Electoral slate set by Michael Erskine

MANITOULIN-The nomination deadline  for election to municipal councils across the Manitoulin District closed at 5 pm on Friday, but nominees had until 5 pm Monday to withdraw their names from consideration. The following lists include those whose names stood on Monday, but as most offices close at 5 pm, the names listed, with the exception of the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands, are not yet certified by the designated electoral officer.

The single Manitoulin Rainbow District School Board trustee position is being sought by Larry Killens of Mindemoya and Linda McDonald of Gore Bay.

Running for mayor in Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands  are incumbent Joe Chapman, current councillor Jim Stringer and Peggy Young.

In Ward 1, which will elect one councillor, incumbent Jib Turner will be facing challenger Christina Jones. In Ward 2 incumbents Gary Green, Bill Koehler and Sam Nardi will be facing Amber Jewell, Al MacNevin and Mellissa Peters in the race for three seats. Running for the seat in Ward 3 are incumbent Marcel Gauthier and Lou Vaillant, while in Ward 4, incumbents Thomas Batman and Tony Ferro are in the race with Mary Dawn Orr, Colin Senior, Paul Skippen and Bruce Wood, who will all be vying for the three seats that ward elects to council.

Central Manitoulin Reeve Richard Stephens has been acclaimed in his position. In Campbell (Ward 1) ,Sarah Bowerman and Steve Orford have also been acclaimed. In Ward 2 Bert Hill and Harold McCutcheon have been acclaimed. There is a race in Sandfield where incumbent Doreen Witty will face Ryan Hutchinson and Al Tribinevicius.

Township of Assiginack Reeve Les Fields is facing a challenge from Hugh Moggy, a former reeve,  for the position, while Bob Case, Brad Ham, Vern Johnston and Gary Strain are seeking positions on council, as are incumbents Brenda Reid and Bud Rohn.

Burpee-Mills Reeve Ken Noland is being challenged by Jim Irvine, while incumbents Jeff Bailey and Pentti Palonen will be  seeking to return.  Mark Lamoureux, David Hill and Lorri Millsap are also seeking to fill the four available council seats. There are roughly 889 electors on the rolls in the township.

In Gore Bay the mayoral seat vacated by a retiring Ruby Croft is being sought by Joyce Foster, a former town clerk, and Harry Vanderweerden, a long-time council member. The field is full in the battle for a council seat: although the only current incumbent in the race is Dan Osbourne, a number of other nominees have stepped up including former LAMBAC executive director Marg Hague, Betsy Clark, Henk Pel, Lynn Fisher, Dawn Noble McCann, Pete Fletcher and Lou Addison.

Billings Reeve Austin Hunt has been acclaimed once again, but there are nine vying for the four positions on council, including incumbents Margaret Tuomi and Sharon Alkenbrach, Roger Lloyd, Rob Seifried, Patrick McColman, Susan Cronk, Greg Lloyd, Brian Parker and Todd Gordon.

In Tehkummah, incumbent Jim Anstice is being challenged by Gary Brown and David Jaggard. Seeking the  four council seats are incumbents Lydia McKenna, Mike McKenzie and Ed Sagle, as well as Laurie Leeson, Paul Bowerman, Bob Brown, and Eric Stillwaugh.

There will be an election for reeve in Killarney, with incumbent Laurier Low facing challenges from Geoff Cosh, a former reeve of the old municipality of Rutherford and George Island, and Morgan Pitfield. Three Ward 1 seats will be acclaimed for Peggy Roque, Mel Bradley and Rosemarie Roque. Ward 2, however, will see incumbent Clyde Opaleychuk facing Donald Knight for the single seat. Killarney has around 1,400 people on its rolls, with roughly 500 of those being year-round residents.

Gordon Township has a new reeve, as Art Madore was acclaimed in that position. There will be an election for council, however, as seven people are vying for the four positions. Running for Gordon council are Lee Hayden, Roger Guenette, Pat Best, Gerry Armstrong, Bonnie Fogal and Jack Brady.

Cockburn Island Reeve David Haight has been acclaimed, while the four council seats are being contested by incumbents Brenda Jones, Evan Papineau and Eira Robinson, as well as newcomers Dan Rogers and Scott Stewart. There are approximately 230 electors on the rolls in the township.

In Barrie Island all positions have been acclaimed with JoeAnn Lewis returning as reeve along with councillors Enid Runnels, Bill Rock, Mervyn Noakes and Margaret (Maggie) King.

The representatives of unorganized townships on the Manitoulin Sudbury District Social Service Administration Board  (DSSAB) for 2007-2010 are: J. Raymond Chenier, who is currently serving as the board's chair, Bruce Killah, who also is currently sitting on the board, and David G. Leonard. As there were only three applications to fill the positions on the DSSAB board, there is no need for an election.

Manor seeks firm financial footing

Municipal leaders balk at rising share of operating costs

by Tom Sasvari

MINDEMOYA-While the Manitoulin Centennial Manor board has implemented 50 percent of the recommendations as set forth in its financial review, municipal leaders still have serious concerns that there has not been enough savings to allow municipalities the ability to afford their share of operating costs for the facility.

"I think you should understand our township, on the projected budget for this year, was to pay $108,495, and we, as did the other Island municipalities, turned this down, because we couldn't afford these costs," said Billings Township Councillor John Bright at a meeting of the Manitoulin Municipal Association last week. "It was not because we don't care about the residents in the Manor, but the amount we were being asked for would be the same as our roads budget. If you come back again in 2007 and say our share is again over $108,000 we will say no again. Again, I'm not saying we don't care about the residents or the Manor, but we can't afford theses costs."

Gary Green, chair of the Manor board, presented a partial report to attendees at the meeting.

"I said at the last meeting there may be some shortcomings with the report," he said. "But the board feels it is positive and that we have come a long way, to the credit of management, staff, Jarlette Home Services and the ministry."

"There are nine items that we accomplished in a short period of time, and when all of the recommendations are implemented by 2008, there will be approximately $590,000 in savings that will lead us to running a home that is compliant with ministry requirements, provides quality care and services to our residents, and is ultimately financially viable," Mr. Green added.

Gordon Township Reeve Jeff Hietkamp asked how the Manor is doing financially this year, as compared to its budget for the last year.

"There has been a great deal of improvement, but when you try to compare this to last year, it is hard to do," said Mr. Green. "We received a fair amount of assistance from the ministry. The biggest problem is that the difficulties will not be solved overnight. We are projecting for 2008 that we will be on viable financial footing."

But Reeve Hietkamp persisted, questioning the Manor's financial stability for 2007.

"We are not saying there won't be an increase in requisitions to the municipalities," Mr. Green responded. "We are not looking at as big of an increase as we had originally indicated. The province is providing funding support into March. And, if we require funds for the recovery to carry on, our board is prepared to go back to the ministry for further support. When we improve our CSI, the money we get will help improve the financial situation."

"We are asking the municipalities to stay the course and see us through all of this, so that we can make the Manor viable," he added.

However, Burpee-Mills Reeve Ken Noland was disappointed in the report.

"I don't see anything positive in the report," he said. "You are looking at less than a $100,000 savings so far, but still looking at an overall budget increase of over $1 million for this year."

"Almost 80 percent of these costs are wages, and the $590,000 cost savings expected by 2008 is half of the budget," Reeve Noland continued. "Does this mean the board is cutting half the staff? Are we in negotiations with the staff unions? And when we met earlier this spring we (municipal representatives) had asked that the board look at privatization and other options. You were directed by the municipalities to look at the these options, including privatization, but haven't."

Mr. Green emphasized that the board is only looking at a recovery plan for the Manor, and that privatization is not being considered at this time.

"As we said before, the beds of the Manor can't be sold," he said. "We have been involved in the recovery plan, and being able to leave the people in the beds."

Reeve Noland was persistent, however, suggesting his community would have seen a 12-percent increase on its millrate had the ministry not provided assistance to the Manor. He also expressed frustration that the board had not carried out the wishes of the municipalities.

"The most important thing at this point is the well being of the residents in the Manor," Mr. Green insisted. "Yes, maybe we haven't done all that we were asked to. This whole process is not going to happen overnight, and the changes are not going to happen overnight."

He pointed out that the municipalities have not been asked to give more funding support since June. At the time, the ministry representatives assured the municipalities they would not be asked to provide more money during the year, and they have been pleased with the progress the Manor has made, Mr. Green added.

Les Fields, a member of the Manor board, said that the direction from the ministry to the board was to put together a plan that would first look after the residents, which has been the focus of Jarlette, the ministry, and the staff and board of the Manor. The ministry "has told us we would all proceed together, but that the ministry would not work toward separation, or divorce (privatization), and that we should take this one step at a time."

Reeve Noland was insistent that cost savings need to be addressed, and that 79 percent of the Manor budget is comprised of staff wages. He suggested wages should be reduced before anyone would truly see any changes.

But, Ms. Fields pointed out, the problem of wages would not arise until staff negotiations take place next year, and in the meantime, the most important issue of everyone involved is maintaining a high level of patient care.

"We are not looking at ways to reduce care," she said. "We have the support of the Manor, and Jarlette Services is on hand for another year-and-a-half to help us through the process. The funding formulas for health care, including long-term care homes, is going to change."

MMA Chair Richard Stephens also looked to the future, however, asking what course of action would be taken if the Manor experiences a shortfall in 2007.

Mr. Green replied that he was confident the ministry would continue to provide the Manor with support in the interim. "I'm sure if the ministry knows we are continuing to make progress, and if we keep going, I don't see them letting us fall flat as of March, 2007," he said. "And the ministry is looking at funding formula changes, and we have a projected savings of $590,000 savings to 2008."

The chair then acknowledged the concerns expressed about the budget and staffing, suggesting that negotiations with three different unions makes the staffing issue more tricky. However, he also suggested that other facilities across the province are experiencing similar dilemmas, and ministry representatives are encouraged by the progress they are seeing at the Manor.

Harold McCutcheon, a Central Manitoulin Township Councillor, weighed in on the issue, saying, "I can't see small homes like this being viable with the current funding formula. Right now the funding formula for the Manor and other nursing homes and homes for the aged are not covering the costs involved." He noted there are too many beds in the Manor that are not receiving full funding for their operation. "It won't be viable until the government provides more funding for these beds."

Mr. Green agreed the provincial funding formula needs to be changed. "I'm assuming the ministry will be looking at all reports on the state of funding, and needs for long-term care facilities, and be putting together a better funding formula."

There is also the issue of not enough people to fill all the beds in the Manor, said Mr. Green. "We are hoping that the province will introduce a new funding formula that will help."

Jim Anstice, of Assiginack Township, reminded attendees that, at a meeting in the spring, the MMA had called on the government to introduce a funding formula change to accommodate small long-term care facilities, and Ms. Fields suggested it was being studied by the government.

Kathy O'Reilly, a representative for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, confirmed that policy development is under way for small, rural long-term care facilities, and suggested it was an issue in which the ministry had taken an interest.

"Our experience with the board has been stellar," Ms. O'Reilly said. "They have a real commitment to making change and turning things around. The efforts of the board, Manor staff, and Jarlette has been outstanding, and everyone is looking at everything that can be down to turn the home around significantly."

Talk again turned to the financial status of the Manor when Steve Orford asked what the terms of the next budget would be. "This financial management plan is very important," he said.

Mr. Green indicated that the budget for the coming year had not yet been set.

Reeve Noland also steered the conversation back to the privatization of long-term care facilities, indicating that this would be a preferable alternative to seeking more funding from the municipalities.

"We had asked the board to take into consideration privatization eight months ago, and it didn't happen," he reiterated. "We need to know where we are in our own budgets, and for the Manor costs, for the next year."

"I know this is a very difficult issue for all of you folks," Mr. Green replied. "I would ask, on behalf of the board, to understand the task that we are facing and what we are trying to do on your behalf."

"Maybe in November there will be changes to the municipal councils, but this (Manor) board will be in place until April," he added. "We will endeavour to make all of you aware of any changes in the Manor financial situation as we can."

At a meeting earlier this year, the Manor board had promised to provide a report on the Manor's financial situation to the MMA once every two months. The next report is due in late January.

Early deadline

As usual this year, the Expositor staff will be enjoying the Thanksgiving Monday holiday with their families.

Next week's (October 11) paper will be produced this Friday, rather than on Monday, and deadlines have been moved ahead accordingly.

Please have your display ad requests to the office by Thursday. Classified deadlines are Friday at noon.

Rural correspondents are asked to send their news for receipt on Thursday.

In keeping with tradition, the Expositor office will be closed on Monday.

The staff of the Expositor office wish all of our friends a happy Thanksgiving weekend among friends and family.

EDITORIAL

Lighthouses are a vital part of community heritage

Governments mess with lighthouses at their peril. So integral have these beacons of hope become intertwined with the self image of maritime communities, that any hint of their removal or destruction galvanizes community members to rise quickly to their defence.

Even refurbishment of venerable lighthouses with modern siding and new-fangled enhancements can be met with outrage, so it is of little surprise that the Department of Oceans and Fisheries would like to divest themselves of for some of these aging structures-particularly now that their traditional role as mariners' guides home through dark and fog has, in the government's view at least, been superseded by the advance of global positioning technology.

That view of lighthouses as irrelevant to navigation is not universally shared by sport and commercial fishermen, some of whom still regard GPS technology with something less than all-embracing enthusiasm.

Should it come to pass that lighthouses are divested from the store of federal government responsibilities, it would seem that the most viable government branches to assume that guardianship would be those involved in the preservation of our collective heritage-however, the current government's slashing of museum funding for small communities in its latest round of cuts does not bode well for that route.

One of the worst scenarios imaginable would be that the federal government decides to divolve lighthouses to either a lower level of government or the private sector without designating those structures as heritage sites.

Municipalities are besieged with costs that are either totally or at least partially beyond their control, and they would be likely (and understandably) reluctant to assume the cost of maintaining lighthouses and thereby placing that maintenance onto the backs of local ratepayers. Should local governments be offered these structures, it should only be done with the accompaniment of sufficient resources to maintain the lighthouses in good order.

If lighthouses were to be placed under the protective mantle of a heritage designation, there is no guarantee that they would remain safe from destruction when placed in the private sector-there are a number of unscrupulous ways around that protection-but at least there would be some hope.

Some private owners have certainly proven that they are not incapable of keeping our maritime heritage alive. Witness the recent resurrection of the Michael's Bay lighthouse by the Anstice family, done out of a love of their heritage and a spirit of community that seems to thrive in rural hearts.

But corporate hearts are notoriously cold when it comes to the almighty bottom line, and it seems imprudent to trust so qualitative a measure of our collective heritage to the mercy of faceless corporate beancounters. Local beancounters are, of course, excepted. They tend to be connected to their communities and to share that love of rural heritage that induces people like Peter Pennie to step up and save a building like the Green Bay Hall from oblivion.

We have a precious legacy in the form of our lighthouses, many of which, like the Strawberry Island lighthouse, are markers of our progress through time. Strawberry Island's construction dates from 1881, and is an outstanding example of the second wave of towers built in Georgian Bay after the wreck of the Asia reinforced the need for such navigational beacons. They exemplify the spirit of the Victorian age, where anything was possible and mankind's limits seemed boundless.

To lose what little remains of that legacy for simple expediency or the sake of what is relatively pocket change, would not simply be a shame, it would be an act betrayal of later generations for which history would judge us poorly.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Local fan cheers Islanders victories

A pleasant change from teams of the past

To the Expositor:

Just arriving home after the Manitoulin Islanders first win of the new season over the undefeated Michigan team, I felt happy for the boys. The game was very entertaining and well played, with the Islanders winning 5-3. The boys showed hustle right to end of the game. In the view of this fan, it's a pleasant change from teams of the past. What was disappointing, however ,was the absence of fans.

Coach Parsons and his staff have appeared to turn the team around. After the turbulent first years, the team is really showing signs of improvement each and every week. Those of you who think it's the same old team should ask someone who has been to the games this year, or better still come out and support the team and see for yourselves. Having golfed in the tournament for the Islanders reported in the Expositor last week, I met some of the boys and can say I was impressed by how well they represented themselves and Manitoulin. The boys, I'm sure, will continue to improve through hard work and continue to represent the Island well here and throughout the north. Come out and support the boys and reward them for their efforts.

Phil Blake

Little Current

An open letter to M'Chigeeng

Writer will provide information for support

To the Expositor:

An open letter to M'Chigeeng First Nation Chief Joe Hare and council regarding the Manitoulin Abattoir project.

Dear Chief Hare and Council,

I apologize for blaming solely M'Chigeeng First Nation for the collapse of the Manitoulin Abattoir. Politicians, government red tape and inexperience are other factors. I came on the scene once the funds were depleted. I am frustrated that politics have prevented this project from being completed. I have built an excellent relationship with the people of your community. My first audit was the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation with senior auditor Don Barnes. With his wisdom, he managed to save this organization from government closure. Manitoulin Precast, now operated by Lafarge Canada, was one of my clients. I have also consulted 14 other businesses in your community. M'Chigeeng is a model reserve for entrepreneurship. Mr. Williams is planning to hire six employees and is willing to set up a training centre for an additional 12 participants-a definite asset to any community. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are committed to paying off their creditors and always have been.

In conclusion, I will provide you with the necessary information if M'Chigeeng First Nation Council will lend us its support. As Islanders, let's eat the best beef in the world. Without your support, this project can't fly.

Keith Harfield

Green Bay

Reader delights at canoe find

A marine museum in the offing?

To the Expositor:

I was delighted to read that a beautiful Middaugh canoe will soon grace the entrance to the Manitoulin Welcome Centre. To my mind, Bill (the Fossil Man) Caesar truly struck gold when he found that masterpiece and facilitated the donation. Like the Mona Lisa it will sit in all its glory, telling the story of its creation to the delight of all. The boat's exquisite lines reflect the epitome of human ingenuity, craftsmanship and art inspired by the creative energies of Manitoulin Island. I suspect that under the dust and dingy light of basements and back sheds of this Island there lies a whole treasure trove of priceless art pieces. If the old fossil hound keeps sniffing around we can look forward to a fascinating book and maybe a marine museum to boot!

Roy Jeffery

McLean's Mountain