02152024 February 15, 2024

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS

Local News Weekly

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Vol. 28, Issue 23, February 15, 2024

705 - 864 - 0911

Another Pike Ice Fishing Derby for the Books!

By Natalie Tessier his has been a challenging derby to organize for the Rotary Club of Chapleau.

There was discussion in January about possibly cancelling the derby due to poor ticket sales, but we made the decision to go ahead and we decided to continue selling tickets right up until derby day. Then the weather proved to be challenging. Despite our rather unusual winter to date, the Rotary Club of Chapleau had patrollers verify ice conditions and made the decision to go ahead with the derby. Anglers were happy to hear this. Although we sold less tickets this year than last, there were almost 700 anglers who went out to try and reel in the big one. We also had many anglers from out of town, as well as a large number of anglers who fished our derby for the first time.

With over $71,000.00 dollars in prizes up for grabs, our derby is attracting much attention beyond Chapleau and surrounding areas.

This year, our big winner, Pierre Joyal, flew in from Florida for the derby and registered a 36.5 inch 7.93 pound pike that netted him first place and $30,000. In second place with a 28.75 inch 5.83 pound pike, good for $15,000, was Claude Cloutier. Steven Bernier won third place and $10,000 with a 27.25 inch pike weighing 5.44 pound. This year, our fourth place winner was our youngest prizewinner.

Ten year old Mathys Long Term Tremblay won $7,500 Forecast with a 26.875 inch 4.93 Thursday pound pike. The next High -2 four prize winners are as Low -16 follows: Friday · Jean-Claude High -12 Low -24 Hebert with a 4.83 pound pike - $5,000 Saturday

T

High Low

·Laura Guitard with a 4.79 pound pike - $2,500 ·Megan Beland with a 4.76 pound pike - $1,000 ·Conrad Larocque with a 4.44 pound pike - $500 The Rotary Club of Chapleau would like to thank our volunteers who manned the weigh station, Craig Montgomery and Richard Beaudoin, as well as patrollers Nancy Bass, Ryker Woods, and Robert and Jake Sanchioni. The club would also like to thank Constable Drew Wiggins from the Wawa OPP detachment, as well as CO Taelen Hadley from the Chapleau MNRF office and CO Chris Moskel from the Wawa MNRF office. They, along with our volunteers, help to ensure that anglers are safe out on the ice, as well as respecting derby rules and provincial laws. Thank you also to Rick Smith from Miss Muggins for supplying the volunteers with coffee and treats on derby day. Thank you to the Chapleau Curling Club for hosting us for our awards presentation on Saturday evening. The Pierre Joyal and his prize winning fish.

Rotary Club of Chapleau would also our community to help make Chapleau a better like to recognize La Bienvenue restaurant and Sam's Kitchen, who catered a place. The Rotary Club of Chapleau is always selection of offerings for those who wanted to looking for new members. Want to make a differenjoy a hot delicious meal. Lastly, thank you to the ence along with like-minded people, all while Township of Chapleau staff who went out of their having fun doing this? Join Rotary! We are always looking for new members. way to accommodate us during the derby.

Proceeds from the derby are reinvested in

First Prize Winner

-12 -14

Sunday High -8 Low -18

MISSION

Monday High -4 Low -14

61 Mission Road, Wawa, ON, P0S 1K0 Phone (705) 856-2394

Tuesday High -7 Low -17

MOTORS ofWAWA

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, February 15, 2024- Page 2

Moments: 1938 Chapleau Winter Carnival Chapleau Chapleau featured 122 events in midst of Great Depression Moments 1938 Carnival Parade on old horseshoe bridge by

Michael J. Morris The Queen of the 1938 Chapleau Winter Carnival arrived for her coronation in true northern style on a sled pulled by husky dogs to the location in downtown Chapleau where Carnival King Charles McGregor was waiting.

Ross Kemp was the driver of the sled carrying the Queen while Chief Parade Marshal Jimmy Purich, resplendent in his uniform, headed the Queen`s procession from the CPR station over the old horseshoe bridge to Main Street, riding a pure white horse pulling another sled.

It was Chapleau's second winter carnival, and despite the effects of the Great Depression on the community, people were out for an enjoyable time.

Marie Perpete was crowned the Queen of the Carnival. The Chapleau Post reported that she was dressed in a pure white ski costume with white ski boots, white slacks, and a parka trimmed with white fur.

Ever the Chapleau booster, A.J. "Art" Grout, who had the title, Minister of Foreign Affairs, had written a letter to H.K. Kennedy, the editor of a magazine called 'The Vacationer' extending an invitation to him to come from Toronto for the carnival. I have no idea if Mr. Kennedy made the trip but Mr. Grout, super salesman that he was, extolled the wonders of Chapleau in his letter.

He wrote in part that Chapleau was a very modern town with a population of about 2,800 people well equipped with schools, hotels, and business places and "is far more modern than one would expect in a place so far in the Northern wilds." Remember that at this time in its history, Chapleau was very isolated with the CPR being primary way to get to and from town.

Talk about turning potential negatives into positives when talking about Chapleau, Mr. Grout was a real professional. Writing about Mr. Grout in Chapleau Trails, Dr. Bill Pellow, the editor and publisher, refers to him as "a staunch promoter" of the early winter carnivals. He sure was.

Mr. Grout's letter continued that "timbered forests came down to within a few hundred yards of the outskirts of the town" but the

citizens were enthusiastic about winter sports and got into winter costumes to enjoy the carnival to the fullest. he also mentioned that it was common to have five feet of snow and forty below zero temperatures at carnival time.

At the 1938 winter carnival there were 122 winter sports events spread over three days, Mr. Grout wrote. One of the major events was the sled dog races with over twenty high class teams entered. There were skiing events taking place on a new 45-foot tower for jumping as well as log chopping and a curling bonspiel.

Five hockey teams made up of teams from Chapleau and surrounding camps would be playing in a tournament and there was also a turkey shoot and of course the grand dances.

A highlight of the carnival was the midnight torch light parade and snake dance down the main street.

It fascinates me to see the tremendous community spirit that was so alive in Chapleau

during the Great Depression as the citizens launched an annual winter carnival. I looked in 'Break at Nine', George Tremblay's excellent book on the movies and life in Chapleau to see what he might have said about those times.

Mr. Tremblay wrote in part: "... Chapleau saw its share of hardship during the depression.

There was no such thing as a food bank to help the hungry and unemployment insurance was unheard of in the thirties. However, people helped each other and when a family slipped into a desperate situation, their neighbours would organize events to help them out..." Yet they put together a carnival. Mr. Tremblay was born and raised in Chapleau.

Through the years, the Chapleau Winter Carnival brought everyone together and I will share more about them in future columns. My thanks to Doug Greig for his help with this one.

My email is mj.morris@live.ca.

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, February 15, 2024- Page 3

MPP Michael Mantha moving bill to fix Northern Health Travel Grant Today Michael Mantha, MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin, was joined by Donna Stewart (CAO of the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board) to call on the government of Ontario to pass Bill 13, The Northern Health Travel Grant Advisory Committee Act. The Northern Health Travel Grant (NHTG) is a program administered by the government of Ontario meant to assist patients living in Northern Ontario who need to travel more than 100 km for medical treatment.

“Northerners living in rural and remote communities deserve the same access to healthcare as everyone else in Ontario.” Said Mantha. “But with the high costs of gas, food and accommodations I am hearing from more and more people who are being financially burdened when they need to travel for treatment.”

MPP Mantha's legislation, if passed, would establish a committee composed of Northern healthcare providers and residents who will consult with relevant community partners (including primary care providers, Indigenous health organizations, Northern public health units, etc.). The bill requires the committee to study the program's effectiveness and make recommendations to the Minister of Health for improvements.

“Being able to get the treatment you need without financial barriers is at the core of our healthcare system in Canada.” Said Mantha. “I am calling on the Ford government to do the right thing, listen to people in the North and pass my bill next week.”

Bill 13 will be debated at second reading in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on February 22nd, 2024.

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS CHAPLEAU EXPRESS

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CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, February 15, 2024- Page 4

REPORT from OTTAWA Rapport d’Ottawa by/par

Carol Hughes Federal member of Parliament Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing

Last week, Manulife, Canada's largest insurance company, made headlines across the country by telling customers that coverage for 260 specialty prescription drugs would only be filled at Loblaw-owned pharmacies, chiefly Shoppers Drug Mart. It was a move that was roundly and swiftly condemned by independent pharmacies, health care groups, unions, and consumers across Canada.

That condemnation forced Manulife to quickly backpedal and announce they would reverse course on this foolhardy idea in about a week. But how did we get to this point, how would this deal affect consumers, and what can we do to prevent it from happening again?

The deal initially struck between Manulife and Loblaw-owned pharmacies is nothing new, although it tended to be more of an issue in the U.S., where the relationship between insurers and specific chains is a little cozier. It's what is known as a preferred pharmacy network. Essentially, an insurance company would work out some form of deal with a pharmacy, in exchange for a lower cost for the insurance company. While some insurers in Canada already have some form of preferred pharmacy network, most are voluntary, meaning that customers may see some savings by going to a specific retailer recommended by the insurer, but could still fill their prescription at any pharmacy.

The Manulife-Loblaw deal was different in that it was exclusive, preventing patients the choice of pharmacy.

As soon as the news of this arrangement became public, New Democrats called upon the Competition Bureau to investigate Manulife and Loblaws for anti-competitive behaviour. Manulife relented, clearly as a result of the negative press and general disdain from Canadians they were receiving on this deal. It would have forced some customers to have to go to multiple locations to fill their prescriptions. And for people in rural communities, like a lot of people in Northern Ontario, it may have meant that they would need to drive some distance just to get the drugs they needed. The drugs included fell under the umbrella of Manulife's Specialty Drug Care program, which includes drugs for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension, osteoporosis, some cancers, and hepatitis C. It's hard to fathom how deals like this will ever be to the benefit of the consumer. Large corporations like Loblaws are the ones who have the money, resources, and lobbyists to ink deals with large insurers. While Manulife was clearly

Pushback on Loblaws / Manulife Deal Reinforces Need for Universal Pharmacare cutting this deal to save money, there is no indication that any part of this deal specifically benefited the cost borne by those filling prescriptions.

However, deals like this, while unpopular, are perfectly legal everywhere except Quebec, where preferred pharmacy arrangements between pharmacies and insurance providers are prohibited.

One of the issues we find ourselves in is the depths of the lobbying arm of companies like Manulife and Loblaws. In the past two years, the Liberals have been lobbied by Loblaws 60 separate times. Jenni Byrne + Associates, owned by the Conservative leader's senior advisor, is a registered lobbyist for Loblaws in Ontario. Lobbying and competition rules should be designed with the best interests of Canadians in mind, not corporations.

Bills like C-352, which increases penalties for anti-

competitive acts and prohibits mergers from proceeding if they result in excessive combined market share, could help stamp down on issues like this.

Canadians' access to life-saving drugs should not be up to a few mega-corporations to decide. If properly developed, the Canadian pharmacare plan, which is part of the Supply and Confidence Agreement, could possibly prevent similar deals between insurance companies and large retail chains from happening in the future.

Keeping the profiteering of large corporate entities at bay will depend on the government's willingness to create a strong pharmacare program. A singlepayer model that puts the health and wellbeing of patients ahead of lining the pockets of huge corporations is what Canadians deserve.

L'opposition manifestée contre l'accord conclu entre Loblaws et Manuvie confirme la nécessité d'un régime d'assurance-médicaments universel La semaine dernière, Manuvie, la principale compagnie d'assurance du Canada, a fait les manchettes partout au Canada lorsqu'elle a annoncé à ses clients que leurs ordonnances pour 260 médicaments de spécialité pourraient uniquement être exécutées par la chaîne Shoppers Drug Mart et les autres pharmacies appartenant à Loblaws. Dans tout le pays, des pharmacies indépendantes, des groupes de soins de santé, des syndicats et des consommateurs ont vivement condamné cette décision. Leur réprobation a forcé Manuvie à faire marche arrière et à annoncer qu'elle renonçait à ce projet insensé en l'espace d'une semaine. Il y a toutefois lieu de se demander comment nous en sommes arrivés là, quelles auraient été les conséquences d'un tel accord pour les consommateurs, et ce que nous pouvons faire pour éviter une autre situation de ce genre.

L'accord initial entre Manuvie et les pharmacies de Loblaws n'est pas un phénomène nouveau, même si la pratique se voit davantage aux États-Unis, où les assureurs entretiennent des relations plus étroites avec certaines chaînes qui forment ce qu'on appelle des réseaux de pharmacies privilégiées : en gros, un assureur conclut un accord avec une pharmacie pour qu'elle lui accorde un tarif préférentiel. Certains assureurs au Canada ont déjà des ententes avec ce genre de réseaux, mais cellesci sont fondées sur la participation volontaire : le client peut faire des économies en allant voir le détaillant que son assureur lui recommande, mais il reste libre de faire exécuter son ordonnance à la pharmacie de son choix. Or, l'accord d'exclusivité conclu entre Manuvie et Loblaws empêchait le patient de choisir sa pharmacie.

Dès que la nouvelle de l'accord a été diffusée, les néo-démocrates ont demandé au Bureau de la c o n c u r r e n c e d ' e n q u ê t e r s u r Manuvie et Loblaws pour vérifier s'il y avait eu des

agissements anticoncurrentiels. Manuvie a cédé, manifestement vaincue par la mauvaise presse et la réprobation générale que l'accord lui ont values. Cet accord aurait obligé des clients à fréquenter plusieurs pharmacies pour obtenir leurs médicaments. Dans les régions rurales, particulièrement dans le nord de l'Ontario, il aurait obligé de nombreuses personnes à faire de longs trajets en voiture simplement pour obtenir les médicaments dont ils avaient besoin. Les médicaments visés par l'accord étaient ceux qui relèvent du Programme de gestion des médicaments de spécialité de Manuvie et qui servent à traiter des problèmes médicaux comme la polyarthrite rhumatoïde, la sclérose en plaques, la maladie de Crohn, l'hypertension artérielle pulmonaire, l'ostéoporose, certains types de cancer et l'hépatite C. Il est difficile d'imaginer que ce genre d'accord puisse jamais être dans l'intérêt du consommateur. Seuls les géants comme Loblaws ont l'argent, les ressources et les lobbyistes nécessaires pour signer des accords avec les grands assureurs. S'il est clair que Manuvie voulait conclure un accord pour faire des économies, rien ne donne à penser qu'une quelconque disposition de cet accord aurait eu un effet sur les frais assumés par les pharmacies participantes. Pourtant, quoiqu'impopulaire, ce genre d'accord est tout à fait légal partout sauf au Québec, où les ententes d'exclusivité entre assureurs et pharmacies sont interdites.

Un des problèmes auxquels nous sommes confrontés est l'ampleur du lobbying effectué par des sociétés comme Manuvie et Loblaws. Ces deux dernières années, Loblaws a fait du lobbying à 60 reprises auprès des libéraux. La société Jenni Byrne + Associates, qui appartient au conseiller principal Suite P.11

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, February 15, 2024- Page 5

Pike Ice Fishing Derby 2nd prize

Second place winner Claude Cloutier won $15,000.

Business Summary for 2023 The Superior East Community Futures Development Corporation (SECFDC) is a nonprofit organization offering small business and regional community economic development services to the Superior East region. It is led by a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of individuals that reside throughout the Superior East region.

For the 2023 year the Superior East CFDC approved a grand total of $829,001 in local and regional loans. These loans impacted 35 jobs in the region. A total of $278,000 was also leveraged from other sources.

Superior East was established back in 1989 and since this time it has disbursed 703 loans within the region for a total of $29,267,010.

These loans served to create or maintain 3,021 jobs. Leveraged funds over the years total $27,136,154.

The Community Development Fund offers up to $2,000 to local non-profit organizations to assist with their community economic development projects. During the 2023 year the Board approved $14,925 in CD Funds which also leveraged $287,790 in funds from other sources.

Funds are limited and are disbursed on a first

3rd prize

Third place winner Steven Bernier

4th prize Youngest Angler

come, first served basis.

The SECFDC provides small business financing for existing local businesses and for individuals looking to start up or purchase a business within the region. The loans are available for anything business related including: the Mathys Tremblay, à 10 year old, won fourth place and $7500. purchase of buildings and equipment, amos@superioreastcfdc.ca. All program inventory, working capital, debt consolidation, applications are available in both official lanetc. Loans are available up to a maximum of guages on the website at: www.superior $750,000. Flex loans can provide quick financ- eastcfdc.ca. Or drop by the office located at 14 ing to existing businesses that require $50,000 or Ganley Street in Wawa. less. Additional loan products include the The Superior East CFDC is supported by Business Transition Loan, Women in Business FedNor. Loan, Line of Credit and the Business Improvement Loan.

If interested in applying for any of the loan programs, contact Tracy Amos at (705) 856Email us at 1105 or 1-800-387-5776, ext. 222 or email: chaexpress@sympatico.ca

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, February 15, 2024- Page 6

Ontario Protecting People from the High Costs of a Provincial Carbon Tax Province ensuring people have a say while continuing calls to scrap the federal carbon tax The Ontario government is keeping costs down for people by introducing legislation that, if passed, would give Ontario voters a direct say over a new provincial carbon tax, cap-and-trade system or other carbon pricing program. This proposed legislation would protect people and businesses from the high cost of a provincial carbon tax by requiring the government to first obtain the consent of Ontario voters through a referendum before implementing a new provincial carbon pricing program.

“With the Bank of Canada's high interest rates and the cost of living still so high, it's never been more important to keep costs down for people and businesses,” said Premier Doug Ford.

“I've always said, the carbon tax is the worst tax.

It increases the cost of everything. We need to protect Ontario workers and families from the high cost of a carbon tax and we urge the federal government to do the same.”

The Ontario government continues to urge the federal government to apply the same carve out on home heating that was provided to Atlantic Canadian provinces or to eliminate the federal carbon tax entirely.

“We made a promise to fight the federal carbon tax and our government will continue to lead by example, giving Ontarians certainty that carbon pricing on the backs of taxpayers is not the way forward,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “Any new provincial carbon tax is unacceptable for Ontario residents who are seeing their hard-earned dollars stretched further than ever.”

This measure is part of upcoming legislation that will kick off the spring sitting of the legislature on February 20, 2024. The Get It Done Act will include a host of measures that, if passed, would build on the government's commitments to date to streamline approvals for

major infrastructure projects and housing, keep costs down for people and businesses and support economic growth for long-term prosperity.

To help Ontario families and businesses keep costs down, the government extended the gas and fuel tax rate cuts through to June 30, 2024. Along with the rate cuts previously in place, this extension is expected to save households $260 on average since the cuts were first implemented in July 2022. · In compliance with the federal Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, two forms of carbon pricing currently exist in Ontario: the Emissions Performance Standards (EPS) program for industrial emitters, and the federal fuel charge, which increases the cost of various types of transportation and heating fuels used by households and enterprises, including gasoline, diesel, natural gas, and propane.

Hughes Tables Petition Calling for Increased Volunteer Firefighter Tax Credit “Volunteer firefighters account for 71 percent of Canadas total firefighting essential first responders, and an additional 8,000 essential search and rescue volunteers who respond to thousands of incidents each year.”

Carol Hughes, M P for Algoma-

Manitoulin-Kapuskasing, stood in the House of Commons today to table a petition demanding an increase to the Volunteer Firefighter Tax Credit from $3,000 a year to $10,000 a year for those committing to 200 hours of service.

“That comes out to only about $450 per year, or $2.25 an hour,” said Hughes. “But if volunteers work more than 200 hours, the tax credit becomes even less. These essential volunteers not only put their lives on the line, but also play an important role in keeping

property taxes low.”

Hughes reiterated calls from the petitioners for the government to support Bill C310 and increase the firefighter & search and rescue volunteer tax credit ahead of the 2024 fire season, particularly after last years' recordbreaking fire season.

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, February 15, 2024- Page 7

Weather Summary for Ontario January 2024: Continued Warmth with a Cool Break Temperatures Anomalously warm conditions continued from December provincewide. Overall temperatures for the month were roughly 2-6oC above normal. The exception was a cold period which began around the middle of the month and lasted a week or so, again mostly provincewide.

After a warm first week, temperatures continued above normal into the second week when some of the highest temperatures were recorded in the south (12oC at St Thomas and 9.6oC in Welland on the 11th and 9th, respectively). Colder than normal air crossed much of the province from west to east throughout the third week. Into the last week, much warmer than normal conditions spread across the entire province with daily maximum temperature well above freezing in the south (Toronto, 5.7oC on the 31st). Portions of the north saw daily mean temperatures more than 15oC above normal for several days consecutively.

Precipitation Monthly precipitation was variable across the province and three bands are evident in the figure below. Most of northern Ontario saw below normal amounts, continuing a trend for at least the last several months. In the south, from Windsor northeast to near Trenton, precipitation was above normal. Areas in the Far North near Hudson Bay also saw higher than normal amounts for the month.

The second week was the wettest for most of the province. Indeed, in the southwest, some localities saw over 45 mm on the 9th which is over half the normal monthly amount. During the third cooler week, precipitation amounts were very low. Then finally into the last week, the south again saw significant precipitation, mostly

in the form of rain. Areas from Windsor to the GTA and Niagara saw over 50% of their monthly normal precipitation amount on the 23-26th (CoCoRaHs).

Snowfall Given the unusual warmth this month, snowfall amounts were mostly below normal except over eastern Ontario and in some of the off-lake snowbelt regions. In fact, snowcover information shows most of the province had less snow on the ground at the end of the month, especially in the southwest. In the cold second week, lake effect snow bands developed and persisted for several days east of the Great Lakes and Georgian Bay. Some locations saw ~30-50 cm of snow in total over 4-5 days.

Significant Events January 9-10: Wintry Mix in Southern and Northeastern Ontario A strong and fast-moving low pressure system brought snow, rain, freezing rain, and gusty winds that created hazardous travel conditions over southern Ontario, as well as snow and blowing snow that impacted travel over northeastern Ontario. Widespread poor road conditions led to numerous collisions and lane closures across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Waterloo Regional Police reported 162 minor crashes over an eight-hour span and a collision that occurred south of Brantford was fatal. Road closures also occurred in Northumberland, Brockville, Ottawa, Alexandria, and Sudbury. Generally, 5 to 8 cm of very wet snow fell in south-central and portions of southwestern Ontario (lower near the shores of western Lake Ontario), and 8 to 18 cm in central, eastern, and northeastern Ontario.

Total precipitation generally ranged from 25 to 45 mm over southwestern and south-central

Ontario. The heavy wet snow and strong easterly winds caused power outages in some areas, with 25,000 Hydro One customers without power at the peak. The storm caused school closures in the Temagami and Timmins area as well as bus cancellations from Temagami to Cochrane, from Nipissing District to Blind River, Manitoulin Island, Simcoe County, Wellington- Dufferin, Peterborough, Northumberland, and Clarington.

Some buses were cancelled in Halton and Peel regions, and rural school buses were cancelled throughout eastern Ontario.

January 12-13: Another Winter Storm Hits Southern and Northeastern Ontario A severe winter storm once again moved into southern and northeastern Ontario, this time, bringing heavy snow, strong winds, thunder and lightning. Southwestern Ontario into the Greater Toronto Area received 5 to 15 cm of snow before changing over to rain. Heavy snow also affected central, eastern, and northeastern Ontario, with 15 to 30 cm reported. Two people died of cardiac arrest while shoveling snow in Renfrew County.

Numerous weather-related collisions and road closures were reported throughout southern Ontario, including a fatal collision that occurred in Norfolk County. Ottawa police responded to 92 collisions in the city, while OPP Eastern Region reported 107 crashes across eastern Ontario. In addition, a 237 km stretch of Highway 11 was closed between North Bay and Kenogmai.

Dozens of flights at Pearson Airport were cancelled or delayed Friday evening. The cleanup continued through the weekend, as Hydro One restored power to over 125,000 customers.

January 13-18: Lake Effect Snowsqualls Create Treacherous Travel East of the Great Lakes In the wake of a strong low pressure system, very cold air and strong winds produced lake effect snow to the east of Lake Huron, Georgian Bay and Lake Superior for multiple days. Total snowfall amounts of 30 to 40 cm were reported in some areas with one report of 50 cm.

Travel was severely impacted, with drivers dealing with large drifts on roads, ice underneath, and whiteouts. Many cars ended up in ditches and some motorists were stranded on county roads.

Several highways were closed for days, including sections of Highway 21 (from Amberly to Owen Sound), Highway 6 (in the Grey-Bruce area), Highway 17 (between Batchewana Bay and Wawa), and Highway 101 (from Wawa to Chapleau). Highway 401 in the areas of London

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, February 15, 2024- Page 8

Weather Summary for Ontario January 2024: Continued Warmth with a Cool Break and Elgin County and Highway 402 also experienced frequent collisions and closures. There were numerous collisions on Highway 11 from the Orillia area up to Temagami, causing generally brief closures at times. Many schools were closed and busses were cancelled in Grey-Bruce, Huron-Perth, Nipissing-Parry Sound, Muskoka, and Simcoe County. Numerous events and services were cancelled and Canada Post suspended service to Owen Sound on Monday. Near Lake Erie, the Buffalo-bound Peace Bridge was closed Sunday morning in response to an Erie County, NY travel ban. The bridge was reopened Monday morning but was still closed to trucks as of Wednesday as snowsqualls continued to frequently affect Niagara. Near Lake Ontario, in the Kingston area, five collisions involving ten vehicles occurred in poor driving conditions.

Ice Conditions in the Great Lakes Ice coverage across the Great Lakes was

below normal for the month of January. Coverage began the month at just 0.3%, increasing week over week into min-January, where it briefly reached normal levels, before declining at the end of the month, finishing at 8.8%. Well below normal ice coverage for Lake Erie was primarily

Sommaire d'affaires de 2023 La Société d'aide au développement des collectivités de Supérieur Est (SADCSE) est un organisme à but non lucratif qui offre des services en développement économique aux petites entreprises et à la communauté régionale dans la région Supérieur Est. En 2023, la SADCSE a accordé une somme de 829 001$ en prêts locaux et régionaux.

Ces prêts ont eu un impact direct sur 35 emplois dans la région. Un total de 278 000$ fut aussi acquis d'autres sources.

La SADCSE fut établie en 1989 et depuis ce temps, elle a déboursé 703 prêts dans la région pour une somme de 29 267 010$. Ces prêts ont permis de créer ou de maintenir 3 021 emplois. Un total de 27 136 154$ fut aussi acquis d'autres sources durant les années.

Les Fonds de développement communautaire offrent jusqu'à 2 000 $ aux organismes locaux à but non lucratif pour les aider dans leurs projets de développement économique communautaire. Au cours de l'année 2023, le conseil a approuvé 14 925 $ en fonds de développement communautaire, ce qui a également mobilisé 287 790 $ en fonds provenant d'autres sources. Les fonds sont limités et ils sont décaissés selon le principe du premier arrivé premier servi.

La SADCSE offre un financement aux

petites entreprises locales existantes et aux personnes qui souhaitent créer ou acheter une entreprise dans la région. Les prêts sont disponibles pour tout ce qui a rapport à une entreprise, y compris l'achat de bâtiments et d'équipements, de matériel, de fonds de roulement, de la consolidation de dettes, etc. Les prêts sont disponibles jusqu'à un maximum de 750 000$. Les prêts Coup de pouce peuvent fournir un financement rapide aux entreprises existantes qui ont besoin d'un prêt de 50 000$ ou moins. La SADCSE offre plusieurs nouveaux types de prêts tels que le prêt pour la transition d'une entreprise, le prêt pour les femmes d'affaires, la marge de crédit et le prêt pour l'amélioration des affaires.

Si vous souhaitez faire demande pour l'un de ces prêts, veuillez communiquer avec Tracy Amos au (705) 856-1105 ou au 1-800-387-5776 poste 222 ou par courriel à amos@superior eastcfdc.ca. Toutes les demandes de prêts sont disponibles dans les deux langues officielles sur l'internet à l'adresse suivante: www.superioreastcfdc.ca. Vous pouvez aussi passer au bureau situé au 14, rue Ganley à Wawa.

La Société d'aide au développement des collectivités de Supérieur Est est appuyée par FedNor

responsible for the large deficit in the Great Lakes total ice coverage. Normally, the bulk of winter ice growth occurs in January and ice coverage should reach 23.1% by the end of the month. The drop in ice coverage at the end of the month was primarily driven by above normal air temperatures over the Great Lakes basin. The freeze-up has also been delayed, resulting in ice that is thinner than normal and leading to ice that has been more easily destroyed during warm spells and strong winds.

Outlook for February In terms of precipitation, southern Ontario is expected to be drier than normal and the Far North wetter than normal. Otherwise, the majority of northern Ontario has no clear signal.

In terms of temperature, the entire province is expected to be overall warmer than normal, with high probabilities in all areas except eastern Ontario and along Hudson Bay.

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WE ARE REACHING MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER BEFORE! If you want to benefit from this surge in web traffic, NOW’S THE TIME TO ADVERTISE.

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS Email us with your needs at

chaexpress@sympatico.ca or call us at 705-864-2579 THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, February 15, 2024- Page 9

L’école secondaire Trillium Être hôte, c’est tout un honneur !

L’école secondaire catholique Trillium accueillera, les 13 et 14 février, plusieurs écoles du Nord de l’Ontario lors de tournois NSSSAA. Les équipes de ballon-panier garçons et de ballon-volant filles s’affronteront ici même, à Chapleau.

Depuis quelques semaines déjà, les élèves et les membres du personnel planifient ensemble l’accueil de toutes ces équipes sportives chez eux. L’esprit d’anticipation est palpable ; les décors, les menus, les horaires et tout autre préparatif commencent à prendre forme, et on ressent dans l’école une belle énergie. Les élèves qui voyageront à Chapleau peuvent s’attendre à de belles

Centre culturel Louis-Hémon UCFO Invita on aux membres ASSEMBLÉE GÉNÉRALE ANNUELLE Union Culturelle des Franco-Ontariennes Cercle de Chapleau le dimanche 25 février 2024 à 13h au 40, rue Birch (sous-sol)

Le Centre culturel présente Ferline Régis le 8 mars.

Passez votre soirée avec nous en honorant votre femme, votre maman, votre fille, votre amie... en cette Journée internationale de la femme.

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, February 15, 2024- Page 10

Last weeks solutions MOMENTS IN TIME On Feb. 28, 1983, the final episode of "M*A*S*H," a series about the staff of an Army hospital during the Korean War, titled "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," became the most-watched television episode in U.S. history, with an estimated 106 million American viewers.

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, February 15, 2024- Page 11

Northern Lights Ford Sales Andrew G. McKenzie Travis Gendron

ALLEMANO, FITZGERALD PASCUZZI & BERLINGIERI Barristers and Solicitors

Highway 17 North P.O. Box 1033 Wawa, ON. P0S 1K0 Business 705-856-2775 Fax 705-856-4862 tgendron@northernlightsford.ca sales@northernlightsford.ca

TIMMINS - CHAPLEAU - TIMMINS Monday to Friday: 1 lb. to 10,000 lbs

MICHAEL C. ALLEMANO, B.A., L.L.B.

Monday to Friday

Certified by the Law Society as a Specialist in Real Estate Law P.O. Box 10, P.O. Box 1700, 369 Queen St. E. Suite 103 37 Broadway Avenue, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Wawa, Ontario P6A 1Z4 P0S 1K0 Phone (705) 942-0142 Phone (705) 856-4970 Fax (705) 942-7188 Fax (705) 856-2713

L'opposition manifestée contre l'accord conclu entre Loblaws et Manuvie confirme la nécessité d'un régime d'assurance-médicaments universel Suite de la P.4 du chef du Parti conservateur, est un lobbyiste enregistré pour Loblaws en Ontario. Les règles sur le lobbying et la concurrence devraient servir au mieux les intérêts des Canadiens, pas ceux des entreprises. Des projets de loi comme le projet de loi C-352, qui durcit les sanctions contre les agissements anticoncurrentiels et bloque les fusions susceptibles d'aboutir à une concentration excessive des parts d'un marché, pourraient contribuer à éliminer les problèmes de cette nature.

L'accès des Canadiens à des médicaments essentiels ne devrait pas dépendre des décisions de quelques mégasociétés. S'il est bien conçu, le régime d'assurance-médicaments canadien qui fait partie de l'entente de soutien et de confiance pourrait empêcher des assureurs et de grandes chaînes de magasins au détail de conclure

BERRY’S FREIGHT SERVICES

d'autres accords de ce genre à l'avenir. Notre capacité à entraver les démarches mercantiles des grandes sociétés dépend de la volonté du gouvernement de mettre en place un régime d'assurancemédicaments robuste. La population canadienne mérite un régime à payeur unique qui fait passer la santé et le bien-être des patients avant les profits des grandes entreprises.

Pimii Kamik Gas Bar & Gift Shop Located on the Chapleau Cree First Nation

will be from 7 a.m. - 9 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!

FOR QUALITY SERVICES AT

INEXPENSIVE PRICES GIVE US A CALL AT 1-705-264-4334 1-705-363-7804

Local MARKETPLACE ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (A.A).Open discussion meeting every Monday evening. Brunswick House First Nation Band office lounge 7pm. Narcotics Anonymous(N.A) every Tuesday same place same time.

NNADAP Worker @ 864-0174 info.

CHADWIC HOME, FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE. Offers shelter, emotional support, and information for women and their children who are in crisis situations. We have a Toll Free Crisis Line which is staffed 24 hours a day. We can arrange for free transportation to the Centre for women who live in the Algoma/Chapleau area. We also offer support to women who live in the communities of Chapleau, White River, Dubreuilville, and Hornepayne through our Outreach Program. Our Outreach Worker travels to those communities to meet with women who need emotional support as well as information about their rights and options. If you need to speak with the Outreach 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 resident of the Centre in order to use our services. If you need someone to talk to or if you just need someone to listen, call our Toll Free Crisis line at 1800-461-2242 or you can drop in at the Centre. We are here for you.

Call 705-864-2579

Ads can be emailed to chaexpress@sympatico.ca

...

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

Your Propane Refilling Station

705-864-0781

New at the Library Library Hours Monday 1-5 pm Tuesday & Wednesday 1-7 pm Thursday & Friday 1-5 pm Website : www.chapleau.ca Follow us on facebook for more info!

8mm & Super 8 mm FILM

Joyeux Noël SLIDES

PHOTOS

NEGATIVES

SCANNING

705-864-4376

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, February 15, 2024- Page 12

Opening new surgical centres – Fool me once…

As the timeless proverb goes, “Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me twice, shame on me.”

Over the winter break, listening to people across the riding, I hear growing concern about the Ford government's privatization of healthcare. Lately, the focus seems to be on Premier Ford's eagerness to throw out the welcome mat for for-profit surgical clinics. Next to Premier Ford's dogged determination to make suds available on every street corner and gas station, this has been his number-one hit tune.

People are sick and tired, no pun intended, of long waits in hospital EDs, waits for specialist consultations and waits for surgery.

MILLIONS of Ontarians are fed up because they have been trying for years without success to get onto a doctor's roster and feel no hope for the future. They are weary, they are worried, and they just want the physical and psychological pain to end.

People were initially angry that our healthcare system was failing them. Patients can't get onto a physician's roster, spend hours and hours waiting for treatment in hospital emergency departments, wait for days to be admitted to an actual bed in a hospital and wait for months or even years to see a specialist or have surgery.

Please forgive me for being blunt. The fact is that the privatization tune is now on everyone's lips, which is no accident. Many believe it results from a well-executed political agenda that has been to the detriment of Ontarians' health. The Ford government has worn people down for so long that they are ready to say, “I no longer care about public healthcare. I'll pay whatever it takes for some relief.”

It would not be the first time a Conservative government used such a tactic. Some will recall the Hon. John Snoblen, Minister of Education in the Mike Harris government. As Minister, Snoblen was recorded on video admitting that the Province deliberately bankrupted the education system and antagonized the teachers to no end in order to create a “useful crisis” to bring about its desired reforms.

Sound familiar?

Premier Ford now hopes to reap the fruits of his labour with his healthcare agenda. The government announced their controversial plan to clear the backlogs of surgeries by allowing surgeries to take place in standalone for-profit clinics. They will start gradually with procedures such as hip and knee replacements, and then once

people get used to the idea, they will add more and more procedures to the list. You know, kind of like the concept of cooking a frog. Put a frog into hot water, and they will immediately jump out. But if you put them in cold water and slowly raise the heat, the frog won't notice the difference, and they end up as soup.

Our doctors and nurses are paying the price as well. The January 10, 2024, issue of the Ottawa Citizen reported the results of a Nanos survey of Ontario hospital workers, indicating that more than half of those surveyed dread going to work each day. The Citizen quoted Dave Verch, first vice president of CUPE Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, saying, “We are hearing from members that people are breaking down before they go to work and during lunch breaks. It is bleeding into their personal lives.”

The survey results indicated that 48 percent of hospital workers are considering leaving the field because the stress at work is unbearable, and they know they are taking it home to their families. It just is not healthy for them to continue. If they do leave, who will be left to care for patients who end up in the hospital? Volunteer candy stripers?

The new for-profit surgical clinics will be able to schedule operations and procedures to weekdays and business hours if they wish. This will undoubtedly be very attractive to stressedout workers in our public hospitals. They will be drawn like bees to honey – and who can blame them? They have bills to pay and children to care for, like you and me.

But of course, Premier Ford promises that this won't happen. He promises that all independent hospitals will be required to submit staffing plans to the Ministry to prove that they are not luring existing staff from public hospitals.

In the January 13, 2023 issue, Toronto Star reporters Rob Ferguson and Robert Benzie quoted an unnamed ministry official who said, “We're going to put measures in place to make sure a doctor or nurse doesn't just leave the hospital for the other (private) clinic.” They explained that they anticipate workers will split their hours between public and private hospitals, working at the private facilities “in their spare time.”

In their spare time!? Really? Are these the same over-stressed workers already in such short supply and working extra shifts who will give up their days off and spare time to work a second job?

The plan is plain ludicrous.

This promise to scrutinize hospital worker pirating is coming from the same government that paid out almost $1 billion to businesses that were not eligible for COVID-19

assistance. The December 1, 2021, Toronto Star reported, “In a rush to get COVID-19 aid out the door, Premier Doug Ford's government sent almost $1 billion to thousands of businesses that weren't eligible for it or were given more than their losses warranted, charges Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk.

Can we have confidence that this same government will do better to prevent a mass exodus of healthcare workers from public hospitals to for-profit clinics?

“Lysyk found a “troubling” absence of controls that resulted in the approval of “suspicious” applications — including from businesses with addresses outside Ontario — because of a focus on speed and a lack of verification.”

This is the same Premier who was caught on video in 2018 committing to friendly developers that he was going to open “a big chunk” of the Greenbelt for homebuilding. Then, when the comment was exposed, he pivoted, promising Ontarians unequivocally, “We won't touch the Greenbelt.” Well, we all know how the rest of that story played out….

And, just a couple of weeks ago, News from the Park covered the topic of protecting residents of long-term-care facilities with the subtitle “'Its a matter of trust.”

This is the same government whose Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, the Hon. Christine Elliott, resigned from politics and, in short order, signed on as a lobbyist for a known for-profit hospital. For such a high-level government leader to lay out such a blatant agenda so quickly raises extreme concern for personal and government ethics and the potential for conflict of interest.

To those Ontarians who are telling themselves, “Enough! I just want to feel better. I just want to have access to a doctor,” or, “I just want to have the operation that I need,” I say, I get it. I do understand why they are at the end of their rope. However, I can't help but also think we are being led and pushed simultaneously down a path we cannot afford to go. We must stay strong and say to ourselves and our loved ones, “Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me twice, shame on me.”

Can Ontarians afford to allow themselves to be manipulated into giving up our hard-earned public healthcare? It's one of those things that, once lost, will never, ever be able to afford to put back the pieces again.

As always, please feel free to contact my office about these issues or any other provincial matters. You can reach my constituency office by email at mmantha-co@ola.org or by phone Tollfree at 1-800-831-1899.