DECEMBER 11, 2002 ARCHIVE
 
 
 

Youth arrested, charged after firearm brought to school

 


by Neil Zacharjewicz
M'CHIGEENG - A young offender has been arrested after the Manitoulin 
detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police and the United Chiefs and 
Councils of Manitoulin Tribal Police were called to respond to a 
report the youth had brought a firearm to school.
On Thursday, December 5, at 11:30 am, the two police forces attended 
Manitoulin Secondary School after receiving an anonymous tip through 
Crimestoppers.
The youth was quickly identified and a firearm was seized off of 
school property. As a result of the investigation, a male young 
offender was taken into custody and has been charged with Possession 
of a Prohibited Firearm, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, and Careless 
Use of a Firearm.
According to Constable Al Boyd of the Ontario Provincial Police 
(OPP), the case is still under investigation. He reported there were 
no indications that any threats had been made. He explained the youth 
had brought the firearm to school the previous day, and then had 
taken it off of school property. The firearm had been altered to make 
it easier to conceal, Const. Boyd indicated.
The youth was taken into custody, and appeared in Gore Bay Bail Court 
on Friday, December 6. Constable John Robertson is the investigating 
officer, and the investigation is continuing with the assistance of 
the Manitoulin and Sudbury District Crime Unit.
According to reports, Victim Crisis Assistance Referral Service 
(VCARS) was available to offer counseling to students following the 
incident.
"I know little, if anything, about (the particulars of the 
incident)," stated Larry Killens, the Island trustee for the Rainbow 
District School Board. "What I do know is that our principal and 
administrative staff did one super job in ensuring the safety and 
security of our students."
He also commended Principal Carolyn Lane-Rock and the administrative 
staff for their excellent job in ensuring the student involved in the 
incident was able to get the help they needed.
"I am surprised at the seriousness of what happened, but I am not 
surprised something happened," stated Mr. Killens, suggesting it is 
merely a sign of the need to adjust the funding formula for the 
education system. He said the present funding formula places a lot of 
stress on teachers, who must deal with larger classroom sizes. 
Furthermore, there are not enough books for all of the students in 
the education system.
"They are also stressing out the students. This is just one of the 
most serious instances," Mr. Killens said. "It's the crack in the 
dyke."
He added he hopes both the federal and provincial government will 
heed the advice of the Auditor General, and stop wasting money on 
things such as the gun registry. He said that money would be better 
spent on the education and health systems in this country.


                     

              

      

        
        

          
                Largest fresh-water Island in the world may soon be home to 
                Ontario's 

                largest wind farm

        

          by Michael Erskine

          LITTLE CURRENT---A large crowd packed into the main meeting hall at
          

          the Little Current Howland Recreation Centre to hear a presentation
          

          on a proposal to establish the largest wind farm in Ontario on the 

          fields of McLean's Mountain, south of Little Current.

          A consortium made up of the City of Greater Sudbury, Northland Power
          

          Inc. and REpower Systems outlined plans to establish a 'wind farm' 

          capable of generating at least 20 megawatts of power from a battery
          

          of 60-metre tall windmills with huge slowly rotating blades. 

          Currently, the entire combined output of Ontario's wind farms is 

          between 60 and 75 megawatts, making the province very much a bit 

          player among the planet's wind farmers.

          The proposed towers would each be capable of generating between 750
          

          kilowatts and over 1.4 megawatts, depending on the final design to be
          

          implemented.

          "Each of these units is a small generating station in its own right,"
          

          said Paul Graham, lead spokesperson for the group and the plants 

          manager for the City of Greater Sudbury.

          The proposal is actually in a fairly advanced stage, according to 

          Northland Power's Director of Business Development, Jonathan Sandler,
          

          with preliminary permit applications, land leases and other 

          negotiations already in place.

          Before a single cement pad is laid on the ground however, 

          environmental assessments and in-depth public consultations will be
          

          conducted, the Monday meeting being but the first step in a long 

          process.

          The three consortium partners came together through a Request For 

          Proposals put out by the City of Greater Sudbury seeking strategic 

          partners for the plan. There were 20 responses, from which REpower 

          Wind Corp. and Northland Power Inc. were chosen.

          The City of Greater Sudbury will be the lead partner in the 

          consortium, and, together with Northland Power Inc., they will be 

          putting up the bulk of the equity financing for the project.

          "There will be no problem with the debt financing," said Mr. Sandler,
          

          indicating that the source of financing was already assured. In 

          establishing its other operations Northland Power raised $900 million
          

          in debt and equity financing.

          Northland Power Inc. was first established in 1980 as an engineering
          

          firm, but by 1987 it had moved into development of power generation
          

          technologies. Currently, the firm manages and or owns 250 megawatts
          

          of electricity generation capacity at three power plants in Northern
          

          Ontario, located in Kirkland Lake, Cochrane and Iroquois Falls.

          "We maintain a solid reputation with the local communities where we
          

          operate," said Mr. Sandler. "Our reputation is built on an ability to
          

          create local jobs and provide broader opportunities to community 

          residents."

          REpower Wind Corp. is a Sudbury-based company established in 2002 

          which distributes and manufactures wind turbines for the North 

          American market. The company is held jointly by REpower AG, a German
          

          wind farm development company, Richard Walker, of Sudbury and Rick 

          Gagnon, of Gore Bay.

          "A lot of what we are doing today has its foundation and is due to 

          the hard work of Rick Gagnon," said Mr. Walker.

          REpower AG has installed over 750 of its turbines worldwide, with an
          

          installed capacity exceeding 550 MW. The turbines are designed and 

          built with REpower Systems AG's own technology.

          The City of Greater Sudbury has established environmental and 

          renewable energy sources as a strategic priority, according to Mr. 

          Graham. The Community Energy Plan target is to produce 50 per cent of
          

          the community's energy locally.

          "The council's first priority is, like all Northern communities, job
          

          creation," he said. "This is their second priority."

          While the minimum amount of power generation needed to provide an 

          economy of scale is 20 MW, Mr. Graham noted the plan is more likely
          

          to try and establish 50 MW, with about $86 million in investment.

          "With that kind of money involved, we have to be serious," he said.

          The Sudbury consortium is not the only player looking to place wind
          

          farms on Manitoulin, but the group is certain they have found the 

          best location and have put together a winning team.

          The opportunities and benefits to Northeastern Manitoulin and the 

          Islands and the rest of the Manitoulin community are to be found in
          

          jobs and bidding opportunities for parts and services for the 

          turbines.

          Mr. Sandler estimated that between three and five full-time 

          equivalent jobs will be created in the community, as well as jobs in
          

          the construction of the towers. A further one or two jobs will be 

          created in local management positions in the area by the City of 

          Greater Sudbury and Northland. An additional one or two off-site 

          management jobs will also be created, he said, although those jobs 

          could be located anywhere, including Toronto.

          The panel of representatives spent much of the meeting fielding 

          questions from the audience about the impact of the wind turbines and
          

          outlining measures which lessen the environmental and esthetic impact.

          Although the wind turbines tower up to 65 metres, use of 

          complementary paint schemes can cause the units to fade into near 

          invisibility from a distance as they blend into the landscape and a
          

          careful geometric layout of the farm can make a large number of 

          turbines appear like only two or three, said Mr. Sandler. The low 

          rotational speed of the vanes also lowers the visual impact of the 

          units.

          As to concerns of noise pollution, provincial laws dictate the units
          

          be placed at least 1000 ft apart, and that the noise level at a range
          

          of 300 ft is under 50 decibels, comparatively similar to a car 

          travelling at 40 kilometers an hour.

          Mr. Sandler said the sound was much like waves crashing on a beach.

          "It is a matter of personal taste," he said. "But I find the sound 

          quite soothing."

          "After five years of research on the Island, I chose this location 

          largely because it has no sound impact on neighbours," said Mr. 

          Gagnon, noting that aside from a couple of hunt camps, there are no
          

          residences in the vicinity.

          As to any threat to local or travelling birds, the slow rate of 

          rotation makes the blades no threat, while the design of towers 

          themselves is safe for nesting avians.

          "By law we have to take the migratory path of birds into account," 

          said Mr. Sandler. "Our studies have indicated this is not an issue 

          here."

          As to other potential benefits to the area, the small footprint of 

          the towers and the height of the blades above the ground means the 

          wind farms can still be used for other types of agriculture, 

          including cattle and crops, said Mr. Sandler. Therefore the leasing
          

          rights will bring an extra revenue per acre for leasing farmers.

          For the local community, an increased tax revenue base, the influx of
          

          skilled jobs and the possible tourist attraction potential of the 

          site are all on the positive side of the balance scale.

          "In addition, NEMI will have the ability to demonstrate a leadership
          

          role in the promotion of wind and renewable energy," said Mr. 

          Sandler. "There is also the opportunity to potentially own valuable
          

          emission credits and to secure a long term competitive energy 

          pricing."

          Local residents may provide the perfect fit for skilled jobs during
          

          development, construction, commissioning and operations, noted Mr. 

          Sandler, as well as provision of construction materials, granulars 

          and concrete and excavation, roadway work and snow removal.

          The presence of the wind farm will not have a direct impact on the 

          reliability of Manitoulin's electricity supply due to current 

          regulations governing generating capacity Mr. Sandler admitted.

          Initial response to the plan from local politicians and business 

          leaders was cautiously optimistic.

          "It is a very interesting idea, but there are a lot of questions to
          

          be answered yet," said NEMI Community Development Corporation 

          President Gary Green, after the meeting. "I am certainly interested
          

          in the jobs."

          NEMI Mayor Ken Ferguson said he saw a great deal of potential in the
          

          plan, especially in light of developments in the Kyoto agreement.

          Public Works Chair Ron Lewis said he was also interested in the job
          

          potential, but that there would be a cost for the community and that
          

          negotiations on road work needed to support the project would have to
          

          be resolved satisfactorily and with close thought to the consequences.

          "Still, anything is better than burning fossil fuels," he said. "And
          

          the income from assessments will be welcome as well."

          While some members of the audience voiced skepticism about some of 

          the claims made by the panel, there was only one solid voice raised
          

          against the project.

          "I came here for the view and I for one am not convinced that this 

          will not ruin it,' he said. "I will be starting a petition against 

          this."

          As to the expressed tone of the rest of the audience, it could be 

          summed up as cautious optimism, almost everyone agreeing that it is a
          

          great idea in principal, but wondering what the 'catch' is.

 		
        

        

          
                

                  
Man pickets to draw attention to apprehensions

                

              

        

          
                

                by Michael Erskine

                M'CHIGEENG---Sub-zero temperatures and bone-chilling damp winds 
                have 

                not deterred Victor Migwans from his one-man picket of the Child 
                and 

                Family Services offices in M'Chigeeng to draw attention to the 
                number 

                of child apprehensions in the community.

                "We have the highest number of apprehensions here in West Bay," 
                he 

                said. "It is very unfair to West Bay families."

                Mr. Migwans said he believes the number of apprehensions is 
                caused by 

                "inept and unprofessional conduct" of workers at the M'Chigeeng 
                Child 

                and Family Services offices.

                "In the first place they are not being professional in what they 
                do 

                with families," he said. "They should be doing more with the 
                families 

                to teach them how to raise children, not taking the children out 
                of 

                the home."

                While M'Chigeeng Chief Glen Hare denies there is anything wrong 
                with 

                the band's staff at Child and Family Services, he agrees the 
                problem 

                of child apprehensions is a difficult one.

                "We are doing pretty good for the amount of money we have to 
                work 

                with here," he said. "We have 35 cases we are working on right 
                now, 

                we are stretched out thin."

                Chief Hare said he believes Mr. Migwan's protest focus is on the 
                wrong offices.

                "Maybe he should protest the government buildings down in Ottawa 
                or 

                Toronto," he said. "Before he goes and starts protesting, maybe 
                he 

                should go and visit our workers and get the facts first. We are 
                doing 

                the best we can with what we have to work with. Everybody has 
                the 

                right to protest, I just wish they would get the facts 
                beforehand. We 

                do an investigation in each case."

                On the matter of child apprehensions per se, Chief Hare said he
                

                agreed whole heartedly with Mr. Migwans.

                Mr. Migwans said he felt there was a reluctance in the community 
                to 

                call the band to task over the handling of child apprehensions 
                due to 

                potential backlashes against them by the band.

                "They use the least little thing to take the child from the 
                home," 

                said Mr. Migwans, relating a recent apprehension in which he 
                said a 

                Children's Aid worker took a child from the home simply because 
                the 

                child was crying. "'That's it,' she said. 'This visit is over.' 
                She 

                just took the child away without any discussion. That isn't 
                right."

                The result of apprehensions, said Mr. Migwans, are that children 
                are 

                raised away from their homes in institutions by people who have 
                no 

                direct attachment to them or the community and have no stability 
                in 

                their lives.

                "That's true," said Leroy Esquimaux, as he stopped to talk with 
                Mr. 

                Migwans and show his support for his cause. "My cousin is 
                getting 

                bumped from place to place right now."

                The problem is not a new development, noted Penny Corbiere as 
                she 

                stopped to talk with Mr. Migwans.

                "I was bumped around from place to place too," she said. "When I 
                came 

                back, I didn't know anybody in my community, anything about by 
                people 

                or my culture. I was raised in the white man's world. It seems 
                to be 

                even worse today than it was in my time."

                "It (apprehensions) does affect the whole community," said Chief
                

                Hare. "Everybody here is related, and it effects every person in 
                the 

                community. I myself was effected, and it never goes away. It was 
                30 

                years ago, and I am still discouraged with how the society dealt 
                with 

                it."

                Chief Hare said the issue of child apprehensions was going to 
                get 

                even more difficult for the community to deal with before it is
                

                likely to get better.

                "It is a tough thing, and when, as I hope to live to see, we are
                

                mandated, when we are doing the apprehensions ourselves, in our 
                own 

                community, it will be even harder," he said. "But if there is a 
                risk 

                to the child, we have to act. We can't just leave them there and 
                ask 

                questions later. We just can't risk it we have to protect the
                

                children."

                The lack of sufficient funding from provincial and federal 

                governments for Child and Family Services to work with families 
                and 

                provide the parenting and coping skills needed by parents of 
                children 

                who are at risk is the key element which allows the problem to
                

                continue and worsen, said Chief Hare.

                Still, despite all of the difficulties and challenges in taking 
                over 

                the mandate for conducting apprehensions, it is important for 
                the 

                band to work toward the day when such decisions are made solely
                

                within the community, said Chief Hare. "It is not going to be 
                easy, 

                but it is something we have to do."