News

A group of Upper Canada District School Board students are being recognized today during National Free the Children’s We Day at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, for their part in raising cancer awareness.

Among the five is Kayne McCadden, a grade six student at Morrisburg Public School.

Kayne and four other UCDSB students; Nolan Brien from Kemptville Public School, Owen Watson from Chimo Elementary School, Connor Craig from Montague Public School and Gavin McCarthy from Meadowview Public School; all play for the Rideau St. Lawrence Kings hockey team.

They decided to grow their hair and donate it to create wigs.

An UCDSB video was created featuring the boys’ efforts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCzxYDlvw9w

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The South Branch Community Fund, already has $60,000 waiting to be distributed for the benefit of the community surrounding the Brinston-area wind farm.

Next week, South Dundas is expected to officially open the grant process to applications, from qualifying groups and projects.

As part of the approval process for the South Branch Wind Farm, EDP Renewables Canada is required to contribute $30,000 to the fund annually, for a term of 20 years. The 2014 and 2015 amounts have been paid out to the Municipality of South Dundas and are in the bank. The contributions end in 2033.

To qualify for funding, facilities or residents must be from within the boundaries outlined in the agreement. It is intended for community benefit and could help, for example, with community spaces such as the Dixon’s Corners Community Centre, Matilda Hall, Dundela rink and area parks.

South Dundas council opted to form a committee to make recommendations to them regarding the dispersal of funds.

The newly formed committee had its first meeting March 17.

Committee members include; Janice Froats, Marlene Lewis, Cindy Peters, Marcel Smellink, Tracy Yalden, Doreen Henderson, Gerald Whitteker, Jim Adams, South Dundas recreation program coordinator Ben Macpherson and South Dundas mayor Evonne Delegarde.

Macpherson, says that since the program has not been officially announced as open as of yet, no applications have been submitted to the municipality.

“We do know that there are groups who have asked for the applications and others who have expressed interest in it,” he said.

This year, funding application deadlines will be set for May 29 and October 30.

“Once each deadline has passed, the committee will meet to go through the applications and determine which applications will go to council,” explained Macpherson. “Council will then decide whether or not to go forward with the recommended proposals.”

Any single release of funds greater than $5,000 also requires the approval of EDP Renewables Canada.

Through an application process, the funds are meant to help promote and/or benefit;

• Public recreational facilities and programs 

• Community gathering facilities, events, and related municipal usage fees

• Educational and job training related to sustainability or renewable energy

• Other community related activities approved by the Municipality of South Dundas.

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Cornwall City councillor and lawyer Bernadette Clement today announced that she will seek the Liberal nomination to be the candidate in the riding of Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry in the upcoming federal election.

In an address to a number of supporters gathered at the Best Western Parkway Inn, this morning, Clement explained why she is seeking the nomination. 

“I cannot stand by as we prepare to decide the future of Canada in the coming October 19, 2015 election. I’ve talked to voters throughout the riding. They tell me they want to see a government that truly brings people together instead of dividing our country, and one that addresses our needs, from infrastructure to health care to the environment. They want a government that has a plan, to actually deal with our problems so that our future can be full of opportunity,” added Clement, who has been involved extensively in the community of Cornwall and area in a number of groups and organizations. “I feel I can help make a positive contribution as a real voice for Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry in Parliament,” said Clement.

Clement also highlighted the leadership of Justin Trudeau and the change that he can bring about in Canadian politics. “I’ve watched Mr. Trudeau close up during the party leadership contest where I moderated a number of debates.  I firmly believe that he has a genuine concern for Canadians and that he has the ability to lead our country with new policies that will benefit all and not just a select few. It is time for a change of direction.”

There are two other Liberals in the riding seeking the nomination, Patricia Pichette and Corey Kalsi.  

“We are fortunate to be able to attract strong candidates for such an important job of representing the voters of our riding in Ottawa,” said Clement. 

“I want to encourage people in the riding to become involved in the nomination process by obtaining a Liberal party membership and coming out to a nomination meeting to vote for the candidate of their choice.  I invite them to volunteer in the upcoming election as well and help Liberals win this riding and form the next federal government,” said Clement.

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The average South Dundas residential property owner can expect to pay about $35 more in property taxes this year when the counties and education components are included.

An average South Dundas residential property is valued at $178,641.

Recent United Counties of SDG budget deliberations resulted in a $23 typical increase to the Counties levy and now South Dundas has agreed to a $12.19 increase to the average South Dundas residential property owner. The education component has been reset to offset the phase-in property assessment increase.

South Dundas council was asked by South Dundas treasurer Shannon Geraghty at the March 17, regular council meeting to clarify the intent of recent budget deliberations. 

Although South Dundas deputy mayor Jim Locke didn’t want to see anything less than a 2 per cent increase in taxes paid by the average residential taxpayer, the majority of council agreed that a 1.5 per cent dollar increase would be sufficient for 2015.

With the proposed increase, South Dundas will collect 6.54 per cent more money ($342,000) from taxes than it did in 2014.

During budget deliberations, South Dundas council had cut enough from the budget to put South Dundas in a position to collect 2.26 per cent more money ($118,200) than the previous year.

In that case, the average residential ratepayer would have been paying less than last year, according to Geraghty. 

“It is more financially responsible to collect a little more this year, than to wait and have to collect even more next year,” explained Geraghty, who expects that more debt will be incurred as projects like the industrial park expansion and waterfront projects progress.

Now, by council opting to go with the 1.5 per cent average tax increase, they will have more money to put back into the budget. For now, their intent is to hold the extra funds in reserve.

Last year South Dundas collected $5,231,000 from taxation. This year, they will collect $5,573,000 from taxation.

According to the treasurer, the municipality continues to maintain healthy reserves.

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The Council of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry announced March 16, that the operations of the Roads and Planning Departments will be merged into a new Department called “Transportation and Planning Services”. 

The actions necessary to implement the change were approved at the March session of County Council and are effective immediately.

SDG County Planner Michael Otis has retired. 

The County is not replacing this Department Head position, but instead will be hiring a Manager of Planning, who will report to the Director of Transportation and Planning Services. 

The new mid-level position will manage the day-to-day operations of the planning services section of the new Department.

The restructuring of the two departments will not impact services levels or operations, either for roads or planning services.

The County will continue to oversee the County Official Plan, as well as land division (land severances and plans of subdivision).

County Engineer, Benjamin de Haan, will assume overall responsibility for the new Department. 

de Haan’s title has changed to Director of Transportation and Planning Services.

“It is always important to be looking for efficiencies when opportunities come up, and these changes to our senior management team demonstrate our commitment to that. There are cost savings and many synergies, both internally and to the public, to be gained by the merging of the two departments,” said Eric Duncan, Warden, United Counties of SD&G.

“We have appreciated Mr. Otis’ service to the County and we look forward to working closely with Mr. de Haan in moving the new Department forward. There is a lot of potential with these changes and we are anxious to implement some new ideas,” said T.J. Simpson, Chief Administrative Officer, United Counties of SD&G

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Increasing visitor satisfaction at its day use parks, is a main 2015 objective for the South Nation Conservation Authority. 

Jim Hendry, team lead property management division of SNC spoke about the two SNC day use conservation areas located in South Dundas at the March 17 council meeting.

Two Creeks forest, located along County Road 2 between Morrisburg and Iroquois, features 4.5 km of trails with interpretive signs. 

A first for SNC is the use of QR codes on those signs. 

The trails are groomed in winter and it is gaining in popularity. According to Hendry, a 24 per cent visitor increase has been recorded over two years. 

“People are really starting to use it more, and that’s encouraging,” said Hendry. 

The site is equipped with counters to record visitor numbers. 

The other public SNC day use park in South Dundas is the Robert Graham Trail, located two kilometers west of Glen Stewart.

The Robert Graham Trail property was purchased by SNC in 1961 and has 6.5 km of trails in two loops.

Hendry said that the property is really popular with geocachers, but is also used for hiking, skiing, snowshoeing and hunting. Its trails are groomed in winter.

At present, one-third of the trees are marked for harvest, as SNC parks are all working forests. Hendry says that it will probably be logged in 2017-2018. 

The Williamsburg Forest is another significant holding for the SNC, located in South Dundas. It is not a day use site, and there are not planned activities for that property in 2015. 

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South Dundas deputy mayor Jim Locke has long been pushing for the United Counties of SDG to turn over a portion of County Road 1 to the Municipality of South Dundas.

At the March 17, South Dundas council meeting, he reported that with the windfall money for roads from the EDP Renewables road compensation funds, that may be able to happen, “sooner than anticipated.”

With the counties planning to spend the EDP funds they received through the road compensation agreement on county roads in South Dundas, Locke explained that the funds could go towards the road upgrades necessary for the download to take place.

The portion of the road that Locke wants South Dundas to take control of is the section from County Road 2 to the Iroquois Lock.

South Dundas mayor Evonne Delegarde reported that County Road 4 (Lakeshore Drive) is another road being looked at for downloading to South Dundas.

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Pork Fest is the newest event being planned to take place in South Dundas this year.

Still in the very early planning stages, the Morrisburg Downtown Business Improvement Area, notified South Dundas council of the event earlier this month.

According to the letter, the Morrisburg DBIA will host the one day Pork Fest on Saturday, August 22.

Few details of what a Pork Fest involves, are available at this point, but the letter states that Pork Fest, will involve all things pork, ribs, bacon, pulled pork, sausage, etc. 

“We will be looking to partner with other community groups to make this event one that benefits, not only the downtown businesses, but also the community,” said Grace McDonough, coordinator for the Morrisburg Downtown Business Improvement Area.

DBIA events take place at the Morrisburg Plaza.

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The Corey Kalsi nomination campaign team announced that on March 10th, 2015, Kalsi was officially ‘green-lit’ by the Liberal Party of Canada as a nomination contestant for the riding of Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry. Kalsi becomes the second contestant in the yet to be called nomination race.

“Since my announcement to seek the nomination on January 21st, I have been touched by the outpouring of support and well wishes from across our riding. This community is the focal point of my campaign and the core of why I want to represent you as our next Member of Parliament.”

For the past two months Kalsi has been travelling across SDSG attending various community events and listening to what residents want to see in a candidate and their Member of Parliament. 

He proudly promotes the pillars of his nomination campaign: Community, Collaboration and Country. All three of these pillars have one common theme: unity.

“When I speak of unity, I’m referring to the unity of all regions of our community, coming together to work for a common cause. There is a need to create a strong and sustaining economic system that encourages our youth to stay in this area. As I continue my travels, I will further promote this spirit of collaboration for the betterment of SDSG.”

“Together, we can be a strong voice for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry.”

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Brian Lynch was re- elected as President of both the SDSG provincial and federal NDP riding associations when the  Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry Provincial and Federal NDP riding associations elected their executive members for 2015 at their joint annual general meetings on March 11 at the Navy Veterans Association in Cornwall.  

Also elected to serve on the 16 member local NDP riding associations’ executives were Carilyne Hebert as vice president; Paul Aubin, recording secretary; Elaine MacDonald, chief financial officer; Madeleine Lebrun, women’s representative; Marc Benoit, youth representative; Trevor Tolley, Darlene Jalbert, Marion Adams, Jack St. Thomas, Patricia Sylvia,  David Mcilveen, Ken Smith, Diane Marshall, Jean Patenaude, and Patrick Burger as members-at-large.  

Brian Lynch and Elaine MacDonald were also elected as the local NDP provincial councillors.

Lynch told the meeting that the SDSG federal riding association’s candidate search committee has done an extensive candidate search in preparation for the federal election set for this October 19.  

Lynch said, “Once prospective candidates have been approved by the National NDP Nominations Committee, we will seek approval of the Federal NDP to hold our nomination meeting this spring.”

Lynch praised Federal NDP leader Thomas Mulcair for putting forward progressive policies to make life better and fairer for everyday Canadians such as a universal child care program, a $15 an hour federal minimum wage, greater support for seniors and veterans, generous transfers for healthcare, initiatives to create good paying jobs in manufacturing and the small business sector, and higher corporate taxes.  

Lynch said, “When the federal election comes, people will see that the Federal NDP under the thoughtful, experienced leadership of  Thomas Mulcair is the real, progressive alternative to the heavy-handed, anti-democratic Harper Conservatives and the arrogant, unprincipled Trudeau Liberals with their lack of policies and record of broken promises.”

At the provincial level, Lynch indicated that the Ontario NDP was working hard at Queen’s Park to hold the scandal-plagued Liberal Government to account, to protect public services that people depend on, and to help create jobs.  

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