St. Denis supports interim solution to West End tire dump

by Jim Moodie

MANITOULIN-Municipalities on Manitoulin continue to urge a quick course of action to remedy the tire pileup on the Zhiibaahaasing First Nation, with Gore Bay council calling last week on MP Brent St. Denis to take the lead on this front.

But while Mr. St. Denis agreed to chair a meeting held at the First Nation in March, and is working hard behind the scenes to broker a solution, he remains reluctant to speak for the First Nation, prefacing any remarks on the subject with the disclaimer, "I don't want to put myself out as spokesperson on this."

If a strategy is to be found to reduce the size of the hazardous pile, it will require the blessings of the First Nation itself, as well as the broader First Nations leadership on the Island, the MP maintains.

"I'm sensitive to the feelings of both Zhiibaahaasing and the rest of Manitoulin," Mr. St. Denis indicated. "But it's a file that's definitely on my desk, and I do want to see it resolved. It's getting to the time when some very firm things have to happen."

Sarah Hutchinson, the Green Party candidate who ran against Mr. St. Denis in the recent federal election, is also respectful of the First Nation's right to pursue projects on its own territory, but hopes the community will see the value of voluntarily removing some of the tires.

"One idea I've had is that if they voluntarily agreed to abide by the provincial guidelines, and bring the pile down to the 4,999 tires that are allowed, then this might signal to the federal government that they're willing to be more responsible around the care of the pile," she said.

Presuming the First Nation, along with the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin (UCCM), is in agreement to such a scenario, the speculation is that the federal government might be able to provide the funding necessary to truck the excess tires off the Island. At present, some 1 million tires are estimated to exist at the site, which would make the accumulation 200 times the limit normally imposed by the province.

Mr. St. Denis can't promise that federal dollars would be freed up for such a plan. But he said he would "gladly assist in trying to find the resources to find an interim or temporary solution."

Meanwhile, the First Nation is still hoping its application for $80,000 to conduct a feasibility study of its stalled recycling operation will be approved, although Kevin Mossip, deputy-chief of Zhiibaahaasing, said on Monday that one of the two agencies the community had applied to had turned the application down. "FedNor said 'no,'" he said. "We haven't heard yet from the Aboriginal Business Canada Fund."

Mr. Mossip was reluctant to discuss the tire issue in much detail, except to say that "we're working on it," and that "everything I could say has already been said. As for responding to what some (municipal) council is saying, I'm not going to get into that game."

The idea of parting with the majority, if not all, of the tires at this point would not be in the community's interest unless the First Nation received something in return for the scrap rubber, he suggested. "We'd get rid of them if we can make some money; it has to be a win-win situation," Mr. Mossip said. "We want revenue generated, and the tires gone."

Pat Madahbee, tribal chair of the UCCM, said that the coalition of chiefs "doesn't control the affairs of Zhiibaahaasing, and at the end of the day, we're supporting what Zhiibaahaasing wants, it's as simple as that."

Steps are being taken to reduce the fire hazard at the site, Chief Madahbee stressed, through a fire-prevention committee coordinated by the UCCM. "We've charted a course, and the safety people have met."

The chief said he "shares the concern about an environmental catastrophe happening, but the fire marshal assured us that there are only two ways that the pile could ignite: either someone would have to pour a flammable liquid on it and light them, or a grass fire could start it." But he is confident that measures such as the clearing of shrubbery from around the site, and arranging the heap in smaller piles with a berm around them, will reduce the chances of fire considerably.

Mr. St. Denis elaborated on the fire prevention strategy, noting that "a plan is in place and a submission is about to be made (for funding) for the pumps, hoses, etcetera, needed to do fire mitigation. And regardless what one feels about what needs to be done, that has to be taken care of."

In mid-April, the township of Burpee-Mills, which abuts the Zhiibaahaasing First Nation, hosted a meeting at which a half-dozen representatives of other municipalities were present. Those present drafted a resolution calling for an immediate removal of the tire stockpile, which is now being sent to other municipalities for endorsement, prior to submission to the appropriate agencies.

Last week, the resolution was discussed by members of Gore Bay council, with many calling upon Mr. St. Denis to be at forefront in finding a solution.

The language of the draft resolution, which "demands" the removal of the tire pile, was also debated by Gore Bay council, with Mayor Ruby Croft musing, "I don't know if the word 'demand' is the way to do it."

Mr. St. Denis said he is aware of the resolution that is circulating amongst Island municipalities, and appreciates the level of frustration that neighbours of Zhiibaahaasing might feel, but encourages a co-operative approach rather than a confrontational one.

The MP believes there will be a solution, one way or the other. "They'll either be removed or processed. They're not going to sit there forever," he said.

Chief Madahbee believes "people need to have a bit of patience. Anyone who expects an overnight solution to this is in dreamland."

Citizen concerns convince Hydro against spraying

Garlon 4 product within Assiginack

by Lindsay Kelly

MANITOULIN-When he moved to Manitoulin Island several years ago to retire, Zdenek Malacek was looking forward to enjoying the pristine environment of his adopted home.

So when the Manitowaning resident discovered, while recently attending a meeting of the Lake Manitou Area Association, that Hydro One was planning to spray selected areas around Manitoulin with the herbicide Garlon 4, he immediately sprung into action, determined to stop the process before the compound entered the environment.

He began a petition, which, following its submission to the Township of Assiginack, halted the spraying in that town.

"My wife and myself, we retired on this beautiful Island because we wanted to get away from the fast-paced life," he said. "We owned a camp here for 20 years, and then we built our dream home. We're both environmentalists."

Nothing could be worse, he determined, than having the natural environment he had come to love threatened by a compound that could have detrimental effects in years to come.

"I went on the Internet and looked up Garlon 4, and of course it's toxic," he said. "You cannot say it's not. It's banned or not available for sale in five states in the US, including California, so they recognize its toxicity."

Since the Island is surrounded by water, and includes many inland waterbodies, Mr. Malacek believes it's inevitable that the herbicide will eventually get into the water system. It's easy for "hot shots" living in Toronto to make a decision to spray in an area in which they don't live, he added. "Somebody higher up at Hydro One found out that hiring people to do the cutting was too costly, and it is cheaper to spray the herbicide," he said.

Garlon 4 is described by its manufacturer, Dow AgroSciences, as "a selective, systemic herbicide with application flexibility that provides selective control of hard-to-control deciduous trees, pine and broadleaf weeds without harming grass."

It includes the active ingredient triclopyr, which the company says has little chance of reaching groundwater, since the herbicide "tends to stay within 30 centimetres of the surface."

The company readily admits that Garlon 4 is "not approved for application to water surfaces, and should be kept out of lakes, ponds and streams." If the herbicide does reach water, however, "it dissipates through a variety of environmental processes that collectively remove it very rapidly."

Opinions on the herbicide vary greatly, but, through its International Program on Chemical Safety-a set of internationally-recognized standards for classification of pesticides by hazard-The World Health Organization has designated triclopyr as a Class 3, or "slightly hazardous" ingredient.

Hydro One forestry technician Trevor Guidon said the company is confident about the safety of the product, noting that Hydro One has been spraying it in areas across the Island for "years and years"-all with no reported ill effects, so far.

Spraying allows Hydro One to conduct more efficient maintenance in the areas where vegetation is likely to grow up around the hydro poles and lines, he said. When the vegetation is cut, it "suckers up" (grows shoots out of the stump), creating more need for maintenance. In some instances, Mr. Guidon said, if the new growth stretches too high, the plants can actually grow into the conductor, causing interruptions in electrical service.

It does result in a savings for the company, but this causes a trickle-down effect, which will result in savings for Hydro One customers as well, he noted.

People must also keep in mind that the effects of the herbicide are dependent upon how the herbicide is being employed, he added. "It's important to know how we're using it," he said. "We're putting it on the stump only. It's not sprayed on the leaves, and it's a very low volume. It's just put on the stump itself, and it doesn't move in the soil."

"People will argue that," he continued. "But it's just not likely to happen."

In addition, Hydro One employs a 'buffer no-spray zone,' which includes areas in which the company will not spray. This policy protects against any of the herbicide getting into the waterbodies, Mr. Guidon said.

Most importantly, the company does not do any spraying without prior consent.

"We have to have the municipalities' consent, as well as that of the private property owners, seeing as the township has the rights over the road allowances, because they maintain the roads," he said.

The areas set to be sprayed for this project include Howland Township, Assiginack, Aundeck Omni Kaning and Sheguiandah. "Assiginack is the only one who has opposed it so far," the forestry technician said.

The Hydro One spokesperson said the company does have plans to spray the Lake Wosley area possibly next year, but the project is still in its preliminary stages, and has not yet reached the point of contacting property owners.

Still, some landowners remain wary of the herbicide. Carol Windover, who owns property in the Slash, was not aware of Hydro One's intent to spray the herbicide, and was not contacted by the company to inform her of the spraying.

After contacting Hydro One herself, she learned that landowners with structures on their properties are contacted first, after which attempts are made to contact the remaining property owners in a municipality. Since she does not have a structure on her affected property, she would have been in the last batch of landowners to be informed.

She is concerned, despite the company's assurances of its safety, that the herbicide will end up in the Island's water system. The spraying "has to be stopped, unless we want our kids and grandkids drinking it," she said.

While there currently may not seem to have many detrimental effects, "20 years down the line, who knows what it's doing to you?" she reasoned.

She believes everyone should be aware of what Hydro One is planning and should speak up about their beliefs, whether they support the spraying or not.

"I'm concerned for the water on Manitoulin," she said. "We've already spent mega-bucks cleaning up and preventing our water from becoming polluted, but it's defeating the purpose if we're dumping this crap into our waterways."

Susan Hart did receive a letter in the mail and was alarmed by Hydro One's plan to apply the herbicide to her property. In the letter, the company informs her of its intention to remove brush located on the Hydro One right-of-way, remove dead or hazardous trees, and prune branches away from power lines.

Cut stumps are then treated with Garlon 4, which Hydro One describes as "federally and provincially accepted herbicide," but Ms. Hart believes the use of this herbicide could still pose a risk to the environment. A lot of runoff comes off her Green Bush Road property, and she believes the herbicide could get into the runoff and travel to other areas that were never supposed to be treated with Garlon 4.

"I don't see why they should be doing that-period," she said of the treatment. "So many times they've used a herbicide and then discovered it is harmful. They should know better."

Ms. Hart has already created large signs which read, in block letters, "No Garlon 4," which she plans to tack up along the perimeter of her property, to act as a reminder to Hydro One about her position on the herbicide.

In addition, a comment card accompanying the letter from Hydro One asks Ms. Hart's permission to use Garlon 4 on her property (the company requests the card be returned for their records). Originally, the Little Current resident said she wasn't going to return the card because she "didn't feel it would make a difference."

A conversation with Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Brent St. Denis changed her mind, however. He believes the company will heed her wishes and suggested she send the card back immediately, with any comments she feels are important for the company to consider.

Mr. Guidon confirmed this suggestion, noting that  "our initial contact is made with owners of properties with a hydro meter. It's a quick and easy way to get around to most of the people out there."

When a property owner is not easy to locate through this process, Hydro One employees visit the township office to search records for property ownership. This can be a tedious and time-consuming process, but one the company undertakes to ensure the owners have a say in what happens on their land.

"We only apply the herbicide where we have consent to do so," Mr. Guidon said. "We want people to be informed. If they want information, we will hand out literature on it to show why it's safe, and why we use it. It does a good job."

But if people are adamantly opposed to the use of herbicide on their property, Mr. Guidon said it is important for people to fill out and send back the cards they will receive in the mail. "That's the whole purpose of why we're sending them out," he said.

That guarantee was not solid enough for Mr. Malacek, however, so he decided to start a petition, collecting signatures from other Assiginack Township residents equally put off by the idea of herbicide use in their community. By mid-April, he had collected about 60 names, and presented them to Assiginack Reeve Leslie Fields. She passed them along to Hydro One, Mr. Malacek said, and within days, had received an answer: the company will not be spraying the herbicide anywhere in the Township of Assiginack.

He's relieved by the reprieve, but says, "My concern was for the whole Island." And while he'd like to see more done to prevent the spraying of Garlon 4 in other areas of Manitoulin, he said it will be contingent upon other community members to take up the cause.

The issue will be broached at a June meeting of the Lake Manitou Area Association, at which time, the association-which boasts landowners from other municipalities bordering on the lake, including Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands, Billings and Central Manitoulin-will draft up a resolution stating its strong objection to the spraying of Garlon 4, which will be sent to Hydro One.

"I hope the other municipalities either know about it, or become aware of it," Mr. Malacek said. "My only concern is that it will be too late."

Visually-impaired Manitowaning man

wins $1 million prize in CNIB lottery

by Jim Moodie

MANITOWANING-Ken Hannah of Manitowaning started buying Canadian Institute for the Blind (CNIB) lottery tickets a half dozen years ago, because, as a legally blind individual himself, he wanted to support the organization.

He never imagined he'd actually win something, let alone a cool million.

But that's exactly what happened when names for two grand prizes of $1 million each were drawn last week.

"I didn't believe it at first," says Mr. Hannah. "When you get something that size, it's hard to fathom. It's just starting to sink in now."

Tickets for the lottery cost $100, with the grand prize winners having been announced on April 24.

"I've been playing it for six years," Mr. Hannah notes. "I have a special interest in it (the CNIB) and buy the tickets to help them out. But I just send the money in. I never expected anything to come of it. When the fellow from the CNIB called, I didn't know whether to believe him or just hang up."

Asked whether the million-dollar boost to his bank account will ease the challenges of living with a visual impairment, Mr. Hannah replies that he already has "pretty much what I need" to manage his condition, but admits the windfall will help "in the sense that I probably won't have to work now."

Mr. Hannah operates Hembruff's Freshmart in Manitowaning, and while he is still able to walk back and forth to work, as well as read with the help of magnifiers, his condition does worsen over time. The recent winnings mean he can consider early retirement, or at least a less active role in the business. "I'm getting close to 'freedom 55,' and this just makes that more realistic," he says.

The Hannahs have three daughters, one of whom is working, while the other two, twins, attend university. "The twins asked for nice apartments when they go to school next year," Mr. Hannah says, adding with a chuckle, "they haven't asked for new cars."

The lottery winner and his wife drove to Sudbury last week to claim their prize at the CNIB office in Sudbury. The other grand prize winner was from London, Ontario, Mr. Hannah notes.

For now, Mr. Hannah says he isn't planning to do anything dramatic with the money. "We'll just put it away and sit back and relax. We like it here on Manitoulin, so we'll just carry on and see what happens."

EDITORIAL

Farm fund foundation needed on Island

Two Island businesses stand in jeopardy today. One, the M'Chigeeng abattoir, has yet to get off the ground, as government funding agencies and banks are reluctant to back a business dependent on farming; while the other, an icon of long standing, the Little Current Sales Barn, is teetering on the brink of extinction due to recent changes in government regulations that are supposed to be there to help stabilize the industry.

It may seem to be a 'pie-in-the-sky' concept, but perhaps it is time for Manitoulin's farming community to band together and form a co-operative venture whose goal would be to form a pool of capital that such farm-vital enterprises could draw on.

Such a loan pool would send a clear message to government and private financial institutions that farming here on Manitoulin refuses to go quietly into the night.

If successful, the reverberations from such a signal could build into a new rural revolution.

Such a co-operative institution could be built upon something similar to the concept pioneered by the ad hoc group working to get the M'Chigeeng abattoir off the ground-selling shares that would return a portion of the capital with interest until the foundation was free-standing.

In a global climate where the conventional wisdom suggests that farming in the industrialized world is headed to extinction, waiting for government or big business financing to come to the rescue appears less and less of an option.

Before quickly jumping to dismiss such an idea, recall that the Credit Union movement, many insurance foundations (especially those such as the Knights of Columbus) and a host of other co-operative efforts were formed in the last century to meet challenges very similar to those faced by farmers today. There is much to be said about the spirit of self-reliance and the determination to make things work-it's time to rediscover that pioneering spirit that defies all odds to make things work.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Cleanup week should include curbside pickup

Does the town expect us to dig into our own pockets?

To the Expositor:

RE: "Cleanup week proceeds on smaller scale," April 26.

After months of rhetoric to the contrary, the Northeast Town management concedes that lack of town staff is indeed adversely affecting the providing of town services. CAO Dave Williamson attempts to downplay this with puny excuses that it is "really expensive" to do the one-week pickup and that people take advantage of the pickup by putting disassembled sheds out for disposal. What about simply cautioning the public about this and refusing to pick these articles up?

Management continues to thump the tub, claiming that the contracted labour works faster and more cost-effectively than the town crews. If, and it's a big 'if,' this is the case, it follows that the contractors could perform the curb-side pickup faster and cheaper than in other years.

Keeping the landfill site open for extended hours in lieu of pickup is of little help to the majority of households who do not have trucks at their disposal. Many of us already have our cleanup done and the disposable items ready to put out. Does Mr. Williamson expect us to dig into our own pockets to hire someone to transport the disposables to the landfill? The flyer that was included with my tax bill, sent in March, stated that there would be a one-day pickup in Ward 2 during cleanup week. The labour situation hasn't changed since then.

We taxpayers provide a valuable service to the town by cleaning up and keeping our properties presentable at no cost to the town. It also allows us to dispose of items that accumulate over the year that cannot be put out for garbage or recycling pickup.

Most municipalites are are well aware of the value to their community of a cleanup week, and wherever possible provide for a curbside pickup. If the present council of NEMI is lacking the labour and funds this year to do this, it is directly attributable to bobble-headed management.

William Ritching

Little Current

Cardwell Street should be high-priority project

Action needed before a tragedy occurs

To the Expositor:

An open letter to  Assiginack Reeve Leslie Fields.

Dear Reeve Fields:

I am a band member from the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve and I would like to address my concern to you and your council regarding the deteriorating state of the connecting road between Manitowaning and Wikwemikong, also known as Cardwell Street.

This is not a new problem, but the problem is now becoming dangerous to the public, who utilize that particular road everyday. Cardwell Street is becoming very hazardous and trying to navigate the gaping potholes is a task in itself. If immediate measures are not implemented soon, this dangerous road could result in vehicle fatalities, injuries and property damage, with the Assiginack Municipality being in a situation where they could be held liable. Many members of Wikwemikong have had to deal with assorted costly vehicle repairs, i.e. shocks, wheel alignments, replacement of tires, etc.

As recent as March 27, 2006, the Honorable Harinder Takhar, minister of Transportation, made a statement to the Ontario legislature to the effect, "I'm proud that Ontario has the safest roads in North America. Our government is committed to maintaining and improving upon that record." Obviously, Minister Takhar has never had an opportunity to visit our picturesque and beautiful Manitoulin Island.

But I would like to bring to your attention, programs are in place to assist municipalities, such as Assiginack, for rural infrastructure assistance. The two major programs that your staff should research is the Canada Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund and the Ontario Strategic Infrastructure Financing Authority. I understand these funds are intended for municipalities to help repair roads and bridges, with the emphasis being on rural and northern communities. Information about these two programs, along with others, is available by contacting the Ministry of Transportation provincial office.

My suggestion would be for you and your council to identify Cardwell Street as a "high priority project" and apply for funding to repair the road. Road safety initiatives undertaken by your council would be beneficial not only to my community, but to Manitowaning as well. Earlier reports in the media have stated that Wikwemikong and Manitowaning would work co-operatively to repair Cardwell Street. I am requesting of you, your council and your staff to apply for funds as mentioned to repair Cardwell Street as it is essential for road safety due to the high volume of traffic it accommodates.

Trusting you and your council will act quickly, before a tragedy occurs.

Jean Trudeau

Wikwemikong

Body contact should be kept in game of hockey

Don't take NHL dreams away from children

To the Expositor:

I have heard hockey managers and minor hockey associations asking if body contact  should be taken out of minor hockey altogether, and I have to ask, why?

Being a parent of a young girl who plays hockey, I know that it can be nerve-wracking at times, but I also realize that body contact is a part of hockey. I also realize that there are children who love the game of hockey and they have dreams of playing in the National Hockey League.

For those parents who want body contact out, can you imagine what it must feel like to dream about something so bad, and have everyone tell you that "it's never going to happen" and they're going to make sure it never does?

Try changing the National Hockey League first. Don't take dreams away from children; it's not fair to them. Have you asked your child how he or she feels about this subject?

Remember: children and youth have voices too, and what they have to say matters!

Cher Panamick

M'Chigeeng

Letters can also be dropped through the slot on the front door of the Expositor office.Send your Dear Dave letters to Box 369, Little Current, Ontario, P0P 1K0,