March 12, 2003 ARCHIVE
 
 
 

Glen Hare to run for Grand Chief


by Neil Zacharjewicz
M'CHIGEENG - Glen Hare is seeking support in his bid to become the 
Grand Chief of the Union of Ontario Indians.
Mr. Hare, who is currently the chief of the M'Chigeeng First Nation, 
officially announced his candidacy for the position earlier this 
week. Mr. Hare said he has decided to run for the position because 
current Grand Chief Vernon Roote has announced he will not pursue 
another term.
Mr. Hare has been actively involved in First Nations politics since 
first being elected as a councillor in M'Chigeeng in 1984. He held 
his council position until 1992, at which time he was elected chief, 
a position he still holds today. As well, in 1997, he was elected 
Robinson - Huron Regional Chief, a position he also continues to hold.
He has served on a number of boards, including the Anishinabek Credit 
Union, the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation, the First Nation Fuel Handlers 
Association, and the Robinson Huron Land Claims. He has also served 
as commissioner of the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin 
(UCCM) Tribal Police, as chairperson of UCCM Castle Building Supply, 
and as an honorary member of the Manitoulin Coalition for 
Detoxification Services. Through his work with the Union of Ontario 
Indians, Mr. Hare has held the portfolios of Social Services and 
Natural Resources.
In 2000, Mr. Hare was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award 
presented by the Union of Ontario Indians.
"I am going to run on my record. I know everybody, and I get along 
with everybody," Mr. Hare pointed out. "I represent the biggest 
territory in the Union of Ontario Indians (as Robinson - Huron 
Regional Chief)."
While the Union of Ontario Indians has been working to address the 
issues surrounding child welfare, Mr. Hare said that is an area he 
would like to put even more of a priority upon. There are a number of 
other issues which also need to be addressed, such as education, 
health and other social issues. But Mr. Hare said people should not 
expect a big change in the direction of the Union of Ontario Indians 
should he be elected grand chief. He said he will do exactly as he 
did when he was first elected Chief of M'Chigeeng, which is to 
maintain what is already in place.
"I want to carry on what we have been working on. Too many times when 
the leadership changes, they come in and change what is being done, 
and projects get shelved. They never get completed," he said.
Mr. Hare explained should he be elected grand chief, he will have to 
resign from the position of the M'Chigeeng First Nation. However, he 
indicated he will be conducting his campaign for grand chief using 
vacation time he has accumulated, and in the event he was not 
elected, he will continue in his duties as chief of M'Chigeeng. 
Already, Mr. Hare has received the endorsement of the United Chiefs 
and Councils of Manitoulin (UCCM) Tribal Council for the position of 
grand chief.
To date, only one other candidate has come forward for the position 
of grand chief: Chief Earl Commanda of the Serpent River First 
Nation. Nominations for the position close on May 19, and the 
election will be held on May 20.


                     

              

      

        
        

          
                Funding announced for waterfront study

        

          by Michael Erskine

          NORTHEASTERN MANITOULIN AND THE ISLANDS (NEMI)---The cold winds of 

          March may be setting record lows, but for the new business plan for
          

          downtown Little Current and its waterfront things are heating up. 

          Funding for the project was confirmed in a bevy of funding 

          announcements released by Norm Miller, parliamentary assistant to 

          Northern Development and Mines Minister Jim Wilson.

          The $45,000 contribution announced by Mr. Miller joins $45,000 from
          

          FedNor and a contribution from the town itself to complete the 

          funding base for a plan to rejuvenate the downtown area of Little 

          Current.

          "The Port of Little Current sits at the gateway to the cruising 

          waters of the North Channel and a sailor's favoured passage to the 

          Sault and Michigan," said NEMI Mayor Ken Ferguson. "The strategic 

          business plan that we will develop for our waterfront will help us 

          identify opportunities for our community and its local business to 

          better serve and benefit from enhanced levels of marine and local 

          tourism that will result. This welcome investment by the Northern 

          Ontario Heritage Fund is essential to economic development in our 

          town."

          Excitement of the news spread quickly among members of the Waterfront
          

          Development Committee, whose year-long deliberations culminated in 

          the final funding proposal last year.

          "It has been about 50 years since any real changes to the harbour 

          front have been implemented," said Jib Turner, Little Current 

          Business Improvement Area secretary and one of the BIA's 

          representatives on the Waterfront Development Committee. "Going 

          forward with a properly qualified consultant with vast experience in
          

          marine development the project definitely has the potential to make
          

          Little Current the 'Port of the North Channel' again, and bring much
          

          needed economic growth and jobs to the whole community."

          The waterfront development business plan was the subject of an 

          ongoing public consultation process which saw the formation of an ad
          

          hoc committee formed with two public representatives, two 

          representatives from each of the Community Development Corporation,
          

          the Little Current Business Improvement Association, and the NEMI 

          Town Council.

          After a lengthy public debate, the committee's recommendations were
          

          forwarded to the town's administrative offices and the final 

          submission was forwarded to the Northern Ontario Heritage Corporation
          

          Board and FedNor.

          Tenders will be sent out to begin the process of selecting a 

          consultant for the study as soon as possible, said NEMI Councillor 

          Ron Lewis, "It is certainly nice to get the word we can now go 

          forward."

 		
        

        

          
                

                  
MSS Boys Hockey team wins 
                  Division II championship

                

              

        

          
                Neil Zacharjewicz

                MANITOULIN - The Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) Boys Hockey 
                Team 

                has won the Sudbury and District Secondary Schools' Athletic 

                Association Senior Boys' Hockey League Division II 
                championships.

                Last Thursday, the team faced off against the Lively Hawks in 
                Lively 

                for game two of the best of three series, and ended the Hawks 
                season 

                by a score of 4-1.

                "They had a 1-0 lead, then we scored four straight goals," 
                explained 

                team manager Paul Flanagan. "Even when they had a one goal lead, 
                we 

                were badly outplaying them."

                Netting goals were Jesse Peltier, Adam Meeker, Aaron Assinewai, 
                and 

                Joelun Nighswander.

                "They just played dynamite," suggested Coach Mike Meeker. "They 
                just 

                dominated them the whole game. Lively is a really good team, and 
                they 

                made them look bad."

                Unfortunately for the team, the victory marked the end of the 
                season. 

                They will not have an opportunity to compete at the Northern 
                Ontario 

                Secondary School Athletic Association (NOSSA) championships, as 
                they 

                did last year.

                Coach Meeker explained last year the team was able to qualify 
                for 

                NOSSA because it was hosted by Sudbury, and NOSSA opened an 
                extra 

                slot for a local team from the host league. A third slot became
                

                available at the 'AA' level when Sault Ste. Marie was only able 
                to 

                send one 'AA' team.

                This year, however, the Sault league is playing host to the 'AA'
                

                tournament, and due to a change in the provincial regulations, 
                has 

                four or five 'AA' teams eligible to play in the tournament.

                Last season, Coach Meeker explained, tams considered to be 'AAA' 
                were 

                from schools with a population of 750 or more. However, when 
                that 

                population requirement was changed provincially this year, from 
                750 

                up to 950, several Sault area teams moved from being 'AAA' teams 
                down 

                to 'AA' teams.

                As such, the Sudbury and District Secondary Schools' Athletic
                

                Association Senior Boys' Hockey League Division I winners, 

                Chelmsford, will advance to the 'AA' NOSSA tournament in the 
                Sault.

                Unfortunately for the Mustangs, who got off to a slow start this
                

                season, they were moved to Division II after the first 12 games.
                

                Under league rules, the top six teams after the fist 12 games of 
                the 

                season comprise Division I, and the remaining seven compose 
                Division 

                II. Had the Mustangs been able to qualify for Division I, they 
                would 

                have had an opportunity to have qualify for NOSSA this year.

                Coach Meeker explained the slow start to the season was due to 
                the 

                fact that most of last year's team moved on, and the team began
                

                rebuilding this year. There were over 50 players try out for the
                

                team, and it took several weeks before the team was able to weed 
                out 

                a core group of players.

                "It was pretty well a brand new team," he said.

                Once that core group of guys was identified, and the team 
                determined 

                who they could count on, things started to come together, and 
                Coach 

                Meeker said he was pleased with the way the season ended. The 
                team 

                won seven of their last eight games.

                "The way they had been playing, I believe we could have beaten 
                anyone 

                in Northern Ontario," he said. "It's just too bad that they do 
                not 

                get to continue on."

                However, things already look bright for next year.

                "Next year it will be totally different. We are only losing a 
                couple 

                of guys, and there are some players ready to move in and take 
                their 

                spots," Coach Meeker said. However, he maintains they will still 
                need 

                to get off to a fast start, as this year it was demonstrated 
                that 11 

                of the 13 teams in the league were competitive, and anyone could 
                have 

                won on any given night.

                In Girls Hockey action, the Mustangs fell two straight games to 
                Notre 

                Dame to be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Notre 
                Dame 

                was the only team the Mustangs were unable to defeat all season,
                

                losing to them four times, though several of the games were 
                close.

                "They were a young team, and so much of the game is mental," 
                Coach 

                Meeker explained.

                However, the team needs to shake off the disappointing losses
                

                quickly. Despite losing out in the first round, the Mustangs 
                still 

                have a shot at advancingto the Ontario Federation of School 
                Athletic 

                Associations (OFSAA) finals. The girls were scheduled to face 
                off 

                against Lockerby in M'Chigeeng on Tuesday in a must-win game. If 
                the 

                Mustangs are successful, they will go on to face Ecole 
                Secondaire 

                Catholique L'Horizon, the Division II champions, for the right 
                to 

                advance to OFSAA, in a game which was tentatively scheduled at 
                press 

                time for Thursday, March 4 at the Little Current - Howland 
                Recreation 

                Centre, beginning at 4 pm.

                Coach Meeker expressed frustration that his team should even 
                have to 

                face L'Horizon should they beat Lockerby, as L'Horizon is a 
                Division 

                II team. He pointed out in the Girls league, teams decide prior 
                to 

                the season whether they will play in Division I or II, as 
                Division II 

                is intended for the weaker teams. However, now a Division II 
                team is 

                challenging the winner of the Manitoulin - Lockerby game for the
                

                right to go to OFSAA.

                "It is not fair. If a team had aspirations to go to OFSAA, they
                

                should have to play in Division I," he suggested.

                He said he intends to raise his concern with the league after 
                the 

                season. In the meantime, he said the team is focusing on the 
                Lockerby 

                game. The Mustangs beat and tied Lockerby in their two meetings 
                this 

                season.

                "I think it is going to be a really good game," he said.

                Should the Mustangs advance, they will play for the OFSAA 'AA'
                

                Championship on March 23 in Mississauga.

                

 

        

          
                Hospital projects $1.977 million 
                deficit

        

          
                by Michael Erskine

                LITTLE CURRENT---The Board of Directors of the Manitoulin Health
                

                Centre emerged from an in-camera session to announce a 
                $1,977,756 

                deficit in the 2003/2004 business plan.

                "The deficit is significant due to a number of factors including 
                the 

                failure of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to 
                recognize 

                multi-site operations in the funding formula; no knowledge of a
                

                funding adjustment for 2003/2004; and the addition of new 
                programs 

                and enhancements," said Jim Van Camp, CEO of the Manitoulin 
                Health 

                Centre.

                The budget was approved after careful consideration by the 
                Internal 

                Fiscal Advisory Committee, the External Stakeholders Committee 
                and 

                the Resource Committee of the board. In approving the deficit
                

                Business Plan, these committees went into the budget in depth, 
                said 

                Mr. Van Camp. In making its final approval of the budget, the 
                board 

                took into consideration the fact that the hospital is efficient 
                in 

                its operations and that there are limited opportunities for 
                revenue 

                generation.

                In making its decision the board has had no response from the
                

                Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to its previous Business 
                Plan 

                and Financial Analysis Reports, said Mr. Van Camp.

                The new clinical programs proposed in the hospital budget are
                

                essential and reasonable for the health of the population of 

                Manitoulin and are based on the District Health Council's Health
                

                Status Report for the district.

                The deficit situation is of great concern to the MHC Board, said 
                Mr. 

                Van Camp. "The board comprehends the declining financial 
                position and 

                is very concerned with financial long-term viability," he said. 
                "The 

                hospital continues to consider the issue of governance 
                partnership to 

                get separate hospital numbers to alleviate funding issues."

                In the final analysis, noted Mr. Van Camp, "The hospital board 
                firmly 

                believes that the only redress for the financial plight is 
                budget 

                base allocation based on the equitable funding for multi-site
                

                hospitals."

                At present, the MHC is penalized for having more than one site, 
                a 

                situation which further exacerbates the hospital's funding woes, 
                and 

                places it outside of the possibility of accessing extra funds 
                which 

                the province makes available to reward efficient sites.

                Without recognition of the necessity of a multi-site hospital to
                

                serve the area, current funding formulas continue to under fund 
                the 

                MHC.

                Aside from the addition of new programs identified by an outside
                

                agency as necessary for the area, the hospital is also under 
                pressure 

                for substantial increases in benefits, specifically pension and
                

                salary increases, as well as increases in the normal costs of 
                goods 

                and services.

                The new programs which the MHC board feels very strongly should 
                be 

                included in the 2003/2004 business plan include: triage, in 
                nursing; 

                Cardiac Rehabilitation (Stress Test) and video conferencing; 

                chemotherapy; Diagnostic, therapeutic and support services 

                enhancements.

                The new programs and enhancements to existing programs are 
                adding 

                $788,000 to the budget, which means that even without these, the
                

                budget would come in over $1 million in the red.

                "The hospital is very frustrated that the Ministry of Health and 
                Long 

                Term Care has not made any major budget base adjustments to the
                

                Manitoulin Health Centre," said Mr. Van Camp.

                A recent trip to Toronto to meet with a third party review 
                committee 

                of the Manitoulin Health Centre's finances left committee 
                members and 

                staff concerned that the review will not alleviate present 
                conditions.

                "We left with the feeling that the committee did not have the
                

                necessary authority to be able to deal with the issues facing 
                us," 

                said Mr. Van Camp during the February board meeting.

                "We have to propose this budget to fill the needs of the 
                community," 

                said MHC Board Chair Les Cramp. "That is what it is all about."