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LCPS closed after heating system breaks down
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by Neil Zacharjewicz
LITTLE CURRENT - Students at Little Current
Public School had an unexpected long weekend. According to David
Brazeau, Communications Officer of the Rainbow District School
Board, on Sunday evening, a low heat alarm went off at the school.
The firm of Percy Wetherell Plumbing and Heating of Sudbury
was called in to repair the boilers, and it was discovered a
part was needed. However, the part was not available until Monday
morning. "The heat would have been too low (for students) in
our estimation," Mr. Brazeau explained. In these instances,
he said, the board treats the situation as it would a snow storm
or other bad weather situation, and students were informed to
stay home. "The heat is back on now," Mr. Brazeau said, adding
the school was to reopen on Tuesday.
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Golf
Club's foreclosure date looms closer
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by Diana Smith
WIKWEMIKONG ----Wikwemikong Band Council
has been approached about investing in the Mnidoo Valley Wikwemikong
Assiginack Golf Club, possibly saving it from foreclosure by
the Business Development Bank of Canada, to whom the Club owes
$1 million. The treasurer for the Mnidoo Valley Golf Club, Wally
Manitowabi, made a presentation to the Wikwemikong Band Council
at its meeting last Friday. The meeting was televised and well
attended by over 50 Band members. "I approached them as a member
of the golf club, presenting them with an opportunity to invest
in the course," said Mr. Manitowabi. "We presented an investment
opportunity as an equity investor to the Band and that investment
would allow the golf club to pay down its debt. We do not expect
any decisions at this time." Mr. Manitowabi's conclusion of
the outcome of that meeting was that there was support for it,
but the Band Council needed a lot more information. There won't
be any decision until they get that additional information.
The club has been looking for investors since the Business Development
Bank of Canada (BDC) announced that they will foreclose on the
club if they don't start to pay down the debt owed to them.
A deadline date of Tuesday, January 15, 2002 was set by the
BDC for the club to find a financial solution to its problems,
however, that foreclosure threat has been delayed at least one
day as the club has a meeting with the BDC today (Wednesday,
January 16). "At that (meeting) a proposal will be presented
to the BDC outlining that there are interested parties to invest
in this club, but we all need more time," concluded Mr. Manitowabi.
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Education,
infrastructure, health important to growth in north, says Flaherty
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by Tom Sasvari
The Recorder
GORE BAY - Economic growth, carried out through
areas such as infrastructure, education and health are keys
to providing a better future for all residents in Ontario, says
Jim Flaherty, Ontario's finance minister and deputy premier.
"My vision for the province is for growth in the economy that
will provide the highest quality of living and public services
anywhere. It is wholly important that our education system is
the best, and that our schools, colleges and universities are
the best, world class educational centres," said Mr. Flaherty,
a provincial Progressive Conservative candidate, who stopped
in Gore Bay last week as part of his 'Your Bright Ideas Budget
Tour,' a process aimed at getting local input into the budgetary
process. Mr. Flaherty said it is important for the province
not to change the course it has been on since the Tory government
was elected six years ago. Mr. Harris and his government "turned
the province around from 1995 when the province was almost bankrupt.
If Ontario slips, the country will be in trouble economically.
It is vitally important for Canada that Ontario be the locomotive
and not the caboose." Mr. Flaherty said the province's $64 billion
budget last year was made possible by an economic boom. About
$23.6 billion of that went into health care, $14 billion in
education and $8 billion into social services. "My priorities
are health care, education, helping vulnerable people, and infrastructure,"
said Mr. Flaherty. Where the province went wrong in the past
was borrowing money and running a deficit, which led to a deterioration
of services. He pointed out the federal government spent $40
billion on the national debt in the last budget, and said a
lot could have been done if those funds had gone toward health
care and services, instead of towards the federal debt. "We
have been on the right track in the province for the past six
years, and we need to build on the foundation that has been
started. If we're responsible, we're going to balance the budget,
and have tax reductions, which in turn helps to create jobs.
When we create debt, what we are saying to our children is you're
going to pay the debts we have made." There have been calls
by Tory leadership candidate Ernie Eves to have two-tier health
care, which Mr. Flaherty does not support. "Everyone in Canada
should have equal access to health services. I believe equal
services means someone doesn't have the chance to jump ahead
to the front of the line, just because they can afford health
care more than the person behind them." Mr. Flaherty stated,
"Health care needs more money, there is a priority there. We
need the federal government to be a full partner in this on
a 50-50 basis with the provinces." He noted, currently, only
14 cents of every dollar budgeted by the federal government
goes towards health care, but feels this will change and more
money will be more provided in the future. In discussing efficiencies
in health care, Mr. Flaherty said, "There are no incentives
to save money from health administrations, which is our fault,
and we need to create them. That means having more money in
the system." More doctors need to be encouraged to come to practice
and live in Northern Ontario, and the creation of the Northern
Medical School will help towards that goal, said Mr. Flaherty.
If he is elected as premier, Mr. Flaherty said he would set
goals for the government. Such as eliminating waiting lists
for cancer patients by constructing cancer centres and bringing
in more radiologists over a five year period. "In education,
we would designate schools as an essential service, so teachers
would not have the right to strike. They would be designated
the same as fire-fighters, police officers, and hospital workers.
There would be free bargaining by the union, and if agreements
on contracts can not be reached then negotiations would go to
a mediator, and then to an arbitrator. This is the way of the
future," said Mr. Flaherty. "Acrimonious strikes are not useful.
They are awful to children and parents. They are a disruption
to families, and these useless strikes are damaging to the economy."
Another measure Mr. Flaherty would like to see put in place
is a phonics program for those young students who have trouble
reading. "Some children find it easier to read using phonics.
I would bring phonics textbooks into the classroom and have
teachers trained in phonics. Forty-nine percent of children
can't pass reading standards in grade three. My goal is to have
100 percent able to achieve these standards within five years."
"Vulnerable people are also very important and we need to help
those people that can't care for themselves," said Mr. Flaherty.
Infrastructure, specifically the construction of roads and highways,
hospitals, schools, a better transit system, including light
and heavy rail transit, are key elements of economic prosperity
in Northern Ontario, but economic growth in the province has
to continue if it is to afford improvements to roadways. "The
next decade will be one of great infrastructure," he said. "There
is tremendous potential in the North," said Mr. Flaherty, who
said that more money needs be delivered through the Northern
Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC). "Tourism is also
important, as well as having good colleges and universities.
If we can get students to come to the North there is more of
a chance that they will stay here, and this also in turn attracts
business. "We need to continue the economic growth we have seen
in the province. If not, we will not be able to expand in health
care, education and infrastructure," continued Mr. Flaherty.
He pointed out the province has been able to increase its education
budget from $17 billion to $23 billion because of the economic
growth that has taken place in the province. "The province must
continue to reduce taxes for everyone." "We have spent $5 billion
over the last six years on roads and highway construction. What
you may see in the future is more 400 series of highways, and
more public-private partnerships in building roads, bridges,
schools and hospitals," said Mr. Flaherty. The promotion of
tourism and marketing of Northern Ontario needs to be continued,
said Mr. Flaherty. "Northern Ontario offers a tremendous, unique
opportunity for tourists." Mr. Flaherty said the government
will be going back to the Ministry of Transportation and Super
Build to review as to where projects are, and to get funds out
for these projects to be done." He said Manitoulin Island has
shown great results in projects where they have worked in partnership
with the province. Mr. Flaherty was in Gore Bay as part of his
Your Bright Ideas Budget tour. He noted that he annually does
a pre-budget meeting consultation across the province. "There
are 103 ridings to cover. In the pre-budget consultation I'm
making sure that we go to every riding in the province. We will
compile all the suggestions, and put them together in looking
at our budget." "I have a vision for the province that includes
better educational, health and infrastructure opportunities,
continued economic growth, less taxes, and more entrepreneurial
opportunities, which will get us to the best standard of living
in North America. We need to keep more young people here, and
encourage the culture of learning. There will be significant
economic development in Canada and the province in the coming
years. Half of the jobs that will take place in the next 10
years haven't been started," he added.
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