmericaandCentralAmerica,butdied feeling he had been mistreated by his patron, King FerdinandofSpain.

Le traité du PNUE est essentiel pour réduire nos déchets de plastique à l'échelle mondiale,etleCanadaaunrôleimportantàjouer à la fois dans les négociations et dans l'adoption demesuresconcrètespourréduirelesdéchetsde plastique. En 2018, les néo-démocrates ont adopté à l'unanimité une motion visant à créer unestratégienationaledeluttecontrelapollution parleplastique.Suiteàsonapprobationunanime partouslespartisàlaChambredescommunes,le gouvernement s'est engagé à interdire les plastiques à usage unique, mais il existe encore de sérieuseslacunesdansl'approchequelegouvernementfédéralpeutadopterpourluttercontrece problème. Leur proposition initiale ne comprenaitquesixplastiquesàusageunique,représentant moins d'un pour cent de l'ensemble des déchetsplastiques.

Alors qu'aucun traité formel ne sera finalisé par le PNUE avant sa dernière réunion cetautomneenCorée,legouvernementaindiqué qu'il irait de l'avant avec un registre fédéral des plastiques,quiseramisenplaceprogressivement surplusieursannées,etquiexigeradesentreprises qu'elles déclarent les types de plastiques qu'elles fabriquent et importent, et des producteursdeplastiquesqu'ilsrendentcompteducycle de vie des produits qu'ils fabriquent. Le registre commenceraparlesemballagesenplastique,les produits électroniques et les articles à usage unique, et s'étendra par la suite aux résines plastiques,auxpneusetauxproduitsenplastique destinésausecteuragricole.

C'est une bonne chose que les pays

1K0

Business 705-8562775 Fax 705-856-4862

travaillent ensemble à la création d'un traité global sur la pollution par le plastique, mais le problème continuera de s'aggraver à moins que nous travaillions à trouver des solutions. Entretemps,beaucoupontétéconsternésparlefaitque les conservateurs aient déposé un projet de loi visant à supprimer les articles manufacturés en plastiquedelalistedessubstancestoxiquesdela Loi canadienne sur la protection de l'environnement. Entre-temps, le NPD a récemment déposé une motion dans l'espoir d'attirer l'attention du Parlement sur la question des déchets plastiques et de nous amener à nous engageràrespecterl'ensembledelaConvention de Bâle, notamment la modification de l'interdictiondeBâlequiinterditl'exportationde déchets dangereux vers les pays en développement.

Il est impératif que nous maîtrisions les déchets plastiques le plus tôt possible. Notre santéetcelledenotreplanèteendépendent.

Pimii Kamik Gas Bar & Gift Shop

Located on the Chapleau Cree First Nation SUMMER HOURS

will be from 7 a.m. - 10 p.m., 7 days a week

Drop by and check out our line of Authentic Native Crafts, Unique Gift Ideas, Jewellery, and Gift Certificates TOO!

We also carry road trip snacks, which includes Subs, Chips, Pop, plus a whole lot more.

Your Propane Refilling Station

Worker when she is in your community, you can call the Centre at any time to set up an appointment. You do not need to be a residentoftheCentreinordertouseourservices.Ifyouneedsomeoneto talktoorifyoujustneedsomeonetolisten,callourTollFreeCrisislineat1800-461-2242oryoucandropinattheCentre.Wearehereforyou.

Theothermorning,Ienjoyed(well,sortof I enjoyed) a particularly energetic workout at the gymbeforeheadingintotheLegislature.Iknowit was particularly challenging because, besides feelingmyheartpounding,oneparticularlyaffable securityguardmadeaquipaboutmyredfaceand perspirationonmybrowasIcheckedin.Ilaughed and replied, “It's all about discipline. Either use it orloseit.”

Minutes later, I was going through the headlineswhenIcameacrossseveralarticlesabout an important issue involving the possible expropriation of prime farmland in Wilmot Township in the provincial riding of KitchenerConestoga. Regular readers of this column will recall that I have written several pieces on agriculturalissues,includingonejustlastweekon increasingmentalhealthconcernsforfarmersand their families. As important as doctors, lawyers, teachers,mechanics,andfactoryworkersare,ifwe didn't have farmers to feed us, all would be lost. ThewayIseeit,webettertakegoodcareofthemif we want them to keep feeding us the rest of the world.

For those who do not know, Wilmot Township, located just west of Kitchener/Waterloo,comprisesnearly265km2of prime farmland. Seemingly out of the blue, there hasbeenasuddenmovementtodevelop770acres of productive farmland, making it 'shovel ready' for industrial development. This is a prime exampleofoneofthemanystressorsfarmersface today,whichImentionedinlastweek'scolumn.

According to reports, weeks ago, an American-owned company called Canacre Ltd. startedgoingdoortodoor,unannouncedtofarms, offering to purchase the land. This contact was madeatthebehestoftheWaterlooRegionCouncil.

CTVNewsreportedonApril3rdthattheregional chair sent a letter in which it provided no details otherthantostatethepurposeofthepurchasewas “facilitating economic opportunities to support a high quality of life for residents.” The letter explained that large parcels of land are urgently needed to meet industrial growth needs. It is urgently required because of the necessary “proximity to arterial transportation and existing infrastructure, and the connection to Waterloo Region'sskilledworkforce.”

Firstandforemost,asstatedinlastweek's column, Ontario is losing 319 acres of land to development every day. Continuing down this pathwaywill,withoutquestion,leadtodisasterin thenot-too-distantfuture.Butwhatmakesthisall the more egregious is that the land owners are subjecttoextremepressuretodecidequicklytosell thelandwillinglynowattheofferedpricebecause,

'What'shappeninginWilmotTownshipcouldhappeninanyfarmcommunityinOntario'

iftheydon'tagree,thecompanywilltakestepsto expropriatetheland(i.e.takeitbylegalorder).

Given the reported pressure and speed at whichthisactionisplayingout,itisnowonderthat residents of the township but the entire Ontario farmingcommunityandenvironmentalgroupsare up in arms. Even the Waterloo Region Labour Councilhastakenastand,saying,“Whatthelabour councilfoundsoproblematicwiththisisthat[there was] no consultation. It's just being taken away from them without any discussion points and nothing being transparent. For me, it's knowing thatpersonalconnectionoffarmersandjustallofa sudden – here is your livelihood, and you don't haveasayinthis;it'sbeingtakenawayfromyou, noconsultation.”

CityNews 570 quoted Alfred Lowrick, representing affected fellow landowners, “The timelinesweregivenforacceptanceofthisofferis today, which is absurd given the massive disruption to our lives and the situation it creates withagoaltoreachfulllandacquisitionofAugust of this year.” He explained that none of the landowners had received formal notification, meetings or consultations before they heard a rap ontheirdoors.

What is the purpose of keeping the public in the dark about major initiatives, especially the landowners themselves? Whatever happened to the principles of fairness, integrity and transparency? I know if my company had an initiativethatIwasproudofandhadconfidencein, I'd want to share it. Experiencing pressure tactics and secrecy makes people suspicious, and rightly so.

I readily admit there are times when the expropriation of land is appropriate. Such cases might involve matters such as widening a heavily travelledroadoronewithadangerousdogleg.Or perhaps there is a need for public facility construction, access to upgraded utilities or initiatives for the common good. Expropriation is unacceptableifitisinthenameofprivateinterests orcorporategain.

Waterloo Region Record reporter Luisa D'Amato,inherApril24tharticle,posedapossible link between the sudden surge in the Wilmot farmland purchase/expropriation and the Ford government's announced gargantuan deals with electric vehicle car and battery manufacturers. D'Amatowrote,“Wilmotistheperfectlocationfor Toyota,whichhasvehiclemanufacturingplantsin Cambridge and Woodstock, producing more than half a million vehicles a year between them. WilmotTownshipisbetweenthosetwosites.The landbeingassembledisrightonHighway7and8, near a rail line, and within easy commuting distanceforalargenumberofpotentialemployees. Vehiclebatteriesareveryheavy,soit'seconomical to have them manufactured close to the vehicle assembly plant.” She pointed out that the recent events and pressure tactics would explain the

possible secrecy and urgency surrounding recent announcements. The atmosphere would be differentiftheregionwerejustlookingatasiteto bereadyforsomeunknownfutureclient.

AsIcontinuedreadingthenews,Ilearned that support for farmers is ballooning. Reports indicated growing turnouts for rallies and town halls.Ifoundmyselfgrinningandsayingoutloud, “Wow.” On April 20th, CBC News reported that hundreds of people, including many from across the province, attended a rally at the Wilmot Recreation Complex. Some said they are afraid that what is happening there will happen to them next.

During a recent Question Period, MPP Catherine Fife asked Minister ofAgriculture Lisa Thompson why the government was prioritizing puttingmoneyinthepocketsofdevelopersrather than supporting Ontario farmers. After the Minister's response, Timiskaming—Cochrane MPPJohnVanthofwentontoaskasupplementary question:

“Let'smakethisclear:What'shappeningin Wilmot could happen in any farm community in Ontario.Adeveloper shows up, offers you a deal, you don't take it, and then the government comes along: “If you don't take the deal, we're going to expropriate it.” That could happen anywhere in Ontario, just like it's happening in Wilmot for an undisclosedproject.Andthenwhatwillhappen,if thisundisclosedprojectisafactor,allofasudden the land that was taken from the farmer will quadruple, will go 10 times in value, and that money will go to the speculator, to the developer, nottothefarmer.

Is that the Ontario that you support, MinisterofAgriculture?”

That'swhenmyexchangewiththesecurity guardhitme.Thesepeopleunderstandthat,justas withpersonalfitness,indemocracy,useitorloseit. Thisissueisgettingpeopleupontheirfeettomake their concerns and voices heard the way they shouldinademocracy.

Overtheyears,ithasbeenmyprivilegeon manyoccasionstoconversewithfarmingfamilies and attend countless agricultural meetings and events. I have long admired the pride and passion that farmers bring to their work. It is evident in every conversation I have. Farmer and agrarian speaker Joel Salatin says, “Farming is a passion and a way of life which goes beyond a job or a career. It is a calling and a vocation, a love of the land and a respect for nature, a commitment to sustainabilityandadesireforself-sufficiency.” Whenwestandwithourfarmers,westandingood company.

Asalways,Iinviteyoutocontactmyoffice abouttheseissuesoranyotherprovincialmatters. You can reach my constituency office by email at mmantha-co@ola.orgorcallToll-free1-800-8311899.