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IIsland residents concerned
with plans to spray hydro lines
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by Neil Zacharjewicz and Diana Smith
MANITOULIN - Several people on Manitoulin have expressed concern with
Hydro One's plans to spray the chemical known as Garlon 4, a
herbicide, along hydro lines on the Island.
Recently, the Leask Bay Shores Cottagers Association (LBSCA) passed a
motion objecting to the spraying of Garlon 4, or any other toxic
substance, along the hydro lines which run the length of the Leask
Bay shoreline. A letter was forwarded to Hydro One's Forestry
department, explaining their concerns. It expressed concern that a
large portion of the pole line is low lying and swampy, and five
small creeks which drain these areas run directly into the shoreline
water in front of area cottages. Furthermore, the letter pointed out
the hydro lines are approximately 400 to 500 feet from the edge of
the bay that they border. Area residents gather their water from a
variety of sources, including underground springs, wells and directly
from the lake itself.
"Many of our cottages are located at the base of a hill or bluff
where runoff from rain and snow melts flows. This runoff seeps into
the ground and eventually runs into the lake. The hydro line in Leask
Bay generally runs parallel to South Bay, between the higher
elevation and the bay. Any chemical applied at the level of the hydro
line potentially could end up in the bay," the letter reads.
On July 24, 11 cottagers met with Herve Delarosbil, a forestry
technician with Hydro One, indicated Don Hore, president of the
cottagers association.
"Mr. Delarosbil gave an informative presentation, listened carefully
to our concerns, and addressed each one of them in a professional
manner," Mr. Hore explained. "We were informed this was a cost saving
procedure on Hydro One's part. They will come and cut down the trees
along the hydro line and then spray the stumps, using backpack
sprayers that have a droplet-producing nozzle, applying a few drops
to each stump. This procedure will reduce the amount of trips the
hydro forestry department will have to make to the area to clear
trees around hydro lines, approximately every eight years."
Officials at Hydro One have confirmed their forestry department will
be spraying in Assiginack, Sandfield and Tehkummah in early September.
Dr. Danusia Gzik said she is concerned about any chemical or
pesticide that is being put into our environment.
"Most are not well studied even individually, let alone when they are
used in combination," Dr. Gzik explained.
However, the evidence that is available increasingly supports the
potential harm of these chemicals, particularly to the more
vulnerable, such as the developing fetus and children."
The reason children are particularly vulnerable to all chemicals,
including pesticides, is because a dose ratio can be rather high
relative to their body size.
"Children tend to be the ones playing on the grass and in the woods,
and put their hands into their mouths," Dr. Gzik said. "This can
potentially affect their ongoing development."
In Europe and North America, efforts are afoot to try and reduce the
use of chemicals and pesticides. Even in Canada, municipalities are
banning the use of lawncare chemicals.
"There are a few that have banned the use of them outright," Dr. Gzik said.
"Why are we using this at all on the Island?" she questionned. "In
this case, there is a good alternative which is low risk."
Also among the concerned are Assiginack council. At a recent meeting,
council was presented with the concerns of the Leask Bay residents,
and thanked them for keeping the municipality informed with regard to
the situation. Council also sent a letter to Hydro One, objecting to
the spraying of Garlon 4.
Central Manitoulin council has also passed a motion suggesting Hydro
One clear the trees through cutting and chipping methods, rather than
spray chemicals.
"They are using a very strong chemical, and if it gets into wells and
drinking water, it could be very serious," stated Councillor Al
Tribinevicius.
The vote, however, was not unanimous. Councillors Tribinevicius and
Derek Stephens voted in favour, while Councillors Harold McCutcheon
and Glen Unsworth were opposed. Councillor Sarah Bowerman abstained,
and Reeve Mary Nelder broke the deadlock by voting in favour of the
motion. Councillor Adam McDonald was not in attendance.
According to the Pest Management Information Service, a federal
government initiative which provides information on pesticide
regulations and registered pesticides. The Garlon 4 Herbicide is
registered. The major active ingredient in Garlon 4 is triclopyr,
which, according to the Journal of Pesticide Reform (Winter 2000), is
a broadleaf herbicide used primarily on pastures, woodlands, and
rights of way. There are two forms of triclopyr used as herbicides.
In the instance of Garlon 4, triclopyr is found in its butoxyethyl
ester form.
The Journal reports that in laboratory tests, triclopyr caused an
increase in the incidence of breast cancer, as well as an increase in
a type of genetic damage called 'dominant lethal mutations.' It also
states triclopyr is damaging to kidneys and has caused a variety of
reproductive problems. The ester form of triclopyr is highly toxic to
fish and inhibits behaviors in frogs that help them to avoid
predators. Triclopyr which has been ingested by a bird contributes to
the decreased survival of nestlings, it noted.
According to the Journal, "Triclopyr can impact populations of
beneficial insects and spiders, those that provide an economic
benefit to agriculture, by killing plants on which the insects and
spiders depend for food and shelter."
The Journal also reported triclopyr can be quite dangerous on small
mammals. In comparing data for red-backed vole populations, the
populations were reduced by approximately 80 percent in areas treated
with triclopyr as compared to areas not treated one year later. In
the second year following the treatment, the vole population was
still reduced over 50 percent compared with the untreated areas.
Of particular concern is the relationship between triclopyr and TCP.
It is the most common breakdown product of triclopyr in mammals, soil
and water. The most significant health hazard associated with TCP is
that "it may be especially hazardous to children," the Journal
reported.
In 1999, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studied the
ability of TCP to disrupt the development and maturation of the
nervous system that occurs in fetuses, infants and children. Using a
cell culture, the researchers showed that exposure to TCP inhibits
neurons from undergoing normal growth.
"When researchers compared TCP concentrations in brains of fetal
laboratory animals (whose mothers were exposed to pesticides) with
those of their mothers' brains, the fetal concentrations were between
two and four times greater than those in maternal brains, suggesting
TCP accumulates in fetal brains," the Journal stated.
Trevor Guindon of Hydro One's Forestry department confirmed spraying
would occur in early September. He stated Hydro One would be willing
to meet with anyone who has concerns.
"We are more than happy to give them information. We want people to
be educated," Mr. Guindon said.
(with files from Tom Sasvari)
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AMO presentation
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by Cheryl Waugh
TORONTO --- There is a 'looming' financial crisis in the 19
municipalities of the Manitoulin and Sudbury Districts, reported
Central Manitoulin Reeve Mary Nelder to Jim Wilson, the minister of
Northern Development and Mines.
Ms. Nelder also indicated that the developing financial crisis has
the potential to result in municipal bankruptcies if a solution can
not be found within the next year.
"Hefty tax increases year after year, increasing withdrawals from
reserve funds, reduction and elimination of services, deteriorating
infrastructure...all evidence of a crisis in northern Ontario. While
the newspapers are full of stories of cities in crisis across this
country, we believe that the prospect we face coming is at least as
bleak," said Ms. Nelder. "Our situation is not likely to make as many
headlines, but is nevertheless critical to the very survival of
northern Ontario."
Ms. Nelder made a presentation to Mr. Wilson at the Association of
Ontario Municipalities (AMO) annual general meeting in Toronto on
Tuesday on behalf of the 19 area municipalities, including
Assiginack, Barrie Island, Cockburn Island, Billings, Central
Manitoulin, Gordon, Burpee-Mills, Tehkummah, Northeastern Manitoulin
and the Islands (NEMI), Gore Bay, Killarney, Baldwin, Chapleau,
Espanola, French River, Markstay-Warren, Nairn & Hyman,
Sables-Spanish, and St. Charles.
At a meeting earlier this month, representatives of the
municipalities elected Ms. Nelder as their spokesperson, and sent
delegates to back-up Ms. Nelder in her meeting with the minister.
Prior to leaving for Toronto and the AMO conference, Ms. Nelder said
the municipalities objective in meeting with the minister was to
inform him of the financial crisis facing northern municipalities, as
well as to convince him that a meeting should be set up in the fall
between senior staff and senior policy advisors of several ministries
and the 19 municipalities.
Ms. Nelder said the municipalities want to meet with staff from the
ministries of Northern Development and Mines, Finance, Municipal
Affairs and Housing, and if possible, with staff from the ministry of
Transportation and Environment.
"We have a 15 minute window (with the minister at AMO) and we will
try to make the case strongly that there is a financial crisis facing
our municipalities," said Ms. Nelder. "And, we will ask that there be
a follow-up meeting with senior staff and policy advisors in late
September or early October."
All 19 municipalities have agreed to share in the cost of hiring a
consultant to develop a detailed financial analysis for the
municipalities, which they will present at the proposed fall meeting.
NEMI Clerk-Treasurer Ned Martin, Espanola Deputy-Clerk-Treasurer
Joel Mackenzie, Treasurer Les Jones, of Chapleau, and Treasurer Mike
Monette, of French River will draw up the Terms of Reference for the
initiative, while the town of Espanola has agreed to administer the
short-term contract.
During her meeting with Mr. Wilson, Ms. Nelder outlined in a cursory
manner the underlying reasons for the financial decline among
northern municipalities.
She noted that as Reeve of Central Manitoulin for the past two years
she has had several opportunities to meet with counterparts from
other municipalities to compare notes on municipal governance.
She indicated, at a meeting of the 19 municipalities in June of 2002,
the Mayors and Reeves were all using terminology such as
"unsustainability, financial crisis, and bankruptcy."
"Unlike myself, many of these people are politicians of some
long-standing, not given to exaggeration or panic at the vicissitudes
and pressures that habitually face municipal governments," said Ms.
Nelder in her speech to Mr. Wilson. "There was general agreement that
the pattern over the past three years was indeed negative, and unless
action was taken within the next year or two, municipal governments
in our Districts would find themselves in very dire circumstances."
In charts presented to Mr. Wilson, Ms. Nelder showed how the average
yearly tax rates for the Sudbury-Manitoulin Districtsincreased over a
four year period between 1999 and 2002.
The municipality with the largest jump is Gore Bay, which had a 60
percent increase in their municipal tax rate over the last four years
- although that figure is largely due to a 25 percent increase in the
Gore Bay tax rate this year.
Gore Bay was followed by Tehkummah at 36.6 percent, Billings at 31.2
percent, Espanola at 28.7 percent, Assiginack at 26.7 percent,
Sables-Spanish at 22.9 percent, Central Manitoulin at 21 percent,
Markstay-Warren at 15.7 percent, NEMI at 14.4 percent, Gordon at 13.7
percent, St. Charles at 11.4 percent, French River at 10.8 percent,
and Baldwin at 7.5 percent.
Three municipalities actually had municipal tax rate decreases
between 1999 and 2002, including Cockburn Island (-11.6 percent),
Killarney (-10 percent), and Chapleau (-4.8 percent). (Barrie Island,
Burpee-Mills, and Nairn & Hyman were unable to provide statistics in
time for the presentation.)
"In 2002, some of our ratepayers were facing increases of seven
percent, nine percent, 10.7 percent, 11.3 percent, 19 percent, even
25 percent. This on top of double digit increases the previous year
for at least eight municipalities. Such tax increases can not be
sustained," said Ms. Nelder to Mr. Wilson. "Reluctant to impose
massive tax increases on residential property owners two or three or
four years in a row, many municipalities have turned to their
reserves to balance their budgets this year....For obvious reasons,
this practice cannot be sustained."
She also noted that many municipalities started cutting services in
2002 as a way to balance their budgets, others were unable to because
of provincially mandated standards or because services were already
as ''meagre" as possible.
Elimination of services might be the next step for some
municipalities, she said. "Where does one begin? Close arenas and
libraries? Stop cutting our grass and plowing our roads? The choices
are few and the consequences all unpleasant."
Ms. Nelder explained that the 19 municipalities believe there are
five main underlying causes for the financial crisis.
* insufficient transfer payments has meant municipalities don't have
the ability to maintain an acceptable standard on roads and bridges,
while there is deterioration in other infrastructure.
* the inadequacy of the CRF as a funding mechanism. "The most
commonly expressed dissatisfaction with the CRF pertains to the lack
of a timely reconciliation. With more than a year to wait before
knowing what will be received through the CRF, budget projections
become nothing more than guesswork and long range planning becomes
impossible," said Ms. Nelder.
* municipal finances are dependent upon property assessments. Ms.
Nelder showed Mr. Wilson how the municipalities of Espanola, Nairn &
Hyman and Markstay-Warren lost a substantial portion of their tax
base in just two years due to changes in assessment.
"They blame MPAC's use of province-wide templates for many errors in
assessment and restrictive provincial tax ratios for limiting the
industrial levy they can charge," said Ms. Nelder. "Although less
dependent on industry, Manitoulin Island has a disproportionately
high number of older people, many of whom live on fixed incomes. With
some of the lowest family incomes in the province, our taxpayers find
annual tax increases a burden they can ill afford."
* capital expenditures significantly outweigh capital grants
received. Ms. Nelder told Mr. Wilson that she couldn't give him the
full details on this concern due to time constraints, but that "it
appears clear that capital funding has fallen in recent years, with a
slight recovery in 2002."
* legislation from the province that restricts the tools
municipalities have to work with to raise revenue.
"Small northern municipalities, such as ours, find ourselves at a
loss as to how to address these many problems," said Ms. Nelder. "The
problems compound each other, of course, as high tax rates, limited
services, and deteriorating infrastructure make it increasingly
difficult to attract and retain business in the north."
After her presentation, Ms. Nelder made the request for the meeting
between senior ministry staff and the 19 municipalities. "We propose
a day-long meeting, divided into a discussion of general financial
trends in the morning and an examination of specific issues in the
afternoon," explained Ms. Nelder. "These issues would be the five
underlying causes just identified, with the capital works topic
further broken down into water systems, landfill sites and roads."
Attending the meeting with Ms. Nelder was Assiginack Reeve Hugh
Moggy, NEMI Mayor Ken Ferguson, Mayor Marcel Rancourt and CAO Merwyn
Sheppard of the town of Espanola, Sables-Spanish Rivers Reeve Les
Gamble, Reeve Jim Gerhardt of Nairn & Hyman, Mayor Willie Leveille
and Councilor Mark Wynott of Markstay-Warren, Reeve Austin Hunt of
Billings, Mayor Earle Freeborn of Chapleau, Treasurer Mike Monette of
French River and Councilor Sarah Bowerman of Central Manitoulin.
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CDC Strategic
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by Neil Zacharjewicz
LITTLE CURRENT - Matthew Fischer believes the Town of Northeastern
Manitoulin and the Islands needs to look at a long-term funding
arrangement for its Community Development Corporation.
This was one of several recommendations made by Mr. Fischer, of
Matthew Fischer and Associates Inc., consultant for the Northeastern
Manitoulin and the Islands (NEMI) Community Development Corporation
(CDC) at the August 16 public meeting to unveil the final report for
the economic development strategy.
"This is a very strong recommendation we are making," Mr. Fischer
stated. However, Mr. Fischer said it is vital the CDC be given some
security, instead of forcing the organization to spend each year
looking over its shoulder wondering where the money will come from.
"You have to give them three years in order to prove themselves," he
suggested. Mr. Fischer said, from his experience, it generally takes
community development corporations that span before results start to
become evident. He noted quite often, community development
corporations find it hard to defend the work they are doing because
there are a number of issues with regard to confidentiality, and
quite often the results of the corporations efforts take time to
appear in a community.
He suggested a three to five year Purchase of Service agreement
should be established between the municipality and the CDC.
Mr. Fischer did suggest, however, a reporting system should be
developed for the CDC. Quarterly reports, which would include a brief
summary of projects in the works with no confidential identifiers but
indications of the potential number of jobs and amount of investment,
should be submitted to council.
"It gives a greater sense of what is in the pipeline," he said.
Also, there should be an annual report to the entire community.
"It helps to coallesce the whole community around the development
effort," Mr. Fischer noted.
While the CDC would like to become totally self-sufficient, he said
that is very unlikely to happen because of the nature of the
organization, which is intended to give out information. To do a
decent job, the CDC would likely need between $80,000-100,000 a year.
The municipality presently provides $50,000, and so far the CDC has
made up the rest by arranging for grants. One possible way for the
CDC to make some money is if the town were to allow the CDC to manage
some of its properties, without turning over the title.
Development Office Peggy Young agreed, pointing out while the
Municipal Act clearly states what a municipality can and cannot do
with a piece of property, a community development corporation is not
faced with the same restrictions.
"If the CDC were managing the waterfront, it would be easier for them
to explore these possibilities," Mr. Fischer said. "The CDC has an
interest in increasing the amount of activity along the waterfront,
and the interest would be facilitated by giving them control of the
waterfront."
The CDC and the Business Improvement Association (BIA) could then
arrange to put on weekly events throughout the tourist season, to
best capitalize on the traffic coming through the area.
When it comes to the economic development in the community, Mr.
Fischer said the community needs to "get the most bang for (its)
buck." To do this, it needs to look at which industries have the
capacity to grow beyond the local market place.
Mr. Fischer said there are certain sectors which the CDC should
respond particularly aggressively in dealing with. Tourism investment
is one of those areas, he said, noting he was referring to
infrastructure. He suggested the Lacloche-Manitoulin Business
Assistance Corporation (LAMBAC) Marketing has been doing a good job
of marketing the Island, but the infrastructure needs to be addressed.
"We are not taking advantage of all the people coming through the
community now," he said.
Another such area which shows tremendous potential is the fishing
industry, and Mr. Fischer recommended the CDC work closely with the
Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and Coldwater Fisheries to help
resolve the issues which prevent the company from expanding in the
area. He pointed out as a result of Coldwater's inability to expand
operations in the area, the company has been working toward expanding
its services in Atlantic Canada.
He said this issue has to come to an head, even if the MNR refuses to
allow the company to expand. The uncertainty is causing too much
frustration, he suggested.
"A 'No' answer is still better than no answer," Mr. Fischer stated.
Another recommendation was to develop a "corporate aftercare" program
between Manitoulin Transport and the CDC. The purpose would be to
explore opportunities, examine the constraints the company is faced
with, and aid it with any additional growth.
"Manitoulin Transport is a remarkable company," Mr. Fischer said.
"This is something which would be well worth your time and effort."
Another of the recommendations was to develop an economic development
website with a profile of the community, adopting industry standard
measurements to assist companies looking to potentially expand their
operations to the area in ensuring this municipality has what they
require. Marketing tools such as a lure brochure, a business
directory, and a community profile would also be included.
"I have very big concerns about the (swing) bridge," Mr. Fischer
stated. "You are vulnerable to the continued failings of the bridge.
You have 12,500 people living on an Island which depends on a bridge
that is almost 100 years old and a ferry service."
"You are looking at one side," suggested Jake McHarg, one of the
meeting participants. "It is a trademark."
However, Mr. Fischer clarified the recommendation to address
transportation linkages was general in nature. He said the community
would not have to get rid of the bridge, but create linkages so that
it did not have to rely on it.
Another key area to address is to determine what service local
businesses are going off-Island for.
"Right now, the money is leaking out of the community," Mr. Fischer
said. He added it would be worthwhile to conduct a survey to see if
people would be willing to use a local service.
Mr. Fischer said the municipality also needs to develop a name which
is more "brand recognizable." He indicated names such as "Little
Current" or "North Channel" mean something to people, but names such
as "Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands Community Development
Corporation" are a mouthful, and people are not as familiar with them.
"This is happening all over Ontario," he explained. He suggested
amalgamations are largely to blame, as municipalities do not
necessarily carry the name of the communities people are familiar
with any longer.
Other recommendations from the report include targeting the creation
of additional eating and drinking establishments along the waterfront
and Highway 6 corridor, hiring a harbour master, relying on
face-to-face contact and personal networking to draw in investors,
hiring a full-time Development Officer and a support staffer,
approaching Marathon Realty to request their cooperation in an
environmental assessment of Goat Island with an eye toward brown
field redevelopment, and the development of a hotel/motel with
conference facilities with the assistance of investors.
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