Northeast Town, Wiky may compete to host Jr. 'A' franchise

If Wild stays at Wiky, Northeast Town mayor says another franchise would create 'great rivalry'

by Lindsay Kelly

NORTHEASTERN MANITOULIN-With fan attendance topping 900, and fans and hockey officials alike singing its praises, the Junior A hockey game played in Wiky last weekend between the Manitoulin Wild and the Northern Michigan Black Bears is officially being declared a success. But the solution was only temporary, and now the local franchise has to consider not only where they will play next, but also whether the team will remain on the Island.

Despite working late Monday night to make the midnight cutoff time for team trades, team owner Larry Leblanc still found time to note how happy he was with the positive response to the game.

"The game in Wiky last week was fantastic," he said. "The commissioner of the league was overboard with praise for how the game went."

He noted that the game at Wiky was "whipped up" with just three-and-a-half-days' notice, a feat which makes the success of the game even more remarkable. More than 900 fans showed up to watch the game Friday night, and "even without any really great advertising, the fans found us anyway," Mr. Leblanc added. "Everything just went really, really well."

He was also pleased with the involvement of Wiky Chief Bob Corbiere, who made a speech and dropped the ceremonial puck at the start of the game. Mr. Leblanc stated he would like to play at least one more game in Wiky.

"I wouldn't want Wiky to think that we were just using them to make a point, so we're determined to play at least one more game there, and the league has given us permission to play there for the rest of the season," he said.

In spite of this, Mr. Leblanc noted he is still working to find a more permanent home for the team.

"I have meetings scheduled with representatives of NEMI, and also with representatives from Wiky," he noted. "The Little Current representatives can present their case, and the Wiky representatives can present their case." What each set of representatives offer will help Mr. Leblanc determine the best option for the team, he said.

Although Mr. Leblanc holds an optimistic outlook on relations with the league, when asked to confirm that the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) has given its permission to Wild owners to hold the remainder of its home games in Wiky, league commissioner, Art Yeo, responded, "Definitely not."

"That question was never asked," he said. "That's a rumour. That's not to say that they won't do that, but that was not discussed at the meeting. The only thing that was discussed was that our constitution allows a home team to move a game, as long as there is no expense to the moving team."

The Wild would have to pay the travel expenses of each visiting team for the remainder of the season, in order to comply with the league's constitution, and "they are well within their right to do that," Mr. Yeo said.

Mr. Leblanc confirmed that the Wild had paid $250 to the visiting team to cover their travelling expenses. This was a "courtesy" to the team, however. The regular rate for travelling teams is "generally less," he said.

Mr. Yeo noted that the issue of whether or not the Wild could play last Friday's home game in Wiky "never came to the table." Mr. Yeo was at the game, however, and he noted the attendance at the game was "second to none." He said the league would like to see the team continue, if possible.

"We want a team on Manitoulin," he said. "Right now it's up to the inner politics on the Island to decide where the team is going to be."

"Nothing is stopping Larry Leblanc from selling the team," he added. "He is well within his right to do that, but if he does sell it, the league must approve the buyer."

Whether Mr. Leblanc chooses to sell the team or not, it seems the Wild is always welcome at the Wiky arena.

Wiky recreation director Duke Peltier said that, as an incentive to bring the team to Wiky, the arena waived the $65 per hour ice rental fee, and allowed the team to play for free. As well, the entire gate went to the Wild, while profits from the concession stands went to the arena.

He added that, should the Wild return in the future, there are some compromises the arena could make to accommodate the team. Any revenue lost by giving the team free ice time would be well worth the benefits the team could bring to the community.

"We would consider giving them free ice," Mr. Peltier said. "I think the community would welcome them here."

The Wiky arena also plays host to minor hockey games; however, Mr. Peltier didn't think there would be any scheduling clashes on Friday evenings.

"There could be some conflicts on Sundays, because we have minor hockey, but I can't see it interfering much."

At least one other person would love to see the Wild return to Wiky full-time.

"The Manitoulin Wild Junior A hockey team is an awesome force of talent in the sport of hockey, and they were extremely welcome," said Wiky Chief Corbiere. "I hope they stay in Wikwemikong, and I will do everything possible to make sure they stay here."

While it hasn't been confirmed where the next regular home game, scheduled for January 21, will be played, he noted that the town is "gearing up" for the next game. "I'm just taking it that they will be here."

Chief Corbiere said he believes most people have taken an interest in the Wild and believes people will do everything in their capacity to support the team.

When asked whether Wiky would consider buying the team, he replied, "At this time, that option hasn't been discussed in Wiky, but that option is an option." There are other options he added, including co-ownership or syndication.

Chief Corbiere said he believes Wiky can offer the team unconditional support, good hospitality, as well as every comfort to team players to make them feel welcome playing all their home games in Wiky.

He noted that Wiky has been known over the years for its hockey, going back to the days of the T-birds, a team on which Chief Corbiere himself played, and he said he would like to see that glory return to the community.

"In addition, before and during the game I talked to many different Manitoulin Wild fans and every one that came up to me was in full support of the Manitoulin Wild hockey team," he said. Many were "quite complimentary of people, like St. Ignace, Michigan (the visiting team) being blown away just by the numbers of fans in attendance. It's totally unheard of in their home arena."

Chief Corbiere did seem confident that the Wild's arrival in Wiky was a permanent move.

"I talked to the commissioner (of the NOJHL), Art Yeo, and he was quire impressed with Wiky and he assured me that, when he attends the league meeting that decides the destination of the Manitoulin Wild, he would do everything he was capable of to recommend the Manitoulin Wild have their games continue to take place at the Wiky arena."

"The Manitoulin Wild is welcome in Wiky any time," he concluded.

The Wild game was moved to Wiky last week due to ongoing financial turmoil between the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands (NEMI) and the hockey team. The town requires that the team pay arena rental fees, and the team has been in arrears of payment of those fees for some time.

On December 23, when Wild owner Larry Leblanc declined to sign a written agreement that would see the team repay $1,000 in arena rental fees per home game to the town, the town stated the team was no longer welcome to use the town's arena.

In commenting on the town's position regarding the game played in Wiky last weekend, Mayor Joe Chapman noted that the town's position hadn't changed.

"I am pleased the game in Wiky was a success," he wrote in an email. "I hope that they use some of the money from the gate to pay the arrears they owe NEMI, but I'm not holding my breath."

Mayor Chapman continued by saying that if the town did not collect the money from the Wild, the town would be forced to charge both figure skating clubs and minor hockey teams (two other groups who pay to use the team's facilities) more in fees, something in which he is not in favour. It's a position he has maintained throughout the course of the issue.

As to what course of action the town would take following this most recent development, "council as a whole will have to decide whether or not we sue the Manitoulin Wild to collect the money owing," he said. "Personally, I don't view this debt as any different than tax arrears so I think my position as mayor is quite clear."

In the meantime, he said he encourages members of the public, especially parents with children in minor hockey and figure skating, to attend the next regular council meeting, scheduled for January 18 at 7 pm. It is then that council will debate the issue of what to do about the money owed.

Mayor Chapman maintains that, despite the current conflict, he supports Junior A hockey on the Island, and would look forward to seeing a new team come to the Island.

"I support Junior hockey in Little Current, but it has to pay for its ice time. It can't have a better deal than minor hockey or figure skating," he said. "I wish the Wild the best, but if they move to Wiky I'll certainly help try and organize a new team for NEMI for next year-I think it would be a great rivalry."

UCCM seeking an injunction to stop sale of shoreline roads

by Michael Erskine

MANITOULIN-Island First Nations have made it clear that they intend to battle the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands to prevent the town from selling its shoreline allowances to private landowners.

"We have instructed our legal counsel to inform NEMI (Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands) that we will be vigorously opposing any attempt by the town to sell its shoreline allowances," said United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin Tribal Chair Patrick Madahbee. "We will be pursuing every avenue to put a stop to this plan."

Although Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve Chief Robert Corbiere stopped short of a strong endorsement of the UCCM legal stance, he indicated that Wikwemikong did not oppose that stance. "We don't oppose anything the UCCM does," he said.

"We don't obstruct progress," he said. "But, without prejudice to Wikwemikong's claim to all of Manitoulin-Wikwemikong still hasn't been compensated for the sale of all of Manitoulin from the 1862 Treaty-we anticipate negotiations on compensation to be completed shortly, at which time the unextinguished interest of the people of Wikwemikong will be settled by way of negotiated settlements."

In addition to serving notice to NEMI council of the UCCM's intention to legally oppose the sale of shoreline allowances, Chief Madahbee said their legal counsel has been asked to prepare a formal notice to landowners.

"It is sort of a 'buyer beware' notice," said Chief Madahbee. "We will stop any shoreline sale."

Northeast councillors defend secret meetings

Councillor Stringer drops his request for resignations

by Lindsay Kelly

NORTHEASTERN MANITOULIN-Despite recent speculation about improprieties within council gatherings, Councillor Sam Nardi won't be asked to resign from Northeast town council. It is clear, however, that members of council disagree on how informal meetings between councillors should be handled.

At the January 5 meeting of Northeast town council, Councillor Jim Stringer restated his intent to ask for Councillor Sam Nardi's resignation-a motion originally slated for the December 21 meeting. Councillor Stringer was not in attendance at the pre-Christmas meeting, and the motion was deferred to the later meeting, since no other councillors wished to pick up the motion.

Councillor Stringer began last Wednesday by noting there had been correspondence between Councillor Sam Nardi and the Weaver-Simmons law firm about which he had some questions.

"I have some serious concerns here," Councillor Stringer said. "There are a number of references here that make it very clear that Councillor Nardi has given information to Weaver-Simmons on behalf of the town, with the attitude toward a particular town employee, to the point that Weaver-Simmons is convinced that council wants its opinion in regards to this particular matter."

Councillor Stringer had been vocal about this matter following a December 6 council meeting, stating that a group of five councillors, including Councillors Tom Batman, Tony Ferro, Gary Green, Sam Nardi and Jib Turner had been holding "secret meetings" for months. The central topic of discussion at these meetings, he said, was the possible termination of at least one town employee, which he feels is being pursued without justification.

It was after learning of these meetings that Councillor Stringer decided to table the motion asking for Councillor Nardi's resignation.

"I am aware of no motions (authorizing legal counsel) from Weaver-Simmons," he said. Before tabling the motion to ask for Councillor Nardi's resignation, he first offered the councillor the opportunity to explain his reasons for seeking legal advice and clearing up any misconceptions Councillor Stringer may have had.

Councillor Nardi noted that any reference to Northeast council in the correspondence between himself and the law firm had been initiated by Weaver-Simmons and not Councillor Nardi, and that the law firm may have assumed, mistakenly, that Councillor Nardi was seeking advice on behalf of town council. Holding up a piece of paper, he noted that he received the bill for the legal fees, and it was never intended that the town pay for them.

"I made it very clear that we were all prepared to pay for the legal opinion," he said of the five councillors, adding, "I think we can learn from this. What can councillors do and not do?"

He said he felt that the five councillors showed "strength of character" in meeting to develop a strategy involving the organizational structure of the town that they could present to the rest of council for consideration. It is difficult, he noted, on many important issues, for council to make a quick decision after they have only had a few minutes to consider their options.

He added that he found the concept of holding secret meetings "funny," since councillors could meet one another on the street, phone one another or email each other daily and discuss matters of council, something he indicated happened frequently. He questioned whether these situations would also be considered secret meetings.

"Where do we draw the line?" he asked.

Councillor Stringer thanked Councillor Nardi for his explanation and said he was pleased to hear that he and the other councillors were prepared to pay for the legal fees, and agreed that Weaver-Simmons was most likely "confused" about who they were representing.

"It seems to me, however, that if councillors are concerned about an issue, council is the place to address it," he said. "Private meetings in somebody's kitchen is not the place to take action."

Despite his misgivings, Councillor Stringer accepted Councillor Nardi's explanation and opted not to put the motion forward asking for his resignation.

Mayor Joe Chapman was not pleased with the actions of the five councillors, stating that he noticed some documents had been drafted with his name on it. While this may have been done innocently, he said, he did not approve of it.

"Don't ever use my name without my consent," he stated, adding while it was fine to talk about the issues facing council, "no way should you take a personnel file to a person's house. That, my friends, was a serious mistake. Only council has the right to take it to a third party."

"It's important for the group as a whole to be well aware that every employee at the municipality is decent and hardworking and deserves the rights of every other person in Canada," he added.

In a later interview, Councillor Tony Ferro wished to go on record as stating that no personnel files were brought to the meetings, and the information that the councillors exchanged at the meetings was public information.

"No personnel file was sent (to Weaver-Simmons or brought to the meetings)," Councillor Ferro said. "He (Mayor Chapman) really stressed that we breached confidentiality, but that is not the issue here. The information we had was not part of any personnel file; it was presented at the Administration and Finance meeting."

Councillor Ferro noted that there was one piece of paper brought to the meetings regarding the performance of one town employee. On that piece of paper was a list of items that councillors felt were not sufficiently completed by that individual; however, the individual was not named on this piece of paper.

The meetings, and the topics discussed there, were not intended to be a breach of confidentiality, he continued. "He (Mayor Chapman) may have thought there was a personnel file." However, "I haven't even seen a personnel file," he said.

Councillor Nardi also wished to clarify his position on the issue in a separate interview.

He also stated that the councillors met because they felt there was a problem with personnel at the town, and the councillors wanted to meet informally to discuss their options in dealing with the issue. Their intent was not to meet so they could have any staff members lose their job.

The group sent personnel information to Weaver-Simmons to seek their advice, Councillors Nardi said. "But as far as a personnel file-I've never seen a personnel file."

He added that there was no plot to meet secretly in opposition of the other councillors as he felt had been implied at the council meeting.

"We said, 'There's a problem here. How can we fix it?'" he said. "A few councillors didn't see a problem so we felt it was useless to invite them to an informal discussion. We wanted to have a coherent thing that we could present at open council."

Also vocal at the council meeting was Councillor Gary Green, who felt that councillors should be allowed to meet in private to get a discussion about council matters started in a relaxed atmosphere over coffee. However, "the final discussion and debate would be held at a public meeting, and a vote by the majority of council would be held at the meeting."

Councillor Green was also disappointed with local media coverage of the issue, saying that in order to get the full picture, media should be present at all council and committee meetings. He felt that letters to the editor that appeared in the December 22 edition of the Expositor unfairly judged the actions of council, and suggested that, in the future, taxpayers should not rely on a third party to learn of town issues, but should instead attend council and committee meetings to get the information firsthand.

Council meetings for the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin Islands take place the first Wednesday and third Tuesday of every month, at 7 pm in the Lions Den of the Little Current-Howland Recreation Centre in Little Current. Special meetings are held from time to time to discuss particular matters of concern to the town. For more information, contact the town office at 368-3500.

Lonely, confused? Write to Dave and Beth

A new Expositor feature will show country music has an answer for every situation

Perhaps your fountain pen leaks, or your wife (or husband) hollers at you, or your kids are all freaks. Or maybe your problems aren't among those humorously cited in country artist John Prine's classic ditty, "Dear Abby," but you still feel like sharing them and seeking some expert advice.

If so, the Expositor now welcomes letters for a new advice column that will be penned by none other than Dave Draper, beloved town employee and country music aficionado, with help from his daughter Beth and, naturally, on occasion, "ma."

Why did we pick Dave and his kin for this role? Well, because "Dear Dave" has a nice ring to it, of course. But also because the ever ebullient and upbeat Dave always has a gem of folk wisdom or pointed one-liner to share when you encounter him on the street or at the landfill site. Plus, while he hasn't exactly gone to Harvard to study psychology or sociology, he's gone to the school of hard knocks.

And, oh yes, he's steeped himself in country music-a genre which abounds in all manner of human suffering and confusion, not to mention ponderings of life's big questions. It even sometimes provides answers, or, if nothing else, solace for one's troubles. So if Dave doesn't have an answer for you, Hank Williams or Loretta Lynn likely will.

Mr. Draper says that in his own life, country has provided counsel and guidance on countless occasions. "Coming from a broken home, I probably got all my advice through country music," he says. Well, there was also "ma," of course. "Ma always had an answer," he admits, adding, "A lot of them weren't what you wanted to hear."

One of the most life-altering songs for Mr. Draper has been John Conlee's "The In Crowd." It describes a man leaving work and choosing to go straight home into the loving arms of his family-his "in crowd"-rather than detour to a bar and the "sin crowd."

"My in crowd was the bar, but I didn't need AA to quit drinking," said Mr. Draper. "I just needed John Conlee."

As he described the song, daughter Beth looked at him and said, "Stop it. You're going to make me cry."

Beth, by the way, will be providing her own bits of advice alongside those of her father, presuming they each have something separate to say, which they likely will. "I'm like my father-I'm good at giving advice, but not good at taking it," she quips.

Questions on just about any subject are welcome, although Dave says he doesn't particularly want to tell people what political party to vote for or how to save the whales. "But if you have a pet peeve, let me know about it, because I have a lot of those myself," he says.

The colourful Little Current resident actually grew up in Toronto-the "concrete jungle," as he puts it-before moving to Manitoulin 13 years ago. He has every intention of staying put on the Island. "There's no other place like it...but we gotta keep that a secret," he says with a wink.

Mr. Draper credits the Outlaws for "giving me my rough edges," Roger Miller for "giving me my sense of humour," Hank Williams for "keeping my emotions alive," Merle Haggard for "keeping my memories of the oldtime life and being proud," and Roy Payne and Stompin' Tom for making him "a proud Canadian."

Lastly, he thanks country artist Ernest Tubb for a piece of sage advice that he always keeps in mind. "He told me, 'what you do, do well,'" he says.

Letter writers are encouraged to provide a pseudonym (for example, "Tentative in Tehkummah," "Brokenhearted in Billings" etc.). Address them to Dear Dave, c/o The Manitoulin Expositor, Box 369, Little Current, or email them to editor@etown.net, or pop them through the mail slot on the door of the Expositor office.

The Expositor also welcomes title suggestions for the as-yet-unnamed column, which will be published for the first time next week, presuming enough people write in with their concerns, questions, peccadilloes and pet peeves.

EDITORIAL

Manitoulin can be proud of its tsunami effort

Perhaps a kindred spirit-engendered by being surrounded by water on all sides-lies behind the phenomenal efforts being put forward for tsunami relief by service organizations, municipalities, students, business people and other individuals on Manitoulin Island. Whatever the reason, the response from all sectors of the Island community is one of which we can all be justly proud.

Manitoulin Secondary School has certainly proven itself once again to be the little high school who could, topping much larger and more affluent schools across the Rainbow District School Board in its efforts to help the victims of Mother Nature's caprice by providing the largest single donation by a Rainbow school.

That is not to downplay the laudable efforts of the even smaller student body at Wasse Abin in Wikwemikong, or the incredible personal contribution of a thoughtful eight-year old like Lakeview's Richard Sagon, a young man who was so touched by the plight of children like himself half a world away that he contributed his worldly treasure to the relief effort.

With the Northeast town leading the municipal effort, and the Little Current Lions lighting the way for other service clubs and church organizations across Manitoulin that are marshalling their resources to meet the needs of Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries battered by the deadly waters of this latest tsunami, everyone seems to be coming forward to help.

The willingness of community business-people like the owners of the Anchor Inn to step up to the plate and contribute both the venue for other's fund-raising efforts, and indeed dollars from deep within their own pockets, shows a solidarity and a global citizenship among all of us of which we can be justly proud.

Each of these generous efforts demonstrate that heart which beats within each Islander reflects a generosity of spirit that transcends all borders, and more than offsets the horrible realization that even in the face of mind-numbing disaster there are those degenerates who would profit from the misfortunes of others.

As long as there is this spirit of Manitoulin, there remains hope for an increasingly cynical and jaded world.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A sad farewell to the Duke of Do-do-doo-do-do

At least we can still walk into G.G.'s and hear Beth's famous giggle

To the Expositor:

After reading about Dave Draper's unfortunate departure from our local radio station I felt that I needed to write in support for him.

My husband Matthew and I could be considered the most dedicated classic rock, hard rock fans in the North; however, Dandy Dave and his Classic Country show on CFRM touched us in many ways. Over the years we would be working late in the soap shop making hundreds of bars of soap for orders, and I would find myself saying, "Oh, cool, it's Wednesday, Dave's on tonight!" There was always something about his show that seemed to make any chore more fun.

For me the music brought back fond childhood memories of playing in the large country kitchen on our farm in southern Ontario, the old wood cookstove in the corner throwing off comforting warmth and the radio playing a Hank Williams tune. It's been proven that memory is triggered most by our olfactory sense, but I would challenge that fact with music.

It was Dave's show and not just the country music that kept us tuned in. Matthew learned more crazy songs from his show, sang them and doo-do-do-doo-doed for hours after the show was over making the late nights in the shop a lot of fun. Because of this Dave has created many new memories for us.

Matthew, who grew up in the radio business (his father owning a station in southern Ontario), would like to remind everyone that the automated and pre-recorded formats are sending the radio D.J.'s by the way of the dodo bird, and that the stations with this format are all the same. Any radio station that wants to stand out from the crowd and be unique needs to adhere to this fact.

So we bid Dave a gracious ado and we are thankful that we can still walk into G.G.'s and hear Beth's famous giggle from anywhere in the store, as this too makes us smile.

God Bless you both!

Carolyn Bowland

Manitoulin Soap Factory

Bidwell

A sad recruiter will miss the Country Classic Show

Burnt or overcooked Sunday dinners not withstanding

To the Expositor:

I am writting to let you know how upset we are about the Country Classics Show not being on the air any more. As far as we are concered, the new show they have on now just doesn't cut it. I could just play my own CDs if I wanted to hear old country. Dave and Beth made their show so interesting and funny. My neighbours that don't own a computer used to come to our house on Sundays and we would all sit around my computer and listen to the show. I used to call Dave and we would laugh about my Sunday dinner being burnt or overcooked because he would stay on the air longer than his two hours. I didn't care, I just couldn't pull myself away from the computer. Ha ha. I hope Dave and Beth know how much we enjoyed the show for the short 20 months they were on the air. We all miss it a lot.

Thanks for your time.

Diana Dollery (a sad recruiter)

Toronto, Ont.

Esthetically worried ratepayer blasts new property bylaw

Ordinary citizens will be forced out of their homes because they can't afford renovations

To the Expositor:

I didn't realize that the "homeless people" look is currently in fashion and even more desirable than the "unkempt property" look. Unfortunately for my budget, my sense of style and decorum obviously differs from the "norm" our mayor/council dictates.

We have a new bylaw: clean up and fix up your property-or else! Fifteen pages expanding on our newest law are available at the local municipal office. Everyone simply must get a copy since most of us are currently in violation of it.

Who appointed the mayor/council to the role of judge, jury and executioner of the fashion patrol of NEMI? According to our municipal leaders, cleaning up and improving our properties means that our standard of living has just been substantially improved. All of us are well paid and financially able to carry out the whims and wishes of the town powers that be. Sorry to burst the bubbles of fantasy, gentlemen, but my latest pay raise doesn't quite cover your expectations of grandeur.

Our previous council worried us with concerns of water problems and garbage disposal. Now everyone knows it was an elaborate hoax and we had more pressing problems such as enhancing our municipality. Never mind that we can't drink the water or get rid of the garbage-just make everything look nice and all our problems will be solved.

Who will finance such a ludicrous expenditure? Are there government grants for beautifying property in accordance to municipal standards? Oh, silly me, of course there are, and Santa Claus delivers them too! Once again, the taxpayers are getting the shaft.

In their quest to spend money foolishly, our council is advertising for the new position of chief administrative officer. Council went into office on promises of curbing spending on the administrative level. This is a position that was basically done by the former Community Development Corporation (CDC). They managed to do it for less (according to past budgets). Nice promise.

On the subject of broken promises, terrific public meetings we have. Things that affect the taxpayers, like this bylaw and the CAO, will be brought to public meetings. It was a universal campaign message. Our only meeting thus far was to announce the budget for 2004. The mayor and council were so busy patting each other on the back for producing such an expeditious budget that they must have forgotten to call meetings for other such crucial matters.

Our new bylaw is, quite simply, too expensive a proposition. It is a terrific idea in theory, but not in practicality. Ordinary citizens will be forced out of their homes because they simply can't afford the costs of the renovations or of the subsequent tax increases that naturally result. They will have no home: at this point, there's not enough geared income housing, if any. What consequences will occur? How far will the machinations of our municipal government extend before it's too late?

On a brighter note, how can this bylaw be enforced. We currently have no bylaw officer; he was slashed out of the last budget. No one can enter another property without invitation-there's the illegality of trespassing. One simply cannot peer through windows (clean or not!!!) of another person's property-that's voyeurism and illegal as well. In fact, nobody can dictate what people can do with the property they OWN and PAY TAXES on. When governments control what one does with their own property, it's one of the definitions of communism. When communism was abolished in countries such as the Soviet Union, economies collapsed. We may be a 'democratic' society, but even we cannot afford such a catastrophe.

Thank you Councillor Koehler, for trying to rein in our out-of-control spenders. I guess the lack of a hockey season is simply too much for some of our "poor" councillors' minds.

Esthetically worried in NEMI,

Melissa Peters

Little Current