Northeast council adjourns unruly meeting with 300 of its ratepayers

Later passes motion demanding union participation in marathon bargaining session

by Lindsay Kelly

NORTHEAST TOWN-A regular meeting of Northeast Town council turned ugly last Wednesday, after taxpayers in support of the striking unionized workers hijacked the proceedings with catcalls, jeers, and interruptions, forcing the adjournment of the meeting.

Animosity between union supporters and town advocates has been brewing since the labour dispute began more than six months ago. It came to a head last week when, due to the combined encouragement of Councillor Jim Stringer and striking union workers, taxpayers descended on the rec centre by the dozens.

Striking workers and their supporters greeted attendees with a flurry of signs, and maintained a picket line outside the main doors of the hall during the meeting, while inside, latecomers seeking a seat in the Lion's Den found standing room only, as people lined the back wall and even sat on the floor.

As council and the audience settled into their seats, council acknowledged that the majority of people were in attendance to hear discussion of the labour dispute, and moved a motion to bypass the first part of the meeting's agenda and move directly to the labour issues.

Councillor Jim Stringer suggested that a motion on the floor, which would see council discuss binding arbitration, should be discussed in public, since people had attended specifically to hear discussion of the issue (despite Mayor Joe Chapman's suggestion the previous week that the matter would not be discussed in public).

"There is a motion before us and council wants to remove it with zero discussion?" Councillor Stringer queried. "This is important to the community."

But Councillor Sam Nardi suggested that council move to discuss labour issues in camera, resulting in catcalls and jeering from taxpayers. Yet, Councillor Nardi continued with his point.

"I think we're setting a really dangerous precedent," he said. "What's next-legal issues? We never debate labour issues in public-it's not a prudent thing to do."

Instead, he suggested council debate the matter in camera and give their explanations for their votes back in open session.

This was met with laughter and more insults, with attendees accusing council of "spending our money without us knowing how," and calling, "it must be time for an election."

With the crowd becoming more ornery, and attendees spilling out into the hallway and down the stairwell, council moved to relocate the meeting to the main hall.

Maja Mielonen had been conducting her regular Wednesday evening ballet class in the hall, and was furious at being displaced in the middle of her lesson. Her students rushed out of the hall as taxpayers took over their class, yet only a few attendees helped Ms. Mielonen move her equipment out of the way so it wouldn't get damaged.

The class had been rehearsing for its upcoming year-end recital, scheduled to take place on April 28. "I have an hour-and-a-half left of my second last practice with my senior class," the teacher said angrily.

Equally as angry, however, were taxpayers who believed the meeting's importance trumped any other activities taking place that evening. As one woman put it, in response to Ms. Mielonen's protests, "I don't care."

The discussion resumed as council and taxpayers settled into their seats, but, in a recorded vote, Councillor Stringer did not receive support to keep his motion on the table.

In a second recorded vote, on a motion that would see binding arbitration discussed in open session, Councillor Stringer again did not receive support, and council moved in camera to vote on the issue.

Upon their return, only 10 minutes later, Mayor Chapman addressed the crowd.

"We've had some discussion on the matter, and we've decided we should and will discuss our individual opinions for the benefit of the crowd," he said, turning the floor over to Councillor Stringer.

But rather than offer his reasoning as to why he chose to support binding arbitration, Councillor Stringer instead read out a motion he had prepared, which would see council accept the union's offer of binding arbitration, with the amendment that the process be mediated by an arbitrator appointed by the Labour Relations Board.

"Our hopes are to get back to business in the interest of moving forward and not moving backward," he noted, holding up a petition with the signatures of close to 800 taxpayers indicating their support for binding arbitration as a solution to end the strike.

The crowd cheered Councillor Stringer for his outspoken turn, but turned on the rest of council when they attempted to offer their remarks on the issue, and the rest of council did not get an opportunity to offer their opinions on the matter.

Mayor Chapman adjourned the meeting after one frustrated taxpayer rose and used foul language to express his impatience. "I've been around for 67 years, and I've never seen a group of assholes like you guys," snapped Gary Strain before stalking out.

In a subsequent interview, Mayor Chapman said he was disappointed that a few people got out of hand, but in general he believes "most people were respectful and well-behaved," and was pleased to see a crowd of taxpayers out at a public meeting.

The mayor also noted that, at a meeting of council the previous day, Councillor Stringer had agreed not to present his motion at Wednesday's meeting, by unanimous decision, in favour of a motion proffered by Councillor Tony Ferro. As a result, it came as a shock to council and non-striking staff when Councillor Stringer went on at length about his motion, the mayor added.

The town had also, as of press time, not yet received the petition from the union, he said.

Councillor Ferro's motion suggests the union and the town return to the negotiating table for round-the-clock discussions about the strike, and has offered the proposal for the union's consideration.

In the motion, the town proposes that the bargaining teams and legal counsel for the two sides meet at a neutral location and continue negotiations around the clock until an agreed-upon resolution to the labour dispute is reached.

In an amendment to that resolution, council is also suggesting that each side appoint a community member to attend the negotiations as an independent observer and report back to the community on their findings.

"Some members of the community think we're not serious about reaching a solution to the labour dispute," noted CAO Dave Williamson. But with independent observers to witness the negotiations, this misconception can be cleared up, he added.

Provincial mediator Vince Knapp (who was previously presiding at negotiations in this matter) is not available until the end of April, he continued; however, if the union is amenable to the suggestion of round-the-clock negotiations, the town will request that the date be moved up, and a meeting be scheduled with the soonest available mediator.

Mayor Chapman said he hopes the union will consider the offer. "Sooner or later we have to sit down and talk about the issues," he said. "We can't avoid it."

CEP Union representative Fred Bond noted the union has developed a counter-offer which it was delivering to the town for consideration on Monday.

"We think the town and ourselves should agree upon a neutral third person who has experience in mediation and has no ties to the dispute," he said in a news release. "This person can hear both sides in private, attempt to close the gap between us, and then, if the settlement is not reached, publicly issue his or her recommendations on each of the outstanding issues."

The union believes past tactics such as mediation (which the town is proposing) have not worked, and is eager to employ this "innovative and constructive" approach, Mr. Bond added.

"No-one will be handcuffed by the process we are proposing," he said. "If it doesn't work, so be it. But we think it can work if both sides enter the process in good faith."

Mr. Bond said he was pleased at the number of people who attended Wednesday night's meeting, and believes it clearly shows council that the town wants a resolution to the labour dispute.

Manor now accepting new clients

by Michael Erskine

LITTLE CURRENT-The doors of Manitoulin Centennial Manor were officially opened to accept new residents yesterday, as the long-term care facility has met requirements set by the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care to ensure the safety and comfort of its residents.

"We are very, very happy," said RN Joanne Wade. "I can't say enough about how hard the staff has worked to help make this happen. Recognition should be made of the staff and all of the work they have put into this."

There were 10 empty beds in the 60-bed facility on Monday, nine regular and one respite bed, but these were expected to fill quickly once the doors re-opened.

The Manor was closed to accepting new residents last month, as ongoing failures to correct deficiencies identified in Ministry of Health and Long-term Care audits came to a head just as a funding crisis erupted when funding municipalities revolted against cost overruns that exceeded $1 million this year alone, and projections showed apparently little relief in sight for next year.

A significant portion of this year's ballooning deficit was incurred by the Manor board of management's decision to contract Jarlette Health Services, the company which administers the Gore Bay Lodge nursing home, along with 11 others, to "guide them through the process."

The board felt that under Jarlette's guidance the institution could be brought back into the black, if only enough time could be bought by the municipalities paying for the deficits. Most of the municipalities, however, felt they could not absorb the spiraling costs overruns and a number refused to ante up.

The Northeast Town, the Township of Assiginack and the Town of Gore Bay had agreed to step up to the line to carry their share of the burden, but without a commitment from the rest of the Island municipalities, the board was left teetering on the brink of dissolution and a ministry takeover seemed imminent. Were the ministry to take over operations, and no buyer to step forward to assume the operation, chair Gary Green expressed concern that the institution might fold.

The crisis was only averted after an 11th-hour intervention by the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care assured the municipalities that their contribution would be capped at the same level as last year.

Mr. Green noted that the facility is not yet out of the woods, as serious shortcomings in the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care funding model, which is based on 120-bed facilities, was not adequate to meet the needs of smaller operations like the Manor.

However, Health and Long-term Care Minister George Smitherman has committed to a review of the funding model to better represent the needs of smaller institutions.

"I am confident that we will be able to meet the ministry's criteria and get the Manor back onto solid footing," Mr. Green has repeatedly asserted. "Our first and foremost overriding concern is the welfare of our residents." Mr. Green noted those priorities are also reflected in the concerns of the staff, Jarlette and of the ministry. "That's the way it has to be," he said, as he too expressed the board's appreciation of the hard work and dedication of the Manor staff in helping to meet the ministry requirements. "This is going to be a real team effort."

Tire dump poses health risk

by Jim Moodie

MANITOULIN-Concern over the tire buildup on the Zhiibaahaasing First Nation is mounting as the summer season approaches, and with it the increased risk of fire and mosquitoes, but it appears that no government official is going to step in soon to order that the pile be removed.

"The problem is that it's beyond the scope of the Ministry (of the Environment) to regulate, because it's on a First Nation," said Mike Brown, Algoma-Manitoulin MPP. "In the province's view, it's the responsibility of the owners of the tires."

The province could get involved "if asked to," Mr. Brown said, but added that "you can't just ask for one thing."

He said that the situation would be much different if the accumulation wasn't on a reserve. "If it was private land, they'd be ordered to clean it up and pay for it, and if not, the ministry would do it for them, and then they'd be faced with the bill."

The issue of tire dumps has been "high on the provincial agenda," he said, ever since the Hagersville fire of 1990, which "provided the impetus for making clear who is responsible for a cleanup, and enforcing environmental regulations, so you can't just escape and leave the mess with the landowner."

But because the federal government has jurisdiction over First Nations, "the provincial government does not have a direct interest," Mr. Brown said.

This is not to say that he isn't concerned. "We're following this with interest, because it's clearly not a good situation," he indicated. "I was invited to the meeting (held on March 23 in Zhiibaahaasing), but that was the day of the provincial budget, which is the worst day for any member to be away (from the legislature), but particularly for the speaker." Mr. Brown was named speaker of the legislature last year.

One ministry which does hold some sway over the situation is the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada, but this is mostly in an advisory capacity, said Paul Strohack, regional manager of environmental health with the branch. "We did investigate late last summer, and provided a report to chief and council regarding our concerns, as well as sent them to other agencies like Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)."

Mr. Strohack said that the type of mosquito that can carry West Nile Virus was found at the site, "but they weren't infected with the virus." That can change, however, he said. "It may come this year, or next year."

The regional manager said "we'll probably do a follow-up investigation this spring and summer, because it is a health issue."

He said that hydrogeologists with Environment Canada are "also working on this file, because they have a concern about water pollution. It's a multi-agency approach."

However, the lead agency is INAC, he said, and it will be essentially up to that department to demand action. On the other hand, if it ever did come to the point where there was "a bonafide West Nile outbreak, the provincial government would have the powers under the provincial health act to do something, if the federal government didn't react," noted Mr. Strohack. "Everybody's learned from SARS that if the issue is serious, you don't have the time for meetings and consensus, and just have to issue orders."

He said his agency's advice is that the First Nation "should remove the dump, even though we can't order the removal. But there's a clear-cut responsibility to either fund the removal or get the recycling plant working. We'll still comment, but the ball lies in the court of the community and INAC."

There is also some federal legislation dealing with fisheries, Mr. Strohack noted, that could be brought to bear on the situation, but unfortunately, these laws "aren't dealing with potential problems, just actual ones."

He said it's a bit frustrating, because "everyone knows what should be done," but are reluctant to impose a course of action because of the sensitive jurisdictional situation. "Everyone seems to go around passing the buck," he said, hastening to add that this is his own personal observation, and not a comment made on behalf of the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch.

The Environment minister could be called on to intervene, he said, if enough people talk to their member of parliament and write letters. "A letter goes a long way, especially with a minority government," said Mr. Strohack.

The Sierra Legal Defence Fund, Canada's foremost non-profit environmental watchdog, is familiar with the Zhiibaahaasing situation, but similarly hesitant to wade into the situation without the co-operation of the chief and council of the reserve. Elaine MacDonald, a scientist with the organization, said that Sierra Legal has grave concerns about both the storage and application of used tires, but is respectful of the autonomy of First Nations, and won't take on this particular battle without consultation with the leadership of the reserve.

The organization is quite active elsewhere on the tire front, however. For instance, Sierra Legal is presently outraged by a proposal that would allow Lafarge Canada-a subsidiary of the world's largest cement producer, as well as one of the Island's largest employers, though its limestone quarry on Western Manitoulin and its Birch Island port-to burn tires, along with other materials (including animal meal and plastics) in a cement kiln it operates in Bath, Ontario.

According to Sierra Legal, Lafarge plans to truck waste (including tires, for which it would receive a fee) from as many as eight Great Lakes states, as well as Ontario and Quebec, for use as fuel in its kiln operation.

"Our concern is related to air pollution," Ms. MacDonald said, pointing out that alarming increases in toxic air emissions have been noted in St. Constant, a community near Montreal, where tires are burned in a cement kiln. "After Lafarge started burning tires in its cement kiln in Quebec, there were dramatic increases in emissions of heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium and lead, (as well as) carcinogens," she communicated.

She believes there are more appropriate and environmentally-benign applications for scrap tires. "I was speaking with a fellow from Owen Sound, a reporter there, whose city also had a tire buildup, and they started to use tires in rubberized asphalt," Ms. MacDonald noted. "There are other ways to reuse tires other than burning them."

Burning tires as a source of fuel can be as bad as having them catch on fire in a field, the Sierra Legal scientist argued. "Research is coming out that suggests that burning tires in an inefficient combustor is pretty well parallel to an open-air tire dump catching on fire."

The environmental organization advocates removing tires from unmanageable dump sites, both because of the fire risk and the threat of West Nile Virus (as mosquitoes tend to breed in the stagnant water trapped by tires), but disapproves of incineration as a disposal option. "Technologies have been developed where you utilize them in a more positive way," Ms. MacDonald pointed out.

EDITORIAL

Time for calm in Northeast Town bargaining

There were few ovations to be heard among the crowd's assessment of the performance of either side after the April 5 meeting of the Northeast council where a motion by councillor Jim Stringer proposing to move to binding arbitration failed to even reach debate.

Although it was clear that the balance of supporters in the room was predominately there in support of the union, there was no question that a significant number of supporters of the majority of the town council's position were also in attendance.

What was very clear to everyone in the room that evening is that practically everyone on both sides of the issue wants this matter settled as soon as possible.

The union has proposed binding arbitration as a solution to the contract negotiation impasse, to which the town has responded with a counter offer involving each sides' lawyers and a third-party observer locked in a marathon session until there is a resolution. The union, in turn, has responded with yet another counter offer involving a disinterested third party agreeable to both sides.

The sole hopeful sign in all this is that the two sides are at least making offers in apparant hope of finding a solution. Inherent in this round of offers, which seem to be edging closer to agreement, in concept if not in terminology, is that both sides are showing signs they are prepared to settle.

Revamping both negotiating teams at this point is probably not a bad idea-provided that the new teams have a mandate to settle.

So let's get back to the table with both sides prepared to allow enough wiggle room to reach a solution. None of the proposals or counter proposals will find a solution if both sides continue to simply sit across the table reiterating essentially the same offers. Both sides have to be prepared to give a little.

If both sides are not prepared to do that, then heaven help us all.

It is clear that both sides had supporters in the room at the council meeting, and it is also clear that a petition with 700-plus signatories is significant. It is obvious that the overwhelming will of the people is that this matter be settled.

The last thing any of us need is the embarassment of picketed municipal buildings during the height of the tourist season. It is long past time for calmer heads to prevail. Neither side is on the verge of caving in, but the human costs are mounting rapidly.

A number of council members have indicated privately that they will not be seeking re-election and valuable long-time employees of the town are making plans to leave seeking work elsewhere. This strike has already cost us all far too much.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Councillor Ferro's motion deserves consideration

It was rude to disrupt ballet class

To the Expositor:

It is my opinion that the people of NEMI Township should come together on the issue of NEMI workers and the strike. The past council meeting was in bad taste and nothing can be resolved by name calling and slanderous remarks. It was inappropriate and rude to disrupt the ballet teacher and students who had rented the space in the hall. The students and teacher should be reimbursed and apologized to.

After reading the past contract and the present contract and talking to both sides, I realize that the main issue holding the parties apart is job security and the use of contractors. After reading Mr. Ferro's proposal, I think he should have the opportunity to table the motion. The proposal allowed both sides to sit down and try to come to an agreement that they could live with. He also stated that both sides should sit down and work out the problem and not stop until it is resolved.

After speaking to many people in the township and the people on the strike line, I was appalled at the number of people that hadn't read the proposed contract. How can these people fight over issues that they aren't informed about? If the workers hadn't gone on strike they could have worked-to-rule on the past contract until a new one was ratified. Problems could have been resolved while work was performed.

Let's not make a similar mistake about arbitration. Arbitration is an expensive time-consuming process. It is my suggestion that both parties choose two non-biased people to sit down and solve the problems. The community is embarrassed and tired of the bickering and the animosity this strike has created.

Bruce Wood

Sheguiandah

Union rep appalled by undemocratic display

Arbitration does not favour labour

To The Expositor:

On the evening of April 5, I , like several hundred other concerned people attended a NEMI council meeting at the complex in Little Current. On my drive home after that meeting I tried my best to attempt to really understand what I had just witnessed, but I have to admit that I still cannot believe what I saw and heard there.

Since its onset I have followed the strike situation in NEMI very closely. I sat and participated in several labour roundtables as a part of a group dedicated to assist with trying to come up with possible solutions to assist in restarting the bargaining process in this dispute, with the goal of ending this strike, getting the workers back on the job and the town as a whole back to normal.

Up to this point in time I have stayed away from airing my personal views on this situation in the local paper as I didn't want to be perceived as just another unionist backing the strikers' cause. Anyone who knows me understands that I have never shied away from controversy in the media in my capacity as a union president in the past; but, after what I witnessed at that council meeting, I can no longer justify not stating my opinion on this matter publicly.

Simply put, from my experience-and my union has had many collective agreements achieved through the arbitration process-arbitrators are professionals who have years of experience in settling contract disputes and in no way favour one side or the other. To make a statement such as this council has, that arbitrators favor unions, simply shows how ignorant of the facts, and of the process, this council really is. My union has lost many major items within our collective agreements from arbitrators' decisions over the recent past.

Arbitration would end the strike immediately, send the workers back to work immediately, and render a fair and equitable collective agreement through a legal process. Why anyone would not want this is beyond me.

That meeting was, without a doubt, the most undemocratic display by public officials that I have ever had the displeasure of witnessing. The actions of every councillor (except for Councillor Stringer who had the willpower to stand alone and speak for what is fair and right),the CAO, and the mayor, showed a total lack of respect for the taxpaying citizens of NEMI and I would hope that those same huge numbers of ratepayers who were ignorantly ignored by those elected officials will rally together with the 700-and-some-odd citizens who signed the petition for arbitration, and prepare and submit a petition for the resignation of all NEMI councillors (save and except for Councillor Stringer),the mayor and CAO. This shameful act of ignoring the will of the people, whom they were elected to serve, must not be allowed to continue.

I wonder if this council is arrogant enough to actually believe that if this strike is allowed to continue that summer venues in Little Current such as Haweater Weekend, cruise ship visits and other tourist-related activities will actually go uninterrupted. I think not, as the show of support at the meeting indicated there will be a lot more people walking the picket line then just the strikers, and what if the crews of those cruise ships are unionized workers, as many of them are? In that case they would not cross picket lines.

This whole mess has gone on way too long and is clearly having a devastating effect on the Town of Little Current-its businesses, its citizens-and if an end is not put to this dispute now, its effect on both the town's economy and the economy of Manitoulin Island as a whole will be irreversible.

Arbitration is the clear solution to setting things right, and the taxpayers must demand that it takes place immediately-before it's too late for everyone who has a lot to lose.

Greg Young

Mindemoya

Cormorants can't be blamed for salmon loss

Alewife die-off due to weather

To the Expositor:

Bob Lewis, of South Baymouth, is simply wrong when he states (in your March 29 article by Jim Moodie, entitled "Cormorants' friends say they'll protest any cull") that cormorants are responsible for the loss of salmon.

Both salmon and cormorants feed on alewives. Consequently, when alewives disappear from the environment, so do salmon and cormorants.

It's important to understand that cormorants are a native species to Ontario, while alewives are a non-native exotic baitfish species and salmon are an introduced species.

The alewife population crashed due to two consecutive cold winters that they hadn't evolved with to tolerate. Consequently, the cormorant population declined by approximately 50 percent from 2001.

The non-native salmon, who primarily feed on alewives, also declined with the loss of food availability.

All species' populations are dependent on food and habitat availability, and, of course, our actions.

Ainslie Willock

Toronto

Dear Dave and Beth

Dear Dave and Beth:

I meant to write this before Christmas because it's about the holidays. Now Easter is on its way and my problem is coming back. My husband's parents are perfectionists and think I can never do anything right. What can I do when they make picky comments? Do you have a snappy comeback? Should I try to be as perfect as they want? I am very confused. They are wanting to come to our place for Easter supper. Should I let them?

Please Help

Dear Please;

Women always worry about another woman coming to their home. Is it clean enough? Is dinner just right? Don't worry. Can you imagine if us guys were that way with our garages? ("Oh, don't mind the clutter.") It's his parents, so tell them (or her) that they didn't train him very well, so he's not much help. To answer your question: yeah, you have to invite them. Holidays are a time for family. Actions can be misread. Try not to take it personally; they are probably like this with everyone.

-Dave

Send your Dear Dave and Beth letters to Box 369, Little Current, Ontario, P0P 1K0, or email them to editor@etown.net, or pop them through the slot on the front door of the Expositor office.

Letters can also be dropped through the slot on the front door of the Expositor office.Send your Dear Dave letters to Box 369, Little Current, Ontario, P0P 1K0,