Catégorie : TRIBUNE-EXPRESS

Champlain Township’s mayor and council want to make sure that democracy is alive and well and strong in their municipality.

Both Mayor Normand Riopel and every member of council declared that the provincial government’s offer of “strong mayor” powers for the municipality is neither wanted nor appreciated. During their May 22 session they reviewed an analysis report from Municipal Clerk Alison Collard about the Ford Progressive Conservative government’s plan to expand its “strong mayor” powers project to more municipalities in Ontario and described the plan as unnecessary and unwanted.

“I think it’s anti-democratic legislation,” said Councillor Peter Barton, “and reflects the disconnect between the people in Queens Park and the rest of the province.”

The Ford government introduced the “strong mayor powers” program in 2022, with Toronto and Ottawa the first municipalities to see their mayors allowed greater authority to cut red tape and accelerate the delivery of key priorities in their communities”. The program has since expanded to include 47 municipalities with enhanced mayoral authority and now the provincial government intends to add another 169 communities this month to the list of “strong mayor” municipalities. That list includes Champlain Township, Hawkesbury, Clarence-Rockland, and The Nation Municipality. One of the guidelines on which communities become “strong mayor” municipalities is whether or not they have six other people sitting on council with the mayor.

The “strong mayor powers” give a mayor authority to: choose and appoint or dismiss the chief administrator for a municipality; hire the head of certain municipal departments and also to either set up or reorganize a municipal department; create council committees and assign them their purpose and appoint the chairs and vice-chairs for those committees; propose a municipal budget that would be subject to amendment and revision by council and also to a separate head of council veto and council override process.

The expanded mayoral powers also include the authority to propose certain municipal bylaws if the mayor believes that a particular bylaw proposal could help advance a provincial priority for the municipality identified in a provincial regulation. Those priorities could include infrastructure maintenance or improvement or dealing with local housing needs. Council could approve these mayoral-inspired bylaws if more than a third of all sitting councillors voted for the bylaw. The mayor could also veto certain bylaw if he or she believed they could interfere with a provincial priority. A mayor could present topics for council to consider if they could advance a provincial priority.

Collard noted in her report that “there is no option for a municipality to opt out of the Strong Mayor Powers” though the mayor may delegate any or all of these new powers to either council or a member of administration. On May 16 Mayor Riopel gave the township clerk’s office official notice that he was delegating to council the power to appoint and dismiss the chief administrator, the power to set up committees and assign their functions, and the power to appoint the chairs and vice-chairs of those committees. He also delegated to the chief administrator the responsibility for the township’s organizational structure and authority related to employment matters concerning the heads of municipal departments.

During an interview last month Mayor Riopel said he saw no need for the “strong mayor” powers that the provincial government offered. He affirmed his position during the May 22 council session, describing the new authority as “hothead powers” that are contrary to the purpose of an elected mayor and council.

“I believe in democracy,” said Riopel. “I believe in communication and I believe in debates. I do believe in council. I believe in my council.”

The mayor promised that from now on, when he signs off on all bylaws passed during each council session, he will also write on every document that he has no objection to the bylaw and will not veto it.

Councillor André Roy expressed concern what could happen to the township in future if there is a change of mayors following a municipal election. The provincial legislation does not allow the township to opt out of the “strong mayor” powers program.

Mayor Riopel said that citizens who are well-informed and responsible with their votes are the best future safeguard for the township.

“How do we protect ourselves?” said Mayor Riopel. “Vote for the right people. Don’t vote for a dictator. Don’t vote for somebody who’s going to control this council. There are good people out there. There are good people with (wise) heads on their shoulders. That’s what we want.”

More trees in the ground around the township is the plan this year in Alfred-Plantagenet.

Council approved a plan from Parks and Recreation Director Manon Besner for a new tree-planting project over the summer season.

Last September the department presented council with a report for a forest management agreement between the township and the South Nation Conservation Authority (SNC). Council approved the report and the agreement was later signed between the two.

The plan is for tree-planting work in local parks in the township and other greenspace areas. A budget of $107,921 was allocated for the project using money the township received in 2023 from the United Counties of Prescott-Russell Forest Restoration Fund.

The project goal is to increase the amount of tree cover in the township. Besides this year’s treeplanting project, the township also helps sponsor the SNC’s annual free seedling distribution to homeowners. This year the township initiated its own April Apple Tree Initiative in partnership with Les Serre M. Quennville. That program helped provide local homeowners with a chance to win one of 350 vouchers for a free apple tree seedling to plant in their yards.

Hawkesbury council wants administration to try for a lower tax rate for the 2025 budget.

“I would prefer 9.5 per cent,” said Councillor Antonios Tsourounakis. “That is solidly under 10 per cent.”

His comment followed Hawkesbury Treasurer Jonathan Timbers’ presentation of a second draft of the preliminary budget during the November 12 council session. The original budget draft featured a tax rate of 11.69 per cent to deal with all the necessary operation and capital costs for the municipality next year.

The revised budget lowered the tax rate to 9.99 per cent. Councillor Tsourounakis noted that for the average Hawkesbury resident that still means a 10 per cent increase in property taxes.

Mayor Robert Lefebvre reminded council that the increase of more than $560,000 in the OPP policing contract for next year already starts the 2025 budget at a 4.8-per-cent deficit that has to be handled by a tax rate increase. He also noted that the town needs to deal with some of its asset management plan (AMP) goals. Current provincial government guidelines now require all municipalities have plans in place for better planning on how they maintain their existing infrastructure and plan for future infrastructure improvements.

Councillor Yves Paquette agreed with that the 2025 budget has to deal with both the increase in policing costs and present infrastructure maintenance needs. But he still expressed concern about a tax rate increase that borders on 10 per cent.

“There is a lot of pressure being imposed on the province about policing costs,” said Mayor Lefebvre, noting lobbying efforts by Hawkesbury and other municipalities over local policing bills.

The revised preliminary budget proposes a one-per-cent reduction in next year’s infrastructure funding allocation. It also suggests cutting $31,000 in municipal expenses by turning the annual Hawkesbury Multicultural Festival from a three-day event to a two-day event.

Councillor Jeanne Charlebois asked if administration could try and bring the tax rate down to somewhere between 9.5 per cent and 9.9 per cent. Councillor Tsourounakis said he would be satisfied with a 9.75-per-cent rate increase. He also noted that the Ford government will also soon face a provincial election and might be inclined to offer some financial incentives to municipalities as part of a pre-election plan.

Council voted at the end of its discussion for administration to revise the 2025 budget further and bring the tax rate increase down to 9.5 per cent.

During a virtual briefing, the EOHU’s top doctor urged residents of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) to stay vigilant and protect themselves against a significant rise in multiple respiratory viruses spreading through the community.

According to the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU), the region is experiencing an increase in COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as the holidays approach. COVID-19 activity in Eastern Ontario peaked in November, coinciding with the release of the newest COVID-19 vaccine booster shot. There are currently three outbreaks of COVID-19 in UCPR long-term care homes, with 11 staff members and 40 residents infected. There are an additional 16 cases in local hospitals, and two in intensive care units. Five people died from COVID-19 in November, and three have died of it in December so far.

The EOHU is urging residents to get their shots as soon as possible. Both are available through pharmacies or the EOHU by appointment, and they’re safe to get together. The updated COVID-19 vaccine protects against XBB.1.5. Omicron and other sub-variants circulating in the community.

“Vaccines can take up to two weeks to provide strong protection, so it is important you get your vaccines as soon as possible, to help protect you through all your upcoming gatherings,” said Roumeliotis. “Getting your vaccines can prevent severe illness and help relieve the burden on our hospitals and healthcare system, and ensure everyone has a safe and healthy holiday season.”

For general daily protection from respiratory and other illnesses, the EOHU recommends adopting some simple habits to avoid the spread of germs. These include frequently washing hands with soap and water, sneezing into your elbow, avoiding touching your face area, disinfecting high-traffic surfaces such as door handles and counters, using an air purifier, wearing a mask in crowded areas, and staying home when experiencing symptoms.

The EOHU offers COVID-19 vaccine appointments to everyone by booking on https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ or through the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900. It also offers the flu vaccine to children under five years old and their household members through https://booking.eohu.ca/. Otherwise, the flu vaccine is available through local pharmacies.

Anti-viral medications are also available for the immunocompromised and others at high risk for complications from respiratory illnesses. Speak to a healthcare provider or visit http://www.EOHU.ca/Respiratory for more information.

Champlain Township parents are left reeling after an announcement that the township will no longer offer daycare services.

For 40 years, Champlain Township has offered daycare services to working parents, utilizing space leased by the Conseil scolaire de district catholique de l’Est ontarien (CSDCEO) at no cost. Now though, the township is ridding itself of the responsibility and transferring the childcare services offered at Saint-Grégoire Catholic Elementary School in Vankleek Hill and Saint-Jean-Baptiste Catholic Elementary School in L’Orignal.

The L’Association francophone à l’éducation des services à l’enfance de l’Ontario (AFÉSEO) will assume all operations starting on January 1,2024. During the Committee of the Whole meeting on October 12, residents attended en masse to question the language, the staffing, and the reasons behind the situation.

Several questions were forwarded from a previous meeting on September 28, including whether the new provider will offer a fully bilingual service, whether there will be a transition plan in place for bilingual families, and whether the transfer of services could be postponed until such a plan is in place. Parents also wanted to know what the approach will be for special needs children at the St-Gregoire daycare.

CSDCEO Superintendent of Business and Treasurer Martin Lavigne said that delaying the transfer wouldn’t be an option, as the AFÉSEO is ready to launch the service on January 1, 2024, and might not be willing to wait. However, he assured everyone that no child will be left behind and that every attempt will be made to hire bilingual staff for the day care centre.

Language Barrier

Parents were concerned that anglophone staff would lose their jobs due to the bilingual requirement. Lavigne said that in similar situations, almost all former staff that reapplied were hired back, but staffing decisions are ultimately up to the provider. “If the second language is French, they are welcome to apply — even if it is not the greatest French in the world,” Lavigne said.

Parents were also concerned that documentation would only be available in French, presenting a barrier to English parents; Lavigne said that the French-language ‘Parent Guide’ would be explained in English to parents at a special meeting, if necessary. Vankleek Hill Councillor Paul Emile Duval pointed out that the township had always been encouraging of bilingualism, and said that, “If we sign up with you, we would like to have the note to parents sent in English and in French.”

Unfortunately, Lavigne said that bilingual documentation hasn’t been the position of the board, and that it would ultimately be up to the service provider to decide. “The school board is not saying no. Some of our schools provide certain documents in both official languages.”

He did say however that he had personally called the childcare agency and confirmed that non-French-speaking families wouldn’t be left behind just because they don’t speak the language.

“We have other communities similar to Vankleek Hill and have the same contract – in the Cornwall area, they speak English and there is nothing that prevents the use of English,” Lavigne said. “We just want to make sure they are exposed to the other language. So far as reassurance, they shouldn’t be scared of the new services. We will make it easy for parents and a nice place for the kids.”

Disciplined for English?

Parent Steve Beauchesne said that it’s rumored that speaking English is actively discouraged at the daycares, and that one teacher has proof of being disciplined for speaking English. He wondered if council had considered the possibility of English-speakers moving away if the situation became too hostile.

“Can we at least request that children be spoken to in their own language until parents have had the chance to move their child to a service that is truly bilingual?”

Lavigne said he couldn’t address the issue at this time, but he did comment that bilingualism is developed at an early age. Riopel said that the possibility of English-speakers leaving had never crossed his mind.

Surprised and Upset

Vankleek Hill Councillor Peter Barton commented to CAO Kevin Tessier on the rushed nature of the decision, saying it’s council’s job to ensure the public is well-informed of decisions of this magnitude.

“I think it was a surprise and disappointment to our community. The idea of moving away from day care is a public issue and should have been discussed publicly,” he said. “I understand that there were parts that had to take place in camera, but I think the conversation should have been held in a public forum.”

Parent Krista Tollis Skinner agreed, saying that she attempted to submit a proposal for a delegation and had been denied. She also pointed out that 4p.m. wasn’t an easy time for parents to attend a meeting that concerned their children, as both the October 12 and September 28 meeting started at 4 p.m.

Tessier said that the decision to hold the meetings in private was up to council.

Undoing What’s Been Done

Skinner asked whether the transfer of services could be cancelled, a possibility mentioned during the September 28 meeting, and whether that was a council or school board decision. Tessier said that council decided the Township will no longer offer daycare services, and everything else is up to the school board.

Lavigne said that the CDSCEO is only interested in long-term business partnerships, and that the Township has already expressed its disinterest in continuing the arrangement. Skinner asked if a long-term commitment of 10 or 20 years would change the school board’s mind and prompt them to accept the township back as a provider, to which Lavigne said he’d have to present that to the board for a decision.

Mayor Normand Riopel stated that reversing the decision and offering daycare services again isn’t something the Township is considering. It projected a $1.7 million loss over the next four years if it continued managing the service, a hefty burden to taxpayers. He asked parents to give the transition a chance, and that it might turn out much better than they were dreading.

A Bad First Impression

Skinner said that their dread was justified, and that the September 28 meeting had left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. Their concerns seemed to have been brushed aside, and it seemed like the general manager was laughing at them. “We were treated with utter disrespect,” she said.

“I know there is a saying that you can never make a good first impression twice,” Lavigne said. “I think they were not prepared for that meeting and that a lot of the concerns are stemming from that night.”

Tessier said that another meeting with parents would likely be organized.

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CHMA) opened its annual Mental Health Awareness Week on October 5, a province-wide initiative to promote physical activity and raise awareness for mental health. Supporters gathered at the Robert Hartley Sports Complex in Hawkesbury to view various presentations from partner organizations and hear the guest speakers. Geneviève Desrochers spoke on what the CMHA hopes to achieve with the program, which was established by the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) and coordinated by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH).

“Mental Illness Awareness Week is an annual national public education campaign designed to help open the eyes of Canadians to the reality of mental illness. The goal of this awareness week is to educate, raise awareness, and connect people with community services,” said Desrochers. “Seventy per cent of mental health problems have their onset during childhood or adolescence, but 75 per cent of children and youth with mental health disorders don’t access to specialized treatment services. In any given year, one in five Canadians experiences mental illness, and mood and anxiety disorders are among the most common types of disorders in Canada.”

Following her speech, Desrochers invited Kandy-Lyn Bartsch to display the painting of her experiences with schizophrenia.

A Powerful Painting

“I experienced early onset schizophrenia when I was about 5 or 6 years old, but I did not know this, and neither did my family. As years went on my illness progressed, and I ended up self-harming because I believed whatever these voices were telling me inside my head were going to come true, and my family would be harmed,” Bartsch said. “They weren’t pleasant things that were being said or done, but I was diagnosed when I was 17, and it turned out that the voices were full of B.S. It took years to understand that the voices in my head couldn’t harm my family, to overcome the fear of what would happen if I didn’t follow through with what they were telling me to do.”

“From the time I was 17 to about 28 or 29, those years were a living hell because the voices and paranoia got really bad, but by the time I reached 30, my psychiatrist noticed I was improving. I refused to stop taking my medications, because I didn’t want to go back to that hell. When I was 33, I was told my schizophrenia was in remission, and I will remain there as long as I keep taking my medications. I insisted I was going to be okay, and I remain okay at 41.”

”One thing I can turn around and say is that, my life was hell at the beginning, but it’s been heaven ever since.”

Bartsch explained that her painting is for herself and all mental health sufferers everywhere. The cage around the brain represents that people feel trapped and can’t escape what’s happening mentally. The zig-zag line represents how some people feel torn apart, and the steam coming out the ears represents the anger issues that mental illness causes. The person inside the cage shows those who are still trying to escape, and the open door shows that they can.

Spiraling Feelings

Finally, Danielle Renaud spoke on her experiences with depression and anxiety since she was a child in school. She faced depression, loneliness, and a total lack of trust that culminated in suicidal thoughts. “I hated everyone, and it seemed that everyone hated me. I hated myself most of all,” Renaud said. “It was a mistake. My life has changed since then, and I have learned how to deal with my emotions.”

After the speakers finished, the gathered crowd proceeded outside to begin the march. The crowd walked through the streets of Hawkesbury, promoting mental health awareness and the positive effects of outdoor exercise. Afterwards, they returned to the Robert Hartley Complex to continue perusing the booths.

Students at VCI walked around the jogging track outside to raise money and awareness for cancer research.

The Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute (VCI) held its annual Terry Fox Run on September 21. Students walked out onto the jogging track in twos and threes, and the weather was brisk but sunny as they observed Terry Fox’s incredible legacy. Fox determined that cancer research didn’t have enough money, and so he planned a cross-Canada run to raise money. Although cancer returned to his lungs before he could reach the Pacific Ocean and forced him to stop, he managed to run a total 5,373 kilometres.

Despite not crossing the country before his death on June 28, 1981, Fox achieved his other goal of raising $1 from every Canadian. More importantly he set in motion the annual Terry Fox Run, which each year ignites cancer research in Canada and has raised more than $850 million since 1980.

Décembre/December