Chapleau Council Passes 2024 Budget, Including 2.5% Increase

Chapleau Town Council's approved this year's budget.

Mayor Ryan Bignucolo says Council considered the 2024 budget in their meeting Monday.

Mayor Bignucolo notes a number of challenges to keeping that rise low.

Bignucolo also lauds investments made by the Township's treasurer.

While Mayor Bignucolo doesn't tout any major projects - except Dufferin Street - he notes the Township's still in the process of selling the Chapleau PUC to Hydro One, a move he's previously said will help the Township invest in critical core community services including the water plant, fire services, and airport.

OPP Join Canada Road Safety Week Initiative Ahead of Victoria Day Long Weekend

Ontario Provincial Police are warning they're watching roads, trails, and waterways ahead of and during the upcoming long weekend.

The annual Canada Road Safety Week initiative's now underway, and Superior East OPP Constable Ashley Nickle says officers will be watching for poor driving behaviour.

Constable Nickle notes local police "will be out in full force" - using a "high visibility public education and enforcement approach" - looking to make roads safer and reduce the number of injuries and deaths, noting there have already been too many deaths this year.

The national enforcement campaign runs through Victoria Day Monday, though Nickle also reminds Canada Safe Boating Week kicks off Friday, encouraging everyone to stay safe on the water, including over the upcoming long weekend.

Local Mine Rescue Team Heading to Provincial Competition

A local mine rescue team's heading to Thunder Bay next month to show off their skills.

The Alamos Gold Island Gold Mine team of Captain Kaiden Harrietha, Vice Captain Jessy DeChamplain, Dominic Jean, Evan Barley, Jacob Paskus, Daniel Webb, Ben Eppert, and Briefing Officer Joel Labbe won the Algoma District Mine Rescue Competition held at Wawa's Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre last week, earning them a spot in the provincial competition in Thunder Bay June 4th to 8th.

Fellow Alamos Island Gold worker Kyle Ouellette was the winning technician, the second year in a row.

Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation Welcomes Pair of Major Donations

Some cookies have added an extra smile for a local organization.

Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation Chair Susan Switzer says the organization received a cheque from Tim Hortons' recent Smile Cookie campaign on Monday.

Switzer emphasizes the funds support capital equipment purchases for the local hospital.

Switzer notes RBC also provided major support through a program supporting health care worker education across Canada.

In addition to these campaigns, the Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation's also a part of the ongoing provincewide Split the Pot Lottery, and Switzer reminds the 2nd annual Nine and Dine Golf Tournament is coming June 22nd.

Chapleau Conducting Spring Street Cleaning

Chapleau's asking residents not to part cars along certain streets overnight, as it's conducting Spring Street Cleaning.

The Township says the program - which kicked off for the season on Monday - runs from midnight to 8 am each day until complete, with signs to be posted at various locations so vehicle owners can avoid parking along the streets at that time.

It warns those who don't comply face a fine of $190 for "obstructing civic services".

Wawa Speeding Up Tax Collection Process With Revised Policy

The Municipality of Wawa's speeding up its tax collection process.

Wawa Municipal Council's approved a new Property Tax Billing and Collections policy, which alters the timeline for sending arrears to collections and putting liens on the property, leading to potential tax sale: the previous policy sent accounts to collections after 2 years and moved toward a lien after 3, but the new policy cuts that down to 1 and 2 years respectively, aligning with Ontario's Municipal Act.

Discussing the policy in this week's Council meeting, Treasurer Manuela Batovanja expressed hope this'll improve tax collections, noting a large number of accounts in arrears tend to pay once contacted by collections or warned of potential tax sale.

Impaired Driving Charge After Collision on Highway 519 Near Highway 17

Impaired driving charges have been laid after a single vehicle collision near Dubreuilville.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the collision on Highway 519 - near the junction with Highway 17 - shortly after 10 o'clock Monday night, with investigation determining the driver had consumed alcoholic beverages.

The Sault Ste. Marie 26-year-old was charged with operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs and operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus), then released with a June court date, though he was also issued a 90-day Administrative Driver's Licence Suspension and the vehicle's impounded for seven days.

Local MP Carol Hughes Responds to 2024 Federal Budget

Local MP Carol Hughes is optimistic about the Liberal government's new budget - but giving most of the credit for positive moves to her party.

The Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing New Democrat is taking credit for many measures in the budget tabled Tuesday.

Hughes particularly highlights the inclusion of a national pharmacare framework covering contraceptives and diabetes medication.

Hughes also points to recently announced plans for a national school food program, the doubling of the firefighter and search and rescue volunteer tax credit, support for a "Red Dress Alert" system similar to the Amber Alert system but for missing Indigenous women, efforts to address the legacy of residential schools, and efforts to address the housing crisis - which she says started under the previous Conservative government and is such a large problem it can't be solved tomorrow - including the ability for non-profits to buy social housing.

Despite that, Hughes says it's "by no means an NDP budget", as it lacks certain things the party would like - pointing especially to corporate tax rates.

Hughes says the budget also falls short on funding for First Nations housing and infrastructure or to address the funding gap under "Jordan's Principle", but she is fairly positive about the document in early assessment.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's focused his criticism on the general idea of deficit spending, blaming government deficits for problems such as high mortgage rates, rents, and homelessness, while Liberal Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland issued a grim warning about Conservative "austerity".

Wawa Council to Hold 3 Meetings Tonight

Wawa Municipal Council's holding a trio of meetings tonight.

First up is a public meeting under the Planning Act, where a temporary Zoning By-Law amendment will be considered to permit Red Pine Exploration's temporary work camps.

That'll be followed by a Committee of the Whole meeting featuring a delegation from Gordon Draper on Community Living Awareness Month, as well as monthly reports from department heads, and discussion on the Goose Nest and Broadway Avenue murals, vehicular traffic control in the Michipicoten River Village, a draft fire prevention policy, the tax billing collection policy, and RFP results for the new marina washroom.

The latter item will come back up in tonight's regular Council meeting, which also includes a resolution to appoint two members of the Wawa Age-Friendly Committee and by-laws to continue an agreement with the Lady Dunn Health Centre for financial support for medical professional recruitment and retention, to set this year's schedule of fees, and to implement a licensing system for Short-Term Rental Accommodations.

CAO/Clerk Maury O'Neill explains the licensing system will include conditions to ensure short-term accommodations operate according to the Building Code, Fire Code, and other health and safety regulations.

The meetings will be held back-to-back-to-back, starting at 6:30 pm tonight in Council Chambers - they'll also be livestreamed through the Municipality's YouTube channel.

Threats Charge in Chapleau

A threats charge has been laid in Chapleau.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers responded to a threats occurrence on Martel Road shortly before 11 pm Tuesday night, with subsequent investigation leading to the arrest of a 24-year-old man from Brunswick House First Nation on a charge of uttering threats to cause bodily harm.

He's been released from custody, with a May court date in Chapleau.

Wawa Council Holds Special Meeting for Early Budget Discussions

Wawa Municipal Council's continuing early budget discussions.

Three months after passing this year's budget, a special meeting will be held tonight, with a single item on the agenda: a budget presentation, relating to asset management.

The public is able to attend the meeting, which will be held in Council Chambers at 6:30 pm, and broadcast on the Municipality's YouTube channel.

Assault Charges Over Wawa Domestic Dispute

Assault charges have been laid over a Wawa domestic dispute.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to a disturbance on Mission Road shortly after 4 am on March 29th, with investigation leading to the arrest of a Sudbury 28-year-old on a charge of spousal assault and another of assault.

The accused - who will not be identified due to the domestic nature of the incident, to protect the victim - was released from custody, with a May court date in Wawa.

Mischief, Threats & Other Charges After Dubreuilville Traffic Complaint

Several charges have been laid after a Dubreuilville traffic complaint.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say a possible impaired driver was reported on Rue Des Pins shortly after 1 pm March 30th, with officers locating and stopping the vehicle, speaking with the driver, determining they were not impaired but finding they'd breached court-ordered release conditions by attending an ex-partner's residence and threatening them, then began to drive in a dangerous manner near the ex-partner's property.

The 44-year-old from Pickle Lake - who will not be identified due to the domestic nature of the incident, to protect the victim - was charged with domestic mischief, mischief over $5000, uttering threats to damage property, dangerous operation, drive motor vehicle and perform stunt, and three counts of failure to comply with undertaking - they were held for a bail hearing, then released.

Local Charges In Connection to Stolen Property Investigation

Charges have been laid in connection to a stolen property investigation.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say members of the Community Street Crime Unit and other officers executed a search warrant at a Churchill Avenue residence shortly before 2 pm last Wednesday, finding two items that had been reported stolen by their owner.

Police arrested a 48-year-old from Wawa on charges of possession of property obtained by crime over and under $5000, then released him with a May court date in Wawa.

Wawa Finishes Installation of New MMCC Sportsfield Track

Wawa's sportsfield has a new running track.

The Municipality of Wawa's announced installation of the track has now been finalized, shy of a year after it announced the Ontario Trillium Fund would provide a $130,000 grant, covering all of the project costs.

At that time, Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson assured plans were for a track similar to the degraded old one.

J. Provost Contracting installed the four-lane, 400-metre track, which is made of crushed rock over a base of gravel.

1st Wawa & Sault Ste. Marie District Wildland Fires of 2024 Season

This region's seen its first forest fires of the season.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says "Wawa 1" and "Wawa 2" were both located east of Highway 614 and north of Eric Lake - each measuring a tenth of a hectare in size - while "Sault Ste. Marie 1" - also a tenth of a hectare in size - was located north of Red Rock Road in the community of Red Rock.

All three have since been called out.

Wildland fire season officially began April 1st.

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