Les éditions André Paquette

Catégorie : Tribune-Express (Hawkesbury)

  • Safety demand for new traffic lights

    Safety demand for new traffic lights

    « To enhance traffic safety, » stated Brontë Walker-Moores, Ontario Transportation media liaison, in an email response to a query about the reason for new traffic light setups at the on-and-off ramp intersections for Highway 417, in Champlain and Russell townships.

    The one traffic light installation, at the Rockdale Road intersection near the boundary of Russell Township with the Village of Vars, has been an ongoing project for the past year. It has undergone one refit because the traffic light poles were set up in the wrong location the first time. Plans to relocate the poles to their correct site are delayed because the wet spring weather, this year, has created a high-water table, and the contractor has to wait for the groundwater level to drop before putting in the concrete footings this summer for the poles.

    Read the complete article on page 5 of the Tribune-Express of June 13, 2019.

  • Clock counting down on cellphone service project

    Clock counting down on cellphone service project

    “Time is of the essence,” said Stéphane Parisien, chief administrator for the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR).

    UCPR council gave unanimous approval during a special session June 12 to a resolution calling on the federal government to confirm its $71 million share of funding support for the Eastern Ontario Regional Network’s Mobile Broadband Project (EORN).

    The project is a follow-up to EORN’s regional broadband project for improvement of Internet service for all of Eastern Ontario. The mobile broadband project focus is better cellular phone service to benefit economic development and public safety in the region.

    The Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus (EOWC), which represents 103 municipalities in Eastern Ontario, has committed $10 million to the project. The UCPR is part of the EOWC.

    Another combined $10 million commitment has come from nine of the largest towns and cities in Eastern Ontario. The Ontario Progressive Conservative government has also confirmed a $71 million commitment to the project.

    “All that we’re missing is the federal government coming to the table,” Parisien told UCPR council. “Time is running out. It’s five minutes to midnight.”

    The Trudeau Liberal government promised funding in the federal budget for projects to improve broadband service for Canada’s rural areas. The UCPR demands that federal government make a public financial commitment to the EORN mobile broadband project before Parliament recesses for the summer.

  • Pierre Lemieux on re-election quest

    Pierre Lemieux on re-election quest

    Lisez la version française à la page 3 du Reflet-News du 13 juin 2019.

    « We have nothing to do with Doug Ford, » said Lemieux, adding that the goal of the federal Conservative party is « responsible government spending » and recognizing that a balanced federal budget may not be possible within a four-year term.

    During a June 2 interview at a local coffee shop Lemieux continued to distance himself and the federal Conservatives from Premier Ford’s Progressive Conservative government. He dismissed any suggestion that some voters may wonder if an Andrew Scheer federal Conservative government would act the same way as the Ford PC provincial government, with a focus on cost-cutting at the expense of social programs.

    Lemieux wants to restore Glengarry-Prescott-Russell to the federal Conservative fold in October but he also has one other personal goal as he campaigns across the riding. « I want to restore people’s trust and confidence in their MPs, » he said. « I feel Canadians want to have confidence (in government) but it’s challenging. I want to serve the people, and do it in such a way to restore trust in our elected officials, in Parliament, and in our political system. »

    Read the complete interview on page 3 of the Tribune-Express of June 12, 2019.

  • “Silent running” ambulance policy angers ministry

    “Silent running” ambulance policy angers ministry

    “We’re expecting an investigation (call),” said Michel Chrétien, director of emergency services for the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR).

    Chrétien anticipates that kind of action from the health ministry in response to the “silent running” protocol that went into effect June 4 in the long-running battle between the UCPR, the City of Ottawa, and Ontario’s health ministry over out-of-town ambulance calls.

    Ottawa owes the counties more than $1 million in costs for use of Prescott-Russell ambulance units to handle some of the city’s emergency calls. But Ottawa claims it is under no legal obligation to pay.

    Meanwhile Ottawa continues to make use of counties ambulances to deal with some of its calls. Provincial policy for ambulance dispatch requires units to respond to a call when required, even if it is in a neighbouring jurisdiction. Sometimes the demand by Ottawa on PR ambulance units has been so great that there are no units available when UCPR residents need ambulance service.

    UCPR officials have complained about the situation to Queens Park during both the Wynne Liberal and the Ford Progressive Conservative administrations. The counties have become tired at the lack of results and now have a “silent running” protocol in place for the PR ambulance service.

    Prescott-Russell units which are returning to home base after dealing with a call outside of their area will ignore any other outside calls from provincial dispatch until they have returned to base. Then they will be available for outside calls again.

    The “silent running” protocol is the latest tactic by the counties to get provincial action on the ambulance dispatch situation. Chrétien expects the protocol may provoke a challenge from the health ministry through an investigation on any one or more of the outside ambulance dispatch calls which PR units refused while on their way back to base. He said he would welcome the chance to explain the situation in court to a judge.

  • Fake American money passed around

    Fake American money passed around

    During the arrest, police seized a large amount of counterfeit money. Both individuals were released with an order to appear at provincial court June 26 in L’Orignal. 

     A third person of interest to police in the case (see CCTV photo) is wanted for questioning. He is described as a white male, tall and skinny, with sideburns along the sides of his face. Anyone who sees this man, or knows who he is and where he may be found, is asked to call police at 613-632-2729 or toll-free at 1-888-310-1122.

  • L’Orignal marina still flooded

    L’Orignal marina still flooded

    “Right now we can’t access the buildings, so we can’t see anything,” said Lisa Burroughs, parks and recreation director.  She further explained that the floodwaters of the Ottawa River still cover the causeway access to the marina office, fuel tanks, and all of the floating docks at the facility. The Wharf Street entry to the causeway is barricaded and those barricades will remain in place while Champlain Township parks and recreation staff waits for the floodwaters to recede and inspection of the facility is possible.

    The May long weekend is the traditional start of boating season for the township, and for 49 seasonal boat owners who lease docking space at the marina. This year’s spring flooding of the Ottawa River delayed opening of the marina and has pushed the official start of boating season into June or July, depending on how soon inspection of the facility is done.

    Read the complete article on page 4 of the June 6, 2019 Tribune-Express.

  • Hawkesbury choisie comme communauté francophone accueillante

    Hawkesbury choisie comme communauté francophone accueillante

    « La communauté francophone est enracinée à Hawkesbury et a aidé à fonder cette communauté, a dit le député fédéral de Glengarry-Prescott-Russell Francis Drouin. Cette annonce est une étape importante afin de combler la pénurie de main d’œuvre actuelle à Hawkesbury ».

    Quatorze communautés à travers le Canada ont été selectionnées par le ministre de l’Immigration, des Réfugiés et de la Citoyenneté et partageront un financement de 12,6 millions de dollars sur une  période trois ans. 

    La Ville de Hawkesbury, d’abord, recevra un montant de 1,35 millions de dollars pour créer des programmes et des activités pour offrir un bel accueil aux nouveaux arrivants d’expression française et les aider à s’intégrer dans les communautés francophones en situation minoritaire.

    « Plusieurs nouveaux organismes et entreprises s’y établissent et il y a des opportunités pour tous, tant dans le secteur de la santé que dans le secteur manufacturier, a dit M. Drouin. La communauté d’Hawkesbury est l’hôte d’un bassin de services qui travailleront ensemble sur ce projet pilote ».

  • Vankleek Hill Cougars have new owners

    Vankleek Hill Cougars have new owners

    « We love the game, » said Greg McEachern, Cougars assistant coach.

    McEachern, General Manager Marc Berniqué, and Head Coach Franky Dopelhamer (see photo) took over June 1 as the official owners of the Vankleek Hill Cougars.

    The three began negotiations with the club executive for purchase of the team several weeks ago after the end of the 2018-2019 NCJHL season.

    One of the conditions in the agreement between the three and the VKH club executive was a guarantee that the Cougars would continue as part of the Vankleek Hill hockey scene for at least a five-year period.

    For more details on the Cougars sale deal see this week’s Tribune Express.

  • Des travailleurs de Hawkesbury se manifestent

    Des travailleurs de Hawkesbury se manifestent

    « On demande une augmentation de salaire de 1.5 % et ils veulent rien savoir, mais la mairesse elle vient de se donner une augmentation de 25 %, a déclaré Alain Larocque, président du Syndicat canadien de la fonction publique (SCFP) #1026, lors de la manifestation devant l’Hôtel de Ville à Hawkesbury vendredi dernier le 31 mai. Les membres sont fâchés, ils sont tannés et ils veulent juste avoir du respect ».

    Cette manifestation survient plus d’un an après l’échéance de la dernière convention collective de 62 membres syndiqués. Ceux-ci comprennent, entre autres, des employés des travaux publics, du complexe sportif, de la bibliothèque, n’ont pas été renouvelés depuis avril 2018.

    Les discussions ont commencé le 22 juin 2018 et la dernière discussion entre le syndical et la Ville a eu lieu en avril de cette année. « En avril, ils ont fait une dernière offre : ils voulaient nous donner notre 1.5 % d’augmentation, mais nous enlever d’autres choses, comme nos heures accumulées et d’abolir les emplois temporaires, a dit M. Larocque. Il faut que je donne quelque chose pour avoir mon 1.5 % ».

    « Cette augmentation de 1.5 % ne représente même pas 50 sous à l’heure et un total d’à peu près 700 $ à la fin de l’année », a expliqué pour sa part Monique Brunet, la trésorière de la SCFP #1026. La manifestation a eu lieu pendant l’heure du diner, vu que le mandat de grave n’a pas été donné encore. « Tout dépend sur ce qui va arriver après aujourd’hui », a dit M. Larocque. 

    Une trentaine d’employés municipaux syndiqués ont manifesté à Hawkesbury.

     

  • UCPR will fight nuclear waste plan

    UCPR will fight nuclear waste plan

    Counties council gave unanimous consent during its May 8 committee of the whole session to have administration prepare a resolution for the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) to join the growing protest against plans for Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) to develop a nuclear waste disposal operation at its Chalk River facility in Deep River in Renfrew County, about 180 kilometres northwest of Ottawa.

    The previous Harper Conservative government restructured Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. in 2015, creating the CNL subsidiary managed by a multinational consortium, which includes SNC Lavelin among its members. The CNL contract calls on the consortium to find “the fastest, most cost-effective means” for disposal of the nuclear waste at the Chalk River facility. The CNL plan would also handle waste disposal from other federal nuclear sites.

    CNL wants to build a “near-surface disposal site” that includes a containment mound covering an area 27 acres in size with an elevation of 65 to 80 feet. The mound would contain about a million cubic metres of low-level nuclear waste that could also include some mid- and high-level waste, depending on whether CNL was successful at separating the materials.

    The proposed site for the containment mound is over an active earthquake fault where the sub-surface rock is fractured and could allow any leachate to leak below ground into Perch Lake, which drains into the Ottawa River. CNL’s containment plan calls for putting the waste in a geomembrane and then covering that with layers of sand, stone, gravel, and top soil.

    The City of Clarence-Rockland and the townships of Champlain, Alfred-Plantagenet and East Hawkesbury have already passed resolutions opposing CNL’s proposal.