Zhiibaahaasing seeks solution to tire stockpile

Sustainability of recycling operation being examined

by Lindsay Kelly

with files from Jim Moodie

ZHIIBAAHAASING-Representatives from local First Nations, municipalities and provincial government agencies gathered in Zhiibaahaasing last week to discuss the potential dangers of the tire stockpile currently sitting on the First Nation. The result is a plan for action, designed to prevent any environmental mishaps from occurring, and to calculate the future sustainability of the tire recycling operation.

The meeting was held to address concerns recently raised by other Island municipalities and First Nations, which cited the possibility of a large-scale fire and the breeding of mosquitoes (which spread West Nile virus) as its primary sources of interest in the matter.

Representatives for the First Nation declined to comment on the meeting's proceedings. On Monday, Deputy Chief Kevin Mossip indicated that a prepared statement would be issued to the press on behalf of Zhiibaahaasing chief and council; however, despite repeated requests, it was not provided.

Algoma-Manitoulin MP Brent St. Denis chaired the meeting at the request of the First Nation's Chief Irene Kells. Mr. St. Denis said his sense was that the meeting went very well, with everyone going away feeling satisfied that the issues had been addressed and the concerns of the other Island communities had been heard.

"The community was very sincere in their efforts to promote economic development in their community," he said of Zhiibaahaasing. "But they were also very sensitive to the concerns of the other communities over what the tire pile means."

The MP noted that, over the course of the meeting, the community representatives had broached the major concerns of Island municipalities and First Nations, and had come to an agreement of what needs to be done to address those concerns over the short term.

The group first looked at ways to keep the fire hazard to a minimum, and Mr. St. Denis noted that a committee had been set up to devise a plan that would ensure that the facility remains under provincial regulations for tire recycling facilities.

In addition, the meeting's attendees agreed to "put pressure on" the major funding agencies to launch a feasibility study that would determine the future sustainability of the tire facility.

Mr. St. Denis commended the community for trying to do something positive to generate economic development on the First Nation.

"I am very impressed with the First Nation's efforts in being open to seeking help and advice from the other communities who are concerned about what's going on in Zhiibaahaasing," he noted.

Peter Hutley, salesperson and public relations officer with Ontario Tire Recovery (OTR), has viewed the current situation at Zhiibaahaasing with great interest.

The company is based in Hagersville, in southern Ontario-same community, unfortunately enough, where a devastating tire fire occurred in February, 1990-and is one of the big players in the tire recovery field, picking up approximately one-third of Ontario's tires, including from depots in Northern Ontario. "We pick up tires all the way from Thunder Bay to Windsor," Mr. Hutley said, estimating the number at 3 to 3.5 million tires per year.

The company doesn't process them; they just deliver them to processing plants, many of which are in Quebec. Some of the tires are used in the cement industry, where they're used as a supplement to coal as a fuel source in kilns, while others are granulated and made into fatigue mats. "One of the companies makes animal mats that line horse barns or cow barns, so you have cows with happy feet," he explained.

The demand for tires, particularly from the cement industry, is such that "we can't get enough tires right now," Mr. Hutley said. "Kilns in Quebec burn 2.5 million tires per year in the cement industry, and we ship 3,000 tires per day to just one kiln."

Zhiibaahaasing strikes him as an inconvenient location for a tire operation because "it's most likely the worst place in Ontario to get to." He said the cost for a company such as his to pick up the tires from the far-flung locale would likely be $2 per tire, "so you're looking at about a $2 million cleanup." He said OTR charges customers in the Toronto area about $1.60 per tire for a pickup. The company doesn't get paid by the processors; in fact, it has to pay a disposal fee of 30 to 80 cents per tire to deposit the tires at the processing plants.

Because tire collection is "a cash business, you see a lot of people come and go," Mr. Hutley noted. "People pay you right up front, so you have cash in your jeans," but this often leads to companies folding quickly or outright scams, he indicated. "We've cleaned up warehouses where people have pocketed money and then left the landlord with the problem."

In general, "Ontario doesn't have a tire problem now, because of Hagersville," he said, noting that in the aftermath of that disaster, the province "clamped down on the maximum number of tires that are allowed at one site." That number, he said, is 4,999 tires per site, unless approval has been granted for more. At Zhiibaahaasing, the number is estimated to be one million. "That's 200 times the allowable," Mr. Hutley said. "You've got yourself a disaster up there."

While he declined to comment further on the situation facing Zhiibaahaasing, Mr. Hutley did say that Ontario Tire Recovery would be interested in becoming involved in a cleanup of the tire stockpile if that becomes an option in the future.

Northeast Town strikers appeal to community for arbitration support

by Lindsay Kelly

NORTHEAST MANITOULIN-As the Northeast Town labour dispute approaches six months (183 days) on Friday, unionized workers are seeking support for their offer of binding arbitration, which they hope will end the strike.

An advertisement has been placed in this week's Expositor by Councillor Jim Stringer, who is using the forum to make his feelings about the strike known. In it, he reminds taxpayers of the union's suggestion that the outstanding issues be resolved by binding arbitration, and states his belief that the two parties should take this route.

"Our workers have been on strike for six months," he wrote. "It is abundantly clear that an agreement cannot be achieved through negotiations. Arbitration makes sense. The strike could be over immediately."

Councillor Stringer said he fears the summer tourist season will be in jeopardy if the strike continues through the summer, and a resolution is not found. Instead, he suggested the two sides should come to a compromise and "let this community heal the wounds created by the strike."

He plans to put forward a motion at the next council meeting scheduled for April 5 that would see the town agree to the union's offer to go to binding arbitration. He is encouraging taxpayers to attend the meeting to show their support for the motion.

On Monday, the union began circulating flyers also urging taxpayers to attend that meeting, in hopes that a large community presence would put pressure on council to accept the union's offer.

"Do you wish to see an end to the current labour dispute?" the flyer asks. "Only through binding arbitration can this dispute be settled! Come out and voice your demand to have your council accept your community's proposal for binding arbitration."

In conjunction with the flyer, striking employees have been asking for signatures on a petition, which is also seeking support for the union's offer. The petition's preamble suggests that those who sign "demand that the Town of NEMI accept the offer of binding arbitration made by the union so as to bring the labour dispute between the Town of NEMI and its workers to an immediate end."

The signatures are to be presented to the town at the April 5 council meeting.

Union representative Fred Bond said the union offered the town binding arbitration because suggestions throughout the community alluded that that was the community's preferred course of action, and now the union is following through.

"This reinforces our position that we listened to the community and agreed to what they wanted us to do, which was binding arbitration," he said. "To date, one side has yet to agree to it."

He noted that the labour dispute has been cited as the cause behind the cancellation of the Manitoulin Trade Fair, but insists that if the town had to agreed to binding arbitration, the fair's cancellation would never have happened.

"Both sides are so far apart, I don't see us solving our differences," he said. "We need a third party to do it for us."

The town has recently been plagued by murmurings that unionized employees would be laid off after the strike reached the six-month point.

According to a provision in the Labour Relations Act, during the first six months of a strike, an employer is legally obligated to allow workers to return to the jobs they held before the start of the strike if the work stoppage is resolved. Following the six-month mark of the strike, the employer is not legally bound to accept those workers back.

It is extremely rare, however, for an employer not to accept workers back. When a strike is settled, the two parties negotiate a return-to-work protocol, which dictates what will happen to those employees who have been picketing.

An employer cannot lay off employees for exercising their right to strike, as it is considered an unfair labour practice.

No-one should be concerned about the laying off of union employees, Mr. Bond surmised, pointing to comments recently made by Mayor Joe Chapman in the Expositor that indicated that the town was not considering laying off unionized workers.

"We'll have to hold him to that statement," he said. But if the town's position changes, and layoffs do occur, then "the community will have to question the town's commitment" to settling the strike fairly, he added.

While the two sides remain deadlocked, some fear the strike has become too personal.

On Sunday afternoon, a group of about 25 strikers set up a picket line outside Councillor Tony Ferro's home. Councillor Ferro said he was shocked to return home from church on Sunday afternoon to find the picketers at the end of his property.

"I was taken aback that they had the ability to stoop down so such a low level, especially with young kids there," he said. "They (the children) don't even know why they're out there, and they're carrying signs."

The picketers have also targeted Turners in downtown Little Current. The business is operated by Councillor Jib Turner and his family.

Councillor Ferro said he felt his home and his wife were unfairly targeted, since they have nothing to do with the strike, and believes that the strikers are out of line in picketing private homes and businesses-the picketing should remain on town property only. "I've never seen that before," he noted.

When actions such as those are taken, he continued, it can only hurt both sides, especially in a small community.

Town council "is trying to do the best we can with what we have, and we're representing the majority of what the taxpayers want," Councillor Ferro said. "They have to realize that. It's nothing personal against them."

Mr. Bond declined to comment on the strikers' actions outside Councillor Ferro's home.

In the meantime, Councillor Ferro said there has been no movement on the town's position on the strike. He noted that the town is acting on advice from its lawyer, and the town is unlikely to agree to binding arbitration.

"We still want to negotiate, and our doors are always open," he said. "Personally, I don't believe in binding arbitration, and I think the majority of my colleagues would agree."

With binding arbitration, too many factors are left to chance, he added, noting that the parties would not get to choose who presides over the case, nor would they get to make the final decision.

Councillor Ferro said he still believes negotiations are the best option for the two parties, and said he would be happy to negotiate as long as it takes to reach a resolution.

"I still believe we can come to an amicable solution for both sides," he said.

Cormorants' friends say they'll protest any cull

by Jim Moodie

MANITOULIN-If the province authorizes a cull of cormorants for the Manitoulin area, as local anglers are hoping, Islanders should also be prepared for an influx of cormorant defenders.

"If there is a cull up there, what you'll find is protesters on your doorstep," promises Julie Woodyer, campaigns director for Zoocheck Canada, one of several animal rights organizations that collectively make up the umbrella group Cormorant Defenders International.

Asked if she would personally make the trip from Toronto to oppose a cull in these parts, Ms. Woodyer replies: "Of course. I'd probably be leading the charge!"

This is not surprising, given that her title with the international cormorant protection body is 'bird brigade coordinator.' Last year, Ms. Woodyer played a key role in the protest effort at Presqu'ile Park near Belleville, where cormorants were being culled for the second year in a row. The presence of activists in kayaks and other small vessels was partially responsible for the cull being called off before the targeted quota of 5,500 birds was met.

Cormorant Defenders International anticipates that a cull will proceed for a third year at Presqu'ile, and is actively recruiting volunteers to join another floating brigade to monitor the process and draw attention to what it feels are inhumane practices.

The group is currently outraged by a recent Canadian Wildlife Service report which suggests the cull is not damaging to other bird species in Presqu'ile Park, and that protesters are more disruptive to the bird colony than the MNR personnel who carry out the shooting.

"We're developing a response to that report, which is seriously flawed," Ms. Woodyer says. "They're saying all those MNR guys driving through the forest on ATVs to shoot the birds caused less disruption than kayaks floating quietly by the shore."

The activist maintains that brigade members "are observing more than interfering." She says that one of her jobs last year was to videotape the birds, both during periods of shooting and times when the birds were left to themselves.

During lulls, "it was very quiet out there (amid the colony), and one of the most beautiful experiences in my life," she says. "These birds are very affectionate with each other, and amazing parents; they never leave the nest unattended. Unless," she adds, "they're being shot at."

When shooting occurred, "it was mass chaos," she says, and many birds died slow deaths or were left as sole guardians of a nest. "We'd find all kinds of injured birds attempting to swim with broken wings, and these birds weren't euthanized," Ms. Woodyer claims. "And if one cormorant was shot, the other would stay with the nest at risk of starvation, because it's hardwired into them to ensure one adult is at the nest at all times. This is horribly sad, especially when the dead cormorant is in the nest, and the other one is trying to move around it to protect the eggs."

In recent weeks, both the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) and the local United Fish and Game Clubs of Manitoulin (UFGCM) have stepped up their campaigns for a cull, sensing that the political will is there this year, following what they interpret as encouraging signs given by MNR biologist Mark Ridgway and Minister David Ramsay at a convention of the OFAH in February.

Ms. Woodyer reads the situation differently. "I don't believe it for a minute," she says, of the suggestion that a cull is imminent for this region. "I think the OFAH took comments from Minister Ramsay and Mr. Ridgway and extended them to what they'd like to see happen, because there was no conclusion presented at that conference, neither by the researcher nor the minister."

The animal rights worker has read the power-point presentation that Mr. Ridgway delivered, and feels that, if anything, it points to egg-oiling as an effective control measure. "What the ministry has said is that the egg-oiling program has been very successful, with the exception that juvenile birds will move in from other colonies," she says. "So for it to be truly successful, they need a province-wide approach. And I think essentially what they're getting at is egg-oiling on a broader basis."

For local anglers, however, whose frustrations have mounted over the past decade as numbers of sports fish have dwindled, nothing short of a cull will be deemed satisfactory-and even that will be seen as 'too little, too late.'

Bob Lewis of South Baymouth is one such fed-up fisherman. He's been charter fishing off the south shore of Manitoulin for two decades now, and says last year's season was the bleakest he's ever experienced.

"There were no fish," he laments. "I fished the hardest I've ever fished last year, and it was totally dreadful-in five hours, with nine or 10 lines out, you'd get maybe three fish. And there were days when you just didn't get anything. Or there would be 80 boats out on the water, and just one fish caught between all of them."

Mr. Lewis stresses that he's not just speaking for himself. "There are three charter boats fishing out of here (South Baymouth), and it's the same for all of us," he maintains. "We're all playing it by ear this year, because if we're not getting enough fish to satisfy our customers, we won't be booking charters."

The boat captain admits that lake trout are available in the big water off the Island's south shore, but salmon and rainbow trout, the species that are most appealing to sportsfishermen, are now virtually nonexistent. "Lake trout are doing well because they feed deeper and on smelts. Rainbow can diversify but salmon can't-they need the alewives."

Numbers of alewives, an introduced species, have plummeted in recent years, in part because of fluctuations in weather, and in part because they are a favourite snack of cormorants.

Mr. Lewis feels that the latter influence on the alewife population has been the principal one. "We've watched cormorants here for 15 years; they land on top of a school of alewives, maybe 1,000 of them at a time. Well, each one eats one-and-a-half pounds a day, so it doesn't take much to figure out what's happening there," he reasons.

For cormorant defenders like Ms. Woodyer, however, the black bird is being unfairly singled out from a host of other factors that impact the fishery. "These are a native species eating non-native, invasive species like gobies and alewives," she says. And that, in her view, is a good thing.

Meanwhile, Ms. Woodyer feels that "there are all kinds of things affecting the Great Lakes, like contaminants, global climate change, water levels dropping." She points to a report commissioned by the Georgian Bay Association that blamed dredging and scouring of the St. Clair River due to shipping needs for a decline in the level of Lake Huron, which has affected, among other things, spawning beds for fish.

"The government knew very well that the St. Clair had been dredged deeper than it should have been, but it's far easier to point to a colonial bird as the problem for the fishery, because the birds are seen as something we can go and kill," she says. "They're an easy scapegoat for all of these other problems that are political; the real issues are based on trade and shipping."

Salmon, the prime target of south shore anglers, are themselves foreign to Lake Huron, which partially explains why the MNR is reluctant to stock them, preferring to encourage the return of the indigenous lake trout population, which is now naturally reproducing.

Mr. Lewis complains, however, that lake trout don't represent a viable sport fishing option. "Nobody wants them," he says. "They're the highest fish for contamination because they live so long to get big-where a salmon will grow to 35 pounds in four years, a 35-pound lake trout will be a minimum of 50-years-old."

As well, lake trout "are a lot oilier than salmon, and people don't know how to cook them right," he says. They're not a big draw for anglers from the US or southern Ontario, since they could catch them in their own areas, he says, and "commercial fishermen don't want them, because there's no market for them."

He, like many anglers on the Island, not to mention businesses which benefit from the spinoffs of the sport fishery, would prefer to see the MNR embark on a serious salmon restocking program, or, at the very least, implement some measure to protect the present population and allow it to regenerate.

"Why won't the MNR at least reduce limits?" asks Mr. Lewis. "They don't care, because they don't want the salmon here. They just want the lake trout."

In the early 1990s, "you'd see 20- to 25-pound chinook salmon coming up the rivers to spawn, and the water would be just black with them," Mr. Lewis says. "Now, you watch a four-year-old fish coming up the river, and instead of weighing 20 to 30 pounds, it's anorexic, maybe six pounds, and half the eggs won't live."

If such conditions continue, Mr. Lewis says that neither he, nor any of the other individuals on the Island with charter fishing boats, will be in the business much longer.

A cull on cormorants would be one step towards saving the fishery, in his view. But that would have to be followed by an aggressive restocking program.

Champions of native species like cormorants and trout welcome neither scenario.

And if the former does occur, you can bet that small boats will be bobbing on the water in the vicinity of the shooting-with Ms. Woodyer, video camera in hand, at the fore of the brigade.

EDITORIAL

Arbitration is a solution

News that the strike by Cambrian College faculty has come to an end was greeted with sighs of relief by students, parents and teachers alike this week, and rightly so-the prospect of losing the school year or a summer's earnings had to weigh heavily on everyone's mind.

The method of resolution agreed to by both sides, after a brief spate of counterproposals were dealt with in the media, was to submit to binding arbitration. It only took 20-some days for both sides to admit that they would be unable to come to a resolution without the help of an outside arbitrator.

This paper recommended such a course of action to the Northeast Town and the union representing its workers in its February 1 edition. Even by then it had already become apparent that there was little chance of the two sides coming to an agreement on their own.

There have been less-than-stellar moments for both sides in this protracted struggle, with charges and counter-charges flying over misrepresentation, unfortunate picket incidents, and many hard and hurt feelings.

Matters have not been helped by the decision by the union, or at least some of its members, to picket the homes and businesses of town councillors-actions that have garnered more public approbation than support, and likely have hardened town councillors' positions rather than influenced them to "back down."

The Northeast Town is the employer, not the individual councillors (not even those who sit on the bargaining committee), and while picketing town property and operations are certainly fair game, taking that battle to the homes and businesses of those in public service is going too far-especially as the tactic has proven to be patently counterproductive.

As this dispute nears its six-month anniversary, it must be clear to everyone that it is highly unlikely that this dispute will be settled. Even the mayor of the Northeast Town (and its chief negotiator on the bargaining committee) is on record as believing the matter will likely remain unresolved by the next election, although he lays the blame at the feet of the union.

Leaving it for the people to decide will likely draw considerable, perhaps even national attention, but that is hardly the kind of advertising this Island, and especially the Northeast Town, needs.

The cancellation of the much-anticipated Manitoulin Trade Fair has cost Island businesses an opportunity to showcase their products to the thousands of people who travelled here from off-Island, and cost those who had already ordered product in anticipation of the event, dearly. The appeal on these pages from the Little Current Lions Club in last week's edition speaks volumes to the stress this dispute is causing, both to those public-spirited people and the hundreds of other volunteers who make Haweater Weekend an annual success story.

It is time for the Northeast Town council and the union to recognize that they cannot resolve this issue by themselves. The union has agreed to let their fortunes ride on the decision of an unbiased third-party-it is time for the town to do the same, and let us all get on with the business of making a living on this most beautiful of islands.

Letters to the Editor

Minor hockey coaches deserve our gratitude

Parents should focus on encouraging respect

To the Expositor:

Another hockey season has come to an end for my two children and with that I have a mix of emotions. I feel so lucky that my son and my daughter have been coached by such a dedicated and knowledgeable group of adult volunteers: Peter Craig, Leslie Varey, Tammy Rolston, Jane Hladki and Stephen Cooper. I am proud to see my children's confidence in themselves, their fitness, skating and hockey skills improve. I am happy that they are participating in a team sport and learning to work together towards a common goal, realizing their individual strengths and weaknesses and using those skills gained in over 20 practices to their advantage in a game situation. They have learned about commitment, co-operation, dedication, fairness and leadership from each other and their coaches. And they have had fun and want to continue to play hockey.

I am saddened, however, by the fact that a few parents on our children's team cannot see all the wonderful things these 16 children have achieved this year and instead have chosen to focus on whether their son or daughter managed to achieve equal ice time during each and every one of the 20 season games, five end-of-season games and two tournaments. I spent some time this morning estimating the amount of time each of these five individuals gave freely of their time in this one season and I came up with approximately 125 hours per person. That includes lesson planning time, travelling time, coaching time, game and tournament time. They even organized a Christmas party and a fun end of season practice with games. That is over three 40-hour work weeks devoted to 16 eight- and nine-year-olds, and with five volunteers that's 625 volunteer hours devoted to the youth of Little Current. If our season had been longer, those hours would have been even greater.

Now, because of the complaints of a few parents on our team, three of those five volunteers are considering giving up volunteering for hockey. That would be a loss of 375 volunteer hours from some wonderful role models. My son has had this same coaching staff for three years and has grown immensely in his abilities and his love of the game. My daughter got that same chance this year and has also shown huge improvements from the season start to end. Both of my children regularly attended practices and games and we showed respect to their coaches and expected the same of them. If we were going to be absent for a practice or a game, we told them in advance. I allowed the coaches to make suggestions as to what positions they should play on the ice and when they should play. I respected their opinion because they were the people running the practices and seeing what my children could do. They were the same people sitting on the benches, seeing the children who were ready to play, seeing those who were tired, seeing those who were fighting, seeing those who were sick or didn't want to play. I let them make the decisions as to who should play and where they should play and I trusted they would do it in a fair manner and they did.

Because of the nature of the game and how the coaches must make the change of players, I never expected that my children would get exactly equal time and that was not what I focussed on. I focussed on telling my children to try their best, to work hard, to listen to and show respect to their coaches and teammates and to have fun, and all those things came to pass. I did not spend my time at a game measuring how much time each player spent on the ice and then reprimanding the volunteer coaches at the end of a game if my son or daughter didn't have exactly the same time as another player. I did not consider sending these volunteers to a disciplinary hearing to determine whether they were coaching fairly as a few parents on our team considered doing at season's end. If I had had a problem, and I didn't, I would have talked to the coaches directly, as an adult, as they are all more than approachable people. If, for some reason, they could not approach the coaches, then they should have approached the manager as that is his or her role. I also realized that as a parent I am also always a role model for my children.

All these coaches are also all parents who, in my mind, have the best interests of all the children in mind, not just their own. So, to Peter, Leslie, Tammy, Jane and Stephen, I offer to you, and I know I am not alone in this, many thanks for giving so freely of your time to all of our children. They have had some excellent role models and have learned so much from all of you. It will be so sad if we lose devoted volunteers like you next year.

Sarah Warburton

Little Current

Farm needs are being ignored

While province studies sex life of squirrels!

To the Expositor:

We read an article in the Toronto Star called "Sex study on squirrel no joke, McGuinty argues" (March 21). In the article, Premier McGuinty is defending his government's decision to fund this project to the tune of $150,000. Both my husband and myself have been working for the past three years to set up a provincial abattoir (Island Abattoir) and have received no government help. We, as well as 200-250 farmers, feedlot operators and hobby farmers on Manitoulin Island and area, can't understand Premier McGuinty and Speaker Mike Brown's indifference and the layers of bureaucracy they throw at us! We would be happy with a loan. The farming community in this area is in desperate need of this important meat slaughter facility. We sure could have made better use of the $150,000! What is wrong with this picture and the priorities of this current Liberal government?

Miriam Williams

M'Chigeeng

T-Birds appreciated welcome

Your players showed true grit

To the Expositor:

On behalf of the Soo Thunderbirds hockey club of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, I would like to congratulate the players, the staff and the fans of the Manitoulin Islanders.

Your players displayed true grit and determination during our playoff series. The never say die attitude, their work ethic and their discipline, were a huge part of their successful playoff run. Shaking hands with those fine young men after game five on March 20 in the Soo, I could see in their eyes how disappointed they were. 

Our hockey club had the privilege of visiting your community on March 16 and 17. The hospitality shown by fans of the Islanders as well as your local businesses was greatly appreciated. Also, the drumming ceremony at the Sucker Creek Community Centre on March 16 was fabulous

Manitoulin Island should be very proud of their team. They play the game hard but more important they play the game as true sportsmen.

Zoltan Kovacs

head coach

Soo Thunderbirds

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