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Dorothy Anstice
celebrates her 100th birthday with family, friends
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by Neil Zacharjewicz
TEHKUMMAH - On January 11, 1903, Dorothy Mary Salter came into this world.
With the grace of God, on January 11, 2003, Dorothy Mary (Salter)
Anstice celebrated her 100th birthday.
"I guess it is God's will. He has some plan for me," suggested Ms.
Anstice, when asked what the secret to living a long life is. "Ever
since I was young, I went to Sunday school and I always listened. I
thought I had to live a good life. I think I've done that. I tried to
live right."
Ms. Anstice was born in Cross Uxbridge, England. She was named for
her grandmother, Mary. She moved to Manitoulin at the age of 17 to be
with Victor Anstice of England, who she married on October 29, 1920
at the Anglican Church in Manitowaning. Following her wedding, she
wired a message by telegraph to her mother in England to tell her she
had married.
"It was hard on the farm. Things weren't like they are today," she
indicated. She said today, when a person needs a loaf of bread, they
simply go to the store and buy one.
"Back then, you couldn't buy bread. You had to bake it," she said.
Yet, while life was hard, Ms. Anstice said she had the benefit of
many good neighbours.
She recalled Joe Ward's little country store at which she would pick
up the mail. She noted she can still recall the mail arriving at the
store by horse.
Together, Mr. and Ms. Anstice had seven children, five of which
survived to adulthood: Kenneth Anstice, Glenora Harrison, Bert
Anstice, Ron Anstice and Jeanette Stickles. Today, Ms. Anstice boasts
11 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and four great-great
grandchildren, with another on the way. Ms. Anstice said her family
is spread around the world, with some living as far away as China.
She noted some of her family have even returned to England. She
pointed out one her granddaughters married an English soldier.
To mark the occasion of her birthday, she received a few calls from
her nephews and nieces in England.
"We always keep in touch," she said.
There was a large turnout to celebrate the occasion as well, filling
the Community Hall in Tehkummah.
"I didn't think I had so many friends, and they haven't all been here
yet," she remarked.
To mark the occasion of her 100th birthday, Ms. Anstice received
certificates of congratulations from Reeve Gary Brown on behalf of
the Township of Tehkummah, Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Stephen
Harper, Leader of the Opposition, Premier Ernie Eves, Governor
General Adrienne Clarkson, Lieutenant Governor James Bartleman,
Algoma - Manitoulin Member of Provincial Parliament Mike Brown, and
from Queen Elizabeth II.
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Killarney woes |
by Cheryl Waugh
KILLARNEY --- In an impassioned speech to the board of directors of
the Manitoulin Sudbury District Social Services Administration Board,
Killarney Mayor Laurier Low implored the board not to change its
apportionment formula again; the result of which would see a dramatic
increase of about 36 percent in social services costs for his
municipality.
The board of directors of the Manitoulin Sudbury District Social
Services Administration Board (DSSAB) is considering changing the
apportionment formula for a third time. Under the proposed formula,
Payments In Lieu (PILs) would be included in the weighted assessment
formula. PILs are lands for which a municipality receives government
payments, but which are not included in their assessments, for
instance in the case of parkland.
"Will the DSSAB ever have a methodology in place which will remain
constant?" queried Mr. Low. "We believe the DSSAB is failing to
realize that these constant changes in arriving at apportionment are
creating havoc with budgets, but most importantly is creating
dissension and a discontented attitude among member municipalities.
The leaders of the DSSAB should be working together to create and
ensure a unified group - we are now pitting municipality against
municipality and this is not right."
If the DSSAB were to include PILs into the weighted assessment
Killarney's social services costs would rise from $305,445.67 to an
estimated cost of $475, 703.21, an increase of $170,257.54. For the
rest of the municipalities in the Manitoulin District, DSSAB costs
would decrease, with the exception of Burpee-Mills and Tehkummah.
Both municipalities would see slight increases in their DSSAB
apportionments.
In order to change the apportionment formula the DSSAB must go
through the procedure of a double majority vote, a process which has
already been started. If the majority of municipalities carrying the
majority of the population pass in resolution the proposed
apportionment formula, then the DSSAB will have the power to change
it.
The resolution to accept the new apportionment formula has already
been passed by the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands
(NEMI). Mayor Ken Ferguson, who is also a representative on the DSSAB
board, called the passage of the new apportionment formula a "virtual
certainty."
NEMI's DSSAB costs will go down an estimated $15,508 under the
proposed apportionment formula.
Along with Killarney's expected 35.79 percent increase, the
Manitoulin Unorganized areas costs will go up about 30 percent, while
the Sudbury Unorganized areas costs will increase by about 2.12
percent.
Burpee-Mills and Tehkummah will also see increases of around 0.27
percent and 1.33 percent respectively, under the proposed formula.
Chapleau will also see a modest increase of about 0.62 percent. The
other 13 municipalities within the DSSAB will see their social
services costs decrease.
At Central Manitoulin council's last meeting, Reeve Mary Nelder noted
that including PILs in the weighted assessment formula would benefit
her township. Under the proposed formula, Central Manitoulin would
see its apportionment decrease by 4.47 percent, for an estimated
savings of more than $25,000.
"The argument is that payment in lieu is funded by the province and
why should local taxpayers be subsidizing the province?" explained
Reeve Nelder to her council. "If we do go with (the PIL option), it
would also mean we would all be sticking it to Killarney."
"I think it would be unfortunate in the Killarney case, but our
residents would see a $25,000 savings," said Councilor Derek Stevens.
"But, we could have been in the situation Killarney is currently, and
would hope other municipalities would not be kicking us," said Reeve
Nelder.
Since councils do have until the end of January to respond to the
DSSAB on the apportionment formula matter, Central Manitoulin council
chose to table the issue until its next meeting.
In an effective presentation to the DSSAB board, Mayor Low suggested
that if the board really believed that including PILs makes the
apportionment more equitable then the assessment for power dams
should be included.
When Espanola lost the dam assessment on their rolls, their DSSAB
costs went down, however, the province pays Espanola grant money for
the assessment loss.
"Why are dams not included? Dams, and managed forests," asked Earl
Freeborn, a board member representing Chapleau. He noted that
municipalities that have dams or managed forests "pay less to this
board because they are not included in the assessment, but at the end
of the year, the province turns around and gives them that funding."
Board member and Espanola Mayor Marcel Rancourt said the loss of
assessment on Espanola's dam meant $160,000 in taxation was lost to
the town. "That's $160,000 in real money that was lost. We don't know
how the province will assess that. We don't know if we're going to
get (the grant) from year to year."
"The problem is you're getting tax dollars for the dam but are not
getting assessed for it," said Mr. Freeborn.
Mayor Low explained that the municipality of Killarney was created in
January 1999 through the process of amalgamation, which resulted in a
sprawling, geographically diverse area with a population of only 460
permanent residents.
"The village of Killarney is surrounded by parkland which has
severely limited our potential for growth due to the implementation
of the Province's Living Legacy and Great Lakes Heritage Coast
initiatives," said Mayor Low.
He said his municipality's assessment is mainly comprised of
residential properties, with only two industrial properties and
approximately 45 commercial properties. "We do not foresee future
development in the industrial or commercial sector in the near future
and therefore must rely on our current assessment base to generate
tax dollars to meet our expenditures," said Mayor Low.
He asked the board not to change its apportionment formula for the
following reasons:
* the increase of 55.75 percent over the 2002 actual DSSAB levy will
have great financial repercussions upon Killarney's ratepayers;
* of the services provided by the DSSAB, Killarney does not have
social housing nor do they have access to child care;
* Killarney's share of the total Ontario Works as taken from the 2001
DSSAB financial statements amount to 0.45 percent of the total case,
with no more than four cases in a month;
* Killarney's share of the total Ontario DSP (disability) amounted to
0.95 percent of the total where the cases did not exceed eight cases
in any one month;
* the municipality is paying one of the largest shares of
apportionments and is receiving the least amount of services from the
DSSAB
* the DSSAB costs in 2001 represented 18.5 percent of Killarney's
total budget, 17.3 percent in 2002, and if expenditures were to
remain the same in 2003 the DSSAB share of their budget would be 27
percent.
Mayor Low noted that services are utilized by people and not by land
mass. "By including our PILs, of which the largest share is made up
by the two Provincial Parks in our municipality, this will definitely
not increase the case load or the services currently utilized by the
municipality of Killarney. It's only effect will be to increase our
apportionment and decrease the cost sharing of the majority of other
member municipalities," he said.
"In our opinion, your proposed changes are not fair nor is this
(proposal) equitable to the taxpayers of our municipality for the
DSSAB services which we are able to access. Our small, isolated
municipality is subsidizing the apportionment costs of almost all
other municipalities in our DSSAB."
If the DSSAB does change the apportionment formula, it will be the
third formula used in three years. In 2000, the DSSAB used a
one-third methodology, and in 2001 they went to the provincial
default formula of using weighted assessment.
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Children's Aid Society fires Larry Killens
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by Cheryl Waugh
KILLARNEY --- In an impassioned speech to the board of directors
of
the Manitoulin Sudbury District Social Services Administration
Board,
Killarney Mayor Laurier Low implored the board not to change its
apportionment formula again; the result of which would see a
dramatic
increase of about 36 percent in social services costs for his
municipality.
The board of directors of the Manitoulin Sudbury District Social
Services Administration Board (DSSAB) is considering changing
the
apportionment formula for a third time. Under the proposed
formula,
Payments In Lieu (PILs) would be included in the weighted
assessment
formula. PILs are lands for which a municipality receives
government
payments, but which are not included in their assessments, for
instance in the case of parkland.
"Will the DSSAB ever have a methodology in place which will
remain
constant?" queried Mr. Low. "We believe the DSSAB is failing to
realize that these constant changes in arriving at apportionment
are
creating havoc with budgets, but most importantly is creating
dissension and a discontented attitude among member
municipalities.
The leaders of the DSSAB should be working together to create
and
ensure a unified group - we are now pitting municipality against
municipality and this is not right."
If the DSSAB were to include PILs into the weighted assessment
Killarney's social services costs would rise from $305,445.67 to
an
estimated cost of $475, 703.21, an increase of $170,257.54. For
the
rest of the municipalities in the Manitoulin District, DSSAB
costs
would decrease, with the exception of Burpee-Mills and Tehkummah.
Both municipalities would see slight increases in their DSSAB
apportionments.
In order to change the apportionment formula the DSSAB must go
through the procedure of a double majority vote, a process which
has
already been started. If the majority of municipalities carrying
the
majority of the population pass in resolution the proposed
apportionment formula, then the DSSAB will have the power to
change
it.
The resolution to accept the new apportionment formula has
already
been passed by the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the
Islands
(NEMI). Mayor Ken Ferguson, who is also a representative on the
DSSAB
board, called the passage of the new apportionment formula a
"virtual
certainty."
NEMI's DSSAB costs will go down an estimated $15,508 under the
proposed apportionment formula.
Along with Killarney's expected 35.79 percent increase, the
Manitoulin Unorganized areas costs will go up about 30 percent,
while
the Sudbury Unorganized areas costs will increase by about 2.12
percent.
Burpee-Mills and Tehkummah will also see increases of around
0.27
percent and 1.33 percent respectively, under the proposed
formula.
Chapleau will also see a modest increase of about 0.62 percent.
The
other 13 municipalities within the DSSAB will see their social
services costs decrease.
At Central Manitoulin council's last meeting, Reeve Mary Nelder
noted
that including PILs in the weighted assessment formula would
benefit
her township. Under the proposed formula, Central Manitoulin
would
see its apportionment decrease by 4.47 percent, for an estimated
savings of more than $25,000.
"The argument is that payment in lieu is funded by the province
and
why should local taxpayers be subsidizing the province?"
explained
Reeve Nelder to her council. "If we do go with (the PIL option),
it
would also mean we would all be sticking it to Killarney."
"I think it would be unfortunate in the Killarney case, but our
residents would see a $25,000 savings," said Councilor Derek
Stevens.
"But, we could have been in the situation Killarney is
currently, and
would hope other municipalities would not be kicking us," said
Reeve
Nelder.
Since councils do have until the end of January to respond to
the
DSSAB on the apportionment formula matter, Central Manitoulin
council
chose to table the issue until its next meeting.
In an effective presentation to the DSSAB board, Mayor Low
suggested
that if the board really believed that including PILs makes the
apportionment more equitable then the assessment for power dams
should be included.
When Espanola lost the dam assessment on their rolls, their
DSSAB
costs went down, however, the province pays Espanola grant money
for
the assessment loss.
"Why are dams not included? Dams, and managed forests," asked
Earl
Freeborn, a board member representing Chapleau. He noted that
municipalities that have dams or managed forests "pay less to
this
board because they are not included in the assessment, but at
the end
of the year, the province turns around and gives them that
funding."
Board member and Espanola Mayor Marcel Rancourt said the loss of
assessment on Espanola's dam meant $160,000 in taxation was lost
to
the town. "That's $160,000 in real money that was lost. We don't
know
how the province will assess that. We don't know if we're going
to
get (the grant) from year to year."
"The problem is you're getting tax dollars for the dam but are
not
getting assessed for it," said Mr. Freeborn.
Mayor Low explained that the municipality of Killarney was
created in
January 1999 through the process of amalgamation, which resulted
in a
sprawling, geographically diverse area with a population of only
460
permanent residents.
"The village of Killarney is surrounded by parkland which has
severely limited our potential for growth due to the
implementation
of the Province's Living Legacy and Great Lakes Heritage Coast
initiatives," said Mayor Low.
He said his municipality's assessment is mainly comprised of
residential properties, with only two industrial properties and
approximately 45 commercial properties. "We do not foresee
future
development in the industrial or commercial sector in the near
future
and therefore must rely on our current assessment base to
generate
tax dollars to meet our expenditures," said Mayor Low.
He asked the board not to change its apportionment formula for
the
following reasons:
* the increase of 55.75 percent over the 2002 actual DSSAB levy
will
have great financial repercussions upon Killarney's ratepayers;
* of the services provided by the DSSAB, Killarney does not have
social housing nor do they have access to child care;
* Killarney's share of the total Ontario Works as taken from the
2001
DSSAB financial statements amount to 0.45 percent of the total
case,
with no more than four cases in a month;
* Killarney's share of the total Ontario DSP (disability)
amounted to
0.95 percent of the total where the cases did not exceed eight
cases
in any one month;
* the municipality is paying one of the largest shares of
apportionments and is receiving the least amount of services
from the
DSSAB
* the DSSAB costs in 2001 represented 18.5 percent of
Killarney's
total budget, 17.3 percent in 2002, and if expenditures were to
remain the same in 2003 the DSSAB share of their budget would be
27
percent.
Mayor Low noted that services are utilized by people and not by
land
mass. "By including our PILs, of which the largest share is made
up
by the two Provincial Parks in our municipality, this will
definitely
not increase the case load or the services currently utilized by
the
municipality of Killarney. It's only effect will be to increase
our
apportionment and decrease the cost sharing of the majority of
other
member municipalities," he said.
"In our opinion, your proposed changes are not fair nor is this
(proposal) equitable to the taxpayers of our municipality for
the
DSSAB services which we are able to access. Our small, isolated
municipality is subsidizing the apportionment costs of almost
all
other municipalities in our DSSAB."
If the DSSAB does change the apportionment formula, it will be
the
third formula used in three years. In 2000, the DSSAB used a
one-third methodology, and in 2001 they went to the provincial
default formula of using weighted assessment.
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M'Chigeeng arena back in service |
by Michael Erskine
M'CHIGEENG---The M'Chigeeng First Nation arena was back in full
operation as of the beginning of the new year.
"We are back in full swing," said M'Chigeeng Chief Glen Hare.
"Everything is back to normal."
The arena had been taken out of service by a failed chiller in
mid-fall, and it had appeared the season would be cancelled when
it
became apparent what the cost would be, but the M'Chigeeng Band
Council decided to go ahead with the repairs, with the result
that
most of the season has been salvaged.
"We have a tournament coming up in a couple of weeks, BJ's
Memorial,"
said an exuberant Arena Manager Levi Debassige. "Our minor
hockey
tournament will be on schedule and the season will finish off
with
the Ense-Hare Tournament like we usually do."
Complete repairs to the arena will cost between $120,000 and
$150,000, but the replacement of the chiller will allow the
arena to
finish off the season.
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