CanoebuilderturnsBataLibraryintotemporaryworkshop
Alex Labelle is building a birchbark canoe in the atrium of Trent University’s Bata Library this fall
ByEddySweeney,LocalJournalismInitiative Reporter
CanoebuilderAlexLabellehasturnedTrent University’sBataLibraryintoatemporary workshop this fall. He’s set up in the library’s atrium, where he’s building a birchbark canoe for use by the Trent community. You can learn more about the initiative by listening to the audiostoryintheplayerbelow.
Labelle said he learned the craft from his grandfather,whohasbuiltmanybirchbarkcanoes andsharedhisknowledgewidely.Buthisgrandfatherwantstoretire,Labelleexplained.“Sothat’s whyI’mhere,”hesaid.“Iwantedtocarryonthe tradition, because he’s been able to pass it on to me.”
Labelle was invited to Trent to build the canoebyLorenzoWhetung,theculturaladvisorat theFirstPeople’sHouseofLearning(FPHL),and by Dawn Lavell-Harvard, the director of FPHL. The idea is to build a canoe that can be used by membersoftheTrentcommunityandalsototeach peopletheskillsinvolvedinconstructingone.
As Lavell-Harvard pointed out, those skillsare“unfortunatelydisappearing.”Shesaidit was “beautiful” to see Alex Labelle and his grandfathersharingtheirskillswithothers.
Lavell-Harvarddescribedthecanoeasan essential piece of technology for Indigenous people. “Our people wereonthewaterways,” shesaid.“Thecanoewas essential to our survival … The difference between surviving through the next winter ornotwasyourcanoe.”
11
5
11
5
-4
-1
10
7
12
Lavell-Harvard
encourages anyone who’s curious to visit the librarywhileLabelleisworking.“Youwillgetto actuallyputyourhandsinbuildingthiscanoeand contributing,” she said. “In future generations, you’llbeabletosay,‘Iremember,Ihelpedbuild thatcanoe.'”
Labelle’s canoe-building project is
expectedtowrapupbyOctober25,withanaming ceremonytofollowatafuturedate.
Trent Radio’s Local Journalism Initiative reporter Eddy Sweeney interviewed Labelle, Whetung,andLavell-Harvard.
AlexisthesonofJaniqueLabelleandJoel Lafrance.
AlexLabellescrapingsprucerootsashebuildsabirchbarkcanoeinsideBataLibrary.(Photo: EddySweeney)
Temporary Full-Time Custodian (Chapleau, Ontario)
TheAlgoma District School Board invites applications for the position of Custodian in Chapleau. This is a temporaryfull-timepositiontocoverapregnancyandparentalleave.Thepositionbeginsimmediatelyand mayextendtoFebruary2026.
CompensationandBenefits:
! $26.81perhourplus4%vacationpay
! 35hoursperweek
! Paidsickleaveplan,health,dentalandlifeinsurancebenefitseffectiveimmediately forthetermoftheposition
! Unionizedposition
! OMERSpensionplan
Educational Qualifications:
! Grade 12 Diploma or Equivalent
Requirements:
! Basicknowledgeofcleaningprocedures
! Abilitytofollowinstructionsandtocooperatewithotheremployeesandwithpersons whouseBoardfacilitiesfromtimetotime
! AbilitytomeetthephysicaldemandsofthepositionasdemonstratedbycompletingaPhysical DemandsAnalysis
! SuccessfulcandidateswillberequiredtoundergoaVulnerableSectorCheck
SummaryofDuties:
! Eveningshift–3:00PMto11:00PM
! Cleanpartorallofaschoolorofficebuildingwhichinvolvessweeping,washing, waxing,dusting,scrubbing,mopping,polishing,shampooing,vacuumcleaning
! Securingbuilding
! Useofstepladders,scaffoldsasrequired
! Whennecessary,assistmaintenanceworkerwithrepairs
! Receiveandstoreschoolsupplies
! Maintainlighting,plumbing,windows,painting,varnishing
! WorkincompliancewithallActs,RegulationsandBoardPoliciesandProcedures, includingHealthandSafetyPoliciesandProcedures
! Otherdutiesasassignedbydesignatedpersonnel
Hours of work will vary between the hours of 6:00AM and 11:00PM – as determined by theAlgoma DistrictSchoolBoardtomeetoperationalneeds.
Applications must be received byTuesday, October 29, 2024 and may be forwarded by email to:
Riley Hogan Human Resources Officer hoganr@adsb.on.ca
Onlythoseapplicantsshort-listedwillbecontacted.
AshortlistingofapplicantsforconsiderationwillbecompletedemployingtheAlgomaDistrictSchoolBoard Hiring Policy. Should there be a need for interviews, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Accommodationsthroughtherecruitmentandselectionprocessareavailableuponrequest.Thesuccessful candidate,asaconditionofemployment,willberequiredtoprovideacurrentvulnerablesectorcheck,which isacceptabletotheBoard.
TheAlgomaDistrictSchoolBoardiscommittedtoanequitableeducationsystemthatupholdsandreflects theprinciplesoffairandinclusiveeducation. Additionalinformationaboutspecificprograms,andtheVision, Mission,ValuesandPrioritiesoftheAlgomaDistrictSchoolBoardcanbefoundatwww.adsb.on.ca.
LUCIA REECE ALGOMA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
JENNIFER SARLO Director of Education www.adsb.on.ca Chairperson
SE
OPPChapleau–SearchWarrant findsDrugs,ChargesLaid
On October 16, 2024, at approximately 9:30 a.m., the SuperiorEastDetachmentof theOntarioProvincialPolice (OPP) Community Street CrimeUnitexecutedasearch warrant at a residence on MartelRoadintheTownofChapleau.
Policelocatedandseized:
Over13gramsofsuspectedcocaine
Over9gramsofsuspectedfentanyl
Over17gramsofsuspectedmethamphetamine
Under1gramofsuspectedcrackcocaine$100
Drug paraphernalia (packaging material, two digitalscalesandacellphone)
Totalestimatedstreetvalueofdrugsis$3,200.
Asaresultoftheinvestigation,Michelle MARTINEAU, 30 years-of-age from Chapleau waschargedwith:
! PossessionofascheduleIsubstanceforthe purposeoftrafficking-cocaine
! PossessionofascheduleIsubstanceforthe purposeoftrafficking-methamphetamine
! PossessionofascheduleIsubstanceforthe purposeoftrafficking-opioid(otherthan heroin)
! Possessionofproceedsofpropertyobtainedby crimeunder$5000
TheaccusedappearedbeforetheOntario Court of Justice-Bail Court in Chapleau on October17,2024.
Chapleau Moments
by MichaelJ. Morris
At some point and certainly pre-high school Boo and I both had BB guns and were prettygoodshotsbutbecamequicklyboredwith target practice in the back yard; and soon discovered that bags of potatoes and other soft produce were stored in the low-ceilinged basement of the Boston. We discovered that the potatoesdidnotcausearicochetand“saved”the BB'swhichwewouldrecoverandreuse.
Unknown to us these potatoes were frequentlypeeledandservedtocustomersinthe restaurant and with increasing frequency there were complaints from patrons. Soon we were prohibited from dropping down the trap door fromthekitchenandspendinganafternooninthe darkbasement“justshooting.”
The Boston had a side yard that later becameYen'sBridgeviewMotelbutbeforethatit was a gravel and cinder playground where we playedpickupsoftball,andfrequentlyplayedout three on1 the runs and pitches of the baseball heroes we listened to on Sundays in the other side.
Because I was never able to pitch a straight ball Jim or Boo played that role and the
Boston! Memories of the Boston Café and the HongfamilybyHarry'Butch'Pellow(Part2)
others played catcher and baseman. I was frequently designated runner and frequently 'bonked'withafiercepitchtogetmeoutathome plate.IthadanimpactonmyfutureIthink,andI became wiser and much more aware of my opportunities and events in my life, and I have avoided'bonking'eversince.
Aswematuredsomewhat(butnevertruly maturedIhope)theBostonCaférecreateditself for us as a meeting and gathering place best represented by the numbers of teenagers and youngadultswhoconvergedonitaboutnoonor just a little after as the churches got out on Sunday; and frequently there were Christmas partieswheretheBostonturnedintoadelightful placeforafestivedinnerhostedbyMa.
Onawonderfulspringdaywewouldfind theyoungladiesstrollingbyintheirSundaybest, the boys of a like age sitting on the steps and leaningagainsttherestaurantwindowswatching them, and frequently cars straggling by very slowlyhopingtopickuponeormoreofthegirls for a ride to Bucciarelliiville or The Diversion. Neitherofthesedestinationsasyoumightknow weremuchofaride,buttheywereaneventanda distraction.
About this time
Jean was off to Nursing School in Toronto and while Jim and Boo were still in high school somewhere between 1954and1956or57; and a few years before I left for Teacher's College in 1959(anotherstory).
These were special days partway throughthemuscularachesandawkwardnessof adolescenceandtheemergenceofbeingayoung adult.Idon'tknowwhatgirlscalledit,butIknow
itwasanawakening.
You could see the difference week by week as the snow disappeared and the spring sunshinesparkledonthehalf-frozenpuddlesand weeping snowbanks. Everything looked a little more exciting, the opposite sex looked a little more interesting; and whatever it was, “somethingwashappening.”
IntheBostoninmyyoungeryears,Iapprenticed occasionally as dishwasher, server, cleaner upper, window washer and whatever else was presumed appropriate. Sometimes I even wiped offtheNickelodeon;Sometimesitwasa'puton' by Jim or Boo, or an initiation, but I always enjoyedit.
“Justlooking..."
I was embraced by the Hong family and asIhavesaidmanytimesbeforeIenjoyedmuch loveandasmanymealsattheBostonasIdidat home and so did many others. For sure I was treatedtoMa'sspecialdesert,her“BostonCream Pie,”andIwasprivilegedtosaytherehasnever beenonefinerexceptmaybe Cont’donP.5
Butchinkitchen."Don'topentrapdoor.”
from OTTAWA Rapport d’Ottawa
by/par Carol Hughes Federal member of Parliament Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing
LateontheeveningofOctober10th,Bill C-64, the pharmacare framework legislation, passed the Senate, received Royal Assent, and becamelaw.Thiswasamajorstepinadvancing public health care and stands as one of the crowning achievements the NDP managed to secure this parliament. However, there's still a significant amount of work to do to ensure Canadians can get access to timely medications through a public, single payer universal pharmacaresystem.
Bill C-64 was the result of the negotiationsfoundintheSupplyandConfidence Agreement between New Democrats and the Federalgovernment.Itwasactuallyacenterpiece of that agreement, one that was a particular sticking point over the course of its lifetime betweenbothparties.NewDemocratsnegotiated thepassingoftheCanadaPharmacareActbythe end of 2023, leading to tensions as the governmentplayedfastandloosewiththattime frame,andonlyfinalizeditspassingthroughthe HouseofCommonsatthestartoflastJune.While it took six months longer than agreed to, not counting the time it took to get through the Senate, the bill's passage marks a monumental shifttowardsCanadianpharmacare.
Establishingaframeworkforpharmacare hasbeenaverylongtimecoming.Former NDP LeaderandfatherofCanadianMedicareTommy Douglas had always envisioned a health care system that covered all health care issues from head to toe, and New Democrats have always soughttofinalizehislegacy.Pharmacarehadalso beenpartoftheLiberal'splatformforalmost30 years, since 1997, despite being in government formorethanhalfthatperiod.
Politics aside, there is a good reason for passing a bill for a framework for pharmacare. According to Statistics Canada, one-fifth of Canadians reported not having any prescription insurance to cover medication costs. Some 25 percentofseniors,whoaremorelikelytorequire prescription medication, had no drug coverage. One-eighth of Canadians spent more than $500 per year on drugs and 17 percent of people reportednon-adherencetoaprescriptionbecause of the cost when they had no drug coverage. A recentLegerpollshows22percentofCanadians have reported cutting pills, skipping doses, or refusingtorenewprescriptionsduetocost.While drugpricesaresignificantlycheaperherethanin
Canada'sMajorStepTowardsPharmacare,andtheChallengesAhead
the U.S., they are still higher in Canada than in manyOECDcountries.There'salsoaneconomic case for establishing a single-payer, universal pharmacaresystem,asitwouldreducethecostof drugsduetobulkpurchasing,anditwouldreduce the high administration costs and eliminate the profit margins charged by insurance companies, further reducing costs by small and medium enterprises of the financial burden of providing drugcoverageforemployees.
Now,tobeclear,C-64isabilltoestablish the framework for pharmacare. This is the first step in a broader pharmacare regime that will require the Minister of Health to negotiate how pharmacare works within the provinces and territories. The legislation also puts the Federal governmentinapositiontostrikedealsthatwill ensureaccesstofreecontraceptivesfor9million Canadians, as well as diabetes medications to 6 million diabetics, within the public health care system. While the Minister has stated that he
intendedonhavingdealsinplacewithprovincial andterritorialgovernmentsbynextspring,itwill requireproponentsofpharmacaretoholdhisfeet tothefire.
And it's important to strike those deals soonerratherthanlater,aswehavecomealong way in actually getting this hard work done. Dr. EricHoskins,whochairedtheadvisorypanelon pharmacare,hasurgedswiftworkonnegotiating these deals, citing concerns about a potential electioncallthatcouldputmuchoftheworkon pharmacare at risk. He isn't wrong to share this concern, as the Conservative leader has said he would reject single payer pharmacare if he became Prime Minister. This, despite recent polling from Environics that shows majority supportforpharmacareinCanada,withsome75 percent of Canadians polled supporting pharmacare and 80 percent supporting the current plan to provide diabetes and contraceptivemedications.
Pharmacareisn'tjustpopular,it'stheright thingtodo.
UneavancéemajeureduCanadaversl'assurancemédicamentsetlesdéfisàvenir
Tarddanslasoiréedu10octobre,leprojet de loi C-64, la loi-cadre sur l'assurance médicaments,aétéadoptéparleSénat,areçula sanction royale et est devenu loi. Il s'agit d'un grand pas en avant dans les soins de santé publique et l'une des plus brillantes réussites du NPD au Parlement. Cependant, il reste encore beaucoup de travail à faire pour garantir que les Canadiens aient accès à des médicaments en temps opportun grâce à un régime public d'assurance médicaments universel à payeur unique.
Le projet de loi C-64 est le résultat de négociations tenues dans le cadre de l'accord de confiance et de soutien conclu entre les néo-démocrates et le gouvernement fédéral. Il s'agissait en fait d'un élément central de cet accord, et d'une question particulièrement épineuse entre les deux parties. Les néo-démocratesontnégociél'adoptiondelaLoi canadiennesurl'assurancemédicamentsavantla finde2023,cequiacréédestensionspuisquele gouvernementaagidemanièreimprévisibleavec cedélaietqu'iln'afinalisél'adoptionduprojetde loi à la Chambre des communes qu'au début de juindernier.Ilafallusixmoisdeplusqueprévu, sanscompterletempsexigépourfranchirl'étape duSénat,maisl'adoptionduprojetdeloimarque une évolution monumentale vers un système d'assurancemédicamentsauCanada. Ilafallubeaucoupdetempsafind'établir uncadrepourl'assurancemédicaments.L'ancien chef du Nouveau Parti démocratique et père du régime canadien d'assurance maladie, Tommy Douglas, avait toujours imaginé un système de soins qui couvrirait tous les problèmes de santé,
de la tête aux pieds, et les néo-démocrates ont toujours cherché à concrétiser son héritage. En fait, l'assurance médicaments a fait partie de la plateforme des libéraux pendant près de 30 ans, soitdepuis1997,maisceux-cin'ontjamaisagien ce sens, même s'ils ont été au gouvernement pendantplusdela moitiédecettepériode. Misàpartlesmotivationspolitiques,ilya une bonne raison d'adopter une loi-cadre sur l'assurance médicaments. Selon Statistique Canada,uncinquièmedesCanadiensontdéclaré ne pas avoir d'assurance couvrant les coûts de leursmédicaments.Environ25%despersonnes âgées,quisontplussusceptiblesd'avoirbesoinde médicaments sur ordonnance, n'avaient aucune assurance médicaments. Un huitième des Canadiens dépensent plus de 500 $ par an pour les médicaments, et 17 % des gens déclarent ne pas suivre une ordonnance en raison du coût parce qu'ils n'ont pas d'assurance médicaments. DansunrécentsondagedelafirmeLéger,22% des Canadiens ont déclaré avoir coupé des comprimés, sauté des doses ou décidé de ne pas renouveler leurs ordonnances en raison du coût. Bien que les médicaments soient considérablement moins chers ici qu'aux États-Unis, ils sont plus élevés que dans de nombreux pays de l'OCDE. Il y a également un argument économique en faveur de l'établissement d'un régime public d'assurance médicamentsuniverselàpayeurunique,carcela réduirait le coût des médicaments grâce à des achats en gros, et réduirait également les frais administratifs, qui sont élevés, et éliminerait les marges bénéficiaires facturées par les compagniesd'assurance,Cont’donP.7
ChapleauMoments
Cont’dfromP.3 the ones made byYen, Jean, and Jim for us when weattendedthereunionlastsummer.
I was honoured by their effort and have referredtoitfrequentlyeversince.
“Go Boston” is what the Bruins did in defeatingtheLeafsthisyearandmaystillfinishup withThe Cup but boy was it close. Foster Hewitt wouldhavebeendanglingoutoftheGondolaand Yen.JimmyandBoowouldhavebeencallingthe playtotheverylastwhistlein“theotherside.”
I miss Chapleau in the late forties and fifties and attribute much of my lifestyle and successes to a few very special people and
wonderfulfriendswhounwittinglypartneredwith me and took me through those crazy adolescent years.Coulddoitallagain.
Imisstheballoontiredredracerswehadand beingthefirstonthestreetswhenthesnowmelted. I especially miss Boo Boo and my Chapleau friends as many do and wish it could all be recreatedagain.
“Go Boston” and we all did. Weekend Saturdaysallday,weekendSundaysjustafternoon until the sun swung around to the west and the sidewalk in front of the Boston was in shade; before and after the movies, softball on the 'north side' of Les McMillan's fence in spring and summer, and hockey games on the river, on AberdeenStreetandattheareainwinter.
The Boston was home to some and a meeting place where you would always find someone you knew and where there was always a friendly smile to greet you. It was a hamburger, a pop, a shakeandmaybeapieceofMa'spie;andforsomejustasmoke,ahi orhello;butitwasthere,andanytime.
Many of the fuzzy pictures were taken with a very old eight-millimetre movie camera.They were taken at the BostonCaféand'downtown'on the same spring day in 1954 or 1955.Youwillknowthenames and remember the faces and if you are like me, you will remember other circumstances oftheday.
If you have pictures reminiscent of the Boston and wanttoshare,IknowtheHongs andIwouldenjoyseeingthem.
GiantTrojanHorsetovisitChapleauHealth ServicesonThursday: OCHU-CUPE and theOntarioHealthCoalitioncallforending privatizationofhospitalsurgeries
OnThursdayafternoon, a15-footwoodenTrojanHorse will visit Chapleau Health Services symbolizing the “duplicity of the Ontario PCs hospital services’ privatization plan.”
As part of their province-wide Trojan Horse tour, CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHUCUPE)andtheOntarioHealth Coalitionarecallingforanend to ongoing privatization of hospital surgeries and diagnostic tests, and demanding the government invest in staffing and capacity
inpublichospitals.
WHO:
KevinCook,firstvicepresident ofOCHU/CUPE
Dave Tremblay, regional vice presidentofOCHU/CUPE
Suzanne Pinel-Asselin, francophone vice-president of OCHU/CUPE
WHAT:
Protestagainsttheprivatization ofhospitalservices
WHERE:
Chapleau Health Services, 2 BroomheadRd.,Chapleau,ON WHEN: 3:00p.m.onThursday,October 24
Jean,Butch,YenwithBostonCreampieatreunion
Lastweekssolutions
MOMENTS IN TIME
OnNov.9,1965,oneofhistory'slargestpowerfailuresoccurredwhenNew York State, portions of seven nearby states, and parts of eastern Canada wentblackattheheightofrushhour,thankstothetrippingofa230-kilovolt transmissionlinenearOntario,Canada,whichcausedseveralotherlinesto fail as well. Eight hundred thousand people were trapped in subways, thousandsmorewerestrandedinofficebuildings,elevators,andtrains,and 10,000 National Guardsmen and 5,000 off-duty policemen had to be called intoservice.
UneavancéemajeureduCanadaversl'assurance médicamentsetlesdéfisàvenir
réduisantainsilescoûtssupportésparlespetites et moyennes entreprises et le fardeau financier que représente le maintien d'un régime d'assurancemédicamentspourlesemployés.
Soyonsclairs:leprojetdeloiC-64viseà établir le cadre d'un régime d'assurance médicaments. Il s'agit de la première étape d'un régime plus vaste qui exigera du ministre de la Santé de négocier le fonctionnement de l'assurancemédicamentsdanslesprovincesetles territoires. Cette mesure législative permet également au gouvernement fédéral de conclure des accords qui garantiront l'accès gratuit aux contraceptifspour9millionsdeCanadiens,ainsi qu'aux médicaments contre le diabète pour 6 millions de personnes, au sein du système de soinsdesantépublics.Leministreadéclaréqu'il prévoyait de conclure des accords avec les gouvernementsprovinciauxetterritoriauxd'icile printemps prochain, mais il incombera aux promoteurs de l'assurance médicaments de l'obligeràtenirsesengagements.
Ilestimportantdeconclurecesaccordsle plustôtpossible,carnousavonsparcouruunlong cheminpouraccomplircedurtravail.LeDrEric Hoskins, qui a présidé le Conseil consultatif sur la mise en œuvre d'un régime national d'assurance médicaments, a insisté sur la nécessité d'agir rapidement pour négocier ces accords, citant des préoccupations concernant une éventuelle élection qui pourrait mettre une grande partie du travail sur l'assurance médicaments en péril. Il n'a pas tort de partager ces craintes, car le chef des conservateurs a déclaréqu'ilrejetteraitl'assurancemédicamentsà payeur unique s'il devenait premier ministre, même si de récents sondages d'Environics montrentunsoutienmajoritaireà l'assurance
des Canadiens interrogés sont en faveur de l'assurancemédicaments,et80%sontenfaveur duplanactuelquicomprendl'accèsuniverselaux contraceptifs et aux médicaments contre le diabète.
L'assurance médicaments n'est pas uniquement populaire; c'est une mesure juste et nécessaire.
tgendron@northernlightsford.ca
Well, the summer was everything I had expected – and then some. You will recall that Premier Ford chose to delay the resumption of theLegislature'sbusiness.Mostyears,Members return to Queen's Park in early September. But Premier Ford determined it was better for his governmenttoavoidscrutinyforhowhe'sbeen running the province for as long as possible. Givenalloftheissuessuchashealthcare,doctor shortages, nurses leaving the profession early, education,andservicewaittimesforfamiliesof children with Autism, one might think the governmentmightwanttotacklethegrowinglist of issues as soon as possible to make life better for Ontarians. But apparently, the Premier sees thingsdifferentlyfromhisownperspective. Mind you, I found there was no shortage of things to do and places to go. Some weeks, my odometerseemedtospinlikeaslotmachineasI traversed the riding from end to end and side to side many times. But let there be no doubt that meeting with people, no matter where I meet them,isalwaysofgreatvalue.Igettoseepeople where they live, seeing and hearing their concerns for myself. That's what it takes to understand and bring their voices to Queen's Park.
This summer, I met with many constituents and community leaders at my constituency clinics across the riding. I just finished two weeks in Northern Algoma and along the North Shore. In November, I will be holding more clinics on Manitoulin. Check my websiteorcallmyofficeifyouwanttosetupan appointmenttomeetwithmetodiscussitemsof concern.
As usual, I am more than ready to get back into the Legislature because we have so much work to do. So many Ontarians are suffering, having to deal with all manner of healthcareissues,suchasnofamilyphysicianto care for them, hospital emergency department closures, and seemingly endless wait times for surgeryorothertreatments.Beingoutandabout all summer, I heard people's frustration as they questionedtheprioritiesoftheFordgovernment.
The people of Algoma-Manitoulin are sick of hearing the Premier touting the importanceofbuildingmoreandmorehighways inthesouth.Manyask,howaboutfinishingthe 4-laningHwy400thatwasstarteddecadesago? Itseemstomethatnotonenewkilometreofthat highway was opened this summer. All summer long,wehaveheardandreadthePremierandthe governmentextollinghowbuildingHwy413to connect the regions of York, Peel, and Halton
The
willbenefitthatregion'scitizens.Thetruthofthe matteristhatmostseenobenefittotheresidents andbusinesses.
Or maybe MTO should consider alleviating the frustration of people inconvenienced by prolongedprojectssuchasthebridgeacrossthe Spanish River in Massey. For two years now, residentscrossingthatbridgemustadjusttravel timestoallowfortrafficinterruptionseverytime theygoout.Whatisworseisthatmyofficehas learned that, due to unexpected circumstances andmaterialshortages,MTOhasnowextended the completion of the project to the end of the construction season in 2025. It is now a threeyearproject.
Maybe it would be worthwhile to invest inaddressingtheconstantfloodingofHwy638 at the junction of 17 heading into Echo Bay. MTO has been promising since before 2015 to fixtheproblemassoonastheirfieldstudiesare complete and engineers determine what causes the flooding and how to fix it. Putting up cones all year long, year after year, is not fixing the problem. It is more than an inconvenience. Driving through deep waters flooding the roadway poses a danger to the public. Invest in thesurveysandstudies,deviseaplanandgetthe job done, already! It's been flooding for more than ten years! Get your priorities straight, Mr. Ford.
Another ongoing transportation issue thatposesagenuinethreattothosetravellingthe TransCanadaisfoundnorthoftheGoulaisRiver areaatMileHill,whereaccidentsornearmisses involvingmooseanddeerareaproblem.Todate, MTO has taken no meaningful steps to address theissue.Sofar,theonlyinvestmenttoimprove safety has been posting "moose crossing" signs and agreeing to clear some brush to increase oncoming visibility.And, of course, there is the usualpromiseto"monitor"thesituationthrough the Collision Analytics and Reporting System (CARS)andassessthedatacollected.MTOhas been "monitoring" the Echo Bay flooding issue fortenyearsandhastakennosteps.Itisawellestablished fact that this is a known major migratory/travel route where the number of crossings is extreme, and the time and money spent implementing CARS won't mitigate the danger. MTO can do so much more to improve the safety of those travelling this route. The governmentneedstostepuptotheplatetodayto save lives. It needs to reassess its priorities and back up its claimed commitment to safety with effectiveplans,actionsandfunding.
This summer, when people heard PremierFord'sannouncedpromisetoOntarians that he would build a tunnel under Hwy 401, even though no feasibility study had even been discussednoranycostingoffered,thecollective
boomofpeople'sfrustrationgasketburstingwas deafening.
People tell me they really question the government's priorities when it comes to spending. Some tell me that, while they are happytoseeOntariomakingthepurchaseofbeer and wine more convenient, the matter was not reallyonpeople'scollectiveradarasaproblem. Andforsure,theysaythatthe$225millionprice tagthatwehavetopayfortheearlycancellation oftheprovince'scontractwiththebeerindustry isawasteofmoney.Woulditnothavebeenmore responsibletowaitjustonemoreyearwhenthe contractwouldnaturallyhaveexpired?Ontopof this price tag, add the LCBO lost revenue. The LCBO brings in a whopping $2.5 billion to government coffers annually. And the Minister ofFinancehasstatedthathehasnoideahowthe changeinsaleswillaffectthoserevenues.
While we are on the topic of wasted money, it seems that the issues emanating from passing Bill 124, which the courts ruled was unconstitutional, are finally being resolved.All those thousands of workers whose collective bargaining rights were violated are receiving their retroactive pay and realizing the increased wage that should have been negotiated is now beingcompensated.AccordingtoCBCNews,as of October 15, Ontario taxpayers have had to fork over $4.3 million to settle legal costs and pay out $6.7 billion more in retroactive pay. WhenOntarianselectagovernment,theyexpect it to ensure that the legislation they pass meets constitutional and legal requirements. Well, it appears the Ford government's legal advisors kindofdroppedtheballonBill124.Northerners havetoldmethat,withoutadoubt,thisisoneof themostexpensivefumblesinhistory.
So,whenpeopleaskmeifIamreadyto find my way back to Queen's Park, without hesitation, I say, "Absolutely. There's so much worktobedone."Ihaveheardthevoicesofthe peopleofAlgoma-Manitoulinandamexcitedto returntoworkontheirbehalf.
As always, I invite you to contact my officeabouttheseissuesoranyotherprovincial matters.Youcanreachmyconstituencyofficeby email at mmantha-co@ola.org or call Toll-free 1-800-831-1899.
