Catégorie : Tribune-Express (Hawkesbury)

  • Municipalities follow partial lockdown orders

    Municipalities follow partial lockdown orders

    The Robert Hartley Sports Complex in Hawkesbury is closed for the duration. Also public access to the municipal office is by appointment only. Residents who need to see town staff for any issues must either phone or email to make an appointment. 

    Residents can pay permit fees, parking tickets, or municipal bills online through a Paymentus setup at the municipal website at https://ipn.paymentus.com/cp/hawk?lang=en. Other payment methods are listed at https://www.hawkesbury.ca/en/town-hall/finance-department. 

    The Hawkesbury public library remains open but with a 50-per-cent capacity limit under the partial lockdown guidelines. Library patrons must follow public health safety guidelines, including wearing a mask and practising social distancing. 

    East Hawkesbury

    The doors at the East Hawkesbury Township municipal office in St-Eugène are closed during the partial lockdown. Residents can phone 613-674-2170 or email  llalonde@easthawkesbury.ca about any service issues or questions. There is a lockbox dropoff outside of the building for any permit fee, municipal bill or tax payments or residents can pay those charges through their local bank. 

    Alfred-Plantagenet

    The municipal offices for Alfred-Plantagenet Township are closed to the public. Residents can phone 613-673-4797 with questions or concerns or use the email link on the municipal website. There is a lockbox outside of the municipal office in Plantagenet for any permit fees, municipal bills, or tax payments or go to the municipal website for information on doing online payments. 

    All public library branches in the township are open but are subject to the 50-per-cent capacity limit for patrons inside the premises under the partial lockdown guidelines. Masking and social distancing while inside the libraries are mandatory. 

  • “Vaccine shopping” is impacting vaccination rates

    “Vaccine shopping” is impacting vaccination rates

    Amid the fourth wave of COVID-19, some people are refusing to get their second and third shots if they can’t receive the Pfizer brand of vaccine. This phenomenon, referred to as “vaccine shopping”, has led to a negative impact on vaccination rates, and may have disastrous consequences down the line. 

    Moderna supply interruptions in the early days of the pandemic led to most people receiving Pfizer as their first and second doses. Now, some people are reluctant to get Moderna for their third dose, even though mixing vaccines shows a higher immunity response and better protection. 

    “We do have people call and ask, and when they hear we only have Moderna they do go elsewhere,” an employee at the Russell Pharmacy said over the phone. “We don’t usually get people walking out because we’re by appointment only, and when we book them, we’re very clear that we only have Moderna.” 

    Pfizer is currently experiencing shipping delays, and there is an ample supply of Moderna, so that’s what’s being offered at most mass vaccination clinics. What Pfizer vaccines are available are being rationed for the 18-to-29 age group, as Moderna carries a risk of side effects for that age group. 

    This misinformation may be why there have been significantly less 5-to-11-year-olds receiving their vaccinations. 

  • Accident mortel en fin d’année

    Accident mortel en fin d’année

    Le détachement de Hawkesbury de la Police provinciale de l’Ontario a reçu un appel peu après 8 h, le 29 décembre, au sujet d’une collision de deux véhicules sur la bretelle d’accès à l’autoroute 417 en direction ouest, près du Centre d’information touristique de l’Ontario, dans le canton de Hawkesbury Est. 

    Une voiture se dirigeant vers l’ouest est entrée en collision avec l’arrière d’un camion à semi-remorque sur la bretelle d’accès. Josée Grenier, 44 ans, de Vaudreuil-Dorion, Québec, était au volant de la voiture. Les ambulanciers ont constaté son décès sur les lieux de l’accident. 

    Le conducteur du camion de transport n’a pas été blessé. 

    Au moment de mettre sous presse, les membres de l’unité d’enquête de la Division technique de la Police provinciale de l’Ontario, enquêtaient toujours sur les causes de la collision.  

  • HGH staff shortage may close emergency department

    HGH staff shortage may close emergency department

    Hawkesbury and District General Hospital (HGH) is considering overnight closures of its emergency department because of staffing shortages. An internal memo from hospital management is urging all « off-duty personnel » to take on additional shifts in the face of hundreds of staff members calling in sick. 

    « The situation is more serious than it has ever been in the course of the pandemic, » the memo said. « In the 100-year history of HGH, we have not had to close our [emergency department]. The closure has an impact on many families who will be required to travel considerably further for emergency services. » 

    The hospital has enough rapid-antigen tests to shorten the time for some staff members to get back to work, but they don’t have access to more, and they don’t have enough for everyone. Dr. Julie Maranda, medical chief of staff at HGH, stated the hospital is working night and day to avoid getting to the point of closure. 

     HGH declared a COVID-19 outbreak in one of its in-patient units on January 4. The outbreak is small and contained, she said, but fits the definition of a hospital outbreak because it involves at least two cases within 14 days. 

    Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, medical officer of health for the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, said that although stress is high at the HGH, it hasn’t reached the point of letting infected workers stay on the job to keep hospitals open like in Quebec. 

  • Hawkesbury OPP constable Gray receives award

    Hawkesbury OPP constable Gray receives award

    Commander Inspector Chris McGillis awarded Constable Gray with an OPP Values Coin in a small ceremony on November 1. 

    “His tireless efforts and professional manner continually bring a positive light to the OPP,” OPP East Region said in a Facebook post. 

    The Values Coin is an internal award meant to recognize officers who go above and beyond in their duties. Gray, who serves as the Community Safety Officer and Media Relations Officer for the Hawkesbury OPP, is known for his strong relationship with the community and the support he renders to both residents and other officers. 

    “It does feel good to be recognized, absolutely,” Gray said, “but everyone is doing a fantastic job, so to be honest, I was doing my job. I hope people get the information they need and a good feeling for the pieces I do to have people smile. It’s been a hard few years and we are still not done, so if my little contribution is a positive one, then I am truly happy.” 

  • Projet de restauration de zones humides dans l’est de l’Ontario

    Projet de restauration de zones humides dans l’est de l’Ontario

    La Conservation de la Nation Sud (CNS) et Canards Illimités Canada (CIC) collaboreront au cours des trois prochaines années à un projet de 375 000 $ visant à récupérer et à restaurer les zones humides de l’est de l’Ontario. CIC a obtenu un financement fédéral pour ce projet par le biais du Fonds pour les solutions climatiques Nature Smart. 

    «Les zones humides remplissent de nombreuses fonctions qui améliorent la résilience climatique, traitent les problèmes de qualité de l’eau et protègent nos communautés contre les inondations, a déclaré Michelle Cavanagh, porte-parole de la CNS. Elles constituent également un habitat essentiel pour pas moins de 600 espèces d’animaux sauvages au Canada.»   

    La CNS et CIC ont travaillé ensemble sur des projets antérieurs portant sur la conservation et la restauration des zones humides. La réussite de ces projets est en partie à l’origine de la décision de CIC de contacter la CNS pour devenir partenaire de ce nouveau programme triennal. 

    «Nous sommes impatients de poursuivre nos partenariats fructueux en restaurant des terres humides qui renforceront la biodiversité et la préparation au climat dans les collectivités de l’est de l’Ontario, a déclaré Owen Steele, porte-parole de CIC. En travaillant avec la Conservation de la Nation Sud, nous pouvons identifier efficacement les possibilités de conservation de grande valeur dans ces communautés et mettre en œuvre la restauration sur le terrain, là où elle fait une différence positive.»   

    Les propriétaires fonciers locaux intéressés par des travaux de restauration de terres humides sur leurs propriétés peuvent communiquer avec la CNS au 1-877-984-2948 ou par courriel à info@nation.on.ca. 

  • GSLR demande la collaboration du fédéral pour les cas de MDC

    GSLR demande la collaboration du fédéral pour les cas de MDC

    Le conseil demande à la ministre de l’Agriculture et de l’Agroalimentaire et au ministre de la Santé d’inclure la municipalité de Grenville-sur-la-Rouge dans les échanges pour la recherche d’une solution permanente au problème des terres contaminées. 

    La municipalité demande aussi à la ministre de l’Agriculture et de l’Agroalimentaire, au ministre de la Santé et à l’Agence canadienne d’inspection des aliments de lui transmettre l’ensemble de la documentation pertinente et demande d’être mise au fait de l’état des discussions avec les propriétaires de la ferme Harpur, où les cas de MDC ont été détectés. 

    Le conseil appelle les instances fédérales et provinciales à respecter les règlements de zonage de la municipalité de Grenville-sur-la-Rouge dans leur recherche de solutions pour les terres contaminées par le prion. La municipalité exige également des propriétaires de la ferme Harpur la décontamination complète des terres, ou encore leur incinération, de sorte que la population de Grenville-sur-la-Rouge ne soit plus menacée par la présence de la protéine du prion sur son territoire. 

    Le conseil municipal transmet sa résolution au député fédéral d’Argenteuil–La Petite-Nation, à la députée provinciale de la circonscription d’Argenteuil, à la ministre de l’Agriculture et de l’Agroalimentaire et au ministre de la Santé, au ministre de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques ainsi qu’à la présidente de l’Agence canadienne d’inspection des aliments. 

    Le conseil a désigné le maire et le directeur général comme interlocuteurs auprès des représentants des instances fédérales et provinciales en lien avec les cas de MDC détectés sur le territoire. 

  • Ontario goes back into partial lockdown

    Ontario goes back into partial lockdown

    In an announcement made January 3, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that the province would be going back into Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen plan. Capacity limits are back in effect once again, some non-essential businesses are closed, and work-from-home is advised for all staff that can do so. There are also some modifications that consider the province’s successful vaccination efforts. 

    Starting January 5, the relevant restrictions from the Roadmap to Reopen will be back in effect. These restrictions are expected to last for at least until January 27, at which point the government will reconsider the situation and advise on what comes next. 

    Until then, social gatherings will be limited to five people inside or 10 people outside and organized public events will be limited to five people inside, with social distancing and masks being strictly enforced for outside events. 

    Weddings, funerals, and religious services are limited to 50-per-cent room capacity or the social distancing limit of an outdoor venue. Drive-in services are permitted as before, but social gatherings associated with services must adhere to the gathering limits. 

    Retirement homes are exempt from these restrictions if they follow the policies or guidance issued by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority 

    Retail stores will be limited to 50-per-cent capacity, which includes shopping malls, and line-ups are again instructed to spread out. Food courts will be closed, active screening will be in place, and loitering is prohibited now more than ever. 

    Indoor food and drink service is close for restaurants, bars, dance floors, strip clubs, nightclubs, and any other establishment that serves food and drink. Take out, drive-through, and delivery are still allowed, and outdoor areas are open with restrictions. No more than 10 people to a table; everyone must remain seated, with no dancing or singing allowed, and active screening will be in place for all people entering the establishments. The sale of alcohol will end at 10 p.m. and consumption on the premises must conclude by 11 p.m., except for delivery and takeout, grocery, or other retail stores. 

    Indoor meeting and event areas are closed, with some exceptions. Childcare, court and government services, social and health services, and collective bargaining and mental health/addiction services are limited to 10 people. In-person field exams are limited to 50 people. 

    Indoor sports centres are closed, with limited exceptions for those training for the Olympics and Paralympics, select sports leagues operating under an approved framework and physiotherapy facilities. Outdoor sports centres are limited to 50-per-cent capacity with spectators. Proof of vaccination will be required for facilities with a regular capacity of 20,000 or more. 

    Indoor recreational amenities are closed, as are concert venues, theatres, and cinemas. Outdoor venues are open with restrictions, such as masking and 50-per-cent capacity limits for all sectors. 

    Casinos, bingo halls, and other gaming establishments are closed, as are saunas, steam rooms, and oxygen bars. Outdoor racetracks are open at 50-per-cent capacity with mandatory reservations. 

    Personal care services such as barbers, hair salons, tattoo parlours are limited to 50-per-cent capacity, and face coverings must always remain on. Appointments and screening are mandatory. 

    Hotels, motels, short-term housing, and other accommodations will remain open, but indoor amenities must close. Hotel restaurants may only offer takeout and delivery. Short-term housing will only be open to those in need. 

    Real estate will operate by appointment only, with no open houses. 

    Businesses that provide in-person teaching are closed for indoor instruction, except for health and safety training. Outdoor areas are open with restrictions such as physical distancing and driving instruction will be limited to commercial motor vehicles. 

    Finally, libraries are open with 50-per-cent capacity, with some amenities such as childcare and social services excepted. 

  • COVID-19 case in Prescott-Russell residence

    COVID-19 case in Prescott-Russell residence

    In an email from Prescott-Russell Residence Administrator Alexandre Gorman, the residence reported that a single case of COVID-19 has been found within the retirement home. As per the Ministry of Health guidelines, this is classed as an outbreak, and health measures have been implemented to contain the spread.

    Until further notice, all group activities in the residence have been canceled, and only one caregiver will be allowed to visit the home for each resident at once. Two caregivers per resident can still be designated.