SupportingAnglophoneandAllophoneparentsin theireffortstohelptheirchildrenlearninFrench
Parents and guardians of Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon students will have the opportunity to enroll in two free French as a Second Language programs The Beginner 1 and Beginner 2 courses will be offered online by Collège Boréalfor15weeksstartingFebruary11andFebruary 12,2025,respectively
TheseprogramsintendtosupportAnglophone andAllophoneparentsastheylearntocommunicatein Frenchtobettersupporttheirchild's learning.Thecost
ofthecoursesiscoveredbytheCSCNouvelonParent Involvement Committee However, spaces in both programsarelimited
Inafriendlyatmosphere,parentsandguardians will practice their French-language skills by participatinginconversationsandscenariosofdailylife, thusbecomingmorecomfortableandconfidentintheir ability to speak French to help their child throughout theireducation
TheseFrenchasaSecondLanguageprograms,
offered by Collège Boréal exclusively to CSC Nouvelonfamilies,areofinteresttofamilieswhereone of the parents is non-Francophone and who strive to offer a high level of bilingualism to their child by enrollingtheminaFrench-languageCatholicschool.
Parents and guardians of CSC Nouvelon students can register for Collège Boréal's French as a SecondLanguageprogramsBeginner1andBeginner2 by calling 705-560-6673, ext 2014 or by email at fc@collegeboreal.ca.
NewmontsellingPorcupineoperationto DiscoverySilverindealworth US$425million
NewmontCorp.hassignedadealtosell its Porcupine operation in Ontario to DiscoverySilverCorp. in an agreement worth US$425million.
The Porcupine Complex includes the Hoyle Pond and P a m o u r m i n e properties and the Dome mine property and milling facility in
Timmins, Ont , as well as the Borden underground mining operation near Chapleau, Ont.
Under the deal, Newmont will be paid US$$200millionincashandUS$75millionin sharesofDiscoverywhenthedealcloses.
Newmont will also receive US$150 million in deferred consideration to be paid in fourannualcashpaymentsofUS$37.5million startingonDec.31,2027.
Discovery owns the Cordero silver
projectinMexico.
To help pay for the Porcupine deal and support operating and growing the operation, thecompanyhassigneddealstoraiseUS$555 million including US$400 million in royalty and debt agreements with Franco-Nevada Corp and a US$155 million bought deal offeringofsubscriptionreceipts.
ThisreportbyTheCanadianPresswas firstpublishedJan.27,2025.
TrumpnotafriendofCanada,he’sourenemy
byWarrenKinsella
One’senemyrevealshimselfbydegrees.
VladimirPutin’sRussiadidnotsuddenly show itself to be the enemy of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. At dawn on that day, yes, Russia launched air and ground assaults on Ukraine, fromtheNorth,SouthandEast.Yes.
But Russia had been amassing troops on its border with Ukraine since 2021. Putin had penned bellicose essays justifying his planned war,promoting“thehistoricalunityofRussians and Ukrainians.” Threats were made, over and over,toUkrainianleaders.
Russia’stransformationintotheenemyof Ukraine did not happen overnight. It had been underwayforsometime. So, too, Donald Trump. He has transformed himselfintoCanada’senemy,andthewordisnot overstatement.
The dictionaries define “enemy” as “a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someoneorsomething.”Thatiseffectivelywhat thenewly-returnedPresidentoftheUnitedStates is,now:theonewhoisactivelyopposedtous,as a people and a nation. The one who has repeatedlyshownhostilitytowardsus.
The evidence is not difficult to find –there has been a lot of it, for weeks, both before andafterTrumptooktheoathofoffice(without, wenote,placinghishandontheBible):
– Trump has said he will use “economic force” againstus;
–Trumphasrepeatedlysaidhewillimpose25% tariffs on us, which will result in hundreds of thousands of Canadians losing their jobs and a recession;
–Trump has said he wants to take over Canada, andmakeusthe“the51ststate;”
– Trump has mocked our duly-elected leaders, fromJustinTrudeautoPierrePoilievre.
And, this week, Trump broadcast his apparent hatredofCanadatotheworld–toanaudienceat the World Economic Forum in Davos. (And, permitussomeamusementaboutthosewhoused toloudlyfulminateaboutWEF-relatedconspiracies–andhowtheyhavegonedeeplysilentsince theirheroshowedupthere.)
HerearejustafewofthethingsTrumpsaidatthe WEF:
“Onethingwe’regoingtobedemanding respect from other nations, Canada, we have a tremendousdeficitwithCanada.”
“If you’re a state, we won’t have a deficit, we won’t havetotariffyou.Canada’sbeen very tough to deal with over the years and it’s not fair that we should have a $200 billion or $250billiondeficit.”
51ststate,whileSmithhasbeentold–onaworld stage, no less – that America “doesn’t need” Canadian oil and gas. Justin and Danielle have been in a state of denial for weeks, minimizing and denying the reality of what is happening. They’ve got Trump-induced Stockholm Syndrome.
The grim reality is this: Trump is a thug and a bully, and his threats against us are not a joke. He is going to move against us with more thanwords–andsoon.
ThatiswhyDougFordisgoingtohavean election in which Donald Trump is the ballot question – and in which Ford is going to win a bigger majority than before. That is why Jean Chretien wrote a wildly-popular newspaper column that declared Canadians will never give upthebestcountryintheworldtojointheU.S.
That is why, in the same week, Stephen HarperspoketoaU.S.podcastertosayhehas“a realproblem”withTrump’sattacksonCanada–and to say he was “shocked” by Trump’s antiCanadarhetoric,and“itdoesn’tsoundtomelike thepronouncementsofsomebodywho’safriend, apartner,andanally.”
Which brings us back to where we started: What is Donald Trump, to Canadians? What is America, which has been mostly silent aboutTrump’sthreatsagainstus?Whatisthebest waytoregardTrump,now,becauseheclearlyis notourfriend?
Heistheenemy
“We don’t need them to make our cars… We don’t need their lumber because we have our own forests. We don’t need their oil and gas. We have more thananybody.”
Those are direct quotes andtheyarelies.Pointingoutthe wayinwhichTrumpdistortsand masticates the truth is always a waste of time, however Everybody in America knew he was a liar, and 77,284,118 of themvotedforhimanyway.That neverworks.
Mincing down to Mar-aLago, cap in hand, to suck up to Trump doesn’t work, either. TrudeauandDanielleSmithboth did that, each in their own uniquely gutless ways, and both returned home with bags full of nothing.
In Trudeau’s case, he got mocked as “Governor” of the
And the sooner we accept that, and act accordingly, the better off we’llbe
Chapleau Moments
by MichaelJ. Morris
In 2018, the Collins name will have been associatedwithretailbusinessinChapleaufor90 years, but its founder Charles W Collins, also played an active role in many other aspects of communitylife.
Mr. Collins was the son of Mr. and Mrs. P.J.CollinswhoarrivedinChapleauin1909.With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, soon thereafter many Chapleau boys enlisted in the armedforces,andaplaqueinSt.John'sAnglican Church notes that he was one of 42 church memberswhowere intheforcesby1916.
Let's go back to 1885, and a few years beyondforamoment.AlexandreLangisarrivedat 615.1 on the Canadian Pacific Railway with a contract from the company to clear the land that wouldbecomethetownsiteofChapleau.
After completing the contract Mr Langis stayed with the CPR but left to start a business with one E. Jackman at 4 Birch Street West at YoungandBirchStreet.Thebuildinghappenedto be owned by my great-great uncle Patrick Mulligan He had established Murrays and Mulligan,GeneralMerchants,onthatsitein1887.
AnAlbertDesjardinscametoChapleauin
CharlesWCollinsactiveinChapleaucommunitylifeestablished retailbusinessassociatedwithfamilynamein1928.
1908fromMontrealandboughtoutMr.Jackman so the name was changed to Desjardins and Langis.
In 1909 they relocated to the southwest cornerofBirchandLornestreetswhichforashort timehadbeenthesiteofthefirstRomanCatholic church.
Later, Harry Wolfe, who was the son-inlaw of Mr Langis, purchased the interests of Mr Desjardins,andin1924thestorebecameknownas LangisandWolfe.
In1928,CharlesW CollinsboughtoutMr LangisandthestorebecameknownasWolfeand Collins. The Collins name has been associated
with ownership of a store at that location ever since. In due course Mr Wolfe left the business and Fred Matters became a partner, and the store became Collins and Matters. When Mr. Matters left it became Charles W. Collins Stores Ltd and now the fourth generation of the family is in the business.
They have been Mr. Collins followed by his son George, his granddaughter Susan, his grandson Doug, and now his great-grandson Joshua. Over the years other members of the
familyhavealsobeenassociatedwiththestore. Noothernamehasbeenassociatedwitha locally owned business in Chapleau in its entire historyforaslongasCollinshas.
Charles Collins was also active in the community,andby1950hewaschairoftheboard of Lady Minto Hospital and encouraging its members to accept the need for renovations. The hospitalhadopenedin1914.
At the annual meeting of 1952, Mr. Collins, and D.O. Payette, secretary, presented plans which would also include a nurses' residence.
Mr.Collinsurgedtheboardmemberstogo on record as supporting the project"100 percent" whichtheydid.
By 1955 the renovations including the nurses' residence had been completed. The sun parlours on the east and west ends of the hospital locatedonElmStreet,acrossfromQueenStreet.
Ofalltheimprovementsperhapsthemost important was an elevator that became a reality through a generous gift from the W.E. Mason Foundation. Mr. Mason was a great supporter of NorthernOntarioandfounderoftheSudburyStar newspaper
The kitchen had been moved to the basementwithallnewequipmentdescribedas'the last word in cooking convenience for large scale service.
As the 1950s began, Chapleau installed a sewagesystemwhileMr.Collinswaspresidentof the Chapleau Board of Trade, (Chamber of Commerce). Mr Collins was also supportive of theChapleauMemorialCommunityArenaopened in1951.
Mr.CollinswasalsoamemberofBranch Number5oftheRoyalCanadianLegion,acharter member of the Chapleau Rotary Club, and St. John's Anglican Church where he served on the advisoryboardformanyyears.
Over the years renovations were undertakenatthestore.
Lougheed, Arthur J. Grout, Cecil A. Smith, Unknown, W. Steed, R. Thrush, B.W. Zufelt, Ernest Lepine, E. Brunette, Jack Shoup, Richard Brownlee, Dr. G. E. Young, Clyde Fife, D.O. Payette, Charles W. Collins.
After Mr. Collins retired, and his son George became president, and 30 years ago in 1987, the company bought Pro Hardware, which hadbeen
1930s Staff of Collins and Matters: Back row left to right: Fred Card, Fred Matters, Charles W Collins, Herbie Vezina. Front row left to right: Olive Vezina, BethInges,GertrudeCurrie(Curry)
Launch of Chapleau sewage system project 1950: Dr. D.W.
from OTTAWA Rapport d’Ottawa
by/par Carol Hughes Federal member of Parliament Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing
In a move that's as shocking as the sun rising, grocery giants Loblaw, Walmart Canada and Sobeys have once again been named in a class action lawsuit that alleges they are shortchanging customers in the amount of meat they are purchasing. If the lawsuit has merit, it willrepresentyetanotherexampleofatight-knit industry hellbent on nickel-and-diming every centtheycangougeoutofCanadians.
The lawsuit was filed in Vancouver by lead plaintiff Carrie Corrall in Vancouver on January 9th The lawsuit alleges that these grocers are deceptively including the weight of the packaging when selling meat products to customers when those products are sold by weight, a violation of federal and provincial regulations.
Whiletheproposedclassactionsuitmust be certified by a judge to proceed, there is more thanenoughprecedentforgrocerygiantsplaying fast and loose with the law to merit at least an examination. Many will likely recall grocery giants like Loblaw, Weston, Canada Bread, Sobeys,Metro,WalmartCanadaandGiantTiger wereallnamedinaclass-actionsuitforfixingthe price of bread between 2001 and 2015. Six months ago, Weston and Loblaw agreed to pay $500millionbetweenthemtosettleclassactions against them in Ontario and Quebec, the largest class action settlement in Canadian history It's notexactlydifficulttodrawtheconclusionthatif a company like Loblaw would be unscrupulous enoughtofixthepriceofbread,theycouldvery well have applied this corporate strategy to includetheweightofpackagingasmeat.
Arecent CBC Newsinvestigationfound that the Loblaw chain was “selling underweighted meat across 80 stores for an undisclosed period that ended in December 2023. ” They also conducted another investigation of seven different grocery stores across the country in 2024, and found underweighted meat in four, resulting in overchargesperitemrangingfromfourtoeleven percent. To put this in perspective, as of the writing of this column, a pound of extra lean ground beef was going for $9.49. Splitting the difference, let's say packaging accounts for 7.5 percent of the weight of that pound of beef sale. Thatis$0.71centsofthetotalcostofthepoundof
GroceryGiantsNeedtoBeInvestigated forMisrepresentingMeatWeight
beef. While not too significant on an individual level, it would cost Canadians a significant amount of money over, months, years, and decades.Thatsamepoundofbeef,unchangedin cost, bought once a week over the course of a year, would mean someone was overcharged $36.92.
Whilewewaittoseeifajudgedetermines iftheclassactionsuithasmerit,itshouldbenoted thatCanadianfoodlabellinglawsrequirethatnet quantity declarations must accurately reflect the amountoffoodinthepackage.Ifcompaniesare misleading consumers about the volume and content of the food they are selling, they are breakingthelaw.TheCanadianFoodInspection Agency has a duty to investigate claims such as thosefoundintheclassactionlawsuitandensure thatgrocerygiantsareadheringtotheletterofthe law ButwheninvestigatingaclaimthatLoblaw and other grocery giants were doing this in late 2023, CFIA claimed they didn't investigate the complaint because the grocer reported that they had fixed the problem Its discouraging for industryregulatorslikeCFIAtotakethewordof
a retailer like that. They conducted 11 other investigations between 2019 and 2023 where food weight didn't match what was being sold, andyetnofineswereissued.
Thislawsuitspeakstomanyoftheissues thatarepresentinthegroceryindustry,andwhen too few players control far too much of the industry itself, much like the telecom industry that gouges Canadians with few choices for essential products. Restrictive covenants, which limitthekindofstorethatcanopenatalocation whenagrocerleavesacertainproperty,keepnew entrants out of the market. Exclusivity clauses, which prevent a company from leasing land to direct competitors, also directly harms competitionandkeepsgrocerypricesartificially high. Yet beyond this, when grocery giants bite consumers, our federal protection agencies like CFIA and the Competition Bureau need to be giventheteethtobiteback.
Foodcostscontinuetobefartoohigh,and the corporate giants continue to rake in record profits.Weneedtoleveragethepoweroffederal agenciestoensuretheyaren'tdoingitillegally.
Ilfautenquêtersurlesgéantsdel'alimentation quifaussentlepoidsdesviandes
Sans surprise aucune, les géants de l'alimentation Loblaw, Walmart Canada et Sobeys sont à nouveau visés par une action collective, cette fois-ci parce qu'ils vendraient des emballages de viande ne contenant pas la quantité indiquée sur l'étiquette Si cette poursuite se révèle fondée, elle démontrera une fois de plus l'acharnement d'une industrie tissée serréquiestdéterminéeàsaignerlesCanadiensà blanc.
Cette action en justice a été intentée par Carrie Corrall, la plaignante principale, le 9 janvieràVancouver.Lapoursuiteallèguequeces épiciers incluent de manière trompeuse le poids del'emballagedansleprixdesviandesvendues au poids, ce qui contrevient aux règlements fédérauxetprovinciaux.
L'action collective envisagée devra d'abord être autorisée par un juge pour aller de l'avant; or, comme les géants de l'alimentation ont souvent pris des libertés avec la loi par le passé, cette affaire mérite au moins d'être examinée.Beaucoupsesouviendrontsansdoute de l'action collective intentée contre de grands acteursdusecteur,dontLoblaw,Weston,Canada Bread,Sobeys,Metro,WalmartCanadaetTigre
Géant, accusés d'avoir fixé le prix du pain de 2001 à 2015. Il y a six mois, Weston et Loblaw ontacceptédepayer500millionsdedollarsàeux deuxpourréglerlesactionscollectiveslesvisant enOntarioetauQuébec,cequiconstitueleplus important règlement de recours collectif de l'histoire canadienne. Si une entreprise comme Loblaw n'a pas de scrupules à fixer le prix du pain, on peut facilement concevoir que l'inclusiondupoidsdel'emballagedansleprixde laviandepourraitêtreuneautredesesstratégies dumêmeacabit.
Une récente enquête de CBC News a révélé que la chaîne Loblaw avait vendu des emballages de viande contenant une quantité moindrequecelleaffichéesurl'étiquettedans80 épiceriespendantunepériodenonpréciséequia pris fin en décembre 2023. Une autre enquête menée par CBC News dans sept épiceries du pays en 2024 a révélé que des emballages de viande ne contenant pas la quantité indiquée étaientvendusdansquatred'entreellesetquela surfacturation était de l'ordre de 4 à 11 %. Pour mettre les choses en perspective, au moment de larédactiondecetarticle,unelivredebœuf SuiteP.7
OntarioProtectingJobsinKapuskasing
Province providing support to Kap Paper Inc. to strengthen forest sector productivity
The Ontario government is providing a $10 million loan to Kap Paper Inc., protecting approximately2,500jobsinKapuskasingandthe surrounding region which depend on the company'songoingoperation.
“Our government is ensuring Ontario's world-class forest sector continues to build prosperity for Northern workers, families and communities,” said Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products. “This financial support delivers on our government's commitment to forest sector success by protecting jobs and maintaining productivity in Kapuskasing.”
Kap Paper is a key employer for Kapuskasing and a vital part of Ontario's forest sector supply chain. Operations at three nearby sawmills depend on Kap Paper to provide
MPPMichael
Mantha
Algoma-Manitoulin MPP, Michael Mantha, issued the following statement in response to the government's announcement on theNorthernOntarioHeritageFundCorporation:
demand for mill by-products generated by lumberproduction.
“Hard-workingpeopleandbusinessesin communitieslikeKapuskasingprovidegoodswe rely on everyday, driving growth that builds Ontario,” said Graydon Smith, Minister of Natural Resources “We're protecting those contributionstoeconomicandsocialwell-being and strengthening operations across Ontario's highlyintegratedforestsector.”
The loan will support Kap Paper's ongoing operation during challenging market conditions.
The Ontario government continues to encourage mill owners to invest in mill competitiveness and diversification. The government supports these investments through measures like the Forest Sector Investment and
Innovation Program and the Forest Biomass Program – and through ongoing actions to increasewooduse,reduceburdensforOntario's businessesandaccessnewmarkets.
This financial support delivers on Ontario'sForestSectorStrategycommitmentsto encourage economic growth in the forest sector and support the Indigenous, Northern and rural communitiesthatdriveforestsectorsuccess.
Approximately 2,500 jobs in Kapuskasingandthesurroundingregiondepend on the company's ongoing operation The companydirectlyemploys300people.
Ontario'sforestsectorgeneratedover$22 billion in revenue in 2022 and provided more than 137,000 jobs in 2023, many in Indigenous, Northernandruralcommunities.
RaisesConcernsaboutChangesto NOHFC
“WhileIwelcometheadditionalfunding for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), I am concerned about expanding eligibility to the entire District of Muskoka.
Thousands of businesses, First Nations and communities in Northern Ontario apply to the NOHFC for funding every year, and only a limited number are successful in their bids. It doesn'tseemrighttomethatsmallcommunities in Algoma-Manitoulin should be forced to compete against communities that are only an
hour-and-halfdriveawayfromToronto. When you have funding earmarked for Northern Ontario, it should stay in Northern Ontario. Our communities desperately need investment to grow, prosper and attract new opportunities. By expanding access to a limited poolofresources,Ifeardeservingprojectsinthe Northwillbeoverlooked.”
TheOntariogovernmentissafeguardingmoose populationsfromillegalhuntingpractices.
Fred McLeod of Sault Ste. Marie was foundguiltyofhuntingmoosewithoutalicence and hunting with a firearm without possessing therequireddocumentation.McLeodwasfineda totalof$5,500.
ThecourtheardthatonOctober17,2023,
OntarioElectiontobe HeldonFebruary27
PremierDougFordtodayconfirmedthat the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, has accepted the premier's advicetosignaproclamationdissolvingthe43rd Parliament of the Province of Ontario, effective asof4:00p.m.today
PursuanttotheprovisionsoftheElection Act, the Lieutenant Governor also called for the issuance of writs for the general election to be issuedJanuary29,2025,andnamedFebruary27, 2025, as the date of Ontario's next general election.MediaContacts
conservation officers observed McLeod actively hunting for moose in the Esker Lake Road area, north of Terrace Bay When officers asked McLeod for his licences, he claimed to be harvesting under his Indigenous harvesting rights but could not provide any documentation It wa
McLeod’s federal firearms possession acquisition licence had been revoked. He was cont
y conservation officers over three months and failed to provide any d
Indigenousharvestingrights.
JusticeofthePeaceTobeyMeyersofthe OntarioCourtofJustice,ThunderBay,heardthe caseonDecember4,2024.
To report a natural resource problem or
provide information about an unsolved case, membersofthepubliccancalltheministryTIPS linetollfreeat1-877-847-7667.Youcanalsocall Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222TIPS. For more information about unsolved cases,pleasevisitontario.ca/mnrftips.
Lastweekssolutions
MOMENTS IN TIME
OnFeb.10,1957,LauraIngallsWilder--authorofthe best-selling"LittleHouse"seriesofbooksbasedonher childhoodontheAmericanfrontier,whichlaterinspired a popular TV series starring Melissa Gilbert as the youngLauraandMichaelLandonasherfather,Charles --diedatage90inMansfield,Missouri.
Ilfautenquêtersurlesgéantsdel'alimentation quifaussentlepoidsdesviandes
SuitedelaP.4
hachéextra-maigresevendait9,49$.Faisonsune moyenneetdisonsquel'emballagecorrespondà 7,5 % du poids de cette livre de bœuf. La surfacturation serait alors de 0,71 $ par livre. Certes, elle n'est pas énorme à l'échelle individuelle, mais au fil des mois, des années et des décennies, elle finit par coûter cher aux Canadiens.Siunepersonneachetaitcettelivrede bœuf, toujours au même prix, une fois par semaine pendant un an, elle se verrait facturer 36,92$detrop.
En attendant qu'un juge détermine si l'actioncollectiveestfondée,ilconvientdenoter que les lois canadiennes sur l'étiquetage des aliments exigent que la quantité nette déclarée reflèteavecexactitudelaquantitécontenuedans l'emballage. Si des entreprises induisent les consommateursenerreurquantàlaquantitéetau contenu des aliments qu'elles vendent, elles enfreignent la loi L'Agence canadienne d'inspection des aliments (ACIA) a le mandat d'enquêter sur les allégations comme celles formulées dans le cadre de l'action collective et de veiller à ce que les géants de l'alimentation respectent la lettre de la loi. Or, lorsqu'elle a été saisie d'une plainte selon laquelle Loblaw et d'autres géants de l'alimentation se livraient à cette pratique de surfacturation à la fin de 2023, l'ACIAa affirmé qu'elle n'avait pas fait enquête parce que l'épicier avait déclaré avoir corrigé le problème. Il est décourageant que des autorités de réglementation de l'industrie comme l'ACIA croient ainsi un détaillant sur parole. De 2019 à 2023,l'ACIAamené11autresenquêtessurdes casoùlepoidsdesalimentsnecorrespondaitpas àcequiétaitvendu,maisellen'ainfligéaucune amende.
Cette action en justice témoigne de nombreuxproblèmesobservésdansl'industriede l'alimentation et du fait qu'un nombre trop restreint d'acteurs contrôlent une part beaucoup tropgrandedecesecteur,àl'instardel'industrie des télécommunications, qui escroque les Canadiens en leur proposant un choix limité de produits et services essentiels. Par exemple, les
clauses restrictives, qui limitent les types de magasins pouvant s'installer dans une propriété laisséevacanteparunépicier,empêchentl'entrée de nouveaux acteurs sur le marché. Les clauses d'exclusivité, qui interdisent à un locateur de louer des terrains à des concurrents directs d'un locataire, nuisent aussi directement à la concurrenceetmaintiennentlesprixdesaliments à un niveau artificiellement élevé Enfin, et surtout,ilfautdonnerànosorganismesfédéraux deprotection,telsquel'ACIAetleBureaudela concurrence, les moyens de riposter quand les géants de l'alimentation malmènent les consommateurs.
Lecoûtdesalimentsrestebeaucouptrop élevé, et les grandes entreprises du secteur ne cessent d'engranger des profits records. Nous devons faire appel au pouvoir des autorités fédérales pour veiller à ce que ces entreprises n'agissentpasdansl'illégalité.
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!
We also carry road trip snacks, which includes Subs, Chips, Pop, plus a whole lot more.
Your Propane Refilling Station
BERRY’S FREIGHT SERVICES
TIMMINS
Monday to Friday: 1 lb. to 10,000 lbs 1-705-363-7804
Monday to Friday
FORQUALITYSERVICESAT INEXPENSIVEPRICES
GIVE USACALLAT 1-705-264-4334
Local MARKETPLACE MARKETPLACE
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (A.A).Open discussion meeting every Monday evening. Brunswick House First Nation Band office lounge 7pm.NarcoticsAnonymous(N.A)everyTuesdaysameplacesametime. NNADAPWorker@864-0174info.
CHADWIC HOME, FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE. Offers shelter, emotionalsupport,andinformationforwomenandtheirchildrenwhoarein crisissituations WehaveaTollFreeCrisisLinewhichisstaffed24hoursa day WecanarrangeforfreetransportationtotheCentreforwomenwho liveintheAlgoma/Chapleauarea Wealsooffersupporttowomenwholive in the communities of Chapleau, White River, Dubreuilville, and HornepaynethroughourOutreachProgram OurOutreachWorkertravels tothosecommunitiestomeetwithwomenwhoneedemotionalsupportas wellasinformationabouttheirrightsandoptions Ifyouneedtospeakwith 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 residentoftheCentreinordertouseourservices Ifyouneedsomeoneto talktoorifyoujustneedsomeonetolisten,callourTollFreeCrisislineat1800-461-2242oryoucandropinattheCentre Wearehereforyou
tgendron@northernlightsford.ca
Youknow,beingapoliticianiskindofa funnything.IamproudtosaythatIworkhardto getoutandmeetpeoplewheretheyliveandwork year-round. As a result, I am often readily recognized. I've noticed that many people feel comfortable striking up an immediate conversationwithmeonthespot.Often,people areeagertoaskquestionsorsharetheirviewson a wide range of matters of concern to them. For themostpart,exchangesarefriendlyandcordial, even when differing perspectives become apparent.
What I gain from the hundreds of exchanges I have is invaluable to me. How else willanelectedofficialbeabletobringthevoices ofpeopletotheLegislature?Listeningisthemost essential part of the job, so I have trouble understanding why some MPPs seem to almost hideandduckcallsfromconstituents.
Thesecondkeyelementforapoliticianis the willingness to work with anyone and everyonetogetthejobdoneandtomakethings better for all. Granted, there is a time and place for partisan politics, but partisanship should not getinthewayofprogress. Inmymind,agoodideaisagoodidea,nomatter where or who it comes from. I find it professionally troublesome when I see great ideas outright shot down just because they were initiated on the wrong side of the Legislature floor
Northern Ontarians understand the importance of keeping our highways safe. They are very much our lifelines for employment, education, medical care, food, goods, and servicesweneedeveryday.Inotherpartsofthe province, if a road is closed or if people feel unsafe driving a particular route to go somewhere,theycantakeanalternaterouteona quieter road. In the North, no alternate routes exist to get from place to place. So, safety is paramount.
I have long been concerned about the number of severe and fatal accidents involving commercial trucks and transports. Look how oftenHwys11,17andtheTransCanadaHwyare closed down for hours at a time, all year round, not just in winter One has to wonder why, especially when it happens in all four seasons. SomereaderswillrecallthatonNovember22of lastyear,IintroducedPrivateMember'sBill224, the Safer Driving Tests Act (Ending the Privatization Failure). The purpose behind the billwastooverhaultheprivatizeddriver'slicense examinationsystembecause,asitoperatestoday, it is abysmally failing Ontarians. It seems a few
AGoodIdeaisaGoodIdea–No
badactorsareapprovinglicensesdespitethefact that some applicants do not fulfil all of the training requirements. Some do not even pass mandatory written and moving tests, yet end up being licensed. Investigations have even revealedmanyinstancesofoutrightbribery.
The deficiencies fall under three main categories:
· Underperformanceandaccountabilityby Serco DES Inc., the contractor who administers Ontario'sDriveTestnetwork.
· Service gaps and reliability concerns for not delivering reliable service to all geographic regionsoftheprovince(i.e.theNorth)
· Safety and fraud concerns, including reports of incomplete and improper commercial drivingtraining
The fact that the contractor, Serco DES Inc.,failedtoadministertheDriveTestNetwork is included in the "Value-for-Money Audit: Driver Training and Examination" report prepared by the Office of the Auditor General. The issues were also featured in "Truck Driving Schools Exposed" on CBC Marketplace on GEMorYouTube(clickheretowatch).
Clearly, there are significant problems thatneedtobeaddressedbeforemorepeopleare hurt or killed.And it should not matter whether thebillthatwouldaddresstheissuescomesfrom the government or the opposition side of the Legislature. Like I said, a good idea is a good idea.Nevermindpartisanpride;let'sjustgetthe problemfixed.
At this juncture, Bill 224 is waiting for 2ndreadinganddebate.Itstillhastopasssecond reading, go through committee and then pass third reading. But if not supported by the governing Conservatives, or if Premier Ford decidestoproroguethelegislatureorcallanearly election,thebilldies.
Fellow Northern MPP John Vanthof of Timiskiming-Cochrane also understands that Northerners need our highway safety issues fixed.Vanthofreleasedadiscussionpapercalled "A Northern Plan for Safer Highways." In the paper, Vanthof stated, "Currently, some poorly trained commercial vehicle drivers and the companies they work for are putting all other driversatunduerisk.Incidentshavebeeneasyto track on social media" He further explains, "There are over 100 companies in Ontario who recruit, train and license their own drivers, and theycanissueOntariolicensestothem.Theseare among the worst offenders." Further, Vanthof points out that investigative reports on the problems in commercial truck training and licensinggobackasfaras2018.
Hmmm, wasn't it 2018 when the Ford governmentwaselected?
MPP Guy Bourgouin, who represents Mushkegowuk-JamesBay,isanotherNortherner
MatterWhereitComesFrom
whoworkshardtomakeOntariohighwayssafer In early December of this past year, Mr Bourgouin introduced Bill 233, proposing to amend the Highway Traffic Act. Northerners knowthehavocwinterweathercausesondriving conditions. We know that along with opportunitiesforsport,funandexcitement,cold, snow, and ice also bring risks and hazards that mustbeunderstoodandrespected.Weknowthis from experience. That is why MPP Bourgouin proposed that the Highway Traffic Act include mandatory entry-level winter weather training. This would include an educational component andaminimumof20hoursofsuperviseddriving in winter conditions before a full license can be achieved.
The examples above represent just a fraction of the many ways Northern MPPs collaboratetomakeOntariohighwayssafer.AsI havestatedmanytimesinthelegislatureandthis column, highway maintenance and safety are among the most frequent complaints that my officereceivesyearafteryear.MyteamandItake these concerns and reports very seriously We follow up with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) on such safety concerns probably more than any other issue in any ministry The introductiontotheMinistry'sletterusuallystates that highway safety is MTO's highest priority Thisisfollowedbyconclusionstotheeffectthat the contractor or conditions all fall within acceptedstandards.
Theproblemiswhetherornotthematter satisfies the terms and conditions spelled out by the MTO, a problem exists. So, if the risks continue year after year, what does this tell us about the terms of the privatized maintenance contractsandministrystandards?
This is supposed to be the age of transparency and accountability. However, the Ford government is not meeting public expectationsinthisregard.
The point is that the primary job of any electedgovernmentistoensuretheneedsofthe people are met This includes implementing safetyand maintenance standards on our highwaysandensuringthatpeoplewhobecome licensedcompletethenecessarytrainingandcan demonstratetheskillsneededtooperateavehicle safelyonourstreetsandhighways.
Like I said before, a good idea is a good idea,nomatterwhereitcomesfrom.Iappreciate hearingfromconstituentsbyletter,email,phone callorin-personexchanges.Politiciansmustset aside partisanship more often and get the job done.That'showdemocracyshouldwork.
Asalways,pleasefeelfreetocontactmy office about these issues or any other provincial matters.Youcanreachmyconstituencyofficeby emailatmmantha-co@ola.orgorbyphoneTollfreeat1-800-831-1899.