The Creemore
ECHO
Friday, January 24, 2020 Vol. 20 No. 04
www.creemore.com
News and views in and around Creemore
INSIDE THE ECHO
Late Fees
Competitive Edge
PAGE 5
PAGE 9
Library faces cost overruns
Local skater wins at worlds
Publications Mail Agreement # 40024973
Simcoe strikes
Circling back on Hwy 26 roundabout by Trina Berlo Clearview council and staff were at the annual Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference in Toronto from Jan. 19-21 where municipal officials have a chance to rub elbows with provincial bigwigs. Clearview was granted a delegation with Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney and staff. “We had a delegation to discuss the recent decision by the MTO to cancel plans for a roundabout at the 27/28 Sideroad and Highway 26, just north of Stayner,” said Clearview Township Mayor Doug Measures. Clearview was notified last year that traffic lights would be installed at the intersection, instead of the roundabout.
through the intersection Measures said Clearview more slowly. He said the was notified in April via a preference is for a two-lane very brief letter received roundabout that has a large f r o m a n M TO s t a ff e r, enough circumference to without any explanation. accommodate large trucks. The intersection is a busy one because 27/28 Sideroad “Traffic volumes are going to continue to increase is used to bypass Stayner. and in that study it clearly “It’s a busy, busy spot. says by 2031 the current Putting in a traffic light just Doug Measures highway will have reached brings two sides to a stop all its capacity every hour of the day. We the time,” said Measures. recognize we need to keep the traffic Measures said he outlined the moving and bringing in a stoplight on reasons why the municipality would Highway 26 is actually opposite to the prefer a roundabout, among them, objective of keeping traffic moving. safety, efficiency, and require less Measures said he also asked if the maintenance. Traffic clears the location of the new casino coming to intersection quickly because vehicles never have to stop, but they move (See “Clearview” on page 3)
Simcoe County District School Board, including Nottawasaga and Creemore Public School, will be impacted by escalating labour action by Ontario teachers. The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) is set to enter week two of rotating strikes, having sent the five-day required strike notice for Simcoe, Waterloo, Keewatin-Patricia and Penetanguishene Protestant Separate school boards for Monday, Jan. 27. “ETFO is very disappointed that Ford’s Education Minister Stephen Lecce has not come back to the bargaining table to negotiate key issues affecting students, student learning and educators,” said ETFO President Sam Hammond. “It is now 34 days since ETFO’s last bargaining session on Dec. 19.
Ontario Liberal leadership tour stops in Creemore by Trina Berlo All six leadership candidates vying to be top dog of the Ontario Liberal Party were in Creemore last Friday night during a campaign tour of the province. One theme was apparent: how to rebuild the party? Candidate Steven Del Duca (Former MPP for Vaughan, 2012-2018) referred to the 75 or so people in the room as “Doug Ford’s worst nightmare.” “The stakes are incredibly high at this particular moment,” he said. “Only a focused party will be able to beat Ford in 2022. We have to win so… a small town like Creemore can feel like a Liberal Queen’s Park is on their side.” The provincial Liberals were decimated in the 2018 election against the Doug Ford Conservatives, winning only seven seats and losing official party status. Candidates also acknowledged that the riding of Simcoe Grey is a Conservative stronghold. The common goal amongst the candidates was to rebuild the party in order to be a threat to the current (See “Candidates” on page 3)
Staff photo: Trina Berlo
Candidates for leader of the Ontario Liberal Party were in Creemore Friday: Michael Coteau (from left), Kate Graham, Alvin Tedjo, Brenda Hollingsworth, Steven Del Duca and Mitzie Hunter.
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