IMinistries, municipalities ironing out details for October 24 meeting

by Neil Zacharjewicz
MANITOULIN - Area municipalities and representatives of provincial 
ministries are negotiating on whether to allow media access to their 
financial meeting scheduled for Thursday in Espanola.
According to Central Manitoulin Reeve Mary Nelder, while area 
representatives are interested in having local media in attendance, 
Ministry officials are reluctant to allow media participation.
The meeting, which will be held on October 24 at the Espanola 
Recreation Centre beginning at 1 pm, was initiated by 19 
municipalities within the Manitoulin-Sudbury Districts at the annual 
general meeting of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario 
(AMO). Reeve Nelder, who has spearheaded the effort on behalf of the 
municipalities, shared with representatives of the provincial 
government the group's concern that they are faced with a significant 
financial situation.
Jim Wilson, Minister of Northern Development and Mines, and Brian 
Coburn, Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, have 
confirmed they will attend the meeting. There will also be 
representatives of senior administration from the ministries of 
Northern Development and Mines, Municipal Affairs and Housing, the 
Environment, Transportation, Finance, and Enterprise, Opportunity and 
Innovation.
Representatives from the various municipalities met with 
representatives of KPMG, the consulting firm hired to put the 
presentation together, to go over the draft version. Decisions were 
made with regard to the format of the meeting, but the final 
recommendations from the meeting have not be finalized.
"We are not totally ready yet, but we are working on it," suggested 
Reeve Nelder. She said she expected all of the details would be 
finalized by Wednesday, October 23, and a package forwarded to each 
of the ministry representatives. Furthermore, Reeve Nelder indicated 
she and Espanola Clerk Merwyn Sheppard would be negotiating with the 
provincial representatives via conference call to address the issue 
of media access.
At this time, municipal representatives have indicated they are 
reluctant to make any assumptions on the outcome of the meeting.
Last month, Billings Clerk Alton Hobbs reported to his council that, 
following a meeting between clerk-treasurers and representatives of 
the Ministry of Finance, municipalities are expected to further 
increase taxes.
"What I will tell council is that the reality is that municipalities 
are not serious partners in anything with the province, and we are 
expected to raise taxes. And, what the province says they will pay in 
CRF (Community Reinvestment Funds) is all that they are willing to 
pay," Mr. Hobbs stated. "What we heard at the meeting is that the 
rate of taxation in Northern Ontario is no where close to the south, 
because the northern municipalities don't charge the same level of 
taxation. Because of this our municipalities have more room to 
increase taxes. "In Billings, and other municipalities we can't offer 
the same services as areas like Hamilton and Cambridge because we 
have too large an area, with a small population. If we were to have 
the same rates, our taxpayers would be paying higher costs for 
services," he said.
Mr. Hobbs also informed council the provincial representatives stated 
the government would not look at changing the funding formula for the 
CRF.
He indicated in the case of many costs which are approved for CRF 
funding, such as general welfare, the approved costs do not resemble 
the actual costs, as various administration costs are not included. 
Health care, he suggested, is another example of this situation. 
While the DSSAB provides social services, with all of the costs 
shared among the municipalities, the province dictates how much and 
where the dollars are spent, he noted.
"What will happen is that next year our municipalities will be in the 
same financial crunch as this year. This will mean no new projects, 
because there won't be the funds available, and costs for services 
will go up which will come out of the ratepayers pockets," said Mr. 
Hobbs.

Providence Bay Quaker promotes peace with Iraq

by Michael Erskine
PROVIDENCE BAY---You have to listen very carefully these days if you 
wish to hear the soft cooing of the dove of peace over the baying 
howls of the dogs of war, but it is still there if you care to listen.
Pacifism has probably not been so unpopular in Canada since the heady 
patriotic days before the slaughter began in the trenches of the 
First World War, the Great War, the war which would end all wars. Yet 
then, as now, a few lonely voices could be heard rising from the 
congregations of Quakers, Mennonites and Christian Brethren, as men 
and women of Christian conviction risked persecution, ridicule and 
even imprisonment to voice protest over the madness of war, and 
sometimes, to stand solidly in the way of those marching off to kill 
and be killed.
Jane Mackay Wright, of Providence Bay, is not only raising her voice 
against the current clamour for war which is sweeping America and her 
allies, she is placing her body squarely between the bombs of the 
mightiest nation on earth and the women and children of Iraq.
Ms. Wright is a Quaker, a member of that religious sect which is 
famous for its adherence to pacifism and their total abhorrence of 
violence and war, and she will be travelling to Iraq this week along 
with 15 others of like-mind as part of a Christian Peacemaker Team.
They will leave for Iraq on October 23 and return on November 5.
"I don't believe that bombs can do one thing to make a better world," 
she said. "Peace comes from justice, not military attacks."
Although the Christian Peacemaker Teams are an initiative of the 
Mennonites, Church of the Brethren and the Quakers, members of many 
other Christian denominations support their work, and Ms. Wright's 
team includes a Roman Catholic nun, a retired social worker from 
Belleville, and a doctor, as well as many other people who she said 
are, "People with a lot of experience in the peace movement in the 
United States."
Ms. Wright and her fellow team members will travel from Jordan to 
Iraq over the same highways over which Iraqi oil makes its way to 
market. They will arrive first in the capital city of Baghdad and 
from there, the band of peacemakers will travel to the southern city 
of Basra and then north to Mosul, in the heart of Kurdish Iraq.
The Peacemaker team will take video equipment and digital cameras 
with them on their trip to document the conditions in the country. 
Ms. Wright is intimately familiar with such equipment, having 
recently retired after 18 years teaching media arts at Sheridan 
College.
She said she moved to Providence Bay, "because of the view," and the 
view from her newly renovated home on the bay is indeed spectacular 
and peaceful, just the spot for a quiet and peaceful retirement.
So why a trip to one of the most dangerous hot spots in the world?
"Why Iraq? It is under a terrible threat of the worst kind. There is 
massive poverty, they are lacking in many of the most basic of 
facilities for everyday life," she said. "I am going to see the 
people, talk to the people, and come back. Iraq is in a unique and 
terrible position. When the United States says they are not going to 
rest until the present regime is overthrown, it is the people who 
will bear the brunt of their violence."
As a Canadian, Ms. Wright enjoys freedoms her American companions, 
and certainly her hosts do not. The freedom to visit, comfort and aid 
the people of Iraq.
"I quite admire the folks (from the United States) who will be 
putting themselves out to the extent they are by witnessing in this 
way," she said. US citizens are breaking the law by going to Iraq and 
bringing medical supplies with them. According to Ms. Wright they 
face fines of up to $1 million and 12 years of imprisonment.
Although Ms. Wright says she does not believe Canadians are as 
enthusiastic to take over other countries as the United States seems 
to be at the present time, she is dismayed that the Government of 
Canada has not renounced the use of war to force Iraq to submit to 
the will of the United Nations.
Although she is a Christian on a mission of witness to a 
fundamentally (albeit officially secular) Muslim country, Ms. Wright 
is not overly concerned about how she will be received.
"We do not proselytize," she said, noting that conversion and overtly 
spreading the Christian faith is not their goal. "Our Christian faith 
informs the way we approach them, as people of peace, Jesus says love 
thy enemy."
Asked how she would react to people who would say she and her 
companions are naive in their approach to one of the world's most 
repressive regimes, a fire sparks within her eyes.
"I would challenge them as a Christian to justify attacking based on 
the life of Jesus," she said. "Faith motivates us to get out there 
and Christian faith is very sustaining."
Ms. Wright said she feels it is her duty to speak up, to not let us 
drift into war.
"By doing public witness, being obvious about it politically," she 
said, she and her companions hope to make a difference.
"We are so privileged to be able to speak out," she said. "We are 
putting ourselves on the line, that is the point of public witness."
She said she recognizes fully that she may be held and used as a 
human shield and a pawn in the coming conflict, and that too is the 
point of her going.
"That is our motto," said Ms. Wright. "Getting in the way."
As a Canadian she said she feels her country has a long tradition of 
diplomacy and peacekeeping, a tradition she hopes her actions are 
continuing.
"We have worked hard on this notion of peace," she said. "I don't 
think we should be persuaded that military attacks are okay."
While she said she abhors the threat of violence, Ms. Wright 
recognizes the importance of weapons inspections, but not the 
legitimacy of the United States imposing a regime change in Iraq. 
"Which is what the US seems to be up to, I can't go along with that."
"War is immoral," she said. "In Hollywood visions you don't see what 
it is doing to the people on the ground. It is naive to think that by 
attacking someone you are going to help them."
Another mission of the peacekeepers is to educate, both the people in 
Iraq, and the people of Canada and the US that there is another way.
"We know that it takes time to build relationships, trust and respect 
among people," she said. "That is another part of this mission, 
education. It is naive to think that armed attacks can create the 
atmosphere for peace."
Ms. Wright is no stranger to peace activism, she took part in 
demonstrations against the Rexdale plant, which manufactures parts 
for the American cruise missile program, in the 1980s.
More recently, she spent time as part of a team intervening between 
the Canadian government and the people of Burnt Church in the recent 
conflict over the lobster fishery, documenting and witnessing first 
hand the extra-legal intimidation activities of a government which 
knew it could not impose its will through the court system.
In addition to her practical experience, Ms. Wright has taken part in 
training on conflict resolution and examination of the spiritual 
roots of the movement. The three to four week course in Chicago also 
included team building, small group skills and role-playing.
Upon her return from Iraq, Ms. Wright intends to speak about what she 
and her team members have seen and learned about life in Iraq.
Ms. Wright and her companions are marching to the beat of a different 
drum, uncomplicated by politics or concerns about marshal diplomacy 
they follow the fundamental rule of the Prince of Peace. Do onto 
others as you would have done onto you, and, quite simply: Thou shalt 
not kill.

MTA board to meet MMA, Chamber on regional marketing proposal

by Tom Sasvari
GORE BAY --- The Manitoulin Tourism Association (MTA) will meet with 
the Manitoulin Municipal Association and the Manitoulin Chamber of 
Commerce, along with other interested parties, prior to making a 
decision on whether to support joining a new regional marketing group.
"I have been on the Island since 1973, and the MTA has been in 
financial trouble all those years, but it has done a fantastic job of 
continuing and promoting the Island, even with the lack of funding," 
said Jose Garcia, at the MTA annual general meeting last Wednesday.
Members discussed having been invited to join a marketing partnership 
with LAMBAC Marketing, the Manitoulin Chamber of Commerce and the 
Espanola Chamber of Commerce to pursue accessing tourism marketing 
dollars from FedNor and possibly other senior levels of government.
A questionnaire had been dispersed to MTA members prior to the meeting.
"What came out of the survey was that responses came back yes in 
favour of joining the marketing partnership, except for two (of a 
total of 20). So, most are in favour of joining the marketing 
proposal," said Al Frank, MTA President.
He noted, however, "One thing I read in the paper today is that Pat 
Madahbee, Chief of Sucker Creek, said that he would like to see First 
Nations involved in the proposal, but they have been bypassed."
Paul Marcon, director of LAMBAC Marketing, pointed out, "We are 
dealing with the First Nation bands through the Waubetek Business 
Development Corporation. (They have been asked) to look at the 
document and see where they will be as a board member. They have 
definitely been invited."
"I have always been in favour of this proposal because I believe it 
will be a benefit to everyone. We have had very rough times, but I 
think all of us should put this to the side now, and let's move 
forward, for the good of Manitoulin. It is my personal opinion that 
we have to move on this (proposal)," said Mr. Frank.
In the questionnaire sent to MTA members, it is pointed out, "If we 
join the proposed new regional marketing group, we will be sharing 
this responsibility with stakeholders from the other Island 
organizations, and also the North Shore."
"There is no guarantee that FedNor funding for a regional marketing 
initiative will cover anything more than a two-year startup or pilot 
project. In fact, that is likely to be the case," noted the MTA 
questionnaire. "Your directors, however, support joining this 
initiative and taking advantage of any offshore marketing funds that 
may be available, even for the short term. Your directors also 
support maintaining a vigorous and viable (MTA) that will continue to 
operate independently, and to advocate on your behalf and to improve 
tourism on Manitoulin. We feel this is very important; realistically 
we must remain in a position to resume off-Island marketing should 
the regional initiative end if and when senior government funding is 
no longer available."
The questionnaire included the proposed ongoing responsibilities of 
the MTA, as well as the Association's responsibilities within the 
proposed Manitoulin-LaCloche regional marketing group. In conclusion, 
"our vision is for the MTA to continue its local marketing 
(on-Island) responsibilities to its members while sharing in 
off-Island marketing through participation in the Regional Marketing 
Group."
MTA members were asked to answer two questions on the questionnaire: 
"Do you agree with the proposed general guidelines for the ongoing 
operation of the MTA and its partnership with the proposed Manitoulin 
LaCloche Regional Marketing Group," and secondly, "Do you have other 
suggestions for the future operation of the MTA?"
"The MMA has offered to host a joint meeting to get everyone together 
to discuss this proposal. Before we go ahead and make a decision on 
the marketing proposal we should attend this meeting of all 
interested parties," suggested Bill Ferguson, MTA treasurer. "It is 
a way to get everyone, including all the municipalities, together," 
he said.
It was pointed out by Caroline Cranston, who is on the Manitoulin 
Chamber of Commerce board of directors, that the Chamber had 
scheduled an information meeting for Tuesday of this week (Oct. 22) 
on the marketing proposal, and invited the Manitoulin Municipal 
Association (MMA) and the MTA. She said by getting everyone together 
all interested parties will be involved in setting priorities for the 
new proposed partnership.
"Our thought (MMA) was to have a follow up meeting after the Chamber 
information meeting," said Austin Hunt, Billings Reeve. "Everyone 
will have different things they will like to see put in place, and 
that is why the MMA wants to host this meeting."
Mr. Frank pointed out many members are still not clear on what the 
MTA would be joining in this new partnership. "The whole idea behind 
this proposal is to have all the resources and skills of the 
interested parties together. The organizations, municipalities and 
First Nations can share these resources and eliminated some of the 
duplication . We would be able to work together for marketing and 
promotion to lever other funding from the governments, which will 
also allow us to increase marketing in the direction we would like to 
see for the Island. It will make us more competitive in marketing, 
and we will have more reach, by working together," explained Mr. 
Marcon.
Mr. Marcon pointed out the structure for the partnership organization 
would be determined by all the parties sitting down and setting its 
direction. "This will be done through all of us, at the grassroots 
level."
Karen Thomson, of Batman's Campground, questioned whether funding, 
and memberships, would come through the one partnership, each 
individual organization or through individual funding. She also 
questioned whether organizations such as the MTA would maintain their 
identity.
Mr. Marcon said, "By putting, say, $100 into one account, there will 
be more of a chance of getting a matching fund of $100 from the 
government. For instance, now two municipalities might by vying for 
the same thing, but by working together they can, for example, get a 
bigger advertisement in a tourism publication, and this will increase 
their reach into the market."
The partnership organization, through a board of directors that would 
be set up, would look at avenues of marketing and where funds would 
be used, said Mr. Marcon. "Everyone has different skills and 
strengths that they bring to the organization . By working together 
we would be able to enhance this for the benefit of everyone, he said.
"I'm feeling a little gun shy about this. I'm concerned about the 
continuity of the MTA, which has been in existence for a long while. 
If other organizations are involved, the idea that everything would 
be done together is okay, but what if the government changes, what 
will happen then to the funding? This is a wonderful idea, but I'm 
concerned about this continuing," said Ms. Thomson.
"No organization can do all things. We need to look at ways that we 
can all be self-sustaining, so that we don't have to rely on 
government assistance, and become accountable and more sustainable. 
It is going to become harder to lobby for government funding and 
compete against the rest of the world for the tourism market unless 
we work together," said Mr. Marcon.
It was noted by Betty Ferguson, of Silver Birches, that in looking at 
the proposed responsibilities of the MTA, and its responsibilities 
within the regional marketing group, that an asterisk indicated that 
among the MTA directors, Mr. Marcon, "does not go along with some of 
the things that are in there."
"The policy setting should be done by the whole organization, and 
some of the things are part and parcel of what the whole organization 
should be looking at as a whole," said Mr. Marcon.
"By working together we would have more people that could attend 
(tourism) sport shows. With more manpower there would probably be 
someone representatives could stay with at the places where the shows 
are held, instead of having members staying at large hotels. This 
would cut costs," said Carol Sheppard, of the Rockville Inn.
By working with LAMBAC last year in several initiatives, the Chamber 
was able to save a lot of money, said Ms. Cranston, who noted the 
board and members also did some fundraising.
The regional marketing partnership would encompass all of the 
organizations on the Island, such as the MTA and Chamber, said Mr. 
Marcon. "The organizations would continue. For instance, the Chamber 
is skilled in fundraising and could continue that, and whatever the 
groups are good at doing they could continue. Let's work together and 
be more efficient." He explained that the partnership would mean 
members would pay memberships to one base rate, and then have a 
spread sheet of marketing initiatives they could put their money 
toward to increase their benefit.
"I thought we weren't going to set policies," said Ken Ferguson, 
Mayor of NEMI. "I think we should have the adjoining meeting with the 
MMA for further discussion before we make a final decision," he 
added, prior to putting forward a motion to this affect which was 
accepted by the MTA members at the meeting.