Trade Fair called off

Concerns with strike postpone fair to '07

by Lindsay Kelly

LITTLE CURRENT-The 24-week-old labour dispute between the Northeast Town and the CEP union has offered up its first Island-wide casuality this week, with the announcement that the Manitoulin Trade Fair, which was set to take place at the Little Current-Howland Recreation Centre during the weekend of May 5 to 7, has been postponed for this year.

Citing fears that the strike would negatively blight the fair, by way of demonstrations and picket lines at the rec centre, fair organizers sent out a letter to exhibitors last week, asking them for input into what should be done in light of the ongoing labour dispute.

Options included holding the fair as planned, relocating the fair to Espanola for this year, or postponing the fair until next year.

"While we value your opinions, please know that we will make the final decision based on what we think is best for the Manitoulin Trade Fair, even if it means that we will possibly lose some of our valued exhibitors," the letter states. "As the main sponsor, LAMBAC has to consider the consequences of a fair that does not meet the high standards we have set in the past or that cannot cover its costs."

By the end of last week, organizers had made their decision.

The fears of the organization committee are not unfounded. Since the strike began, picketers have maintained a steady presence outside several town-owned properties, including the town office on Manitowaning Road and the landfill along Highway 6.

The recreation centre has also been targeted during various events. Though few in numbers, strikers picketed the main doors of the rec centre on Friday evening during the Manitoulin Islanders game. The police were called, and the four picketers were asked to leave the property, as they are not supposed to be on town property while on strike.

For the trade fair, however, the union had planned to bring in sympathetic union members from other communities, with numbers rumoured to be in the hundreds.

Fair coordinator Frank Reynolds said cancelling the trade fair was a difficult decision to make, but one that served the best interests of those involved. While the show is self-supporting, exhibitors and show attendees rely on revenue from sponsors, booth fees and entrance fees to make their participation in the venture profitable.

"The Manitoulin Trade Fair is an upbeat show that appeals to all ages and people from as far away as Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury," he said. "Many exhibitors and show attendees could be placed in a difficult position if they were forced to cross a picket line to participate in the show. The trade fair is very important to the economy of Manitoulin Island, and we did not want to risk a negative financial impact on our exhibitors."

Owen Legge, chair of the Manitoulin Chamber of Commerce, noted that the Chamber executive met last week to discuss the possibility of postponing the fair, and expressed their disappointment over the issue.

"It's too bad the union and [the Northeast Town] could not put aside their differences for the rest of Manitoulin for that week and not use it for their own gains," he said. "Why should all of Manitoulin suffer?"

Not only does the fair take a lot of planning and funding, but it's something business owners look forward to attending, because it is a primary forum for advertising, selling products, and networking, Mr. Legge noted.

He believes many small Island businesses will suffer because they are missing out on what is normally a huge opportunity to grow their businesses. As a small business owner himself (Mr. Legge owns Manitoulin Chrysler), Mr. Legge said he was going to use the opportunity to introduce a new sales representative he recently hired. But now, those plans have been postponed, as have those of other businesses.

In addition, he believes the Island economy will take a large hit, because the visitors who attend the fair (12,000 went to the 2004 installment) will not be coming to Manitoulin, and those in industry who rely on the trade fair to generate business will be missing out on important revenue. "Personally, I feel it's a real shame that it had to happen," he said.

Mr. Legge suggested that the union and the town should have come to an agreement that they would not picket during the trade fair, so that there would not be a loss to the town or the Island as a whole. It's a strategy that Mr. Reynolds had already considered.

"I spoke extensively with union members, and they said they would use the occasion to profile their plight," he said. "I didn't disagree with it, because [the Northeast Town] is the property owners and we're only the renters."

He suggested to the union that they set up an information booth at the entrance to the building; however, many of the union members declined as it would suggest they'd crossed the picket line.

If union representatives opted to remain at the parking lot entrance and halt cars going in, it could create additional congestion on the highway, he noted. Mr. Reynolds said he envisioned someone getting hurt trying to cross the highway, and decided it was not worth the risk.

The volunteer firefighters have been "super" for their years of assistance in controlling traffic, and the trade fair operators are equipped with medical supplies, but if someone were to be seriously injured, "I'm not ready to respond to a car accident," he added.

Northeast Town Councillor Jim Stringer said he feared the cancellation of the trade fair would have far-reaching consequences for the town and the Island. "As long as the strike continues, other events, including Haweater Weekend, are at risk," he said. "What price does council want this town to pay?"

Union representative Fred Bond said that bargaining unit members believe they have been left with no choice but to become more active in their strike campaign, and insinuated that strikers would have utilized the trade fair to make a statement.

"As time goes on, the dynamic of the strike will change," he said. "The strikers have been very passive, in the hope that council could be encouraged to find a solution, but that's not the case, because when we meet, their offer just gets worse. At some point in time, the workers are going to change their minds, and they're going to become more militant and start affecting services."

Mayor Joe Chapman said he sees the town as being the renter of the building for the event, but believes the fair is being unjustly targeted in this issue.

"It appears that the union is now picking a fight with small business on the Island," he said. "The trade fair has nothing to do with the town-we just rent the space at the arena. is the union going to start picketing wedding receptions at the complex next? It would make just about as much sense as picketing the trade fair. It's really sad 14 strikers have put their interests ahead of so many others who have nothing to do with their labour dispute."

He said he believes the union has realized that the strike is not having the desired effect on municipal operations, so the union has changed its tactic to affect other events and services. But, with the trade fair no longer planning to rent the building for that weekend, Mayor Chapman said the town will most likely open it up to other parties interested in renting the facility.

Mr. Reynolds said stakeholders have supported the decision to postpone the event, and noted that it will instead be held at the Little Current-Howland Recreation Centre on the weekend of May 4 to 6, 2007.

Consultants chosen to devise Island waste plan

by Lindsay Kelly

MANITOULIN-After months of planning, applying for grants, and conducting research on consultant firms, the Island Waste Management Study is going ahead.

The study-which will look at alternative waste management options such as how the Island's communities can collaborate on waste management to induce cost-saving measures-was a suggestion included in the first five-year strategic plan developed by the LaCloche-Manitoulin Business Assistance Corporation (LAMBAC) in 2000.

There are two facets to the study, the first of which will look at diversion techniques, namely, exploring ideas on how solid waste can be steered away from Island landfills. The second facet of the project will study disposal, and how to get rid of solid waste that cannot be diverted from the landfills.

"The funding has all been secured for the project and the consultants have been hired, so the project is going ahead," noted Mary Nelder, former interim chair of the Island Waste Management Committee.

In fact, the winning bid, which was placed by national company Earth Tech, whose Sudbury office staff will implement the Island study, came in under budget. The committee received four bids, two of which were shortlisted before a final decision was made. "We were very impressed with the calibre of the bids," Ms. Nelder said.

The funding structure is as follows: $120,000 will come from the Green Enabling Fund, with $68,000 coming from FedNor. Municipalities will be responsible for paying a portion of the cost based on their population. Barrie Island will pay $444.92; Billings will pay $4,903; Burpee Mills will pay $3,221.21; Central Manitoulin will pay $16,969.18; Gordon will pay $4,208.93; Gore Bay will pay $7,990.73; Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands (which indicated its wish to participate in the diversion aspect of the study only) will pay $9,217.04; Tehkummah will pay $3,265.70; Robinson will pay $1,094.50; and Dawson will pay $400.43.

Although Assiginack has opted out of the study, Ms. Nelder said the committee hopes to make the consultants available to Assiginack and any First Nations on the Island should they wish to familiarize themselves with what the study involves, and how it will affect their communities. The option of joining in on the study will remain open to them.

"That would certainly be our desire, if they chose to opt in," she said. "But it might also be interesting for them to meet with the consultants and see how the project is going ahead."

The two-year process will be "exhaustive," she noted, and said it would be beneficial to both those taking part and those who have opted out of the study to understand the process.

The first meeting between the committee and the consultants will occur shortly. During that meeting, Ms. Nelder expects they will set out a work plan and timelines for the project. In the meantime, she is pleased that the study will go ahead, and believes it will be a very positive move for the Island.

And, although LAMBAC's part in the study has come to an end-its role was primarily to get it started and initiate partnerships between the participants-Ms. Nelder said it is satisfying to see a concept born by LAMBAC come to fruition.

"Finally one of the projects we identified five years ago in our strategic plan is going ahead," she said. "It's nice to see it happen."

Union calls for binding arbitration to end strike

by Lindsay Kelly

NORTHEAST TOWN-Last Thursday afternoon, representatives from the Northeast Town and the CEP union travelled to Toronto to be present at a bad faith bargaining hearing (a claim levied by the union against the town). But while there, the union presented the town with an offer that they hoped would end the strike. The town has not accepted the offer, and the stalemate remains firmly in place.

In the offer, noted union representative Fred Bond, the union suggests binding arbitration to resolve key issues that have divided the two parties, including the contracting out of work, managers doing work traditionally done by bargaining unit members, scheduling, and overtime.

Mr. Bond said the union took its cue from the community, which has strongly suggested that binding arbitration be considered as a possible way to reach a resolution.

"The workers have listened to the community, and decided it's time to bury our ego and agree to have a third party settle the dispute," he said. "For us, this is the final olive branch, and we hoped that council would accept the offer and both sides could start rebuilding their relationship."

He said the workers are disappointed that the town has not accepted the offer, and that council continues to take a "win-at-all-costs" attitude in dealing with the strike. "Unfortunately, people are suffering-both the workers and the community," he said.

The only reason he could see for the town rejecting the offer was to keep the workers on strike and break up the union, which is "shameful," and "criminal," he said, adding, "I don't think that's what people had in mind when they elected these officials."

However, Mayor Joe Chapman said the town had not actually rejected the offer, but did not meet the 5 pm deadline on Friday, which the union had requested. In addition, the mayor said the union had chosen an arbitrator with union ties, rather than an impartial third party, something to which the town would not agree.

"We're not necessarily adverse to the idea of arbitration, but both sides have to agree on the appropriate issues for arbitration, and they (the union) can't decide on the arbitrator," he said.

Union representation is sending the town mixed messages, he added, noting that Jim Nyman, the lawyer for the union, said that the union was always prepared to meet. However, he learned Monday morning that the union "won't meet with the town unless it changes its position on several key issues," he noted. "Unfortunately, it's very difficult to deal with this matter when we are continually getting different messages from the union leadership and their lawyer."

In the union's view, the town has only conceded the issue of wages, an issue Mr. Bond said is not at the forefront in the dispute, so therefore, the town's offer "has no substance."

The town has indicated an interest in meeting with the union on March 16 and 17; however, Mr. Bond said there is no point in the two sides meeting when the town has no intention of changing its standpoint on the main issues. Unless the town agrees, in writing, to change the language of the contract, the meetings are simply a "stall tactic," he added.

The town can accept the offer at any time, and it is the union's hope that the town will realize they made too hasty a decision and agree to binding arbitration, Mr. Bond said. "It's time council buried their ego too."

As to the circulation of rumours that the town will be laying off workers at the end of March, Mayor Chapman said it is misleading. The suggestion comes from a clause in the Labour Relations Act, which "requires an employer to take back any striking employee during the first six months of a strike," the mayor explained. "Once six months passes, the employer has no obligation to take back any striker in the absence of a collective agreement."

Despite this, the mayor maintains that the town is committed to finding a resolution to the dispute.

"I continue to believe that we can guarantee existing full-time employees their jobs but also reduce the workforce through attrition," he said. "We can't continue to keep more people on the payroll than we need. How long do we carry 14 employees when five is enough?"

The town is also facing financial pressures, such as additional funding needed for Manitoulin Centennial Manor, he added. "I can state with a great deal of certainty that if it comes down to a choice between supporting the Manor or hiring five more CEP employees, that this is an argument that they will not win at the council table," he said.

At least one councillor objected to the manner by which the town considered the union's offer. Councillor Jim Stringer, who has been vocal in his opposition to the town's position on the strike, expressed dismay that the full council did not have an opportunity to discuss the offer.

"The town's bargaining committee met [Friday] morning to effectively reject it and ask for further negotiations...instead," he noted. "They did not bring the offer to council, even though emergency meetings have been called on less notice for less significant matters."

As such, Councillor Stringer said he has asked that the issue be put on the agenda for public debate at the next council meeting on March 15, and plans to move a motion that council accept the union's offer.

EDITORIAL

Hall of Fame inductees' recognition well-deserved

This week marks the 35th annual edition of the Little Native Hockey League, and there can be no more fitting a time to unveil the new Little NHL Hall of Fame and to induct the fine group of founders, builders and players who helped this event grow from a handful of local Island teams to the 110-team wonder it is today.

Children wait in eager anticipation of the Little NHL hockey tournament each March break. It is an opportunity to travel to the big city and for many young Aboriginal hockey players it is their first big adventure outside of their home communities.

We can talk about the economic impact of the Little NHL and how it has grown to such a size that major cities now manoeuvre to attract the event to their communities, mindful of the millions of dollars in revenue that flows into the hotels, restaurants and other businesses in the community. But true to its original intent, the real impact of the Little NHL is educational and cultural.

The Little NHL tournament has grown into one of the most important political binding forces in the First Nations community. What other event brings adults and children from Aboriginal communities across the length and breadth of the province to interact and get to know each other. to develop a sense of their greater community and common values?

In that sense, Earl Abotossaway, Jimmy McGregor, Norm Debassige, Jim Debassige and the Rev. Len Self were nation-builders in their own right, even if their goal was to create a chance for young Native children to play and compete with each other in that most northern of sports, hockey.

While Paul Williams, Tom Nolan and Fred McLeod were travelling from community to community, attending countless meetings and helping with innumerable fundraisers, they were building much more than a hockey tournament. They were re-building the foundations of their nations and re-establishing the old alliances that were long since thought lost.

The values of the Little NHL, sportsmanship, education, respect and citizenship, should be highly prized in any community and are exemplified in the careers of player alumni Gerrard Peltier, Barry 'Hawk' Tobobadung and Ted Nolan.

Congratulations to this year's Hall of Fame inductees. There is no doubt that these fine citizens will be followed into the hall by hundreds of others, recognized for their commitment and dedication to the youth of their communities. They set an example which any community, Native or non-Native would do well to emulate.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Let's support Manor board with letter campaign

One can point fingers in many directions

To the Expositor:

In recent weeks we have been reading weekly about the financial problems at the Manitoulin Centennial Manor and most recently about the municipalities and leaders who have spoken out, wanting to either turn it over to the ministry or have it privatized.

Some of these same people have had loved ones in the Manor. Have they forgotten how convenient it was to walk to the Manor to see grandma or even drive a few kilometres to see mother, not to mention the good care that was provided them?

One can point fingers at all the representatives, past and present, from the various councils who have neglected to inform their municipalities of the problems facing the Manor, or the municipal councils who chose to ignore these problems, which did not happen over night.

I suggest that instead of finger pointing or taking the easy way out, why not support this board with a letter campaign to MPP Mike Brown and Minister of Health George Smitherman? Contact your municipal leader and let them know how you feel about them not supporting the Manor; they are elected officials representing you and me.

Let's let our voices be heard loud and clear!

Sudbury did, when they didn't want loved ones transferred out of Sudbury they made it known in the news media. Recently seniors groups got behind this and, before they knew it, they received more funding for beds.

I, for one, have a loved one in Centennial Manor, and I also know how we felt when we had to travel to Sudbury to a facility there for six weeks while she received care, then to Mindemoya until she was placed in the Manor, not forgetting how lonely she was being so far away from family and friends. I hate to think this could happen again, but know it could be a reality.

As a volunteer at the Manor I have witnessed the generosity first-hand of the people of Manitoulin in support of the various projects that I have been involved with, the most recent being the Electric Bed Fund. Imagine-in one year we were able to purchase 35 beds out of 55 at a cost of $2,190 per bed. This makes me believe that the people of Manitoulin want the Manor to stay the course.

A letter in last week's paper mentions that two years ago we paid seven cents per month per person on Manitoulin towards the Manor. In one day, what can you buy for seven cents? If all the residents of Manitoulin even sent the price of one cup of coffee to the Manor each week (I'm sure we all purchase more than that), think of the impact it would have on their problems.

In closing, I urge all family members past and present of loved ones in the Manor to speak out and write letters. Let's support the board and let our loved ones know we are concerned and care about them. Write your MPP and health minister at the following addresses:

¥ M.P.P. Mike Brown, 5 Elizabeth Walk, Elliot Lake, Ontario P5A 1Z2;

¥ George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long Term Care, 10th Floor, Hepburn Block, 80 Grosvenor Street, Toronto, Ontario M7A 2C4.

Linda Bowerman

Sheguiandah

Manor worker disheartened by negative remarks

We've forgotten what's really important

To the Expositor:

For the past few weeks the Manor and its deficit have been a big issue both with the municipalities and the workers, as well as of course the residents of Centennial Manor. I have been reading all the news reports in the Expositor and the Recorder and all I have to say is that I am disheartened by all the negative remarks and views held by some of the other municipalities and most importantly the view of our very own mayor!

Have any of you thought of the impact it will have on 60 or so residents that live out their lives with us? Has anyone thought about all the people that will be out of work or reduced to wages or hours that would not allow them to support their own lives and houses? Have we thought of what will happen if the workers at the Manor have to put up their houses for sale and find jobs elsewhere? Hey, we all know that the Island has no gainful employment and very few jobs that pay a good wage and benefits! We seem to be so concerned about water frontage and getting tourism going that we have forgot all about what is really important in our lives-and people, that is our health care facilities, and the residents that are put into the facilities! Who would have ever thought that we could just throw away our elderly for the almighty dollar? Shame on all!

I am sure that if you, as a family member, had to make the difficult decision to have to place their loved ones in a long-term care facility, you would be some angered that the Island and all the higher-ups are making the decision of whether or not your mom, dad, gramma or grampa will have a place to live out their lives. How far do you want to travel to visit?

Maybe we should let the board have a go at it; no-one was concerned about what the other board and chair were doing with the budget and how the taxpayers where kept out of the loop on the staggering budget deficit. Joe Chapman, maybe you should be putting that brain of yours to good work and figure out how to get money and support into our long-term care facility. Maybe you should try to bring in some money and jobs into this town instead of worrying how to get the problems that are on your plate to go away.

A concerned taxpayer and employee of Manitoulin Centennial Manor.

Jennifer McIvor

Little Current

Councillors should recognize and respect unions

Chapman & Co. are clearly anti-labour

To the Expositor:

There is clear evidence for the workers of Little Current and area that the Chapman & Co. council of Little Current is clearly anti-labour.

Little Current pro-labour workers will have to stand and be elected as councillors.

When this writer asked several councillors if they are pro-labour, one councillor said, "No union is going to run Little Current."

Apparently this gentleman was not told by his elementary school teachers that the union workers are the town.

Little Current voters need fair councillors that recognize and respect democratic unions with a view to aiding members to higher certification (not strike breakers) without the threat of contracting out their labour.

Short of good workers standing and being elected to council, union members should sign a three-year contract with the province of a withdrawal of services if councillors doublecross the workers and attempt to contract out work.

Capt. Douglas K. Campbell

Honora Bay

Manitoulin offers great trails for snowmobilers

Big thank you due to landowners, volunteers

To the Expositor:

This week, we had the opportunity to travel by snow machine from Gore Bay to Espanola. When you have sunny skies and warm temperatures, you once again realize the beauty of the Island, which we so often take for granted.

The trails on the Island were great, and, as has been said before, that is due to the great landowners who allow us to cross their property and the many volunteers who build, maintain and groom the trails.

By continuing to have great trails and access to trails, we will be able to enjoy the Island safely and encourage visitors during the winter.

Although we might not say it often enough, a big thank you is due to the landowners and the volunteers for making life on the Island even more enjoyable.

Gerry Mack

Kagawong

Unneccessary impasse is now becoming ridiculous

Both sides should exercise dignity and respect

To the Expositor:

RE: Little Current's work stoppage.

The unnecessary became the unfortunate and is now the ridiculous.

Both parties in this prolonged, antagonistic dispute have some learning to do. The greatest teacher this world will ever know summed it up in one sentence: "In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you." If everyone lived by this premise, we would not:

-need policemen who carry firearms;

-have embassies burned because of a cartoon;

-have shootings on the streets of our towns and cities;

-have Canadian troops in Afghanistan;

-have ridiculous prices for fuel;

-have government sponsorship scandals;

-have courts too backlogged to function;

-have a labour dispute in Little Current.

Our councillors, especially those on the 'negotiating' team, need to address the real issue in the dispute-job security-and stop trying to look like generosity personified by offering more money than the employees asked for.

Our employees need to show good faith by not belittling council or councillors, in spite of the way they have been treated.

If all parties concerned sat down with the genuine desire to treat each other with dignity and respect; to treat each other the way they themselves would want to be treated if they were on the other side of the table; and to enter into meaningful dialogue on the real issues concerned, instead of name-calling, this whole strike would be behind us, and our friends and neighbours would be working again!

Rob Paxton

Little Current

Send your Dear Dave letters to Box 369, Little Current, Ontario, P0P 1K0,